As the year draws to an end, here are our picks for the best beers of 2005 that we've drank. And of course a link to each review of them. Each one is worthy of purchasing again and enjoying. 10 Youngs: Double Chocolate Stout 9 Allagash: Grand Cru 8 Bear Republic: Hop Rod Rye 7 Boathouse Brown Ale 6 Avery: Czar Imperial Stout 5 Great Lakes: Holy Moses White Ale 4 Unibroue: 2005 Edition 3 Sierra Nevada: Bigfoot 2 Avery: The Beast 2005 1 Founders: Devil Dancer

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Name: Anchor: 2005 Christmas & Happy New Year
Brewed In/Type: San Francisco, CA / Winter Warmer
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $8.79 6pack
Dennis: Last year we reviewed the 2004 version of the special brew from Anchor. And while I really wish I could say that the beer has proven to grow better with age, or more worth the price I just simply can't. The aroma is good, spicy and nutmeg'y...but everything else just disappoints. The body is flat and almost carbonation-less. The taste is just a bit of spices with a bitter twinge, and almost no follow-through. Over all it reminds me of coke that somebody shook up and made flat. It's a good beer, and over all worth having, but for the price they charge it's just not worth it.
Jen: Okay, this is a "special" brew that Anchor brewing does different every year. In my opinion, this one only slightly differs from last year. It has a a chalky, malty backbone, with very mild spices. I also get a slight taste of dry roasted coffee with a little toffee. This is not worth the $$, and I may have a hard time buying the '06 when it is released.
Rating: 3 out of 5

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Name: Very Bad Elf
Brewed In/Type: England / Ale (English)
Bought at/Price Binny's / $4.99 pint
Dennis: Purchased specifically because it was a gimmicky/cute looking Christmas beer, this is the first beer from the brewery we've ever had. Like a lot of English ales, this comes across as malty with a slight bitter twinge almost like an ESB. However, unlike most English ales, this sneaks up on you with a 7.5% alcohol content. Little showing of hops makes this a malt lovers choice, without the tang of a dobble bock. I wouldn't mind trying the next beer up in the series...Seriously Bad Elf.
Jen: This brew comes across both sweet and bitter at the same time. The body comes across with tastes of some dark fruits and nutty malts. It is than followed with some decent hop bitterness from the fuggle hops. This isn't too bad and easy to drink. This is just a fun brewto have. (Especially is you are on the naughty list)!
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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Name: Delirium Noel
Brewed In/Type: Melle, Belgium / Belgium Ale (seasonal)
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $6.99 750ml
Dennis: For a Belgium ale, the amount of sediment in the bottle was almost zero. That in and of itself is just amazing. Moving on, the amount of carbonation was also more than usual. We actually mistook a lot of the bubbles for possible "floaters" during the pour. The aroma is typical Belgium ale, strong, malty, but with a faint tartness. Taste wise, this come across almost like a triple. The body is a little fuzzy, due to generous carbonation, but the taste is pleasant with a definite alcohol presence (10%). Over all, a nice non sugary-sweet Belgium ale worth having.
Jen: Okay, so it is a Belgium Ale. It has the usual tastes of dark fruits and malt sweetness, but one thing that does make this interesting is the alcohol kick that helps tame the sweet fruit taste. This is also super fizzy, so make sure that your relatives that are over for the holidays don't mind frequent belching.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

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Name: Breckenridge: Christmas Ale
Brewed In/Type: Denver, CO / Ale (Winter Warmer)
Bought at/Price Binny's / $7.99 6pack
Dennis: As the first Breckenridge beer we've ever had, I was torn. I wanted to like this beer....but I just don't get the impression of a winter warmer. The smell is weak with some sour hop hints, and the body is flat with some sweet grains and a follow up hop kick. I just can't believe this beer is 7.4% by tasting it. One thing I will say is that it's very very easy to drink, but by being so, it sacrifices some memorability. I had really hoped for something that would be more unique.
Jen: This brew comes across as sort of blah. It isn't too bad, but nothing makes it stand out. It smells quite sour, which is not a good thing, and has a slight spiciness to it. The malt sweetness is not too noticeable and I also get a slight bittersweet chocolate flavor. Nothing that makes this an outstanding beer (especially for $7.99).
Rating: 3.25 out of 5

