Left Hand Oktoberfest

Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Company
Location: Longmont, CO
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: Oktoberfest/Marzen
ABV: 6%

One of my favorite seasons has arrived and along with it comes a favorite style. Oktoberfest.
Before heading over the the UL game we figured a few good pints would be best. Although
this isn't my first time having this brew it does suprise me every year with how good it is. The beer comes out with very little head and a dark brown color. I highly recommend this brew.

Rating: A

Ziegenbock

Brewery: Anheuser Busch
Location: Houston, TX
Serving: Draft/Pint
Style: American Bock?
ABV: ?

I saw a Texas shaped tap handle at the bar and then noticed on the wall a poster for this beer with the slogan, "Only Texans Get It!". I should have known better but I had to try it out. With my first sip I thought, man that really tastes just like Amberbock. Don't let the dark red colour fool you, it lacks taste and aroma. A completely generic beer. I later found out Ziegenbock is brewed by AB so it makes sense. I will avoid this from now on. I guess not being a "Texan" I just don't get it.



Rating: D

Live Oak Liberation

Brewery: Live Oak Brewery
Location: Austin, TX
Serving: Draft/Pint
Style: IPA
ABV: 6.0%

I had this on tap at the Spider House. It's a nice burnt orange colour. The smell was all citrus. It has a nice bitterness throughout with just a tad bit of sweetness to keep things in check. Refreshing and tasty.

Rating: B

Arrogant Bastard Ale

Brewery: Stone Brewing Company
Location: Calinfornia
Serving: 22oz Bomber
Style: American Strong Ale
ABV: 7.2%

Lauren works on Thursday nights so I had a bachelor's dinner. Bratwurst and beer. Man was it delicious. My sister gave me a bottle of Arrogant Bastard as a going away gift so I decided to pop it open. It was a nice dark rust colour with a small tan head. Lots of aromas going on here. There was a nice toasty malt smell paired with hops aromas and alcohol. The first thing I tasted was malt, nice and toasted. I love malty beer. A strong bitterness comes in a bit later to balance things out. It paired perfectly with the sausage. Success!



Rating: A

Beer 30 Light

Brewery: Melanie Brewing CO
Location: La Crosse, WI
Serving: cans
Style: Pale Lager
ABV: 3.8%

At first glance I thought it was a joke, Beer Brand Beer, but no this is real. At just over $3 for a 6 pack the O'Flynn took the bait and we tried this purple can of beer brand beer. At first, 2nd and so on drinks there was almost nothing to taste. The carbonation is stronger than the brew itself. It's not until those last 2 swigs where this beer earns its distinction. God awful. The temperature from you hands heats this brew very rapidly so it must be drank quickly or else....I'm glad I tried this brew but know it has not achieved a spot in my rotation.

Rating: C+

Red's Rye

Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Serving: 12 oz Bottle
Style: Rye Beer
ABV: 6.4%

I picked up a six pack of this for our going away party. I wanted to start the day with some decent beer. Poured into a glass, it was dark orange with a medium white head. The head left some lace stuck all down the sides of the glass. Always a plus. This has one of the best aromas I've ever smelled in a beer. It was spicy with lots of fruit and herb from the hops. It starts off with a sweet malty flavor and then you get some of the citrus. The rye added a spiciness and it finishes with a bitter punch of the hops. The rye and the hops dominate but it's well balanced and very delicious.


Rating: A

Upland Maibock

Brewery: Upland Brewing Company
Location: Richo's
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: Seasonal (Heller Bock)
ABV: 7.5%

Met up with some friends from out of town at Richo's to have a pint. As old as the food gets they keep you coming back with all the great brews. In this instance I chose the Maibock. At first glance you could hardly tell the difference between Miller's Hop Devil and this one but taste will prevail. A mild flavor in a beer that could probably just be described in the lager family was one that will be repeated.

Rating: B+

Stone IPA

Brewery: Stone Brewing Company
Location: Escondido, CA
Serving: 12 oz Bottle
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.9%

I love this beer. It has easily worked it's way into my top 10. I snagged a bottle of this from Hill and proceeded to enjoy. It pours a light copper colour with a nice thick head that clings all over the glass. Hop aromas are citrus and herbs. It reminded me of grapefruit and grass. I could splash this on as a cologne. The taste is also hops. Lots of hops. A nice bitter bite that doesn't overwhelm thanks to the malt smoothing things out a bit. Top Notch.



