In the interests of time and space (but mostly time) I will no longer be posting reviews of beers on this site. However, I intend to keep these pages available as a testament to the damage I've done to my liver along with the remarkable spectrum of wonderful brews I've enjoyed during the last six years. For the two or there of you out there who wait anxiously for my new beer reviews, I recommend checking out Beer Advocate, where I've posted 200 or so beer reviews, and will likely continue to do so, from time to time.
Two Brothers Northwind Imperial Stout
tasted 1/7/06
There's nothing like a tasty hand-pulled Imperial pint of stout. Especially Imperial Stout (the stout suits the glass in this case.) I found the Northwind Imperial Stout at the Map Room to be especially tasty. It had a fairly intense chocolate flavor with a roasted malt edge and just right mix of hops. The hops were just slightly assertive, just enough to add another dimension to this very tasty beer. I haven't had the bottled version of this year's stout, but I can definitely recommend the cask-conditioned version.
Three Floyds Black Sun Stout
tasted 1/7/06
I would be shocked if I had Three Floyds dry stout wasn't extra hoppy and the Black Sun Stout doesn't disappoint. An innocently roasty tasting stout quickly turns into a hop monster as I sipped this pint. It wasn't too long before I experienced the phenonema know as "hop burps", which is something that happens in extremely hoppy beers -- you belch and you can taste hops -- sometimes for a couple hours later, as was the case with this pint of Black Sun. This beer should be avoided by anyone who finds the citric, grapefruit taste of hops in a stout offensive, or any drinker who favors sweeter tasting stouts. However, hopheads should rejoice.
Goose Island Christmas Ale
tasted 11/17/05
A fairly hoppy winter warmer from Goose Island. The hops are the first thing I notice about this beer, other than the lively carbonation that enhances the appearance, with a slightly rocky head that leaves lacework down the sides of my glass. This supposed winter warmer, pours a light brown/dark red hue. I pick up the faint aroma of spices, perhaps nutmeg or cardamom, but I also get some fresh malt and hops. There are some caramel flavors mixing with a pleasant fruitiness and assertive hoppiness, making for a pretty flavorful brew. The finish is rather bitter, but doesn't take away from the caramel malty sweetness of this tasty ale. The bottle label says that this beer will improve over five years. This isn't that strong of a brew, so I wonder what changes would occur during that time. I guess there's only one way to find out. In the meantime, I can definitely recommend this hoppy winter warmer this season.
Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza
tasted 11/4/05
This strong golden brew claims to be "an artisan golden ale produced in the Biere de Garde tradition of Northern France." I would say that's a fairly accurate statement, however, the first thing I notice about this beer (aside from the shimmering golden color and volumninous head) is its peculier milky (lactic), almost "goaty" aroma. It's a very funky aroma, but it's not off-putting enough for me to not take the first sip, which is very fruity and a bit lactic (probably from the maturation in wood that is mentioned on the botttle.) Bits of pineapple and apricots interwine with dusty hop flavors, a short-lived bitterness and tapioca root dryness at the finish. The body is medium and the mouthfeel somewhat slick, keeping this strong ale fairly drinkable. Some of the fruity and flavors and peculiar aromas could thwart many beer drinkers from appreciating this unique brew, but my recommendation is that fans of Belgian-style beers give it a try.
Berghoff Octoberfest
tasted 9/28/05
I picked this up as a single 12-oz. bottle to sample instead of buying a whole 12-pack. I expected a lighter-bodied Octoberfest from Berghoff (Huber) and that's what I got. This Octoberfest brew poured a light amber color with a quickly dissipating bright, white head. The malty aroma, tinged with tobacco leaf and banana, may be this beer's best attribute. The expected caramel Munich malt flavor asserted itself towards the finish. Otherwise, this beer has a crisp malt flavor more reminiscent of Octoberfest light, but still flavorful enough. The tasty finish saves this beer and it's what qualifies it as a 'Fest. Not a bad cheaper alternative ($8.99 a 12-pack) to pricier American and European beers.
Boulevard Bully! Porter
tasted 9/22/05
I haven't had one of these wonderful dark brews in quite awhile. I've been pining for the taste and smell of this beer Bully! Porter since it was no longer distributed in the Chicago area several years ago. First of all, the color of this beer is a very dark brown, the perfect color of porter. The aroma is simply outstanding, with a citrus-laced coffee-liqeur scent filling my nostrils. I simply want to sit and smell this beer before even sipping it. Having taken in enough of the aroma and feeling thirsty, I start to savor the wonderfully choclately malt flavors and take interest in the cocoa-like bits that seem add to the complexity of this brew. The long finish is toasty, dry and slightly warming with just the right amount of bitter hops. My only complaint with this beer is that it comes across a bit thin-bodied. Otherwise, it was one great porter, right down to the label.
Boulevard Pale Ale
tasted 9/18/05
This golden pale ale starts pours with plenty of carbonation and a bright white head. I can't help but noitce the hoppy, floral aroma. This beer has a good malt saltine cracker-like malt flavor, a slight fruitiness (almost like Juicy Fruit gum) with some pleasant tasting hops. The finish is bitter, but not powerfully so, with just enough hops to let you know you're drinking an American Pale Ale. Perhaps a bit thin for the style, which I suppose makes it a good pale ale for summertime quaffing. I used to drink Boulevard beer a lot starting about 12 years ago when I as a college student in Western Illinois. This is a respectable pale ale and I wish the Illinois distribution reached the Chicago area. Although the aroma reminded me a bit of Berghoff Pale Ale (which is brewed in Wisconsin and distributed in the Chicago area), I think Boulevard's pale ale is a bit more refined than the Berghoff and closer in taste and body to SNPA. The packaging is pretty refined; as this six-pack comes boxed with some nice artwork. The beer is described as bottle-conditoned, and I like that, as bottle-conditioned ales tend to have a bit more complexity than highly filtered ones. Thanks go to Ryan for bringing this back from Oklahoma.
Emmett's Patriot's Pride
tasted 8/8/05
I picked up this growler the other day from Emmett's Ale House in Downers Grove. I heard some buzz about it; that it was a very hoppy brown ale and I've since been dying to try it. I wasn't disappointed. This brown ale had a big pine cone and spicy hop aroma mixed with hints of coffee and chocolate. This beer is chestnut brown with a lush, half-inch thick head that leaves lacing down the sides of the glass. Very nice. Starts light and malt accented with notes of caramel, but gets increasingly hoppy and bitter towards the finish, which is almost too bitter, suppressing some nice coffee and chocolate notes. This is one hoppy and bitter brown ale. It's very smooth and satisfying, but almost too bitter when fresh. Highly recommended for hopheads and fans of dark, bitter brews.
Emmett's Centennial Ale
tasted 7/29/05
An amber ale served in a 20-ounce Imperial pint at Emmett's Ale House in Downers Grove, Ill. A very solid amber ale with an great balance between the hops and malt. Most amber ales posess a caramel sweetness balanced by hops. I prefer the amber ales that have a little more of an assertive hop bitterness; but no too much hop spice. Fans of Killians Red will be disappointed when trying this beer (it is more bitter), but fans of West Coast amber-red ales such as Red Seal may be pleasantly surprised. Although Emmett's Centennial Ale lacks some of the complexity of Red Seal (pretty much the definitive American amber ale in my opinion), it is worthy substitute and certainly worth trying.
American Dream IPA
tasted 7/27/05
What better to celebrate American Beer Month than with a truly American-style of beer such as Imperial IPA, like the American Dream IPA that I found on tap at the Rock Bottom brewpub in Warrenville, Ill. I tasted this beer at the pub, but also picked up a growler for further study. Sampled out of the two-day-old growler, American Dream IPA pours an orangish hue and has a floral, slightly citrusy aroma. The first sip a bit sweet and the spicy hops don't really show themselves until toward this finish, which is powerfully bitter and alcoholic. This is a brazen, simplistic interpretation of the Imperial IPA style that knocks you over the head with bitter hops and alcohol. This is not a very complex brew, but I don't think it's meant to be; rather it is a hoppy hand grenade leaving bitter hop shrapnel on the palate. I believe this beer is a special offering for American Beer Month (July) and might not be available for too much longer (until next year, perhaps.)
