AW's Beer Reviews

[AWMiller]

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!

[AWMiller]

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!

[AWMiller]

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.

[AWMiller]

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.

[AWMiller]

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.

[AWMiller]

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!

[AWMiller]

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!

[AWMiller]

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.



Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

[AWMiller]

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!




Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

[AWMiller]

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!!



Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.