AW's Beer Reviews

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Brew: Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale

Brewed by: Black Sheep Brewery PLC; Ripon, United Kingdom

Style: English pale ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass.

Personal Notes: Pours a rich amber colored body sporting a somewhat melancholy foamy head. No big signs of carbonation that I took note of. As with most English pale ales, this one has the pleasant scents nuts and butter and the taste supports those scents with strong flavors of nuts and butter; I did note that the hops presents quite a bitter punch on the first few sips but mellows out after a while. It's not real heavy so it's a real good session beer! But for me this was a fun beer just because of the label as this ale was "tempered over burning witches"!!

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Brew: New Belgium Blue Paddle

Brewed by: New Belgium Brewing Co.; Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Style: German Pilsener

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or mug.

Personal Notes: This brew pours out a clear light golden body that sports a tall foamy head that stays well with the brew for quite a while. Scents and flavors full of malts well-blended with just the right amount of hops to make for a superbly balanced brew. Light and refreshing ... definitely a great brew to be enjoyed during the hot Texas summers! A great brew to be enjoyed with poultry and fish/seafood meals!

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Brew: Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

Brewed by: Stone Brewing Co.; Escondido, California USA

Style: American Strong Ale

Glassware: Best served in a mug, pint/becker, or a snifter.

Personal Notes: Pours a dark reddish brown body sporting a good foamy head which left thick lacing on the sides of the glass while the brew was being enjoyed. A very "citrusy" scent and flavor hit strong at first but as the brew warms, there are scents and flavors of brown sugar, roasted hazelnut (most likely from the oaking process), and loads of hops coupled with subtle undertones of roasted malts. If I were to coin a term to describe either the scent or the flavor it would be 'complex'. Definitely a great session beer!

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I love all weiss beers. They are not cold filtered, and still have yeast in it. That yeast is actually very healthy, and with it included, is the way beer was always meant to be had.

Your comments about Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier makes me want to go out and get some. Hacker Pschoor is my usual favorite, but I even like Blue Moons Weiss.

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Brew: Lagunitas Censored (a.k.a. The Kronik)

Brewed by: Lagunitas Brewing Co; Petaluma, California USA

Style: American Amber/Red Ale

Glassware: Best served in the drain…. or perhaps a dixie cup…. or if you want to go high-society you can serve it up in a pint glass or mug.

Personal Notes:


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First things first… I had some high expectations for this brew based on inputs that others had given me on it and other brews that they have tried from Lagunitas. I’ll state for the record that if the rest of their line tastes like this, I’m spending my money on some other brewer!!

… it’s been days and I still can’t get that taste out of my mouth!!! …

And now for the review…

It started off looking like a good brew! A rich warm copper body but it only sported a teeny-tiny foam ring that dissipated quickly and left very little (if any) lacing on the side of the glass. The smell though was just a turn-off and I should have stopped right there and poured it down the drain! But nooooooooo, morbid curiosity got the better of me! It tasted as though I just took a handful of rotten hops and chewed on it! (and the beer wasn’t ‘off’… bottle was sealed right and it was recently brewed/bottled… it just tasted horrible!) I figured that a few more samples would do the trick and let the real flavor come out but I was sadly disappointed. I just can’t put into words how bad this beer tasted (ANY brew would be better than this)!

Sorry folks… no pics of the brew in the serving glass… didn’t want to waste the time with all the editing required on a shoddy beer like this one!

Awesome thread AW, I like reading your reviews, but I don't venture away from Coors light much, except for regular Blue Moon on occasion..... Thumbs Up

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Brew: Paulaner Salvator Double Bock

Brewed by: Paulaner Brauerei GmbH & Co; Germany

Style: Doppelbock

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or mug.

Personal Notes: Definitely a brew going into my BHOF (Beer Hall of Fame)!! This brew pours a rich dark red body that sports a thick foamy head that lends well with the brew for quite a while. Scents of strong malt, coffee (maybe a rich espresso) followed with rich malty flavors blended with hints of orange or cloves with very little presence of the taste of alcohol. It has a nice thick feel to it and is a great beer to pair up with wild game or other rich meats.