Oh, Brother Tripel-style Ale
tasted 7/18/05
This is a Belgian-inspired Tripel-style beer from Two Brothers Brewing Co. in Warrenville, Ill. Oh, Brother pours almost straw colored, with a small head of foam that falls to a slight ring of bubbles. I pick up bits of earthy, spicy and estery aromas and perhaps a hint of tobacco. The mouthfeel is fairly smooth, but a bit fizzy. This interpretation of Belgian-style Tripel seems to err on the side of being a little too thin-bodied. The malt flavors in this beer are juicy and laced with sugar, but lacking complexity. This finish is long, slightly acidic and hot from the high alcohol content (around 10 percent). I think this is a fine effort by the Two Brothers Brewing Co., but what this brew seems to lack is the complexity of the beers it seeks to imitate. Worth a try.
Three Floyds Gumballhead
tasted 6/17/05
The first time I tried this Three Floyds beer, I thought there would be some bubble gum-like flavors. I had never heard of the comic book character that inspired the naming of this beer. This is still one hoppy American Wheat beer. Tons of fresh leafy hop flavor are in this beer from start to finish. All sorts of hop flavors, too, some grassy notes hidden behind the citrusy flavors. All these hops are supported by wonderful wheat malt backdrop. I'm betting there's some other subtle spices in here, too. "Hop burps" kick in big time about half way through this pint, quaffed at the Map Room. What a pleasant effect! Highly recommended.
Emmett's Ale House Dry Stout
tasted 4/7/05
A beatiful dry stout poured off a nitro tap into a 20-ounce "Imperial" pint at Emmett's Ale House in Downers Grove, Ill. Poured with about a half-inch off-white head, this near-opaque beer had a light chocolate and roasted malt aroma enhanced with a slight chalkiness. This was a creamy stout, with a mix of chocolate and coffee flavors, and a moderately bitter finish. Towards the finish I noticed a slighter sourness that seemed to be more evident as the beer warmed up in my glass. I'm not sure if this was on purpose, to replicate the trademark sour "twang" of draft Guinness Stout, or if was something else going on -- either way, it didn't bother me. I thoroughly enjoyed this pint and would have it again.
Three Floyds Brian Boru
tasted 4/8/05
In the last month or so, I've sampled this beer both out of the bottle (a hefty $5.50 for a 22-ounce) and off the tap at the Map Room. Brian Boru pours clear and medium-red with a thick off-white head and emanating a pineapple aroma. You can definitely taste the Amarillo hops in this not-so-Irish red ale. Sure, there are some caramel malts that balance the hop flavor, and they give this beer a subtle sweetness -- but by and large this another hoppy product from Three Floyds. Quality malts are used for a terrific, smooth mouthfeel and ample body. The finish is better, more bitter than any other Irish Ale I've had, and "hop burps" are present after a few sips of this beer. Recommended, but only for hopheads -- this isn't your father's Irish Ale! Highly recommended.
Sprecher Double Bock
tasted 3/28/05
A dark dopplebock that pours somehwat still, then slowly builds a thin layer of foam. Rummy, malty, aroma. A bit thin-bodied for a double bock, and lacking mouthfeel. Good malt flavors at first, but the almost watery mouthfeel surfaces in the middle, while the finish is full of alcohol and a bit grainy. This is a potent double bock, but otherwise lacks some of the body and smooth mouthfeel that I look for in this style of beer.
Bell's Two Hearted Ale
tasted 3/26/05
I'm a pretty big fan of Bell's beer, perhaps because I'm fron Michigan, and my family has vacationed there for years. The Bell's Two Hearted Ale is one of my favorites, which is why I had to grab a pint when I saw it on tap at the Map Room this past weekend. I always look for differences between bottled and tap versions of certain beers and Two Hearted is a good example of a beer that is different on tap than out of the bottle. The bottled version can sometimes be cloudy if the beer isn't carefully decanted off of its yeast sediment. It also can have a bit of bite from the yeast, sort of pretzel-like bready character. This character was absent from the draft version, which poured crystal clear. I also noticed the remarkably fresh hop aroma, full of pineapple and citrus. As I quaffed this beer I could taste the generous additions of hops and as I belched I could taste the pineapple-citrus hops again. A well-hopped beer for sure, but balanced well pale and Munich malts, and much more quaffable than it's 6 percent alcohol would suggest.
Sprecher Imperial Stout
tasted 3/19/05
This is another Sprecher beer I picked up in Milwaukee a couple weeks ago. This stout, packaged in a 16-ounce bottle, pours with a voluminous light tan head. The color is opaque, with an especially roasty aroma that is laced with bits of a burnt rubber odor. The predominant flavor is of roasted malt and burnt chocolate. I also detected a hint of licorice as this beer warmed up. The mouthfeel is fairly smooth, but the seems a bit thin for an Imperial Stout. The beer finishes with cocoa-like dryness accented by bitter hops. Certainly worth trying.
Sprecher Mai Bock
tasted 1/4/05
A clear, blonde colored lager beer from Milwaukee, Wisc., that pours with fluffy white, loose head of foam. The head drops to a thin layer of foam, leaving lacework on the sides of the glass, for a very nice appearance. The aroma is laced with toasted malts and full of lightly spicy hops. Starts fairly spicy for a Maibock. Excellent toasted malt flavor! Sweet malt asserts itself towards the middle, and then a bitter and dry finish. The mouthfeel is smooth and slightly slick. This bock has a lighter body than most bocks I've sampled, and even seems lighter in body than the version in sampled in 2002. Not quite what you might expect in a Maibock, but the lightly hoppy flavors in this beer are a welcome surprise. Recommended.
Lakefront Holiday Spice Lager
tasted 1/4/05
Pours a clear reddish-amber with a fairly dense head of foam. Very complex spicy aroma of orange, cinnamon and honey. Sticky sweet honey and orange flavors up front. Cinnamon spicy notes attack the sides of my tongue, with a little cinnamon burn in the back of the throat. A medium-bodied beer with a smooth mouthfeel. There's a bit of a lingering bitterness mixed with the other spices. A very festive fruity and spicy brew with a very good finish. A spicy holiday beer that's not too sweet or cloying and not too strong. Somehow this came across better than the Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Maybe it was in better condition. Highly recommended.
Great Lakes Christmas Ale
tasted 12/23/04
Perhaps the best aspect of the 2004 edition of this beer from the Great Lakes Brewing Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, is the aroma that is released upon pouring it into a very wide-mouthed stemmed glass. The color is nice, too, a reddish-orange, and the carbonation light with very little foam (dirty glass?) The very Christmas-y aroma is full of cinnamon, cherries and honey. (These spices are easily identifiable as they are mentioned as ingredients on the bottle's label.) The spices show up on the palate, too, and mix with slighty toffee-ish malt flavors, a some bitter hops. The finish is very dry and reminiscent of a light, dry sherry. Great Lakes Christmas Ale is a very festive spiced beer that if mixed with brandy could almost be served mulled (heated with spices.) A very attenuated (dry) and interesting winter ale, that comes across as a bit of a novelty, but certainly recommended.
Goose Island Christmas Ale
tasted 12/16/04
This Christmas ale pours with a quite a bit of foam that settles to a thin layer of bubbles with some nice lacing around the sides the glass. There's a slight smokiness in the aroma and more hops than I expected in the first sip. The hops are played against some very good roasted, biscuit and caramel malt flavors, with a fairly bitter finish. I'm not sure how to classify this as anything other than a winter warmer. It's quite drinkable and doesn't appear to be too strong. There's some spiciness that tastes like something other than hops, but I can't quite pick out any individual spices; they just come across as adding complexity to the brew. The flavors are robust, but not overwhelming, resulting in a very drinkable pint. Picked up for $6.49 a six-pack. Definitely worth putting under the tree.
Bell's Best Brown Ale
tasted 10/28/04
A light brown ale with a toasted malt flavor, that is slightly fizzy on the tongue and has a dry finish. A hint of sulfur in the aroma evaporates after awhile and becomes less distracting. The mouthfeel is carbonic, the body is light, with toasted malt and slightly earthy hops as the predominant flavors. A slight coffee-tinged malt flavor surfaces as the beer warms up. This is fairly bitter for a brown ale, certainly more bitter than the famous Newscastle, or Pete's Wicked Ale. Needs more depth and little more complexity; the yeast seems too neutral. Almost drinks like an Octoberfest. Not the best Bell's beer, but certainly worth a try.
