AW's Beer Reviews

[AWMiller]

Estrella Damm
Damm S. A. | Barcelona, Spain
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Lager – Pale Lager

ABV - 5.2%

My personal notes: Quite a refreshing lager coming out of Barcelona, Spain! This brew poured up a crystal clear straw-colored body sporting a nice fizzy head with some retention and minimal lacing. When compared to other pale lagers that I’ve had the opportunity of sampling, this brew has them beat hands-down in the looks department! But it is a pale lager so scents and flavors are all pretty much the same; mellow hops and malts but this brew does NOT have that ‘corn’ taste like so many other pale lagers possess; and to me this makes for a far better taste. It’s a light-bodied brew and really good for those summer BBQs or after a long hard day of working in the yard or garden.

[AWMiller]

Avery Ellie’s Brown Ale
Avery Brewing Company | Boulder, Colorado USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale – Brown Ale

ABV - 5.5%

My personal notes: A very nice session brew in the brown ale line! This brew poured up a dark mahogany-colored body sporting an amazingly thick, cream head with good retention and lacing. Roasted malts and chocolate combine to make a medium-bodied, very smooth, creamy, malty, sweet brown ale with subtle hints of robust coffee with a finish that’s only lightly ‘hoppy’ and not bitter tones. Some slow-smoked beef ribs, beer bread, and a German-style (creamy) slaw would pair up very well with this fine brew!

[AWMiller]

Seeradler Classik
Brauerei Max Leibinger GmbH | Ravensburg, Germany
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Fruit Beer

ABV - 2.6%

My personal notes: Well of all the fruit beers that I’ve tasted thus far, this one is by far the best! This brew poured up a slightly hazy, pale yellow colored body sporting a vibrant frothy head with fair retention and minimal lacing. Lemons, roasted malts and a touch of hops. The body is VERY light and easily drinkable (not much alcohol in that drink). Enjoy during the heat of summer at the BBQ or by the pool.

One of the coolest pull-tops I’ve ever seen on a bottle!

[AWMiller]

Saint Arnold Spring Bock
Saint Arnold Brewing Company | Houston, Texas USA
Purchased @ Oliver's Fine Foods - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Lager – Heller Bock

ABV - 6.4%

My personal notes: This brew poured up a light reddish-brown with a one-finger thick head that dissipated rather quickly and left minute lacing. Roasted malts, floral hops, light chocolaty-spicy notes up front with a bright hoppy finish. Medium bodied that finishes clean with no bitter aftertaste. A great brew to enjoy in the spring as well as throughout the year. Would make for a great pairing with a squirrel gumbo or rabbit stew!

[AWMiller]

Left Hand 400 Pound Monkey
Left Hand Brewing Company | Longmont, Colorado USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: English-style India Pale Ale (IPA)

ABV - 7%

My personal notes: Served ‘fridge’ cold, this brew poured up a hazy, light copper colored body with a one-finger thick foamy head with good retention and lacing. Very hoppy with some hints of caramel and spices both in scent and flavor. Medium bodied with a clean, slightly spicy finish with just the right amount of ‘bite’. This would pair well with some smoked or grilled oysters on the half-shell or some spicy grilled shrimp!

[AWMiller]

Labatt Blue
Labatt Brewing Company Ltd. | London, Ontario CANADA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Adjunct Lager

ABV - 5%

My personal notes: This brew poured up the standard pale yellow colored body with a foamy, bubbly head that dissipated quickly and left negligible lacing. General aromas of corn and malts. Flavors of the same. Light body and well carbonated makes this an easy quaffer. Brews like this are good for pizza, meatball sandwiches, and hot wings.

[AWMiller]

Victory Storm King Imperial Stout
Victory Brewing Company | Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Russian-style Imperial Stout

ABV - 9.1%

My personal notes: These Imperial Stouts are just amazing! This brew poured up a rich dark black body with a one-finger mocha-colored head with great retention and lacing. Loads of hops, malts, chocolate tease your sense of smell while flavors of chocolate, toffee, and coffee tease your sense of taste. Medium-bodied while a nice hoppy bite at the finish with hints of espresso here and there. This is definitely a dessert all to itself!

[AWMiller]

Rahr & Sons Texas Red
Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Fort Worth, Texas USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: American Amber/Red Lager

ABV - 4.7%

My personal notes: These boys from Rahr & Sons surely don’t disappoint! This brew poured up a dark walnut-amber colored body sporting a two-finger bubbly head with great retention and lacing. Warm aromas of malt and hops so richly balanced that it entices one to stop and savor the brew with the nose before taking in that first tantalizing sip! A very malty tasting beer (which I really like cause I’m a malt-head!) with hints of the hops hidden here and there. This brew is slightly heavier than a light brew but slightly lighter than a medium-bodied brew. This brew is very, very, very easy to drink; so for a session brew it ranks up there of my highest picks! An excellent pairing with some beef/chicken fajitas or some slow-smoked wild game!

[AWMiller]

Sierra Nevada Porter
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. | Chico, California USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: American Porter

ABV - 5.6%

My personal notes: This brew poured up a near jet black body sporting a frothy one-finger head that dissipated quickly to a thin film leaving amazing lacing effects on the glass. Served just cooler than room temperature, scents and flavors of chocolate, coffee, toffee, roasted malts, and slight hints of hops and citrus. Medium-bodied with an ease of drinkability. Would pair well with grilled or smoked meats and several wild game dinners!

[AWMiller]

Sierra Nevada Stout
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. | Chico, California USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: American Stout

ABV - 5.8%

My personal notes: Now this is an amazing American stout! Served just cooler than room temperature this brew poured up a near jet black body sporting an enormous frothy head (as a result of a vigorous pour) with good retention and excellent lacing effects. Aromas and flavors of chocolate, burnt brown sugar, molasses, roasted malts, dark fruits (plums, etc.) balanced with just the right amount of hops for a clean subtle bite. Medium-bodied, robust, rich and creamy with no harsh aftertaste. Excellent when paired with grilled or smoked meats and wild game.