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Brew: Kronenbourg 1664

Brewed by: Brasseries Kronenbourg; Strasbourg, France

Style: European Pale Lager

Glassware: Best served in pilsner glass.

Personal Notes: This being my first French brew to sample, I didn't have any set expectations. Not a bad brew at all I must say, but nothing outstanding either. If you like Heineken then you'll easily like this brew as well. It pours a rich copper-colored body sporting a somewhat dismal bubbly head that dissipates very quickly and leaves very little lacing. Upon opening, my senses detected a very grassy, somewhat pungent, odor that frankly nearly kept me from sampling this brew. It's a bitter tasting beer; for me it was almost too bitter (but that's just me). Flavors detected consisted of the traditional grains, malts and hops; but I just could not find a happy balance between them; but the grassy flavor was very appearant and somewhat overbearing. It's very light on the pallet and a brew that can be a good session beer; especially on those hot summer days. This brew would be good with some fish or possibly some small fried baby crabs!

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Brew: Left Hand Milk Stout

Brewed by: Left Hand Brewing Co; Longmont, Colorado USA

Style: Milk/Sweet Stout

Glassware: Best served in a pint or a mug.

Personal Notes: This was my first experience in the Milk/Sweet Stout line of brews and this first introduction was quite an interesting one to say the least! The brew pours up very rich and thick with a near-black body that looked very inviting to enjoy! This would have been an awesome view had it not been for the puny head that disappeared so fast that I hardly had time to take a picture of it! Aromas of sweet chocolate and robust coffee teased my senses along with rich flavors of chocolate, strong coffee and a light hint of something smoky. It was very rich and thick but not syrupy like I had imagined it might be. Definitely a brew to be enjoyed after a good meal as it's almost like a fine dessert wine!

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Brew: Shock Top Raspberry Wheat

Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch, Inc.; St. Louis, Missouri USA

Style: American Pale Wheat Ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass, mug or a weizen glass.

Personal Notes: Now I'm not a huge fan of fruity-tootie brews but this one wasn't all that bad; not all that great but definitely not all that bad! It pours a very hazy/murky orange-ish body and sporting an 'ok' foamy head that goes away rather quickly. Loads of raspberry scents are detected right upon opening followed up with a slightly citrus-y scent. The flavor is, in my opinion, too heavy with the raspberry flavor and definitely not pure raspberry being added! There are also hints of orange (and sometimes lemon) flavors as well. The body feels creamy and very smooth with no harsh alcohol being detected. Might enjoy a couple on a hot summer day but not something I would drink a lot of or that often.

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Brew: Hofbrau Munchen Hofbrau Dunkel

Brewed by: Staatliches Hofbrauhaus (Hofbrau Munchen); Germany

Style: Munich Dunkel Lager

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass.

Personal Notes: This is a very fine dunkel! Pours a rich, dark brown body with a hearty frothy head that stays with the brew a long time. Hints of roasted malt and caramel are both smelt and tasted; followed up with a light, crisp hit of bitter hops that's just right! An excellent pairing with meats and wild game!

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I'm fairly fond of real Canadian beers, and some of the Dutch imports that are available.

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Brew: Samuel Adams Cream Stout

Brewed by: Boston Brewing Co; Boston, Massachusetts USA

Style: stout/porter - sweet stout

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or mug.

Personal Notes: Pours up a rich black body with a nice frothy head that leaves good lacing on the glass while you drink. Warms scents of robust coffee, toffee, caramel and roasted malts. Rich tastes of the roasted malts and coffee/caramel. The body is velvety smooth with light carbonation. Tastes best when it's not so cold. A very nice cream stout indeed! Would serve as a great dessert brew!

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Brew: Kona Wailua Wheat Ale

Brewed by: Kona Brewing Co.; Kona, Hawaii USA

Style: wheat ale - american wheat

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass, mug, or in a weizen glass.