New Glarus Staghorn Octoberfest
tasted 10/20/04
This Wisconsin Octoberfest pours a deep red color with a white, fluffy foam. The nose is malt-accented with a tinge of caramel malt aroma. Bits of spicy hops mingle with the malt flavors of this beer. The malt and hops are most balanced, with the exception of sweet flourish of malt character towards the finish, which is dry with a hint of coffee flavor (perhaps roasted grains?) I think it's these roasted grains, along with the hops, which prevent this Octoberfest from finishing too sweet. The yeast may contribute some flavor, too, as I can dectect a slight tartness in the finish. Staghorn is a smooth drinking, light to medium-bodied Octoberfest that is worth seeking out.
New Holland Red Tulip Ale
tasted 10/4/04
Red Tulip is an ale from the New Holland Brewing Co., Holland, Mich., that actually uses tulip petals as an ingredient. This beer, as no surprise, had a very flowery aroma that actually reminded me a little more of roses than tulips. It poured with a good amount of foam and a lasting head. The color was cloudy rouge. It's a light bodied beer and not very strong. I eventually detect a little bit of tannin-like powdery character, perhaps from the petals? The finish is bitter and dry with a lingering rose water flavor. A very good, easy-drinking, "red ale" with a unique twist. Recommended.
Nosferatu
tasted 10/4/04
A big beer from the Great Lakes Brewing Co., of Cleveland, and not a cheap on either at $12 a four-pack. The label is one of the best aspects of this beer. Perhaps I'll try and scan it in at some point. It is a very scary drawing of the vampire.
The label describes this beer as a strong German stock ale with lots of hops. My first impression was the strong malt character and a fruity aroma. Nosferatu has an amber color and brilliant clarity with a sustaining head of foam. The mouthfeel of this particular beer was very smooth when poured into a straight-sided pint glass. It is full-bodied beer with spicy hops that balance all the malt. It is strong at 8 percent alcohol by volume. The finish is bitter and quite long, with the level of alcohol quite hidden. I would like a little more complexity in this beer. The malt character seemed simple and lacked any toasted, biscuit or caramel malt flavors. Worth a try.
Cascade Pale Ale
tasted 8/8/2004
A new pale ale from the Point brewery in Stevens Point, Wisc., that tries to imitate the classic Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It gets pretty close, but the Point beer ends up being a bit less complex and less bitter than SNPA. The hop aroma is evident, the piney Cascade hop flavor is there, but the bitterness is somewhat lacking. I can even detect some of the various caramel or crystal malts that the brewery says are used in this beer. This beer's complexity, however, is robbed by what seems like extremely tight filtration that leaves it tasting too clean for an ale. The character of this beer is also detracted somewhat by the use of adjuncts. The use of corn/maize seems to show up as a slickness towards the finish in this beer and certainly would help keep the cost down. Worth a try as a decent pale ale if you want something like a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale that costs $2 to $3 less per 12-pack.
South Shore Nut Brown Ale
tasted 7/25/04
This beer is from the South Shore Brewery in Ashland, Wisc. Poured into a straight-sided pint glass, this beer takes on a mahogany hue, with a white head of foam that falls to ring of carbonation. One of the aspects of this beer that I noticedright away are the particles floating in it. At first, I'm a bit concerned, but after checking the bottle I find out that it is bottle-conditioned -- the particles are probably clumps of yeast in suspension. This brown ale is true to its name, with a distincty nutty character that surfaces towards the finish. This is definitely an English-style brown ale, with the flavor emphasis on the malt, with just enough hops to balance the sweetness. It's a very drinkable, medium-bodied beer, with a smooth mouthfeel. The aroma is fairly neutral -- there's a slight bit of caramel malt in the nose -- but nothing that notable. Overall, a highly drinkable and fairly flavorful beer, but not neccesarily worth seeking out. A good beer to stumble across, just as my friend Ryan did while traveling through Wisconsin -- thanks Ryan!
Phred's Black Soba Ale
tasted 7/24/04 at The Edgewater Lounge
All the drafts I tried at my first stop at The Edgewater on Chicago's far north side were very tasty, but I especially enjoyed Phred's Black Soba Ale, one of the 15th anniversary brews available around the 15th of each month at the Edgewater. According to the Rogue web site, the Black Soba "is dedicated to Phred Kaufmann, Rogue's Japan Distributor. The Black Soba is a darker and more complex version of the Morimoto Soba Ale, which is part of Rogue's Signature Series). According to the Rogue brewery, "roasted malts provide a rich nut-laced flavor, while the 3 hops blend to provide a refreshing zest. Brewed with Roasted Soba, 2-row Pale, Munich, C-15, C-60, & Weyermann Malts; Horizon, Sterling and Cascade Hops, Free-range Coastal Water and PacMan Yeast. Black Soba weighs in at 12-degrees Plato, 36-degrees Lovibond, 75.2 apparant attenuation, and 30 International Bittering Units."
I found the Black Soba Ale to be a really enjoyable dark ale with light to medium body, making it a good choice for a summertime dark ale. The buckwheat (soba) gives the beer a crisp flavor, while the Caramel and Munich malts balanced the hops nicely and contributed to the smooth body. It was indeed an unsual dark ale and I hope it goes into regular production. Highly recommended.
Summit India Pale Ale
tasted 7/21/04
Pours an amber to deep red hue with a moderate to light carbonation as in the English style, with very little foam, but with a big hop aroma. Liberal amounts of hops in this IPA blend with caramel and toasted malt flavors. Fairly thick and full bodied. A very hearty IPA with that the malt and body of a true English IPA, but with a more aggressive American-style use of hops. According to the brewery, only English hops are used with a base of American Harrington 2-Row malt along with Caramel and Special B malts. Could use more carbonation, but I think the lack of bubbles might have something to do with dirty glassware. A very hearty IPA that I can highly recommend.
Goose Island Summertime (German-style Kolsch Bier)
tasted 6/16/04
A golden ale that has a little different flavor than a true Kolsch bier. A surprisingly clear beer (I can remember when this beer was bottle conditioned) that pours with a fluffy white head and a whiff of toasted grains in the nose. This beer has a light, crisp malt flavor with just enough hops to balance the sweetness. The body is light and the mouthfeel is soft making for a very quaffable brew. Quite clean tasting. Very slightly tart towards the finish, this beer is an excellent hot weather microbrew and good for a picnic.
Pere Jacques
tasted 6/4/04
A new seasonal beer from Goose Island Brewing Co. of Chicago. I picked up a single 12-oz. bottle of this beer that is normally sold in four-packs. The bottle describes a visit to Belgium as an inspiration for brewing this Belgian-style strong ale.
Pere Jacques pours an slightly hazy amber with plenty of carbonation. Lots of fruitiness in the aroma, especially banana. The mouthfeel is very smooth and the body is firm. This beer has a delicate maltiness that is reminiscent of honey wafers. There's some caramel notes, too. The finish is a bit bitter, not very complex, but laced with vanilla notes. The alcohol content (9 percent) is noticeable, although this beer is surprisingly (and dangerously) quaffable. Overall, a pleasant strong ale that likes a bit of complexity, almost tasting something like a "double hefe-weizen" that did not leave a strong impression on me, other than that of its alcohol content. Don't go out of your way for this beer.
Consecrator Doppelbock
tasted 6/2/04
A dopplebock from Kalamazoo Brewing Co., also known as Bell's, which mostly produces ales. As far as I know, the only other lager among the Bell's offerings is the Bell's Beer (which I haven't yet tried.) This double bcok pours a dark ruby color with very little foam, but lots of carbonation. First sip of this 12-oz. bottle poured into a snifter is full of intense maltiness, caramel and fruit flavors. Almost tannic finish, which is also a bit bitter, which I kind of like in a doppelbock. I don't like a doppelbock to finish too sweet. An almost wine-like character and a similar body; a bit thin bodied for my tastes. The smooth mouthfeel that one expects from a doppelbock also is missing. Strong vanilla aroma. Vanilla bean-like flavors emerge as this beer warms up. A perilously drinkable double bock. As is the case with most Bell's beers, the high alcohol content isn't that noticeable, it doesn't hit you until your half way through your drink. Starts kind of weak but finishes with a with a burst of intense caramel/Munich malt flavor coated with just the right amount of bitter hops. The party is over quicky, though, and the finish is quite short. There are better doppelbocks to be had.
Thanks for the bottle Ryan!