Rating: A

McChouffe

Brewery: Brasserie d'Achouffe
Location: Belgium
Serving: Snifter
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
ABV: 8%

My friend always raves about this beer and I finally had the chance to try a glass of it from his birthday bottle. It resembled a cloudy soda, deep brown with a nice off-white head. It had a really great smell, lots of sweet fruitiness and yeast. It had a crisp sweet flavor to match the smell with lots of malt. I might have to buy my own bottle of this on occasion.


Rating: B

Prima Pils

Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Location: Pennsylvania
Serving: Draft/Imperial Pint
Style: German Pilsner
ABV: 5.3%

I picked up a growler of this from Sportstime to enjoy while it's available. I finally cracked it open the other night. It poured a very clear pale gold with a decent white head that left rings of lace down the glass as I drank it. I really enjoyed the smell of this one. It had an herby grassy aroma that went nicely with the summer weather. The taste of this one was typical pislner flavor but with a few twists and turns. There is a nice bitter bite from the hops that is assuredly missing in the average pils. The malt shows up to provide some balance and the bitterness doesn't blow your tounge out. A nice session beer.


Rating: B+

Colt 45

Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
Location: Texas
Serving: 40
Style: Malt Liquor
ABV: 6.1%

What better way to celebrate Independence Day than by drinking a big bottle of malt liquor. Ian and I decided to hoof it down to the corner liquor store for some forties. The store sells everything from behind a counter, I guess they get robbed a lot. The patron told us he had King Cobra and Colt 45. We decided to go all out and pay $0.50 more for the Colt 45, we were celebrating after all. The giant bottle held a pale yellow brew with a head that resembled dish soap bubbles. It smells like every other Macro Lager but with a dash more alcohol to make things interesting. The taste was surprisingly sweet, with some corn and malt flavors. It disappeared quickly and we were off to the Mag Bar for the good stuff.


Rating: C-

Shiner Bock

Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery
Location: Shiner, TX
Serving: Draft/Pint
Style: Bock
ABV: 4.4%

We visited the Corner Pub to watch the EURO final. Nothing better than pints and soccer. I ordered a Shiner Bock as they were on special. My pint arrived missing a few ounces, but that's another story. It was a brown soda colour with no head anywhere to be found. The smell, or what little I could find, was sweet. The taste is sweet and malty, but there isn't much of either flavor. The touch of bitterness disappears as do all of the other flavors after a few seconds. To sum up this beer in one word: BLAND. All was not lost however, as Spain defeated the evil Germans.


Rating: C

Dos Perros

Brewery: Yazoo Brewing Company
Location: Nashville, TN
Serving: Draft/Pint
Style: Altbier
ABV: 3.5%

I enjoy trying out the local brews when I travel and on a recent trip to Nashville I got to do just that. We met up with our friends Ian and Sarah at a late night sushi bar called PM. I ordered a pint of the Dos Perros from the local Yazoo brewery. Our awkward server brought me a dark brown beer with no head. It has a nutty, roasted aroma with a bit of chocolate. The hops didn't come through at all. The taste is mostly chocolate and toasted malts with a hint of sweetness. It was not heavy and all and pleasantly crisp. The website says that it is brewed in the old style of Mexican beers which descended from Austrian occupation. I wish most of the current Mexican offerings would revert back.


Rating: B-

HopDevil Ale

Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Location: Pennsylvania
Serving: Draft/Growler
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.7%

I have read plenty of good things about Victory beers, the only problem being they weren't available in Indiana or Kentucky. Well they are finally getting distribution in Indiana and Sportstime picked up a few kegs. I stopped by and grabbed a growler of the HopDevil to try out.
It poured a caramel colour with a beige head that clung to the sides as I drank it. Much to my surprise I could actually smell some sweet maltiness, the aroma wasn't completely dominated by the hops. That malt also comes through in the taste. Nice toasted bread compliments the dominant citrus hop flavor. It finishes up with a crisp clean bite. I'm not used to this much malt in an IPA and I was pleasantly surprised.


Rating: A

Dragon's Milk

Brewery: New Holland Brewing Company
Location: Holland, MI
Serving: Draft/Imperial Pint
Style: English Strong Ale
ABV: 8.5%

I feel like a giddy school girl whenever I see this on the draft board at Sportstime. I know I'm in for a treat. I was served a glass as black as night with a light brown thin head. When held up to the sunlight coming through the window it is a not black but a deep brown colour. This Ale is aged in oak barrels and that comes through in the nose. Oak, chocolate, and vanilla all hit when I took my first whiff. The taste is sublime like a good bourbon. Vanilla with dark chocolate give this a rich creaminess. It has a nice sweet bitter twang to finish things off. This one's in my top 5.