Personal Notes: This was my first Hawaiian brew and overall it was 'ok'. The brew pours up a very clear, almost peach-like body but not a thick head like I was anticipating (and it dissipates very quickly!). Scents and flavors of sweet malts and various citrus fruits and a light tinge of hops make for a fairly balanced brew. The passion fruit was very dominant which for me made it almost 'too fruity' to enjoy; but others may be looking for something along those lines. It would be a good session brew on a hot summers day.

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Brew: Murphy's Red Ale

Brewed by: Murphy Brewery; Cork, Ireland

Style: ale - scottish ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint or mug.

Personal Notes: A very nice session brew! This brew pours up a rich red body with a sporty thick foamy head. Scents and flavors of sweet malts and caramel tantalize the senses. The flavors are very rich and complemented with a very clean finish and no harsh lingering aftertaste; lightly carbonated and very, very smooth.

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Brew: Schneider Aventinus

Brewed by: Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH; Kelheim, Germany

Style: lager - weizen bock

Glassware: Best served in a flute or weizen glass.

Personal Notes: OOOOOH MY!! Yet another excellent brew to be added to my own personal 'hall of fame'!!!! This brew pours up a rich dark mahogany body and sports an enormously thick, foamy head. Scents and flavors of chocolate, clove, caramel and so many others you'll delight in each savoring trying to determine what wonderful scent or flavor you are being enticed by!! The body is heavy yet smooth and very creamy and oh so refreshing. Although most say that this brew is to be enjoyed during the wintry months, this brew is (in my opinion) made to be enjoyed all throughout the year! An excellent brew to have with grilled meats and wild game!!

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Brew: Leffe Blonde

Brewed by: Abbaye de Leffe S.A.; Belgium

Style: Belgian pale ale

Glassware: Best served in a snifter, tulip glass or over-sized wine glass.

Personal Notes:

Let me introduce you to my most favorite Belgian Pale Ale… Leffe Blonde. Pale amber in color, this ale pumps out a full-bodied, flavor-rich beer. First you’ll notice the soothing amber color in which light dances on the surface and deep within the glass. Take a moment to enjoy the substantial head that forms when the beer is poured just right. As you enjoy this fine ale, take note of the foam rings that line your glass. Drinking doesn’t just involve taste… take time to enjoy the look and display that your beer provides!

Then take in your first drink… no other ale fills my mouth like this hearty Belgian Ale! I notice different flavors each time I enjoy this ale but for the most part it imparts a slightly sweet yet slightly spicy flavor that is as soft as warm caramel on the tongue. There are also subtle hints of vanilla and maybe even some toffee. At times I’ve tasted (or did I imagine it?!) slight tastes of banana but definitely some sweet spices! As for the aroma of the ale… well… it really smells like banana nut bread!

Keep in mind that Belgian ales are thought to be amongst the best in the world. They are very complex but very, very rewarding to the ale connoisseur! So grab ya some Leffe… get it as cold as you can, pour you a glass and enjoy this awesome ale!

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Brew: Leibinger Zeppelin Bier

Brewed by: Brauerei Max Leibinger GmbH; Ravensburg, Germany

Style: German Keller Bier/Zwickel Bier

Glassware: Best served in a mug.

Personal Notes: A fairly good session brew – it pours up a cloudy murky brown body sporting a nice foamy head that dissipates rather quickly and leaves very little lacing on the sides of the mug. Scents and flavors of the standards: hops, malts and some fruits of some sort. Nothing over the top but is a good brew to have during a few sessions.

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Brew: Pilsener 100 (Pilsener Centenario)

Brewed by: Cerveceria La Constancia (SABMiller); San Salvador, El Salvador

Style: South American Light Lager

Glassware: Best served in a pilsener glass.

Personal Notes: This is my first brew to try from El Salvador and it was a good beer despite reviews I’ve heard and read! It pours a rich, clear golden body with a light foamy head which dissipates somewhat quickly. Scents of grains and lemons are easily detected. Flavors detected include spicy hops, grains and lemons. The body is light and crisp with a little bit of carbonation. This brew is so light I can only assume that this is what light beers would taste like. Very light and goes down like water makes this brew a good session beer during those hot summer days.