Bell's Third Coast Beer
tasted 5/31/04
This beer from the Kalamazoo Brewing Co. pours a hazy yellow. The dense, fluffy, white head dissipates quickly leaving some lacework along the sides of the glass. The first sniff has a slight whiff of grassy hops. This is a crisp, light ale full of raw, leafy hop flavors, especially when fresh. It ends in a big smack of bitter hops and a bone dry finish that makes me want more of this refreshingly hoppy beer. An excellent light summer ale for hopheads; others will find the hop flavor too coarse and bitter.
Norksi Bock
tasted 5/28/04
A Maibock from New Glarus Brewing Co. We (me and Carol) recently made a run up to this little Wisconsin brewery for a day trip. This Maibock, or blonde bock, pours a deep golden color with a nice bit of foam. The aroma is malt accented. The first sip reveals a very soft mouthfeel and full body. A very sweet bock with some pleasant honey flavors that develop towards the finish, which again is rather sweet. The crisp and clean maltiness remains a bit of Spaten beer from Germany. I think I prefer the bock beers from Capital Brewing Co. in Middleton, Wisc., but New Glarus is fun and friendly brewery to visit.
Also, if you see New Glarus' beers on the shelf here in Illinois they are not fresh, as New Glarus Brewing no longer distributes its beer in Illinois. However, it's worth the trip to Wisconsin to get these brews.
Berghoff Solstice Wit
tasted 5/28/04
This is a new summer beer from the Berghoff/Huber Brewing Co. of Monroe, Wisc. that isn't quite as fancy as it looks. This Wit (meaning "white" or "wheat" pours a clear dark gold. Yup, clear. When was the last time you had a clear Witbier? Normally this style of beer appears cloudy. I'm going to assume that Huber filtered this beer. This is a good thing when it comes to lagers, but not so good in a wheat beer style which is supposed to have yeast in suspension. It's this yeast that often adds complexity to the beer. Despite being filtered, Berghoff Wit is a refreshing summer brew which starts with a crisp wheat malt taste accented by spices (I'm guessing some orange and coriander; the label lists "natural flavors") and finishes slightly fruity, malt-accented and tart. Overall, I can recommend Berghoff Solstice Wit as a light, refreshing summer beer at a refreshing price of less $6 a six-pack.
LaCrosse Light
tasted 3/24/04
A mega-brewery beer from a not so mega-brewery in LaCrosse, Wisc., that is rather tasty for the style. Really. I'm not kidding. If there's one canned light beer that I can recommend, LaCrosse Light is probably it. This straw colored, well carbonated beer from the City Brewery is made with a nod to the old G. Heileman plant's much advertised krausening, a process that carbonates beer by mixing a freshly fermenting beer with one that has already completed most of its fermentation. La Crosse Light pours with a lot of foam, but the head falls quickly, much like any other light beer. The difference is in the taste and aroma. It actually has taste! It has a surprisingly smooth mouthfeel for a beer with only 110 calories. The taste is smooth with a bit of acidic graininess. The finish is neutral and leaves you knowing that you've had a beer and not just a glass of carbonated water. At $2.99 a six-pack this is a decent cheap beer and makes do when you're thirsty or when you just want something very light.
Sundog Amber Ale
tasted 3/22/04
An amber ale from New Holland Brewing Co, in Holland, Mich., that pours a definite copper/amber color with a flourishing bit of foam. Nice lacework as the head falls. Not much of a nose; perhaps a faint aroma of toasted malt. Starts malty, with a great burst of hops in middle, a little bit of assertive malt flavor towards the finish which features a bit of hops shining through a fairly thick caramel maltiness. Reminds me of Red Seal from Mendocino County. Recommended.
Full Circle (Single Malt Beer)
tasted 3/22/04
This golden ale from New Holland Brewing Co, in Holland, Mich., pours with quite of bit of foam. Some nice lacework is left as the head falls. According to the label, this beer is made with only one malt and one kind of hop. The aroma is pretty neutral with perhaps a faint trace of malt and hops. The first sip is a bit spicy hoppy with a firm maltiness showing up in the middle, before a bit of hop bite in the finish. Dare I say the flavors are two-dimensional? I guess that statement would agree with label and the purported two ingredients. A very well-made clean tasting beer, with a nice malt and hop balance, but otherwise it drinks like a fairly simple beer. It is very refreshing, but I'm not sure I want to pay $8-$9 for a six-pack of "refreshing" beer.
Great Lakes Anniversary Ale
tasted 2/28/04
Picked up a single bottle of this anniversary brew from Great Lakes Brewing Co, of Cleveland, Ohio, at Taps Liquors in Warrenville, Ill. The Anniversary Ale is brewed in the style of a Belgian Tripel. This beer was golden in color and poured with a nice bit of carbonation that left a little bit of lacework. The aroma was distinctively fruity, with notes of tropical fruit mixed with a more vegetable-like smell. The taste of this beer is at first sweet and fruity, then a bit spicy with an herbal, almost tomato-like flavor. The finish is fairly dry with the 9.5 percent alcohol barely noticeable. Not a bad interpretation of this style, but this bottle seemed to have some off-flavors and lacked complexity.
Lakefront Snake Chaser Stout
tasted 02/27/04
This new offering from Milwaukee brewer Lakefront is a very good version of a dry stout. It pours deep black, with not too much foam, and a wonderful roasted malt aroma. It is dry, grainy stout with coffee-like flavors and burnt bits of chocolate. Although it's a little bit thin in body, I still like this stout, because I don't need my dry stouts that full-bodied. I picked up a single bottle, at Tap's located just north of Batavia Rd. on Rte. 59 in Warrenville, Ill. I don't know what this beer goes for in a six-pack. Definitely worth picking up as part of a mixed six-pack, though.
Extra Special Bitter
tasted 2/7/04 at America's Brewpub
A light bodied, lighter tasting, but tasty Extra Special Bitter or ESB. I tried this beer at the Roundhouse the other day because I'm brewing a similar beer of my own. This ESB had a light malt aroma with very round (no pun intended) malt flavors, finishing with a solid bitterness that wasn't too overwhelming. The aroma was accented by the being served in nice stemmed glass. As the beer warmed up I noticed a faint fruitiness. A very drinkable, tasty, red ale and quite fresh.
Bell's Best Brown Ale
tasted 2/2/04
This beer pours a dark chestnut brown with a lasting head of foam. It has a somewhat rum-like aroma. Despite the high level of carbonation, Bell's Best Brown is a smooth beer, with caramel and roasted grain flavors that lead to a balanced finish between the malt and hops. This is a brown ale with a fairly sweet finish, but I still like it. There's a slight odd flavor about this beer that I can't quite describe, as it's very subtle. Overall, a fine tasting brown ale, but not the best among Bell's portfolio of beers. Like all Bell's beers the Best Brown Ale is fairly high in alcohol at 6.6 percent by volume, something to consider when parting with the $8 per six-pack. Brewed from September to April.
Ragtop Red
tasted 1/5/03
I'm sampling this beer from a growler I picked up Saturday at the Rock Bottom location in Warrenville, Ill. The beer has plenty of carbonation and pours with quite a bit foam that settles slowly leaving a lot of lacework. The aroma is of fresh malt and flowery hops. This beer is full of juicy, fresh malt flavors with a little fruitiness. The color is sufficiently red. A very smooth Extra Special Bitter (according to the brewmaster) with a fairly full body. Not quite as bitter as I'd like it to be, but still tasty, and reminiscent of a Berghoff Amber with a just a touch more of a hop finish. A very drinkable, very fresh beer that qualifies as a session ale -- a pint that doesn't go to your head -- yet still has an appreciable amount of flavor.
Alpha Klaus
tasted 1/3/03
I've had this on tap a few years ago, when it was called Alien Porter, but for some reason I didn't write about it.
The Three Floyds brewery calls this beer a Christmas Porter. It is a dark beer, full of hops and accented with Mexican cane sugar. This is a potent porter with a big chocolate flavor and the nose picks up on this right away. The aroma of this beer is of cocoa or sugary milk chocolate laced with the floweriness of hops. If you're familiar with Three Floyds brews then you know that the brewmasters like their hops. The Alpha King, of the beer of the same name, is portrayed on the label wearing a Santa hat. This is the first indication that large amounts of hops have found their way into this beer. What I like about the Alpha Klaus is that the hops aren't overplayed. The typical elements of porter, mostly chocolate malt, are present and act as blanket wrapped around the bitter cone, resulting in a luxurious beer with full body and velvety mouthfeel. An excellent ale worth seeking out.
