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May 30, 2005

MacTartnahan's IPA

Name: MacTartnahan's IPA
Brewed In/Type: Portland, OR / IPA
Bought at/Price Binny's / $6.99
Dennis: The label of this beer say's "oak aged" and I think that's where the mellowness of this brew comes across. Not exactly your traditional IPA, while the hops smell is prevalent, it comes across muted compared to the musty undertones and slight bitter twang. It's almost like a bohemian style IPA to me. Another note is the low alcohol (for an IPA) of 6%. Over all worth a try, but I like my IPA's more crisp.
Jen: On the other hand, I find this IPA very enjoyable due to the fact that it is different and stands apart from the others. Its aroma is of oak and mild grapefruit hops. Its taste is very different, earthy and mild hops at the end. I can also get a slightness of caramel malts out of it. Decent and easy to drink, though different than what you may expect for an IPA.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5

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May 28, 2005

Pyramid: Tilted Kilt

Name: Pyramid: Tilted Kilt
Brewed In/Type: Seattle, WA / Scotch Ale
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $6.49
Dennis: When I first tasted this all I could think of was Dogfish heads Raison D'ert, but not as overpoweringly tart. Honestly, the first bottle was hard to drink, but it really grew on me and by the second bottle I was looking forward to more. It says it's a scottish ale, so it's a little thick and sweet, which is reflected in the aroma. Even a little sweet woodish taste is imparted to me. Over all it's a pretty damn good beer that is pretty unique. I recommend trying this.
Jen I tend to shy away from these type of ales. This one presents itself with a sicky sweet taste that in no way hides the alcohol in it. It may only be 6.3% but I can almost taste every drop of it. It is a hearty beer that you could almost cut with a knife and eat it. The after taste isn't too strong and doesn't linger to an annoying point. Dennis enjoyed this much more than me; I would choose to never purchase this again, while he would.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5

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May 26, 2005

Summit: Grand

Name: Summit: Grand
Brewed In/Type: St. Paul, MN / Pilsner
Bought at/Price Binny's / $11.99 12 pack
Dennis: The label describes this beer as a grand bohemian style pilsner. I find it a little ironic actually that the word grand and bohemian is in the same sentence. Other than that, this beer is a very simple pils that perhaps is bohemian in it's simplicity. Lot's of malt, light crisp body with a slight skunky head that is certainly not european by any standard. Over all goes down good and tastes like a micro brew golden lager. Over all a good beer.
Jen: This isn't one of their better brews, but overall it isn't too shabby. It has a mild body, with a very slight sweet start, and a quick bitter finish. It has a good carbonation to it and the bitterness doesn't linger too long. Overall, it is good, but I do prefer some of their other ones more.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5

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May 24, 2005

Redhook: Nutbrown Ale

Name: Redhook: Nutbrown Ale
Brewed In/Type: Portsmouth, NH / Brown Ale
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $5.99 6 pack
Dennis: A very smooth, malty brown ale. Comes across as very light and very drinkable. Goes down quickly and doesn't betray it's 5.57% alcohol. I'm not a huge fan of brown ale's, but I liked this one.
Jen: This is a nutty, malty and light brown ale. It is quite smooth and is easy to drink. It has a slighty sweet taste to it that I don't particularly care for, but it doesn't take away from the overall flavors that I do like. Not bad, but not as good as other Browns that I have had
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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May 22, 2005

Sierra Nevada: Bigfoot

Name: Sierra Nevada: Bigfoot
Brewed In/Type: Chico, CA / Barleywine
Bought at/Price Binny's / $9.99 6 pack
Dennis: This is an excellant example of a barleywine done right. I can't say how pleasently surprised I was after my first sip. The aroma is very warm, deep, and fruity/musty. The taste is agressive in it's hoppiness (for a barleywine) and delicious in it's simplicity. There is a slight bitterness from the high alcohol content, but it goes down warm and smooth. The reason why I liked this so much was simple, they didn't take the standerd route of hiding behind a sickningly sweet facade. Some times drinking a barleywine is like chugging maple syrup, but this is done right and the hop overtone is just the cherry on top. If you like high octane beers, you'll love this agressive fulfilling beer if your lucky enough to find it.
Jen:This is my favorite barleywine style brew so far. It has a nice smooth flavor with a nice floral scent to it. It has a medium body with an aftertaste of hops. It has a high alcohol content, but you can't taste it. The hops mask it well. It isn't sicky sweet or syrupy like all of the other barleywines we have, which makes this one stand out compared to the rest!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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May 20, 2005