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Brew: Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball Ale

Brewed by: Lagunitas Brewing Co.; Petaluma, California USA

Style: American Strong Ale

Glassware: Best served in a mug, pint/shaker, or a snifter.

Personal Notes: Ok, this is my second review on a Lagunitas brew and it will most likely be my last. Is their water coming from Death Valley??!! Oh my gosh this brew was horrid; not even worthy of being used in my yard tonic for fear of killing off all vegetation! It pours up a pleasingly rich dark mahogany colored body with a somewhat nice foamy head. The aromas were very pleasing; filled with toasted malts, sugars, and hints of cherry. The taste (oh my) was definitely NOT to my liking. I don't know what it is but none of their brews possess a well-balanced taste in my opinion. Like a dry, dry wine it was very chalky and it was just something that I could not get around. It was almost like gnawing on a rotted piece of burlap; yeah, it was that bad. So I've tried a few of their brews but don't look for any further reviews on their products (unless someone has just begged and pleaded to buy me one, cause I'm not spending any more of my money on them!).

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Brew: Magic Hat Wacko

Brewed by: Magic Hat Brewing Co; Burlington, Vermont USA

Style: Hybrid (Fruit Beer)

Glassware: Best served in the trash (seriously).

Personal Notes: I'm not even gonna waste anyone's time on this one. It sucks big time! This is NOT beer. Seriously, 'wacko' is the perfect term for this brew. I'd much rather eat the bottle than to take another sip of this atrocity!

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Brew: Shiner Ruby Redbird

Brewed by: Spoetzl Brewery; Shiner, Texas USA

Style: Hybrid (Fruit beer)

Glassware: Best served in a mug or pint/shaker.

Personal Notes: http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/a...ilies/barf.gif oh yuck!! I should have stopped when I read that this brew was blended with grapefruit and ginger!!! There’s just something about fruit-infused beers that are just not up to my liking! But if you’re into these sorts of hybrids then by all means read on! It pours up a rich amber body with very little head and that’s gone about as soon as you stop pouring the bottle out! The smell of ginger and grapefruit were just too much for me and frankly it is very overpowering. The taste has a bite to it that almost had me spitting it out (but I held back because I didn’t want to have to clean up the mess!). All I tasted was bad ginger and bad grapefruit and it’s very very bitter. Shiner totes that this is the “perfect summer beer”. Well they (and others) can have it that way as I have far better summer beer preferences! If you’re looking for the strange and unusual in the craft brew world, this one’s for you (but not me)!

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Brew: Bohemia Clasica

Brewed by: Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma, S.A. de C.V.; Monterrey (Nuevo Leon), Mexico

Style: Mexican Light Lager

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or a pint/shaker.

Personal Notes: An average brew to say the least. It pours up a pale golden body with a somewhat fizzy head. Marginal scents and flavors of corn and grains. The body is very light and carbonated somewhat heavily. Of the light beer family, there are many others that would be more fulfilling than this brew.

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Brew: Avery – The Czar

Brewed by: Avery Brewing Co; Boulder, Colorado USA

Style: American Imperial Stout

Glassware: Best served in a snifter or a pint/shaker.

Personal Notes: Oh yeah… another one to add to the AW Beer Hall of Fame!!! This brew pours up a rich black body sporting a rich tan creamy head that stays with the brew for quite some time leaving some nice lacing on the glass while the brew is being enjoyed. One’s sense of smell is flooded with chocolate, roasted hazelnuts and something along the lines of warm snicker-doodle or warm gingerbread cookies. The flavor of this beer is very complex and yet very, very enjoyable. I can’t even find the right words to adequately describe the flavors noted in this brews; but they are all well-balanced and very much to be savored slowly! The body is just how I like a good stout to be; thick, rich and almost chewy! This brew is definitely one to be enjoyed as a dessert (even though I devoured mine along with some rich, spicy hot wings!!!).

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Brew: Kingfisher Premium Lager

Brewed by: United Breweries – UB Group | Bangalore, India

Style: Indian Pale Lager

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass.

