AW's Beer Reviews

[Hanr3]

Great thread.

Im not much for "commercial" beer. I prefer the microbeers. Being from Milwuakee Im partial to Wisconsin beers, Lieninkugal, Point, Pigs Eye, etc.
Sam Adams in a pinch,

[Bassky]

A&W Classic Rootbeer for me. Actually like beer, but I don't drink alcohol, so I drink the next best out there!
Bassky

[tholmes]

AW, since you like the Abbey and 1554 from New Belgium (two of my favorites also) I would suggest that you try the Trippel. Much different than the darker ales, but a great brew. Be careful though, it packs a punch!

Tom

[AWMiller]

AW, since you like the Abbey and 1554 from New Belgium (two of my favorites also) I would suggest that you try the Trippel. Much different than the darker ales, but a great brew. Be careful though, it packs a punch!

Tom

I've tried the Trippel and just can't get my tastebuds around it yet... must be that coriander in it. There's something in that 'bite' that I'm still trying to figure out!

[AWMiller]

Brew: Shiner Bohemian Black Ale

Brewed by: Spoetzl Brewery; Shiner, Texas USA

Style: schwarzbier

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass (or a goblet cause that’s how I like to roll!)

Personal Notes:

What an awesome black lager! The more I try of this style, the more I’m starting to really love a hearty black lager. When poured, it looks like “Texas Tea” with an incredible foamy head that lingers for the entire serving leaving pleasing lace rings on the glass. What captured my senses was its deep, dark malt smell. It has an enjoyable flavor; having a nice crisp ‘hoppy’ bite but none of that bitterness normally associated with the black malt. Don’t expect a porter or stout when having this beer! Otherwise you’d think it was thinned out a tad. But this is definitely one black lager to have on-hand and enjoy!

[AWMiller]

Brew: Shiner Old-Time Alt

Brewed by: Spoetzel Brewery; Shiner, Texas USA

Style: altbier

Glassware: Best served in a stange.

Personal Notes: This beer was rather enjoyable. I had read previous reviews of it on BeerAdvocate.com where other reviewers had not given it such a good rating. But being the skeptic that I am, I just had to try it out for myself… and I’m rather glad I did! When poured this beer sports a rich amber color with hints of orange. It didn’t bolster up a large head, maybe an inch or so but the head stayed with the beer and provided for some nice lacing on the side of the glass. One thing I really enjoyed was the beer’s toasted-malt aroma; but at times hints of caramel were also noticed. The flavor of the beer is largely the toasted-malt flavor but again, tastes of caramel were detected. There’s a nice lingering flavor and the beer is a very drinkable beer. Would I stock up on it? Probably not; but it’s not a bad one to have a few on hand!

[AWMiller]

Brew: Tommyknocker Butthead Doppelbock

Brewed by: Tommyknocker Brewery; Idaho Springs, Colorado USA

Style: doppelbock

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or mug.

Personal Notes: Tommyknocker’s Butthead Doppelbock is a very outstanding brew in my humble opinion. Rich and VERY smooth and delightfully malty and not overfilled with all that taste of hops! When poured, your eyes will delight in the dark mahogany color with a hefty tan to light brown head that will cling to your mug leaving those wonderful ring-lines all the way down the glass. Your sense of smell will swoon filled with malts, various fruit, warm bread, and the like. Once that syrupy thick brew hits your tongue you will taste a meld of flavors but overall I compare it to warm bread fresh out of the oven! There is a slight bite of alcohol but it’s nothing at all in the way of conflicting with the fine taste of this brew. Definitely one of the best American doppelbocks I’ve ever tasted!

[AWMiller]

Brew: Spaten Oktoberfest Ur-Märzen

Brewed by: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu; Munich, Germany

Style: märzen/oktoberfest

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or mug.

Personal Notes:

Of the Oktoberfest beers that I’ve sampled thus far, this Spaten is definitely right at the top of my favorites list!!! When I make it over to Germany, Munich and this brewery are definitely on my list of attractions to visit!!! When poured this beer sports a hearty head that stays well with the beer all the way through. Its deep ‘caramely’ brown body (much like a hearty cream soda from those old-fashioned soda fountains!) and caramel scent were just almost too much to bear while taking pics of the brew! There’s a very well-balanced combination of caramel, hops and malt with this fine brew that sits well and proves to be a very easy drinkable beer. An awesome beer to pair up with some delicious brats hot off the grill!!!

[AWMiller]

Brew: Franziskaner Weissbier

Brewed by: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu; Munich, Germany

Style: Hefeweizen

Glassware: Best served in a weizen glass.

Personal Notes: Pours a very hazy golden amber color with a substantial head … either wait a bit for it to go down or deal with the foamy mustache! The aroma of this brew was amazing!! It put off scents of bananas and cloves … and just a subtle hint of lemon-grass. The taste is just amazing … like sweet banana-nut bread or bread pudding with warm cream sauce just poured on! Nice, creamy, and an exceptional finish! Definitely an awesome companion with poultry and seafood dishes!!

[catchncrisco]

Two of my favorites...the Spaten Oktoberfest is the go to of all Oktoberfest beers in my opinion. Paulaner..Becks even Warsteiner can't match that deep hoppy smooth creamy taste. We have a big German contingent here and the German American society puts on on heck of an Oktoberfest in the Fall, kegs of Spaten flown in for the occasion. Thanks for the reports , keep em coming.