Rating: A+

Dry-Hopped Red

Brewery: Rogue Ales Brewery
Location: Oregon
Serving: Draft/Imperial Pint
Style: American Amber
ABV: 5.1%

Yet another trip to Prost yields another Rouge ale to try. This time I went with the dry-hopped red. It had a dark reddish brown colour and a decent sized white head. I'm going to call the aroma of this one "hop bread". Lots of hops hit you first with some orange pine-sol, but then some malty bread comes in. It has a pleasant sweet caramel flavor that quickly gets taken over by the hops. The finish is all hop bitterness. This is a pretty interesting example of a red, a category I tend to find pretty average.

Rating: B-

Export IPA

Brewery: Schlafly
Location: St. Louis, MO
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: IPA
ABV: 8%

With Schlafly in town promoting a new IPA, there was no other choice given Schlafly's track record of taste. The typical burnt amber color. An unusually frothy head resembling a pilsner which lead to a lacey delight. An immediate bite with hops coming out strong with a flowery finish. What made the evening was, every pint purchased got your name in the hat for a "prize". First drawing my friend Tom won, 2nd drawing I won, 3rd drawing Tom's friend won....all at the same table...3 drawings in a row....ill take it. Regardless I was again impressed by Schlafly.

Rating: B+

Brutal Bitter

Brewery: Rogue Ales Brewery
Location: Newport, OR
Serving: Draft/Imperial Pint
Style: Imperial ESB
ABV: 6.5%

There were several new brews on the board at Prost and it was hard to choose one to try after the Scotty Karate. Donnie started off with one of these and after sampling it I couldn't pass up a pint of my own. The pint was a really nice looking orange/red with a small white head that disappeared quickly. The smell reminded me of an IPA aroma but turned way down. The taste was not what I expected with an Ale calling itself "Brutal Bitter". There was definitely a hoppy flavor with a bit of citrus but not even close to overpowering. It strikes a very nice balance with the malts. I am a big fan of English bitters. It's nice to be able to set down and enjoy a beer that doesn't wear you out. The offering from Rogue was a great twist on that. I feel like I could have sat down and had quite a few rounds without getting blitzed.


Rating: B+

Scotty Karate Scotch Ale

Brewery: Dark Horse Brewing Co.
Location: Marshall, MI
Serving: Draft/Imperial Pint
Style: Scottish Ale
ABV: 9.75%

Hill was working at Prost on Friday so we decided to visit and enjoy a pint or two. I settled into the comfy leather couch and ordered up a Scotty Karate. I had tried this during Gravity Head and loved it so I was excited for the second go-round. It was a dark brown colour and when held up to the light I could not see through it. A sweet bread/fruit aroma initially hit my nose but as I drank the alcohol smell became more prominent. The taste is heavenly. This ale has a very good mouthfeel. Malt flavor is strong but balanced with a very lovely sweet nutty finish and just a dash of the alcohol to warm you up. Dark Horse succeeds yet again.


Rating: A

Dortmunder Gold

Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Company
Location: Ohio
Serving: Bottle
Style: Dortmunder
ABV: 5.8%

I tend to pick out new beers to try based on their packaging. Shallow maybe, but I'll reach for attractive design 9 times out of 10. This is the reason I've never had any Great Lakes beers. The packaging just looks cheap to me. After reading nothing but positive things about the brewery I decided to put aside my bias and give them a shot. The Dortmunder poured a deep golden yellow that was crystal clear with a nice medium white head that stuck around for quite a while. It had a very sweet smell with a touch of citrus. The taste was malt malt malt. A nice sweet bread flavor with some hop bitterness made it smooth and balanced. Worked perfect to wash down my Chinese food. Overall a great beer, which I guess goes to show that looks aren't everything. I'm definitely going to check out some of their other offerings soon.


Rating: A

Budweiser

Brewery: Anheuser-Busch Inc.
Location: Missouri
Serving: Draft
Style: American Macro Lager
ABV: 5%

Ahh the dog days of summer. Nothing like 90 degree weather and a baseball game to put you in the mood for "the king of beers". I half-expected an American flag to pop out of my ass, but I digress. $1 beer night at the stadium led me to a beer I normally avoid like the plague. It's so easy to bash Bud that I'm not going to waste my time. My plastic cup presented me a thick white head that led to a clear yellow beer. It smelled of corn but it went down easy enough and did it's job. I'd much rather drink a Pabst or High Life if I'm going with this style but beggars can't be choosers.