Personal Notes: This is my first “Indian” brew to review and I am very pleased with it! This brew pours up an excellent golden yellow/amber body color with a decent white fizzy head. Scents and flavors of malts and hops abound in this well-balanced brew. The body feels light and carbonated abundantly. An easy session brew during the hot summer months and tastes good even when it warms a bit. This would be a great brew to have with some poultry or fish/seafood meals as well as will many Indian recipes!

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Brew: Konig Pilsener

Brewed by: König-Brauerei GmbH; Duisburg, Germany

Style: German Pilsener

Glassware: Best served in a mug or pilsener glass.

Personal Notes: A very good German pilsener! Taken from BeerAdvocate.com: (from the bottle) “Das Konig der Biere (the King of Beer); Purum Laudatur (Purest [Highest] Praise); Gebraut nach dem Reinheitzgebot von 1516 (Brewed According to the Reinheitsgebot [Purity Law] of 1516)”. This brews pours up a clear yellow/amber colored body with a nice frothy head (not a thick one but nice enough!). Wonderful scents and flavors of hops and robust malts. The body is very light with just the right amount of carbonation. A nice German pils indeed! A great compliment to a spicy fish/seafood meal!

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Brew: Rahr & Sons Bucking Bock

Brewed by: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Fort Worth, Texas USA

Style: American Maibock / Helles Bock

Glassware: Best served in a flute, pilsner glass, or a mug.

Personal Notes: Oh sweet day in May!! This is one AWESOME bock! An awesome session brew to be enjoyed over and over and over!! This brew pours up a rich almost caramel-y body and sports and amazing frothy head. The scents are absolutely intoxicating! Sweet toasted malts mixed in with some caramel and subtle hints of baked apples. The flavors in this brew are stunning to say the least! Loads of malts and an exceptionally balanced sweet/bitter bite with a solid finish that entices you to your next savoring. Again this is an exceptional brew to be enjoyed with some fish/seafood meals or all by itself! Excellent work Fritz!

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Brew: Saint Arnold Summer Pils

Brewed by: Saint Arnold Brewing Co.; Houston, Texas USA

Style: American Pilsner

Glassware: Best served in a mug or pilsner glass.

Personal Notes: This was a fairly good pilsner. Pours up a very clear, light yellow/amber body with a minimal fizzy head. Scents and flavors of malts and hops entice the senses. Just the right bitter kick on this smooth and easy drinking brew. Goes good with a grilled chicken or spicy fish meal! Makes for a good session brew on a hot summer day.

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Brew: Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout

Brewed by: Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) | Tadcaster, United Kingdom (England)

Style: English Oatmeal Stout

Glassware: Best served in a mug or pint/shaker.

Personal Notes: Well, here’s another addition to the AW BHoF!!! This hearty brew pours up a rich, dark (near black) body sporting an exceptional tan frothy head which provides for some excellent lacing as this brew was savored. The sense of smell is flooded with rich oats, robust/strong coffees, malts, caramel, and molasses. The taste is absolutely out of this world! Smooth, rich, creamy; these terms pale in comparison of the uniqueness of this fine brew! There’s just enough bite from the hops that keep this from being on overly sweet brew. What I enjoyed most were the teasings of toffee and chocolate aftertastes. Definitely a brew I would enjoy with smoked meats or a wild game dinner!

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Brew: Widmer Brothers Drifter Pale Ale

Brewed by: Widmer Brothers Brewing Company | Portland, Oregon USA

Style: American Pale Ale

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/shaker.

Personal Notes: A good ale that almost had me guessing that it was a hybrid (fruit beer with grapefruit/orange) in disguise! This brew pours up a copper-colored body and a good frothy head. Scents of grapefruit and orange abound. Flavors of grapefruit/orange are dominant followed up with a well-balanced hit of hops and malts and finishes off with a tart aftertaste. As strong as the citrus-y are, I’m not quite sure what would go well with this brew; therefore I would opt to enjoying it all by itself.

