Beer Review Thread

[Waldo]

I still have a Piraat in my fridge. Good stuff.
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[BrettFavre004]

[boondock]

[MrDrew]

Sawtooth Ale



Brewer: Left Hand Brewing Company (Longmont, CO)
Style: Extra Special Bitter (ESB)

My Review:
Pours a rich clear copper color, with a thin white head that disappears pretty fast. Scent is caramel, malty, with some bitter hops. Taste is caramel up front, with some light citrus hops, and a nice bitter finish.

An interesting blend of flavors that worked well together. I expected more bitter, but I was pleased with how they did it. I don't think it's something I'll seek out again, but I wouldn't turn one down if offered.

My Score: 7.0
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[MrDrew]

I am about to give you all a very odd food paring. You might laugh, but it was actually perfect.

I broke out one of the Left Hand Milk Stouts from my mixed 12 pack. I intentionally did it to try with............S'mores. No I'm not kidding.

I BBq'd some pork chops, which I had a APA that I'll review later, and promised the kids we'd make s'mores with the charcoal. Then I got this crazy idea to try the Milk Stout with it. I'm glad I did.
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[The Third Rider]

I tried the Sam Adams Imperial: Double Bock, pretty good beer it has 10% alcohol coompared to the usual 5%. Good beer and smooth, I give it an 8.
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If you read this I am sorry to say that you just lost 5 seconds of your life that you won't be getting back.*

*Actual time may vary.

[MrDrew]

Jackman's Pale Ale



Brewer: Left Hand Brewing Company (Longmont, CO)
Style: American Pale Ale

My Review:
Pours a clear copper. Minimal head that disappears quickly, Don't let the picture fool you. There is a little bit of a patchy foam that stays around for a few. Scent is light caramel malt, with the hops coming through a little stronger. Hop scent is citrus, pine, light spice, and a little bitter citrus. Taste is the same, light caramel malt, some spice, and a light bitter finish. Lighter flavor than the other APA's I've reviewed. Slightly watery, but not enough to take away from the taste. Not bad, but not in the same league as Dale's or Hazed & Infused.

My Score: 6.25
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[RyanFuller003]

My latest purchases:

1) Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier, which Waldo already reviewed here. He gave it a 6.5 while I would trend it down a little more toward 6.0. As most Sam Adams beers go, it's an above-average brew, but not something you want to pay $12 for a six pack for. They did a good job of adding just the right amount of blackberry, as Waldo pointed out, but I really don't like how the beer finishes. It's a little bit more bitter than I would have expected from a fruit-oriented beer. I like Leinenkugel's comparable offerings a bit more (Sunset Wheat and Summer Shandy).

2) Goose Island Oatmeal Stout



I purchased this because I bought and reviewed their Nut Brown Ale a little while ago, and because I had purchased Sam Smith's Oatmeal Stout shortly thereafter. Sam Smith's version was a very, very good beer, and I think Mr. Drew's 7.75 rating is a very fitting one. But on to this particular beer . . .

I'm not all that well-versed in stouts, and I would by no means call myself an expert on them. But this was a beer I enjoyed well enough. I drank it out of the bottle because I don't have a balloon goblet (which is the recommended glassware). However, the beer is extremely dark--nearly black, quite close to opaque--and develops a formidably thick head. I was surprised to find that it was only 5.1% ABV, because it definitely tastes like a very strong beer. It's dominated by roasted malts and has notes of dark chocolate in it; it's not extremely sweet, but it falls on that side of the spectrum rather than on the bitter side. It's only very lightly hopped with almost just a token sprinkling of hops.

The best part about this one is the flavor upon sipping it; the initial flavor is pretty potent and quite pleasant. Unfortunately it doesn't finish quite as well as the Sam Smith version that I enjoyed a couple of weeks ago, but this beer is much less expensive; overall I'd say it's a better value. I can't really complain about it. I will be buying this variety again sometime.

Goose Island is quickly turning into one of my favorite breweries and I plan on giving the Honker's Ale another shot. I was only starting to venture outside of the megabrews when I first tried it.

Recipe Information:
Style: English Style Stout
Alcohol by Volume: 5.1%
International Bitterness Units: 30
Color: Ruby over Black
Hops: UK Fuggle, Willamette
Malts: 2-Row, Roasted Barley, Oat Flake, Barley Flake, Caramel, Debittered Black

Serving Suggestions:
Preferred Glass: Snifter
Preferred Serving Temperature: 40º
Food Pairings: Beef, Hearty Stews, Chocolate Cake
Cheese Pairings: Stilton, Cheddar
Cellaring Notes: Enjoy within 180 days

My Rating: 7.0
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[PackerFanDan]

Waldo, or anybody else, what are your thoughts on Smithwick's Irish Ale? I had some last night and I thought it was pretty good. Tasted like caramel.

[boondock]

[MrDrew]

[RyanFuller003]

[13sieve]

[ienjoythesnow]

[13sieve]