Rating: C-

Bud Light

Brewery: Anheuser-Busch Inc.
Location: St Louis, MO
Serving: Solo Pints
Style: American Light Macro Lager
ABV: 4.2%

Not much to talk about on this one, $1 beers at the ballpark doesn't leave many options though. As usual "2 at a time" seems to be the norm...after about the first oh minute they're warm and worse than ever. I managed to stomach more than enough to enjoy the very very slow paced game and call it a night.

Rating: D-

Dos Equis Amber

Brewery: Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Montezuma
Location: Mexico
Serving: Draft
Style: Vienna Lager
ABV: 4.7%

I am incapable of sitting down to a dinner of Mexican food without washing it down with a cerveza. It's always an added bonus when the establishment has this on draft. My brownish red pint arrived in an extra thick glass I had never seen before. This was one heavy pint. It had a faint (but nice) sweet malty aroma and no head. A crisp and refreshing taste that has a slight sweetness, a bit of malt, and just a touch of bitterness. Perfect for washing down my Vegetarian B combo.


Rating: B

Red Seal Ale

Brewery: North Coast Brewing Company
Location: Fort Bragg, CA
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: American Amber Ale
ABV: 5.5%

Nothing like a wedding to go and ruin a perfect Saturday afternoon. Luckily Josh was waiting in the distance for a run-in at the all favorite Sportstime. What do I want? I've been looking at that
Red Seal sign for years and never tasted it (as far as I know it hasn't been available) so Hill poured the pint and I accepted. A color more resembling orange than red and a taste that says "alcohol before flavor", not a preference for me. Not a smell that will stick but definetely a taste that will kick. I think i'll stick with the Old Ras' next time I venture through their territory.

Rating: C+

Brooklynator Doppleback

Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: Dopplebock
ABV: 7.5%

We decided to head to Sportstime on Saturday to watch a friend drink a boot of Spaten for his birthday. While waiting I treated myself to a couple pints. The first was this Dopplebock from the Brooklyn Brewery. The dark brown pint arrived resembling a large glass of soda. It had a nutty sweet aroma and very little head. The first sip reminds me of bland raisin bread which isn't really something I want to drink. There is not much complexity to the flavor in this one. It's overly sweet and doesn't really do much for me. This is the first time I've been let down by Brooklyn Brewery.



Rating: C

Preservation Pilsner

Brewery: Upland Brewing Company
Location: Bloomington, IN
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: Czech Pilsner
ABV: 5.5%

I was unaware that Upland made a pilsner until I spotted it on the Draft board at Sportstime. The pint was a really nice deep gold colour with a thick white head. I tried everything I could to get an aroma out of it but nothing was forthcoming. No one at the table had any luck with it either so I didn't feel that bad about it. The taste of this one was great. Very refreshing and crisp with a hint of sweetness. It finished off with a nice bitterness from the hops. This one is a keeper.



Rating: B+

Tecate

Brewery: Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Montezuma
Location: Mexico
Serving: Bottle
Style: Mexican Macro Lager
ABV: 4.5%


A round of golf led to some Mexican food. I decided to forgo my usual Negra Modelo to try a Tecate. I had read a poll where it won the best of the Mexican beer offerings, so I wanted to give it a whirl. After tossing aside the lime wedged in the bottle, I got down to business. I didn't have a glass for the beer, (some would say I am a cretin for drinking out of the bottle, but those people can get over themselves) so I can only guess that the colour is the customary straw of most Macros. It had a very sweet smell that was unexpected and a taste to match. The typical corn flavor was present but much sweeter than usual. I wouldn't call Tecate a great beer by any means, but it washed my carnitas tacos down nicely. I'll stick to my Negra Modelo or Dos Equis drafts because they have much better flavor.


Rating: C

60 Minute IPA

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Delaware
Serving: Bottle/Snifter
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6%


After sushi we stopped by Nächbar for their Happy Hour. Donnie opted for Old Style while I decided to try out yet another IPA. It poured a rich golden orange colour with a head that decided to hang out for awhile. The smell had a lot going on. It was fruity with some herb and floral scents. The taste was very well balanced for an IPA. It had the citrus hop tang to it but it wasn't overpowering and there was a nice nutty flavor to help things along. Very easy to drink.


