AW's Beer Reviews

[AWMiller]

back from vacation and getting some write-ups ready... back to posting regularly soon!!

[das speck hunter]

Attachment 57249Great 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,

SAMMY IS NEVER IN A PINCH NEVER!!!!!!! Lienie's is Hit or Miss since their SAB MILLER NOW.

[das speck hunter]

Did we just become best friends? Yep!

[AWMiller]

Choc Beer Brewmaster’s Signature Belgian-Style Dubbel
Krebs, Oklahoma USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale – Dubbel

My personal notes: Now just because this brew hails from Oklahoma, don’t let that stop you from trying this exceptional beer! It pours up a rich mahogany-colored body sporting a tan-colored head that lingers for quite a long time and leave a good amount of lacing on the glass. Incredible scents of toffee, caramel, and dark fruits (like plums, dark cherries, etc.) along with vanilla, warm nuts, and roasted malt. Flavors of the same with none overpowering the other. The body is rich and creamy with a spicy finish that is just absolutely amazing! Definitely a brew to be paired up with a hearty beef dish or slow-grilled steaks!

[AWMiller]

Augustijn Ale
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. | Ertvelde, Belgium
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale – Tripel

My personal notes: This brew makes for a rather good session beer. It pours up a murky apple-juice colored body with a huge foamy head with good retention and loads of lacing. Scents of yeast and malts intermingled with a bit of honey and ripe bananas. Flavors are near the same with the yeasts and malts and some spices with a tinge of alcohol and something near the lines of a sour mash taste at the finish. The body is light and thin with an ease of drinkability. For those that haven’t dabbled with tripels, this is a good start but know that tripels should possess a flavor complexity greater than what this brew presents. Would go well with some grilled pork topped with grilled peaches or pineapple.

[AWMiller]

Gulden Draak
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. | Ertvelde, Belgium
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale – Strong Dark Ale (Dark Tripel)

My personal notes: Now this is one amazing dark tripel! This brew pours up a rich dark brown colored body with an incredibly frothy tan-colored head loaded up with amazing retention and lacing! Scents of hot caramel, buttery toffee and dark fruits (like plums or dark cherries) along with slight hints of bananas or warm banana-nut bread. Hearty flavors of caramel and toffee are largely present followed up by a smooth, creamy, non-bitter finish with just the right amount of alcohol taste to the brew. Take your time with this brew as it is definitely not a quaffer (as I cannot stands beers like that!). Pair this up with a slow-grilled steak dinner and you have a winner!

[AWMiller]

Leinenkugel’s 1888 Bock
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company | Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin USA
Purchased @ Olivers Fine Foods (Mansfield, Texas USA)

Style: Lager – Bock

My personal notes: Of the line of Leinenkugel beers, this one is my favorite! When poured I would compare it to looking like a fine cherry Dr. Pepper (without all that carbonation!!). The head is very robust and tan-colored with some nice lacing as you enjoy the beer. The flavor is just a nice smooth roasted flavor; nothing overbearing nor standout-ish. For a beer that’s not too complex I find this one very satisfying; one to be enjoyed over and over! An excellent pairing with a wild game dinner!

[AWMiller]

Avery Joe’s Premium American Pilsner
Avery Brewing Company | Boulder, Colorado USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Lager – Strong Lager

My personal notes: For those that like a lager/pilsner with some extra ‘ooomph’ this is the brew for you! This brew pours up a vibrant straw colored body (almost like Mello Yello!) and a nice fizzy head that tapers down quickly to a thin film and leaves minimal lacing on the sides of the glass. Strong aromas of hops hit you right upon opening. Flavors filled to the brim with hops (if you like bitter then you will like this brew!) followed up with a slightly sweet, somewhat biscuit-like flavors and finish. Very light bodied and easy to drink, this brew would be an awesome compliment to your summer-time BBQs or with a nice spicy cajun/seafood dinner!

[AWMiller]

Pete’s Wicked Ale
Pete’s Brewing Company; San Antonio, Texas USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Corks - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: English brown ale

ABV - 5.3%

Personal Notes: It took a while to get into the brown ale but it finally ‘grew’ on me and this is a nice beer to have on those fall days beside a roaring fire. It’s reddish, copper color sports an off-white foamy head which settles down much more quickly than I would like. It has a nice caramel aroma with a creamy, smooth body with a faint grainy finish. I enjoyed it for a couple of beers but anything more than that and the flavor really begins to decline. Darn good with a hearty hamburger though!

[AWMiller]

Piraat Ale - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. | Ertvelde, Belgium
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale – Belgian IPA

My personal notes: Of the IPA line of brews, Belgian IPAs are sure to rank at the top! This brew pours up a creamy, murky, hazy apricot colored body sporting a bubbly two-finger head with great retention and lacing. Served just slightly cooler than room temperature so that the scents and flavors are maximized. Slight hints of apricots (possibly apples?), hops, alcohol, and warm biscuits. Flavors of apricots, honeycomb (not the cereal!), just a hint of cloves, and a bite of hops at the end. The body is very creamy, almost silky. This brew is best enjoyed all by itself after a hearty beef/wild game dinner.