Pabst Blue Ribbon

Name: Pabst Blue Ribbon
Brewed In/Type: Milwaukee, WI / lager
Bought at/Price Gift / $unknown
Dennis: It seems to me that Pabst has been coasting on that blue ribbon for a long time now. I was on the honor roll in 8th grade ya know, but I don't go and put it on my resume...any more. Actually, in all fairness Pabst Blue Ribbon is pretty good cheap beer. There's not much here, but there is a slightly sweet malt flavor and it'll get you drunk. That's about it. Haven't had it before, but if it was on sale and I needed a filler beer I'd buy it.
Jen: This is cheap, trailer park beer. You would have never found this in my house, except for the fact that it was a gift. It is a cheap brew and tastes like it.
Rating: 2.75 out of 5

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May 18, 2005

Stiegl: Pils

Name: Stiegl: Pils
Brewed In/Type: Salzburg, AU / Pils
Bought at/Price Gift / $unknown
Dennis: Heralded as a "world classic beer" this pils does represent it's class very well. The aroma is exactly what you would expect, with the right level of "skunkyness" usually attributed to Pils. The taste is something that grows on you a bit. Slightly over carbonated, this crisp drink ends with a slightly bitter twinge that takes a few sips to get used to (or for the alcohol to set in). Over all not a bad pils if you want something that at least isn't weak and bland.
Jen: The scent is of a musky skunk and it is backed up with a skunky taste. The body is extremely light with a lot of fizz to it. With that, it is super crisp as Dennis has said (I can't think of another word for crisp). It ends with a very distinct aftertaste. To me it is almost a little "rancid". It grows on you, but I generally didn't really enjoy this pils.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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May 16, 2005

Hofbrau Munchen: Hefe Weizen

Name: Hofbrau Munchen: Hefe Weizen
Brewed In/Type: Germany / Hefe Weizen
Bought at/Price Gift / $unknown
Dennis: It always seems that the German/European wheat beers always come out better than the American versions. Again this is an excellent wheat beer. Soft aroma that is classical wheat, with a slightly light flavored body that seems to show off its malt side more than spices. Probably best enjoyed on warm summer day when a crisp refreshing beer is desired.
Jen: This is not a very bold hefe. It smells mildly of bananas. The flavor is very light and comes across with bananas and lemon. None of the flavors seem to be too overwhelming. This is a very mild beer and good for those mild summer afternoons. Decent, and easy to drink.
Rating: 3.25 out of 5

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May 11, 2005

St. Martin Dunkler Doppelbock

Name: St. Martin Dunkler Doppelbock
Brewed In/Type: Germany / Doppelbock
Bought at/Price Gift / $unknown
Dennis: The aroma of this doppelbock comes across as rich, earthy, and almost spoiled fruit. Very malty and rich, almost like a bavarian ale, this beer has a surprisingly light body (taste wise) and leaves with a slightly raiseny/pruney bitter taste. Not to sweet, but not exactly something you'd want to have in the middle of a hot summer day.
Jen: This dopplebock starts with great aromas of sweet malts. However, it is not backed up with great flavors. It has a surprisingly light body that tastes of sweet caramel, toasty malts and dried fruits. Very low carbonation and nothing else. It really is nothing special; not bad and drinkable, but don't go out of your way to buy this.
Rating: 3 out of 5