Berghoff Amber Ale
tasted 12/31/03
I expected this beer to be just about what it is: a decent amber ale that nearly competes with famous imports such as Bass Ale. This amber/red colored brew generates a lot of foam as it's poured into an 18 ounce mug. The head eventually drops to form a ring of foam with some minimal lace work. It's a pretty attractive, very clear, beer. (This beer is made at the Huber Brewery which is known for its very tight filtration.) Starts with a mildy floral aroma. The taste is of sweet malt, then some caramel malt flavors mixed with fruitiness. Finishes with just a touch of hop bitterness. A very easy drinking ale and probably a good place to start if you're a lager drinker looking to try an ale. Pretty simple, but there's enough flavor there to make drinking this beer worthwhile, especially at $8 for a 12 pack. Once again the Huber Brewing Co. produces another beer with the right amount of flavor at the right price!
Goose Christmas Ale
tasted 12/28/03
It's a little past Christmas, but technically still the "holidays" so I'm having a Goose Christmas Ale. This dark amber/red ale pours with a lingering loose head of foam. The aroma is flowery with bits of candied fruits. The first sip is full of caramel flavors with a hint of chocolate. It is malty at first with hops showing up in the middle and in the finish. Fruity flavors surface throughout. The finish is a bit bitter and fairly long. Many holiday or Christmas beers are spiced, but I don't readily detect any spices in Goose Christmas Ale. Reminds me of sort of a kicked up version of Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome. All together a pretty decent offering from Goose Island and recommended.
Brown Fox Session Ale
tasted 12/25/03
This is another updated review, this time of a beer from Two Brothers Brewing Co. of Warrenville, Ill. Brown Fox Session Ale is a brown ale of a low to medium gravity that it is very true to its name. The color is chestnut brown. The aroma is malt accented and clean. Seems pretty simple at first, but as this beer warms up, it starts to express more character. This beer has the typical brown ale flavors of lightly roasted grains with just a little bit of bitterness towards the finish. A very drinkable beer and fairly low in alcohol. There is a graininess that is a bit unpleasant, but the mouthfell is otherwise fairly smooth and pleasant. This beer as part of a sampler pack of winter brews as a Christmas gift from my wife's boss. (Thanks, Carol!) I should be more charitable, on this being Christmas Day, but I have to say the $7 to $8 price tag for a six-pack of Brown Fox will probably prevent me from ever buying this beer. It's not as flavorful as Hex Nut Brown Ale, from Goose Island, which is typically a dollar cheaper per six-pack. I wish Two Brothers could put either more flavor into this beer or drop the price -- other beers the brewers' make -- such as Heavy Handed IPA are far better and can be found at the same price. It also doesn't help that something like this be homebrewed easily and cheaply.
Sprecher Black Bavarian
tasted 12/23/03
This is technically an updated review since I reported on this brew back in 2000. This Black Bavarian poured with a rocky tan head and very dark brown with ruby highlights. It has a distinct espresso-like aroma. The taste is of dark chocolate and coffee flavors tinged with notes of cocoa. Hops surface in the middle. The finish is a mix of bitter hops and coffee flavors. The mouthfeel is full, at least enough to slow you down, and not quaff this brew.
Overall impression is that this beer drinks pretty much like a stout. It has a bit of the creaminess of a Schwarzbier, but none of the sweetness, with the strength of a bock. I've had some difficulty finding fresh Sprecher beers for awhile, but I'm happy to report this is no longer the case.
Goose Island Oktoberfest
tasted 12/13/03
My wife Carol picked up a six-pack of this today. It's a bit past Oktoberfest time, but someone's got to drink this stuff, eh? This Goose Island Oktoberfest starts with a dusty, malty nose and a brief burst of foam that settles to almost nothing. A light bodied, darker amber O-Fest, with bits of caramel notes very well balanced by bitter hops. The finish is lightly dry and leaves me wanting some more of this quaffable brew.
Millstream Oatmeal Stout
tasted 11/29/03
A very dark, almost opaque stout with big chocolate aroma and mild chocolate flavor mixed with a roasted graininess contributed, no doubt, by the oats. A bit on the sweet side for me, but a very tasty stout nonetheless. Very fresh -- bought at the brewery -- thanks Ryan!. This stout has a medium body and a soft, full mouthfeel and is very clean tasting. Not at all fruity or anything like that, just good clean stout flavors. It's freshness adds to its tasty character. Unfortunately this beer is only available in Iowa.
Polaris Porter
tasted 11/13/03
Huge chocolate malt aroma and a tan head on top of this robust porter made by Jim Filisko and designed by Mike Pezan at Lunar Brewing Co. in Villa Park, Ill. This is a very dark brown porter, that is almost a stout, with a huge chocolate and biscuit malt flavor and just some hints of roasted coffee and slightly burnt caramel bits. This is an outstanding robust porter. According to the brewery, there are eight malts and three different kinds of hops. The hops play an instrumental role in this medium bodied beer, giving it a solid bitter backbone and fairly bitter and dry finish.
Two Brothers Bare Tree Weiss 2002 Weiss Wine
tasted 11/12/03
Brought this up out of the cellar on this extraordinarily blustery evening -- one that definitely calls for a barleywine -- or this case, a weiss wine. Two Brothers Weiss Wine is a barleywine made with mostly wheat instead of barley malt. It is fermented with a Scottish Ale strain and then with a more estery strain and aged in wood, then bottled in a champagne style bottle. This particular wintage on this particular blustery evening was very lively and poured with a mousse-like head, not unlike a darker version of the Belgian beer Duvel, complete with the effervescent cascade of bubbles. I let the foam subside before taking my first sip.
Before taking that first sip, I'm greeted by a wonderful earthy, almost cedar wood aroma mixed with that of the wheat malt and lightly flowery hops. The most evident characteristic of the flavor of this beer is the very effervescent mouthfeel and delicate body. A slight tartness tickles my tongue towards the middle, with dry, apple wood finish. Light bits of banana are also detected. A bit of creaminess, not unlike a cream sherry emerges after this beer reaches room temperature. Very tasty. With a lighter body than most barleywines, this beer is very drinkable, yet complex and fairly strong. A very crisp tasting ale with delicate flavors that are best savored when served at 55 to 60 degrees F.
Two Brothers produces this beer each year as a vintage selection to be kept in the cellar. It certainly benefits from a year or so of aging. If you find this one, make sure to store it upright, as there is no cork, only a bottle cap.
Dogfish Head Oyster Stout
tasted 10/24/03
You can count on Dogfish Head to make beers like this, beers no other brewer had dreamed up or dared to produce, in this an Oyster Stout. Are there actually oysters in this ale? I haven't been able to find a definitive answer, but I would say that after tasting this brew, there is definitely an element of the sea. Dogfish Head, of Delaware, is the one of the most creative breweries in the country and the Oyster Stout does not disappoint. It is a mellow, dry, light to medium-bodied stout with flavorful notes of roasted coffee and hints of smoke. The mouthfeel is silky. The malt and hops are in balance with a fairly assertive hop character that lends itself to dry, yet oily finish, coupled with a dash sea salt. Could I taste oysters in this stout? I think I wanted to, but the only elements of the sea that I could find in this beer were the subtle oiliness of the finish and initial briney character of this first couple sips. Overall, a very drinkable and slightly unusual dry stout and I would guess the best for having with shellfish. Enjoyed on tap at the Map Room.
Augsburger Golden
tasted 10/17/03
It's baaaack! This was one of my favorite brews many years ago when I was in college and just starting to venture away from macrobrews. Point of Stevens Point, Wisc., is brewing this beer again after several years abscence. It's good to have it back. A straw colored light lager, Augsburger Golden, pours with a fluffy white head that settles to a thin layer of foam. It has a lightly flowery aroma. The body is light, even delicate, with a crisp flavor. It's cripsness and very gentle malt and hops flavors put a step over most American mass produced lagers without challenging the beer drinker. Tastes all malt. A very delightful, very easy to drink beer that definitely a thirst quencher.
Heavy Handed IPA<br>
tasted 10/7/03
A difficult to find seasonal product from Two Brothers Brewing Co. of Warrenville, Ill., west of Chicago. This beer is pretty much a rival to other hoppy beers in the area such as Goose Island IPA and Three Floyd's Alpha King. It's hoppiness and oustanding dry finish make it popular in the Chicago area. Somewhat golden colored and pours with nice flourish of foam. Starts with a spicy hop aroma mixed with toasted malt aromas. This beer is not as bold up front as previous versions. Starts with simple malt flavors and doesn't get interesting until you get towards the finish, which is very bitter, and very long. Despte an original gravity of 1.062, this beer is somehow a bit light bodied and not as complex as most IPAs I've had. That said, I love the long, bitter finish. I'm not fond of the price -- $7.99 a six-pack -- there are comparable IPAs that are priced up to a $1.50 less per six.