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Brew: Boddingtons Pub Ale

Brewed by: Boddingtons | Manchester, United Kingdom (England)

Style: English Pale Ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass (shaker/nonic/becker).

Personal Notes: This has DEFINITELY been one of the most interesting brews I’ve tried in a long, long time! This brew pours up a gorgeous copper colored body and it’s the pour that’s truly, well, intoxicating!! As this brew is being poured it is immediately clouded up from the bottom of the glass to the top of the liquid. And then suddenly the head begins rolling up and the body of the brew clears off revealing its rich dark color. The head of this brew is absolutely the best I’ve seen and tasted; ever! Foamy, thick, and rich. And it stays with the brew long after the liquid is gone! Scents of honeycomb and warm bread are detected right off the bat. Not too heavy, not too light; just right. Flavors of a well balanced set of malts and hops; maybe a little bit of lemon grass there at the end. The body of this brew is so smooth and creamy and there’s not a lot of carbonation going on which makes for an easy brew to drink and not get filled up too quickly. Definitely a great brew to have with some spicy Cajun shrimp or buttery lobster tails!

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Brew: Indian Wells Lobotomy Bock

Brewed by: Indian Wells Brewing Company | Inyokern, California USA

Style: American Dopplebock

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or a mug.

Personal Notes: I’d class this one as a near-average brew; not bad but not much to rave about. It pours up what looks just like a cola; which made me think about an ice cold Dr. Pepper at the time. No head at all; but that could be contributed to the fact that my glass was not a ‘beer clean’ glass. Aromas of sweet malts and caramel teased the sense of smell while flavors of that same sweet malt along with some English toffee were detected. This is a lager so be ready for a thinner body feel if you have some; don’t let that rich dark colored body trick your mind into something thick and rich is in that glass!

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Brew: Baltika #6 Porter

Brewed by: Pivzavod Baltika / Baltic Beverages Holding | St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Style: Russian/Baltic Porter

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/shaker/nonic/becker/tumbler.

Personal Notes: What an amazing Russian brew!! This bad boy pours up a deep dark brown (almost black) body sporting a huge four-finger tan frothy head. Head retention was a good as it stayed with the brew as it reduced down to about a one-finger head. The smell was just as amazing with wisps of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and something akin to roasted hazelnuts. The flavors just add to the symphony of delight; dark chocolate, cocoa powder (like taking cocoa powder and adding just a tad bit of water to make a paste and eating it!), caramel, warm bread, plums, raisins, a twinge of hops, cloves, and more! This brew is full bodied (but not too thick) and no real detection of alcohol. Definitely not a session brew as this one is made to be savored very slowly as I found the tastes and smells just amassed as the brew slowly warmed up. Something that could easily be enjoyed all year long, I can see this one being especially comforting on those wintry days spent by the fireside. Excellent when paired up with hearty steaks or wild game dinners; and enjoyed just as easily all by itself.

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Brew: Samuel Smith’s The Famous Taddy Porter

Brewed by: Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) | Tadcaster, United Kingdom (England)

Style: English Porter

Glassware: Best served in a pint (becker/nonic/tumbler) or a mug.

Personal Notes: Yet another entry going into the AW BHoF!!! Definitely one of the best porters I’ve savored in a long, long time! This brew pours up a rich dark brown body with a frothy tan head that leaves some of the most exquisite lacing I’ve yet to behold! The scents coming off of this brew were just exceptional – vanilla, chocolate, syrup, and rich coffee. The flavors matched up strongly with robust hits of vanilla, chocolate and coffee. The body of the brew was rich and creamy; one meant to be savored slowly. This brew tastes best when it is chilled but not cold. This would be an awesome accompaniment to a hearty steak or a wild game dinner.

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Brew: Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA

Brewed by: Boston Beer Company | Boston, Massachusetts USA

Style: American IPA

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/shaker glass.