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Name: N'Ice Chouffe
Brewed In/Type: Belgium / Belgian Ale
Bought at/Price Binny's / $8.99 750ml
Dennis: This is one of our seasonal christmas beers, in fact it's one that Jen picked out...probably because of the cute bottle design. For a belgian ale it's remarkably thin and relatively sediment free. Pouring out of the bottle you can really hear the fizziness, but not to worry it doesn't come across as overly carbonated. The smell conveys a bit of the alcohol (10%) but the taste and mouth feel don't at all. If your not to careful you could wake up the next morning wondering what happened to your left eyebrow. There is a slight bitterness that comes across, but is pretty masked by the spices and dark malt flavors. Over all quite impressive, and thankfully not syrupy at all.
Jen: I find this beer to be pretty tasty. It has itsy bitsy bubbles in the carbonation and is frothy. It has the tastes of both spiciness, like pepper, and sweetness, like dates and raisins. The body is almost thin, which makes it fairly easy to drink. With the 10% ABV, I definitely get the bite of alcohol in the smell and in the exhale! This offers something different than a typical Belgian ale.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

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Name: Lump of Coal Stout
Brewed In/Type: England / Stout
Bought at/Price Binny's / $5.99 pint
Dennis: Probably one of the most impressive stout's I've had in a while. The aroma really does convey a sweet twinge of hops, and the taste is not what you'd expect from an 8% alcohol stout. Moderatly thin body, the taste is very unique, not at all like an american stout. You really catch some hops on the exhale. I have to say, if this came in 6packs, I'd be in real trouble. More like a hoppy guinness double, than an imperial ameican stout, worth a shot if you get a chance.
Jen: If this is what a lump of coal tastes like, than bring on the coal. This stout has a lighter than normal body, with a nice bittersweet chocolate roastiness to it. I also get a mild coffee taste to it with a "hey do I taste mild hops" end to it. There is also a light alcohol taste right after you swallow. A nice fun beer to put in someones stocking this season, but don't necessarily go out of your way!
Rating: 3.75 out of 5

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Name: Avery: Samael's Oakwood Ale
Brewed In/Type: Bolder, CO / Barleywine
Bought at/Price Binny's / $7.99 a bottle
Dennis: I knew, the minute I started pouring this, that it would be very very very thick. Syrupy almost. Of course at 14% alcohol you have to do something to hide the taste. Sweet, malty, but more so just really sweet. This really does come through with a ....wait for it....sweet oaky taste, but really that's all I get. For the price, and taste I'd really rather have a bottle of The Beast, which blends better flavors than this.
Jen: I have to say that this is my least favorite of the Avery's for 2 reasons: 1. the price 2. the drinkability. I find this to be thick and too "rich" for my blood. It is like drinking liquid maple sugar candy. It has a sicky sweet oaky flavor that is follow by a twinge of alcohol, and then followed by sicky sweet vanilla flavor. Sound redundant, well that is the kind of feeling I get from this. Quite honestly, I expected a little more from Avery's other than a bottle of alcohol-flavored maple syrup.
Rating: 3 out of 5 (price really killed it)

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In Honor of Dennis' Birthday Name: Fuller's: Vintage Ale 2000
Brewed In/Type: London, England / Old Ale
Bought at/Price Woodman's / $5.99 pint 2.6 oz
Dennis: Bottle # 49702. I have to say I've been looking forward to drinking this for quite some time. Seeing as how this has been cellared for about 6 years I was certainly hoping for something amazing. Since each year is different, you need to really research what the Fuller website says about them, for example:
Vintage Ale 2000
85,000 bottles of Vintage Ale were produced with an organic theme, using Champion Optic Malt and Organic Target Hops. A fresh hop aroma with notes of honey and toffee, leads to a slightly sweeter taste and burnt, bitter aftertaste.
Now when this was bottled it was 8.5%, so who knows whats it's at now. The aroma is sweet, and heavy, while the body pours thick like apricot nectaur. The taste is very subtle though, and can catch you off guard. Definatly strong honey taste throughout this, with lots of warm sweet dark fruit tastes. I won't be buying it again, since there is no more, but it was worth having in my opinion.
Jen: Bottle # 49662. I was really expected something to make me go WOW, but what I get is a wow. Although this is a great beer, it isn't as impressive as I thought it would be. I get a nice smooth, almost Belgian style, taste out of this, but better. It has nice malt flavor that is infused with honey and dark fruit tastes. The ending is a bit of a mystery; I get a bitterness on the back of tongue, but nothing too overwhelming! Definitely give this a shot, and if able cellar for a bit!
Rating: 4 out of 5

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