Hop Hearty Ale
tasted 10/2/03
This IPA from the New Glarus Brewing Co. of New Glarus, Wisc., pours with a burst of foam that settles quickly, leaving some nice lacework. It is an amber colored ale with a big citric hop aroma. Hearty Hop, with its smooth mouthfeel and medium to full body, is much more polished than I recall. The hop and malt balance is just right for this IPA, with hops not completely dominating the palate until the finish. Earthy and robust hops come forth in towards the middle, with a strong and hoppy finish. The finish is not as bitter as it could be, and is rather short. I appreciate the full body and roundness to this beer, even though I would like a more bitter finish.
Schild Brau Amber
tasted 10/1/03
One of a few handcrafted beers from Amana, Iowa, this "Amber" is very much in the style of a Vienna lager. Nutty and toasted malt aromas dominate this beer that has a deep amber color. It is very smooth beer which pours with little flourish. It is medium bodied with a huge caramel malt flavor that makes it rather robust. The fnish is short and slightly dry. Could be a bit drier in the finish, but otherwise and tasty lager beer.
Millstream German Pilsner
tasted 10/1/03
From the Millstream Brewing Co. of Amana, Iowa. Starts with an even nose -- equally accented by biscuit malt and floral hops. Has a coarse, grainy taste, no middle, with a bit of dryness in the end. There's not much to this exceptionally light pilsner, but yet it is quite pleasantly refreshing, and an easy quaffer -- a few sips and it's gone. Definitely a summer beer for after gardening.
Headless Man Amber Alt
tasted 9/30/03
The Headless Man Amber Alt from Tyranena Brewing Co. starts with a very pleasant malt and hop aroma then subtle hop flavors emerge from the somewhat fruity and velvety body of this dark amber ale. The hop flavors intensify towards the finish, which is firm and bitter. The late burst of hops is a nice finish for this complex ale. Very fresh tasting. Certainly one of the best American microbrewed examples of an Alt that I've had. Highly recommended.
Lac du Bay IPA
tasted 9/28/03
Big hop aroma with this amber colored IPA that pours with a fluffy white head. The English hops in this IPA are intensely earthy and woody. There's generous amounts of various malts that counteract the hops and provide a high alcohol content of 7.2 percent. The finish is long, spicy and thick. I've never seen English hops used to this extent. A thick and sticky IPA. The hops and high alcohol of this beer can coax you into a stupor if you're not careful. Highly recommended.
Stone Tepee Pale Ale
tasted 9/26/03
A golden colored pale ale from the Tyranena Brewing Co. of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Pours with a fluffy, light head and a delicate, light citrus aroma. A lighter bodied pale ale, Stone Tepee builds up to a very pleasant lemon-like hop zestiness, but the hoppiness is somewhat restrained. It's a bit too grainy tasting, but I'm attracted to the unique tasting hop and fruit flavors of this pale ale. A lasting lightly bitter finish, accented once again by citric notes, helps make this beer stand out. Recommended.
Mad Hatter IPA
tasted 9/19/03
Don't you hate it when you're writing something on your computer, then it crashes, and you lose all your work? Last summer I visited New Holland Brewing Co. in Holland, Michigan, and planned to put up piece about the trip. When I attempted to do so, the computer crashed. I had everything I wanted to write in my memory, and without notes, I adandoned the effort. The result is that I haven't reported on the excellent Mad Hatter IPA.
Mad Hatter bursts with the aroma of hops as it is poured into my glass. The fresh hop aroma is just a precursor of what is to come as the citric, almost grapefruit-like flavor of hops, explodes with the first sip. This beer seems to be brewed to a higher gravity to balance the massive hop attack and the result is an almost sticky caramel malt flavor. The finish is bitter and fairly long. An excellent IPA just as good as others from more famous breweries in the state. Mad Hatter is available in Michigan and appeared in the Chicago area about nine months ago for around $8 a six-pack.
Holy Moses
tasted 8/30/03
Light citric (lemon) aroma for this light straw colored ale from Great Lakes Brewing Co. in Cleveland, Ohio. According to the brewery's website, this beer is made in the style of a Belgian Wit with Belgian Pilsner malt, raw wheat and oats, orange peel, Coriander seed and Chamomile flower. I happened to have this on draft at the Maple Tree Inn. Aside from the hints of lemon I think I caught the aroma of the malts described above, and perhaps even some of the Chamomile. (There was an aroma I couldn't quite describe that I think might be the Chamomile, but I've never had a beer with Chamomile flowers in it, so I wouldn't know for sure. The mouthfeel on the Holy Moses was quite smooth. There was also a nice bitterness towards the finish, the first moment I detected any presence of hops. This beer has more body than a lot of other wit beers I've tried both from Belgium and inspired by the real thing. Tasted on tap at the Maple Tree Inn. Recommended.
New Glarus Tripel
tasted 8/10/03
A special beer that is part of New Glarus brewmaster Dan Carey's "Artist Series." icked this one up on a trip to New Glarus, Wisc. a couple months ago. It is specially presented with red foil over the crown. My expectations for this beer were rather high, seeing that New Glarus is the same brewery that produces the magnificent Belgian Red and Raspberry Tart. The New Glarus Triple poured with just a little foam that disolved into a thin collar of bubbles. It is a very smooth beer with an aroma of honey that carries through onto the tastebuds. It is a fairly strong ale with a noticeable alcohol content and complex fruity (peach?) and sugary character that is carefully balanced by the right amount of hops. Although this beer has nice honey flavor and a good kick to it, it could be a little more complex, and could have a little bit of a drier finish.
Leipziger Gose
tasted 8/2/03
This is a wild one -- quite literally -- as this wheat beer from Germany undergoes some fermentation with a bacteria that produces lactic acid. I tried this at the Map Room on tap and it was very unusual. A very unusual wheat beer with lactic acid notes, citrus and a potently salty and mineral-like finish. I'm told that large amounts of salt are added to the brew in the kettle and this creates an unusual finish. Underneath all of the lightly sour and citric notes (and the salt) is rather smooth and refreshing wheat beer. I was very excited to be able to try this beer, as I've read about it quite a bit, mostly in beer writer Michael Jackson's books. I liked this beer, and it was well worth trying, but I doubt I would consume it regularly due to the high salt content. I think this beer had the same effect on my blood pressure as bad Chinese food.
Currently on tap at the Map Room.
Bell's Oberon Ale
tasted 7/18/03
A complex, fruity and spicy wheat beer from Kalamazoo. Picked up at the Meijer in Ludington, Mich., this six-pack was remarkably fresh. A hazy yellow, almost amber, wheat beer with a nice noble hop aroma. There's a good yeast bite that seems signature Bell's, but I'm told that they use a different yeast strain for this beer than the usual. A bit of mango fruitiness mixes in a pleasing way with spicy hops that are somewhat muted by the wheat malt. A medium-bodied beer, but still a quaffer, with light bitter finish. This must be had fresh! I've had old bottles and they can be quite horrendous. When fresh, this is a favorite summer beer, perhaps because of it's homegrown taste.
Bell's Amber
tasted 6/21/03
Tasted on draft, unlike the two other Bell's beers tasted in this flight. A very satisfying amber-orange colored beer that was poured with about a quarter inch of foam into a pint glass. Very refreshing slightly citrusy hop aroma. The citric hops are a prelude of things to come with this beer that is moderately hopped and medium-bodied. The spicy hops are balanced well with what tastes like a combination of malts, my guess is some two-row barley malt and caramel malts. The signature Bell's yeast that adds a bit of mango fruitiness and a dash of pretzel-like yeastiness helps balance the hops in this quaffable pint. A very tasty and fresh pint at the Hopleaf. Highly recommended.
Bell's Cherry Stout
tasted 6/21/03
Another bottled Bell's beer. Carol thinks this stout is Northern Michigan in a glass. This opaque dark beer starts with huge cherry aroma. Very little foam and almost flat. Huge flavors of dark chocolate and tart cherries, no sweet cherries, like some other cherry beers I've had. A slight bite of roasted malt and fairly dry into the finish, which is a little short, accept for the tartness of the cherries. A very fine stout, but one that will probably only appeal to cherry lovers, and specifically those who like their cherry beverages tart. Benefits from being served around room temperature in snifter. Definitely worth trying, but watch the alcohol content, it's 8.5 percent.
