Beer Review Thread

Waldo · Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 22679 Location: The ATL

Man, no wonder I've never seen it outside of Wi.

A NTC bar was busted for selling Spotted Cow by the New Glarus brewery.

Just about everyone that you meet that has had it considers it one of the 5 best beers that they've ever had. I absolutely love it.

RyanFuller003 · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 19879

Magic Hat Howl

Magic Hat is a decent brewery; I've liked everything I've had from them, even if none of it is really outstanding. For the most part it's going to fall into the 6.5-7.0 range, and I would say this beer is no different.

Howl is Magic Hat's new Winter seasonal, as the company has officially stopped distributing Jinx, which was a wee heavy/Scottish ale that, unfortunately, I don't believe I've ever tried. Howl is a schwarzbier, a kind of dark lager that will usually taste a bit like a more mellow porter--it has the coffee flavor and a degree of bitterness to it, but it's more mild due to the lagering process.

Howl pours a dark, but not opaque brown with a light off-white head that's about a finger in thickness and dissipates, but leaves foam tracing down the sides of the glass as you drink.

The aroma is a little funky, which I've found to be pretty common to all of Magic Hat's beers; unfortunately I can't really put my finger on what it is. There are coffee notes in it as well as some toasted malts.

The flavor is kind of light. There is a smooth coffee flavor that you'd expect, and the pale and crystal malts are the same as used in the more popular #9 (Magic Hat's most widely-known beer). In that regard, I'm a little disappointed--the flavors are very similar between the two except that instead of #9's apricot flavoring, this has coffee flavor in it instead. Very dry in the finish, and the hopping is only for bittering.

The mouthfeel is smooth, especially considering its appearance. Carbonation is pretty light, which is nice because this is generally a very refreshing beer. This would make a good session beer.

Overall rating: 6.5
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TRUTH · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 2614 Location: Mechanicsburg, OH

Has anybody tried Michelob Winter's Burbon Cask Ale?

RyanFuller003 · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 19879

Bucky · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 14369

coors · Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Posts: 6367 Location: Atlanta

10 of those tonight i think im dead
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Quintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones for President

scar988 · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 28718 Location: Charleston, SC

coors, they sell dollar PBR's here in Charleston... not very good beers, but cheap at the bars during games when you've already had 5-6.
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coors · Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Posts: 6367 Location: Atlanta

ienjoythesnow · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 4377

bigbluefan87 · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:29 am Post subject:

pbr's probably my least favorite beer in the world. maybe icehouse can be in a tie for that.

i drank both of those when i rented a house with my friends for a week and needless to say i haven't touched either since.

and as far as cheap beer, when i'm at school it's a 20 pack of busch light bottles for the night. very good deal at the local liquor store.
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~lago_vista on the sig/avatar

Jeezy Fanatic · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject:

boondock · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 17620 Location: Waynesville, NC

I go PBR for my cheap beer. If it's available, sometimes I'll go for Steel Reserve or South Paw.
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scar988 · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 28718 Location: Charleston, SC

it really depends on where I'm at. PBR is a great cheap beer in Charleston because it's normally the $0.50-$1.50 special and is great with Pizza. But I won't get PBRif I have to spend more then 1.50 for it.
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