Personal Notes: First things first, me and IPAs have a hard time getting along. I keep trying them but there is just something in those brews that just does not appeal to my tastes. Nonetheless, on with this review. This brew pours up a rich amber colored body with a decent 1-finger head that stays with the brew for a little while. Immediately upon opening the scent of heavy hops is presented along with some subtle hints of malt. The taste is what I've come to expect from IPAs - bitter! Very, very bitter and very, very overwhelming. For me it was just too much but other brew lovers may be looking for a brew that possesses that bitter bite, if so this one is for you.

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Brew: Big Sky Heavy Horse Scotch Ale

Brewed by: Big Sky Brewing Company | Missoula, Montana USA

Style: American Scotch Ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint/nonic, snifter or tulip glass.

Personal Notes: Another entry into the AW BHoF! Big Sky nailed it with this brew; simply nailed it! It pours up a deep mahogany body with a nice 1-finger head that hangs around for quite a while. Scents of rich malts and dark fruits like cherries and plums precede the flavors of sweet malts, caramel and dark fruits. Put the sense of smell and taste into overdrive by breathing in through your nose just as you are drinking some of this fine brew!! Oh yeah! There's just enough hit of hops to make this one amazingly fine brew! This is a easy session brew so keep track of how many you enjoy! This brew is a hit with a hearty grilled steak or smoked salmon!

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Brew: Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

Brewed by: Breckenridge Brewery | Denver, Colorado USA

Style: American Porter

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/nonic glass.

Personal Notes: Simply put ... this is one nice brew! This brew pours up a near pitch black body with a good 1-finger head. Aromas of vanilla (duh!) and coffee match up to the well-balanced flavors of vanilla and coffee in this brew. The body is smooth, creamy and has just the right amount of 'thickness' that one would want is this great brew! Pair this bad boy up with grilled steaks or smoked meats or even some wild game for dinner and you'll be on the Bliss Express!

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Brew: Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

Brewed by: Great Divide Brewing Company | Denver, Colorado USA

Style: American Imperial Stout

Glassware: Best served in a snifter or perhaps a pint or nonic glass.

Personal Notes: Let there be no misconceptions. This is an excellent brew! This brew pours up a pitch black body with a tan head that is absolutely meant to be admired! The head sticks with the beer for a very long time and leaves some amazing lacing while you’re enjoying this brew! Dominating scents and flavors include: roasted malts, hot caramel, warm toffee, robust coffee. The balance between the hops and the malts is just superb! This is such an easy drinking brew and one that I know I’ll enjoy all throughout the year; especially when paired up with some slow-grilled steaks or perhaps as a dessert brew all by itself.

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Brew: Rahr & Sons Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer

Brewed by: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Fort Worth, Texas USA

Style: American Strong Ale / Winter Warmer

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or a becker/nonic glass.

Personal Notes: Mark another awesome brew to be placed in the AW BHoF!! This is simply an exquisite brew! It pours up rich dark brown (nearly black) body with an intense foamy head that lingers for quite a long time and leaves some awesome lacing on the glass! Scents and flavors of bourbon, vanilla, malts, and caramel; none of which overpower the other. There’s just enough twinge from the alcohol that lets you know you’re drinking a hearty brew so don’t rush; sit back and enjoy slowly! This brew has just the right amount of thickness and smoothness that reminds me of a fine well-aged bourbon. Definitely a brew to stock up on and let the bottles age like a fine wine! I can see this being a awesome brew to enjoy during the wintry months but it’s one that can be easily enjoyed year round. I think I’ll pair this up with a hearty rib-eye, soon!

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Brew: Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale

Brewed by: Tommyknocker Brewery | Idaho Springs, Colorado USA

Style: American Brown Ale

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/nonic glass.

Personal Notes: Probably one of THE best brown ales I have ever savored! This brew pours up a rich chocolaty brown body with a good finger-thick head of foam that laces the glass very well. Scents and flavors of maple syrup, dark chocolates, caramel, and fresh-brewed robust coffee. This brew tastes just amazing; not too sweet and just enough hops to balance this brew out nicely. With just the right heaviness in the body and finishing off nice, crisp and clean, it was hard waiting between savors to have the next one! Going to pair this fine brew up with some steaks and decadent burgers!!

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.