Dreadnaught Imperial IPA
tasted 6/8/03
For those familiar with the world of Three Floyds I consider this beer to be the bigger brother of Alpha King. I've been looking for this beer in its much hyped bottled state for quite awhile and finally found it. I opened the bottle with some trepidation thinking that after all the hype it might be as good as I anticipated.
Fortunately, I was wrong, and the beer was just as outstanding as on draft. The first thing I noticed was the immense aroma of hops. A concentration of hops so great that I noticed an intense grapefruit aroma. In my glass, the beer had lots of foam that fell quicker than you'd think, with an almost brownish color. My first sip registered a huge, oily, hoppiness. "Holy hop resins!", I say to myself. The next thing that hit me was the alcohol. Just a couple sips and I could sense the beer's strength. As the initial shock of hops and alcohol began to wear off I began to detect some complexity with this brew. It became sugary with bits of candied fruits, perhaps apricot and golden raisins, but all of these flavors were clouded by the immense proportion of hops. After some time the hops and alcohol start to gang up on your braincells. Just before I begin to lose my ability to form a cohesive thought I am able to remark about Dreadnaught's long bitter and somewhat woody hop finish.
Overall, there's a lot of shock and awe in the beginning, but you can find some complexity to this brew if your'e patient. Perilously drinkable, and expensive "extreme" beer, yet most definitely worth seeking out. I found it at Sam's Wine Warehouse.
15-Year ESB
tasted 6/7/03
An excellent ESB that I had on tap at Goose Island Lincoln Park. Wonderful aroma of various malts and floral hops. Just the right balance between the malt and hops is one of the aspects of this beer that I really enjoyed. The beer menu indicated that this beer was made with English Maris Otter malt. I have to say that this made a difference. The malt was very fresh and almost had a biscuit-tasting bite to it. This may have been enhanced by the yeast, but it made for a very tasty beer. The body was right, too, not as weak as some ESBs I've had lately. I followed this beer with an Ordinary Bitter off of handpump, which wasn't quite as impressive, but I probably should have had the Ordinary first as it is not as strong and lower in gravity. I don't normally write up stuff about beers I've had at Goose Island becasue they change so often, but I figure that they tend to brew the same beers about the same time each year. Go now or a year later whichever you choose, but do go, because this beer was very, very good!
Goose Island Ordinary Bitter
tasted 6/7/03
The lightest version of English bitter is ordinary bitter. This was to style but I goofed and had an ESB first which made this beer seem even lighter. A very drinkable beer that ended up tasting like 15-Year ESB lite (see above), but I still liked it. Very good malt with floral hops. A brief finish which keeps you quaffing your pint and then it's all gone. A good beer to have when you're having more than one and might have to drive home as well as a good introduction to real ale.Experienced on tap at the Lincoln Park Goose Island.
Honker's Ale
tasted 6/6/03
I've reviewed this beer before, but I felt the need to update my review from a couple years ago, so here goes. I vigorously poured this beer into my Goose Island pint glass and the result was a huge bright white head that settled after a few minutes to looser smaller head with some large bubbles. This bottle of Honker's had a light floral aroma of hops mixed with some of the darker malts used in this beer. The first taste is full of caramel malts and somewhat restrained spicy hops. This lead to a finish that is rather long with just hint of chocolate malt and quite a bit of hops. A medium-bodie ale that is very drinkable with a low (3.5 percent by volume) alcohol content. This was by far the freshest bottle of Honker's I've ever had. Purchased at Trader Joe's.
Berghoff Octoberfest
tasted 5/28/03
Okay, so it's a little bit past Octoberfest season, but I couldn't pass up this six-pack for $2.99 on a closeout at Sal's Beverage World on St. Charles Road in Villa Park, Ill. Even though it's out of season this beer is still pretty good. Very light caramel malt aroma. Quite carbonated with a white head that drops to a thin collar of foam with just a bit of lace. The amber color is right for an Octoberfest. The malt flavor is pretty much right on the money, too.
Although not fresh, I can taste the Munich malt in this beer, contributing to an authentic German Octoberfest flavor. A medium-bodied beer that is just a touch on the lighter side but otherwise a well-made (and well-aged) Octoberfest. Certainly can't beat the price out of season!
Huber Premium
tasted 5/22/03
A cheap, light golden colored lager beer from Wisconsin that comes in returnable bottles. (This isn't a bad thing.) Pours with a lively carbonation which settles to a thin collar of foam. Neutral aroma. Nice mouthfeel for a light lager, but with a lasting almost over-carbonated character. Fairly neutral tasting with just a hint of graininess and hops. I think the carbonation tends to bring out a bit of hop character which is rather weak. Nonetheless, a beer that is clean tasting and dry enough to be rather pleasant and quite drinkable! Pretty darn good for $12 a case and the thick returnable bottles are great for filling with homebrew. The red and white label is classic!
Zoomer Wit
tasted 5/17/03
Wow. This is either a lively interpretation of the witbier style that originated in Belgium or a bold American-style wheat -- either way it's tasty. The New Holland Brewing Company in Holland, Mich., has taken a hoppy approach this beer, or rather a bitter approach. A hazy yellow beer that has a very light yeast note in the aroma that exerts a brewpub freshness. Among the crisp flavor of wheat is an unusual bitterness that I suspect might be coming from something other than hops. This beer is medium-bodied and has enough wheat malt flavor, but it's most notable character is it's bitter backbone and dry finish.
Monarch Wit
tasted 5/17/03
This witbier from the local brewery in Warrenville, Ill., pours a very light hazy yellow with little foam that completely dissipates after a few seconds. A VERY light-bodied interpretation of this style with no evidence of the spices indicated on the label. A clean, dry beer with a very thin body that left me a bit puzzled. A very tasty light golden ale, but not what I would consider a witbier. I was unable to tell the date of bottling, so I'm not sure if I can blame the the lack of character on the age of the beer. Rather disappointing.
Schell Maibock
tasted 5/16/03
The label says Maibock, but it also is referred to as a blonde doppelbock. Fruity aroma. Perhaps pears? Deep gold color. Malty sweet and full body with enough hops for a Maibock. Hops keep this from being just short of too sweet for my taste. Noticeably high alcohol. A good transition from the stronger and sometimes darker beers of winter to the lighter beers of summer. Sold in six-packs.
Schell Snowstorm
tasted 5/14/03
Okay. It's a bit late in the year for this beer. This was a closeout item picked up cheap for a dollar.
A strong lager-tasting beer that is amber-brown in color. An aroma of alcohol combined with malt and a hint of minerals. Smooth and strong with the emphasis on malt. A medium-bodied beer with just a hint of a dry character. Not much in the way of hops. There's a lot of carbonation, but not too much, and this beer is finished much too fast. I'm not sure of the style other than "strong lager." Worth a shot if you can find it for cheap. Overall, a balanced lager-tasting beer that is a bit strong, but dry enough to be rather drinkable.
Founders IPA
tasted 5/9/03
Golden to amber color. Head disolves to a ring of foam. Citrusy aroma and hop flavor. Very smooth consistent hop flavor. Spicy, but not an overwhelming bitterness. Made in Grand Rapids, Mich., and sells for about $8 a six-pack. A fine IPA that is worth the price -- unless you brew your own like I do.
Given the name of this American-style wheat beer, I thought there would be some bubble gum-like flavors. Nope. This is a Three Floyds beer so the predominant ingredient was hops. Not that this is a bad thing. The hops in Gumball Head are judicicoulsy applied and create a pleasing spiciness and quenching crisp character that plays well with the soft wheat. This is a clean tasting American wheat with fresh wheat malt and hop flavors. A light and drinkable summer beer that still has some hops compared to most wheat ales.
Arcadia Scotch Ale
tasted 5/3/03 on tap at Maple Tree Inn
A hint of ruby color in otherwise brown looking Scotch Ale. A nice slightly tan head that dissipated to a ring of foam. An aroma of dark caramel malts with perhaps just a hint of peat. A bit of toffee and molasses are the first interesting flavors that I detect. I also noticed that very, smooth and drinkable character of this beer that tasted almost like a very lightly hopped strong brown ale. Missing the raisin-like notes I like in a Scotch ale, but some undefinable fruity characteristics keep it interesting. Not a bad Scotch ale, but could be better, as the color seemed a bit off and the body seemed somewhat lacking. Still worth trying.
