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+
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
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
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+
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+
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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-
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-
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
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
Monday, April 21, 2008
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
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
Monday, April 14, 2008
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
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
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
Thursday, April 10, 2008
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
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
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
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+
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+
Monday, April 7, 2008
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
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
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