Rating: B

Kirin Ichiban

Brewery: Kirin Brewery Company
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Serving: Pint
Style: Japanese Rice Lager
ABV: 4.9%

After an early departure from the daily bump and grind at work, I've finally made it to the Maido Happy Hour. What better way to celebrate than some fresh sushi and a brew. The first pint was put in front of me and the first thought was "is this a Bud Light?". A clear beer very much resembling the "American" style had very little, quickly disappearing head and had a scent that was easily forgettable but a taste that was quite refreshing. Not a favorite but fitting for the dinner.

Rating: B-


Josh's take

A visit to Maido for Happy Hour always leads me to a pint or two of Kirin. It's not my favorite Japanese beer, that would probably be Sapporo or Asahi, but it's on tap and that always trumps bottles for me. Our crystal clear golden pints arrived out on the sunlit patio to accompany our appetizer. They had a decent head that disappeared rapidly. Very little smell pretty much sets up the taste. Not much going on but decent flavor. If there was an Asian Pabst this would be it. I know that these beers aren't the greatest but I don't really look for that when I'm eating sushi. I like to taste the sushi and wash it down with a beer that quenches my thirst but doesn't knock out the subtle sushi flavor.

Rating: B-

Skinny Dip

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Location: Colorado
Serving: Bottle
Style: American Blonde Ale
ABV: 4.2%

I wanted to try out another New Belgium while I had the chance and this was all I could find at the Fiesta market. It's a low calorie, low alcohol summer ale so I was a bit apprehensive. It turns out my fears were unfounded, Bud Select this is not. Skinny Dip was a fine yellow-orange with lots of lacing. It's brewed with kafir lime and you can really smell that lime. The taste was very refreshing and light with hints of the lime and some bread. This would be perfect on a really hot day and it just happened to be 99 degrees when I had it.


Rating: B-

Fat Tire Amber Ale

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Location: Colorado
Serving: Pint & (6) Bottles
Style: American Amber
ABV: 5.2%

I love this beer. I am going to get that out of the way to begin with. Fat Tire cannot be sold in Kentucky or Indiana, the two places I predominantly find myself drinking. It is torture knowing it's out there but just out of reach. I took full advantage of the availability of it on my trip southwest. A midday break, I think I'll have a Fat Tire. Time to call it a night, I think I'll watch some TV and enjoy a Fat Tire. This pbj is making me thirsty, I think I'll pour a Fat Tire into one of these custom plastic Super 8 cups and wash it down. You get the idea.

One night, Lauren and I managed to wander into a bar called the Blind Pig on 6th St., boy was that a mistake. Mr. Joe Vega was playing music. Joe is a Latin American fellow with an acoustic guitar and a large set list that he takes requests from for $1. Some of the tunes we were fortunate enough to enjoy were, Wanted Dead or Alive, Black Magic Woman, Creep, and 867-5309 Jenny. An eclectic mix. The old woman playing air guitar seemed to really love it. The only thing that kept me sane was my pint of Fat Tire. The light amber pint was like a lighthouse beacon on the stormy sea. The smell of baking bread and some sweet flowers drifted up my nose taking me to a happier place. That first sip flooded my mouth with sweet malty goodness accompanied by some bitter hops and a hint of fruit. I hate to use the term drinkable but this beer is most certainly that. Very easy to quaff and quite refreshing.

* fun fact - New Belgium was the 1st wind powered brewery in the US.

Rating: A

Big Bark Amber Lager

Brewery: Live Oak Brewing Company
Location: Austin, TX
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: Vienna Lager
ABV: ?

My final stop on my Austin tap house tour led me to Ginger Man. This is the one I was looking forward to and it did not disappoint. Taps as far as the eye can see. Nice cozy feel with dark wood and a darts section, always important. I decided to stick with a local brew and I was rewarded.
The Big Bark was a dark copper colour with a thin head, and a really nice sweet fruity aroma.
The first swig brought the taste of tangerines to mind. I also noticed some bread like flavor, biscuits maybe probably due to the malt. It finishes with a nice bitter hit to balance things out. Quite tasty. I used to be a fan of amber beers but I have slowly moved away as they tend to be pretty bland. This is definitely an exception with a delicious complex flavor.