Lake Superior ESB
tasted 9/20/03
Nice ruby color. Clear. Head dissipated to just about nothing. Carbonation okay. A nice English fruity character, woody hops and some tasty toasted malt flavors with a pleasant, long bitterness. Not as thin as earlier tastings. A mellow tasting, easy drinking ESB, slightly more robust than noted in previous tastings, but still not near the best I've had. Enjoyed on tap at Quenchers Saloon.
Kilgubbin
tasted 4/12/03
I picked up a single bottle of this beer from the mix and match bin the other day because I hadn't had one in awhile and noticed I that I hadn't reviewed one on this site either. The new focus of this page is going to be on local and regional beers.I'm doing this because there's a lot of other beer reviews out there on the WWW representing most imported and nationally distributed micros. Among these site is Beer Advocate, a very large site (that I am a member of) with thousands of reviews of many, many beers. 'Nuf said and on to the rest of the review...
Kilgubbin is supposedly the Irish name for Goose Island, which is the location of the original Goose Island Brewpub, and this beer pays homage to that location. This bottled version is made at Goose's Fulton Street Brewery. It is loosely considered an Irish Ale, something probably between an English Mild and Amber, with the dark ruby color of a mild and the dosage of hops and alcoholic strength of an amber ale. Kilgubbin pours with little head and is dark red, almost brown in color. This bottle had a fresh malt aroma that was almost wort-like. For those of you who aren't in the know, wort (pronounced "wert") is what brewers call their beer before they add the yeast. So this beer has a very fresh malt accented aroma. Kilgubbin not only smells like wort but tastes like it. A very sugary sweet caramel flavor is the predominant taste of this ale. It is a bit thin and has a fairly dry finish. It is a beer for those who like beer to taste a bit sweet and dry. Not too challenging if your thinking of trying something a bit bolder than a Killians.
Pioneer Bock
tasted 3/15/03
Pioneer Bock (or Oderbolz Bock) is a grand interpretation of this German style brewed at the Pioneer Brewing Co. in Black River Falls, Wisc. This is a very firm bodied bock with a dense white head and a very fresh malt aroma. It is reddish brown in color, which is fine for a bock, and is very smooth with the proper amount of carbonation. A very fresh malt flavor dominates this full-bodied brew, with caramel or Munich malt making a huge impression, that makes you know right away what you're drinking. Bock beer should be very malty and sweet with just a slight bit of roasted character. A bit of toffee perhaps. This beer qualifies as a first-rate Bock, perhaps one of the best American examples I've had of this German style of lager. The lightly dry finish is the icing on the cake!
The name of this beer (Oderbolz) comes from the name of the original brewery on the site that operated from 1856 until Prohibition.Oderbolz Bock won a Gold medal in the 2002 World Beer Cup (and I can see why.)
The Poet
tasted 3/15/03
This is an excellent dark ale (stout) from the New Holland Brewing Company of Holland, Mich., a smallish place that I've stopped at on my way to my family's summer home in northern Michigan. I picked up this bottle locally, with much delight, finally seeing this outstanding brewery breaking into the Chicago market. The Poet is a rich, dark beer with big chocolate flavors, pleasant graininess and a slight bit of dry roasted character. I suspect some of the graininess is from the addition of oats with are mentioned in the artwork on the bottle label. This is a very satisfying full-bodied beer. I definite winner for dark beer lovers and just as good as any other beer in coming out of Michigan.
City Pale Ale
tasted 3/10/03
Light in color and a bit light in body, this pale ale delivers on its promise of the hops that are portrayed on the label. The first sip of this beer is rather balanced hops and malt with an accent on the rose water tasting hops. Finishes a bit spicy and dry. This is a good effort from the City Brewery in LaCrosse, Wisc. This plant was formerly owned by G. Heileman and produced Old Style among other brands. I picked it up on sale at Famous Liquors in Lombard, Ill., for $2.99 a six-pack.
Two Brothers Bitter End Pale Ale
tasted (bottled) 2/15/03
An amber-colored pale ale with a big hop aroma, a favorite, and top seller at the Two Brothers Brewing Company. A steady hop flavor balanced by the right amount of malt makes this beer a very tasty American pale ale. Reminds me of Great Lakes Burning River Pale and is just as good as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, except with a greater emphasis on hop aroma. Should be able to find this one in Illinois for around $6.99 a six-pack.
Two Brothers 2002 Weiss Wine
tasted 1/25/03
You can always count on Mike's American Ale House to throw a good party. The reason to celebrate at this particular occasion was the tapping of a 5-gallon keg of Two Brothers Brewing Co. 2002 Weiss Wine. This is not German white wine, but a barleywine strength wheat beer that is aged in wood for a year before bottling. As far as I know the keg at Mike's was an anomaly as this beer is not normally available on draft. I've had the bottled version before and I have to say the young, draft version of this beer was quite good. Tasting more like a Belgian triple than a barleywine, this beer was a very crisp and refreshing, yet strong ale with subtle undertones of oak. Light fruit flavors also came through the mountain of wheat malt that dominated this beer. I'm told this beer gets much more complex over time. Fortunately, and thanks to (Two Bros. and Mike's) I'll be able to test this theory because I won three bottles of different vintages (2000, 2001 & 2002) of the Weiss Wine in a raffle for beer-y cool prizes. I'll be storing the bottles in my cellar and tasting them later. Much later. I will probably lay down the 2002 for a couple years, while the 2001 will stick around for at least as long. The 2000 might not last as long as the others. Of course, when I do taste them, my findings will posted here in the Tasting Room.
CORRECTION: My wife (a.k.a Marcofrau) actually claimed our prize bottles of Weiss Wine. Credit must be given where credit is due!
Okocim Porter
tasted 1/8/03
Back in November I visited Quenchers for the annual European Beer Tour and as part of the event I was allowed to pick out one piece of souvenir glassware. My wife is Polish, so I picked out an Okocim glass, a nice .3 liter pilsner. Today I was able to enjoy my favorite among the Okocim range of beers, Okocim Porter. This is a deep black, baltic porter that is true to its roots as a cousin of Imperial Stout. Aroma of dark chocolate, anise or licorice. As I sip this beer I'm hit by waves of dark chocoate flavors with lots of fruitiness reminiscent of plums or currants. Smooth throughout with a long dry and finish with an alcoholic kick. Hops give this strong porter just enough dryness. I have no idea what type of yeast or malts are used, but they make for an incredilbe combination of flavors in this beer. Quite strong at 8 percent alcohol by volume. Bang for your buck at $2.11 per half-liter bottle!
Tire Bite Golden Ale
tasted 1/1/03
A Kolsch-style golden ale that hits its mark rather well. Hazy golden color. Not much aroma, perhaps a hint of fresh malt in the nose. Very slightly fruity with enough hops to put things in balance. Perhaps a bit of wheat malt? A tasty, very refreshing light ale, that is a solid American interpretation of the German Kolsch style of beer. Not sure what a six-pack goes for, but paid about $1.30 for a single bottle. From the Flying Dog Brewery.
Horndog Barleywine
tasted 1/1/03
I picked up a single 12-ounce bottle of this potent elixir at a little beer and wine shop in Warrenville, Ill., called Taps. Poured this ale into a Scaldis(Bush) snifter and it gave up a huge aroma that smelled like, well, like Bananas Foster. Lots of caramel, toffee and banana. This beer has huge caramel and toffee flavors and is syrupy and strong. Not much in the hops. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot this is not. I can forgive the brewer(s) for this because this beer is smooth and flavorful, albeit a sipping beer, by no means a quaffer. Not for the timid, but the brave of heart! Made in Colorado. Distributed all over the place.
I've archived all my reviews from
previous years. Use the links below to access the archived reviews.
2002
2001
2000 and
1999
These are some other beer review sites I've found.
- Beer Advocate - You might find some
reviews by 'marcobrau' on this site. I think it's the best beer reviews site
on the Internet.
- Beer is My Life (Gak's Beer
Reviews) - Perhaps the most comprehensive listing of beer reviews.
- RateBeer.com - Another user-oriented beer
review site.
- Epinions.com- This
is a great site that allows people to review just about everything.
Bars and Pubs | Brewpubs | Breweries | Belgian
Beer
Homebrew 101 | Suds Stories | What's New
Send comments and suggestions to: mailto:marc-AT-marcobrau.com