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May 09, 2005

Bert Grant's: Imperial Stout

Name: Bert Grant's: Imperial Stout
Brewed In/Type: Yakima, WA / Imperial Stout
Bought at/Price Gift / $unknown
Dennis: This is a very surprising stout. Low in alcohol (6%) and big in roasty taste this is quite a good brew. Deep rich malty flavors are complimented by tangy coffee taste and a surprisingly light body. If you like chocolately/coffee brews you will like this.
Jen: This may have a low alcohol content, but it is very deep in flavor. It tastes of burnt coffee with undertones of chocolate. It really hits you after the first swallow. It tastes very burnt, but in a good way. It's body isn't as hearty as most imperial stouts can be, but it doesn't hurt the well rounded flavor and richness to it. It is decent, but I probably wouldn't search this out to have again.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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May 07, 2005

Troegs: Pale Ale

Name: Troegs: Pale Ale
Brewed In/Type: Harrisburg, PA / Ale
Bought at/Price unknown / $24.99 24 variety pack
Dennis: Another fine Troeg's brew thanks to a friend in PA. The smell is very hoppy (cascade) with some sweet malts leaking through. The taste and body are the same. Similar to Sierra Nevada this is a very hoppy brew, but the quality comes from the body. A lot of brews over hop to make a beer good, but skimp on the body, this one however has a depth, and sweetness to carry the hop flavor forward. Pretty damn good in my opinion.
Jen: A very hoppy beer that I enjoy for the sheer fact that the hop flavor is present throughout that is accompanied by a mild malty background. It has an almost clean flavor to it. A lighter body that has an evenly balanced carbonation. This only makes this easier to drink. A decent brew from Troegs.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

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May 05, 2005

Tecate

Name: Tecate
Brewed In/Type: Mexico / Cerveza (lager)
Bought at/Price Costco / $19.49 24 pack
Dennis: What frightens me most is that they make a Tecate Light...which I can only imagine is bottled air. Seriously, it's not a bad beer overall just nothing special. Slightly bitter at the end it's a generic macrobrew that just capitalizes on the latino market without offering substance. Nice warm day, drink it. Free, drink it. At a mexican restaurant...drink it...just don't feel your ever missing anything.
Jen: Wow, I am starting to wonder why we bought these in the first place. Oh yeah, Cinco de Mayo. Mexican holidays, Mexican beer. This brew not only offers no flavor other than a Budweiser, but it is watery and weirdly carbonated. And just when you think the after taste is non-existent, a nasty taste appears. Don't bother with this. If you want a true Mexican brew, go to Mexico!
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

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May 04, 2005

Carta Blanca

Name: Carta Blanca
Brewed In/Type: Mexico / Lager
Bought at/Price Costco / $19.49 24 pack
Dennis: This is apparently the Mexican version of miller. It's a generic macro brew golden lager that really has no outstanding qualities or redeeming characteristics. It's slightly sweet, and goes down really honestly...I could see myself drinking a lot of these, but not really remembering them.
Jen: This is a very boring beer and it doesn't have any qualities to make it stand apart from any generic American brew. It tastes very watery and kind of reminds me of college when I used to drink a lot of Natural Light.
Rating: 2.25 out of 5

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May 02, 2005

Troegs: Rugged Trail Ale

Name: Troegs: Rugged Trail Ale
Brewed In/Type: Harrisburg, PA / Nut Brown Ale
Bought at/Price unknown / $24.99 24 variety pack
Dennis: After reading reviews at ratebeer.com and beeradvocate.com I just don't see what all the fuss is about. This is a decent brown ale with a thing body, chocolatly maltiness and a nutty taste, but that's about it. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea, but I didn't get anything more out of it.
Jen: I usually enjoy a good Nut Brown, but I may leave this one off my list of favorite ones. It has a lighter body with flavors of roasted malts and burnt caramel/bittersweet chocolate. It is almost watery (in a bad way), which may be due to its low (4.4%) ABV. I will pass on this and stick to some of my favorite and yummier ones.
Rating: 2.75 out of 5

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