Rating: B+

Pabst Blue Ribbon "trifecta"

Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
Location: Mailwaukee, WI
Serving: can (1), bottle (4), "tallboy" (2)
Style: American Lagar
ABV: 5%

Had I been at the track and hit this trifectia I'd be a rich man, but since I was working in the yard (ie: mowing, weeding, seeding, and tree removing) I figured I'd take the bet.....I won. Given I cannot describe appearance other than "Red, White, & Blue" but regardless I know a superior beer when I taste one. Now I've heard certain people complain of these American lagers and their "no taste drinkability" but truth is I don't always want a beer so heavy and filling. In those instantances I go for the Pabst and have yet to be let down (10 years and counting).

Rating: A+

Red Headed Stranger

Brewery: Lovejoy's Tap Room
Location: Austin, TX
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: Irish Red
ABV: ?

I have been exploring the different pubs and taprooms of Austin trying to find a place to fill the Sportstime void that will soon be in my life. This place is at the end of the horrible row of 6th st. bars that remind me of Bourbon St. or Downtown Nashville. It's not actually on 6th and doesn't seem to have much in common with them though. The blacked out windows and the lack of much in the way of a noticable entrance aren't exactly tourist friendly. It's a nice dumpy place with some pool tables and a juke box kind of like the mag bar but without the charm. They had a pretty good selection of drafts and they brew 4 of their own beers. I ordered the Red Headed Stranger because the description intrigued me. I took the deep amber pint to a couch to sample. It had a nice toasty malt aroma with some hints of fruitiness. The hops stand out much more than I expected in an Irish and that is a god thing. This beer was pretty damn tasty. It has a nutty malty flavor that finishes with a nice bitter fruity hop bite. I don't really see myself hanging out at Lovejoys but I might pop in take home a growler of this beer on occasion.


Rating: B+

Lone Star Beer

Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
Location: Texas
Serving: Pitcher / Pint
Style: American Macro
ABV: 4.72%

We decided to have dinner at a pub called, The Dog and Duck. It was a nice funky little place that I can definitely see hanging out at. They had a nice selection of drafts but we opted for the Texas experience with Lone Star Beer. Lauren and I split a pitcher which means she had a glass and I had the rest. The white head disappeared rapidly leaving a clear glass of that pale straw colour we've all come to love. After my first drink I immediately sprouted a handle bar mustache, cowboy hat, and developed a hankerin' for a side of beef. The taste was pretty standard macro fair but slightly above average. It was sweet and crisp, the kind of beer that quenches on a hot day, fairly bland but drinkable.


Rating: C-

Robert the Bruce

Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Co
Location: Munster, IN
Serving: Growler
Style: Scottish Ale
ABV: 7%

I admit the 6 High Lifes I had prior to indulging in my 1/2 of the growler has affected my memory or tastebuds, because I have hardly any recollection of this brew other than it did me in and was delicious at the same time....and in some situations what more do you really need?

Rating: B+

Barfly IPA

Brewery: Barley Island Brewing
Location: Noblesville, IN
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: American IPA
ABV: 5.6%

I had not heard of Barley Island so I decided to check this out. It turns out they are an Indiana brewery so it was nice to drink locally. This pint was a lovely burnt orange colour with a very small head that left lace all down the glass. It smells citrusy and hoppy, pretty much like every other IPA I've described the smell of. The taste was very nice. A sweet orange flavor is predominate with a mild bitter hop finish. This would be an easy IPA to drink multiples.



Rating: B+

Spaten Maibock

Brewery: Spaten-Franzikaner-Bräu
Location: Munich, Germany
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: Maibock
ABV: 6.5%


After a round of golf I was craving a pint with the mates. Hill and I met Donnie at Sportstime to do just that. The maibock was a light golden colour resembling a pilsner. The aroma is very faint and smells sweet and doughy, like ready to be baked bread. It had a very light sweet taste that finished with what tasted like tobacco to me and spearmint to Donnie. We'll combine the 2 and say it had a skoal finish. Not a bad offering but I prefer Upland's version.


Rating: B-

"The Czar"

Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Location: Colorado
Serving: 1/2 pint
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 11.73%

Another out of season brew that I've enjoyed recently during Gravity Head, this heavily roasted imperial stout goes down with smooth harshness of a good stout. The aroma of a roasted cocoa bean creates a thick frothy head which was begging to become that temporary stache we all know and love.

Rating: A-

Oktoberfest

Brewery: Upland
Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Serving: Draft (pint)
Style: Oktoberfest
ABV: 4%


A poor morning leads to a pour lunch...and a generally favorite style Oktoberfest (given it is out of season) goes from "great" to "ehh"....looking for something to ease my troublesome morning I ordered the Oktober to relax and prepare myself for the 2nd half of the day. A burnt orange pint was presented and consumed. A clean scent with mildly sweet, overly carbonated taste was enjoyed but not to the standard of what is expected from a good Oktoberfest.


Rating: C+

Mad Hatter IPA

Brewery: New Holland Brewing Co.
Location: Michigan
Serving: Bottle
Style: American IPA
ABV: 5.8%

I am a big fan of New Holland. They make one of my favorite beers (dragon's milk) and they have yet to disappoint me. I have been on IPA kick lately, so I felt like I needed to give New Holland's version a shot. It poured a cloudy dark orange colour with a decent sized head. It had a very faint smell that was typical of most IPA's I've had (citrus & hops). I had to practically stick my nose in the beer to pick up much an aroma. It had a nice flavor that was a balance of orange/lemon, good bread, and hops. None of the flavors overpower and they all work nicely together. Most IPA's tend to hit you over the head and scream "I'm an IPA, look hops!", but this beer is subtle almost like a session ale. Enjoy.

Rating: B

Gumballhead

Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Co.
Location: Indiana
Serving: Bottle
Style: Wheat Ale
ABV: 4.8%


After hitting a bucket at the driving range I worked up a thirst. Hill raved about this beer so I picked up a bottle to sample. It pours a nice pale yellow orange with a small head that left sticky rings of lace all down the glass. It smells orangey and almost candy like, which I guess it's why it's called gumball. This is the best wheat beer I've ever had and tastes like no other wheat beer I've ever had. It's very refreshing and fruity and sweet to start with some nice bitterness from the hops. I think I've found my summer beer for this year.

Rating: A+

Flat Tyre

Brewery: New Albanian Brewing Co.
Location: Indiana
Serving: Draft Nonic
Style: American Amber
ABV: 5%

Pint #2 of my attempt to try out some NABC beers I've neglected. Instead of a typical review I have composed a haiku.

Hazy red colour.
Faint smell, a bit sour, clean finish.
I want a Fat Tire.

Rating: B-

Kaiser 2nd Reising

Brewery: New Albanian Brewing Co.
Location: Indiana
Serving: Draft
Style: Old Fashioned Pilsner
ABV: 5.9%

I had pretty much stopped ordering NABC beers except for the occasional specialty brew like Olde Lightening Rod. There are just so many great beers on tap that the NABC brews can't really stand up in my opinion. Monday was NABC day, meaning pints were $1.25 off, so I decided to try a few out to see if anything has changed.

Kaiser was a clear pale yellow with little to no head. It had a very faint smell that was kind of sour. The taste was tangy with some hints of grain/corn. The finish was not my cup of tea, kind of bitter but not in a good way. It doesn't taste anything like other pilsners I've had but I think that's the point since it's brewed in the old style.

These two beers didn't really change my opinion. The NABC beers are pretty good (they used to be so much better)and much better than the mass produced beers, but they just don't hold up to other craft breweries to me.


Rating: C-

Double Crooked Tree IPA

Brewery: Dark Horse Brewing Co.
Location: Michigan
Serving: Draft
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 13.6%

This was the last beer released for Gravity Head and the one I had been most anticipating. I am a fan of Dark Horse and the regular Crooked Tree is great. I decided to head to Sportstime to try it out before it was all gone. They brought it out in a 10 oz Tulip glass and it was a nice clear reddish orange colour. It smells hoppy and sweet like citrus and flowers. The flavour of the hops immediatley hits you but doesn't overpower everything, there is some sweetness and alcohol that also comes through. The flavor is very balanced and unlike a lot of imperial style beers I felt like I could drink these without it overwhelming my tastes.

Rating: A

Pabst Blue Ribbon

Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
Location: Texas
Serving: Draft/Pint
Style: American Macro Lager
ABV: 4.7%

A trip to Nashville wouldn't be complete without Pabst in some form. It seems more popular there than in any other city I've visited so far. You see billboards advertising it, you can find it in most gas stations, clubs, bars, and restaurants. It comes in all shapes and sizes: bottles, cans, tallboys, drafts. Nashville is a Pabst wonderland.

We stopped into the GoldRush bar Friday to hang out with some friends and the question of what to order presented itself as it always does. I made my way up to the bar with Ian when the gleam of a white tap handle caught my eye. A white tap with blue and red trim, it could only be Pabst on draft, a rare treat. We ordered two pints and settled down to enjoy. The pint glass had the awful Nashville Predator logo on it but I didn't let it ruin my experience. I admired the glorious pale gold of the liquid in my glass and inhaled the sweet smell of grain before heading in for a sip. My taste buds sang as the smooth, crisp lager hit my tongue. It was light and refreshing with hints of corn, a nice bitterness, and clean finish. This lager destroys the other American swill that the masses down everyday.

Rating: A

Corona Light

Brewery: Groupo Modelo
Location: Mexico
Serving: Bottle
Style: Light Lager
ABV: ?

I decided to start off Little 5 with a cerveza to get into the fiesta spirit. Actually, the keg wasn't tapped yet and these were cold. My mistake. I held the bottle up and admired the faintest hint of yellow colour. After the aroma of skunk hit my nostrils, I opted to put a lime in the beer. Citrus in beer! That's blasphemy. You prove to me that Corona is actually beer and I'll repent. The lime made it drinkable so I guess you can take away my beer snob membership. After shoving the lime in the bottle, it went down easily enough. The phrase "it was like drinking water" is correct in this case. Water w/ some lime. No me gusta.


Rating: F

Chimay Première

Brewery: Bières de Chimay
Location: Belgium
Serving: Bottle/Snifter
Style: Dubbel
ABV: 7%

Jesi's dad bought her some quality beer for completing her thesis and she was kind enough to share this one with me. It was a deep red colour. It had a very light smell that was malty and fruity. The taste was sweet and slightly bitter. It had a finish of honey. A delicious beer.

Rating: A

Hazelnut Brown Nectar

Brewery: Rogue
Location: Oregon
Serving: Imperial Pint
Style: European Brown
ABV: 6.2%

Appearance: Clear dark brown, little to no head.

Smell: Mild, nutty

Taste: Hazelnut O' Plenty

Overall: I look forward this brew in every appearance it makes at the local brewery. A consistient flavor and finish makes this a personal favorite.

Rating: A

Old Style

Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
Location: Texas
Serving: Pitcher/Pint
Style: American Macro Lager
ABV: 4.7%

Donnie and I took a trip to Nachbar to check it out. It's a nice cozy little place with some decent beers on tap. I started off with a Dead Guy, but we switched it up for some games of darts. The Old Style poured golden and clear with a small white head. It smelled kind of like an old lady with a hint of sourness. Not the best thing to inhale before drinking. The taste was clean, water, and slightly sweet. Heads above the "big 3" American mass consumption beers. It's crisp and refreshing and you could drink it by the gallon on a hot day. Not that I condone that sort of behavior...

Rating: C+

Yer Beer

Brewery: Cumberland Brews
Location: Louisville
Serving: Draft/Pint
Style: Infused IPA?
ABV: ?

I had planned on ordering the stout but after the server described it as smoked I passed. I have yet to develop a taste for smoked brews. I just don't enjoy drinking a glass of bacon. She recommended the Yer Beer as a nice pale ale style beer. Boy was she wrong. The pint she sat in front of me was a very hazy light orange. I took a sniff, clouds, purified air? It had no smell. This ale is infused with Yerba Mate, which is defined as having a characteristic mature flavor which is somewhat sweet, bitter, withered leaf like, and alfalfa-like. I'm not sure what that would taste like but if the answer is nothing then this beer must taste like Yerba Mate. I could not get any flavor at all except for the finish which tasted like creamy soap. This is apparently a seasonal for Cumberland, I would suggest they forget to brew it next season.

Rating: D

Bell's Hopslam

Brewery: Bell's Brewery
Location: Michigan
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 9.3%


Appearance: Yellowish/red some might call it copper. Not me.

Smell: Grapefruit. Lots and lots of grapefruit. This is one of the best smelling beers I've ever had.

Taste: Hops. It has a load of different flavors going on. Fruit, flowers, pine, but they all blend into a very creamy sweet beer.

Overall: I bought a bottle of this just to have one last time before the season is over. This is better on tap, but what isn't? I will definitely return to this next year. Bell's wins again. I think there must be something in the water in Michigan.

Rating: A

Founders Centennial IPA

Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
Location: Michigan
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.2%


Appearance: Cloudy Orange/Brown colour with very thin head.

Smell: Pine and Citrus.

Taste: It had the taste of bitter citrus fruit but finished nice and sweet.

Overall: A very tasty beer and easy to down. The alcohol content will sneak up on you. This is the second Founder's style I've tried and I'm impressed so far.

Rating: B+