AW's Beer Reviews

[AWMiller]

Avery Karma Belgian Pale Ale
Avery Brewing Company | Boulder, Colorado USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Belgian Pale Ale

ABV - 5.4%

This brew poured up a clear, dark copper colored body with a creamy off-white colored head with good retention and amazing lazing. Aromas of peppery spices, dark fruits (plums, raisins), and bread dough. Flavors of caramel, toasted malts, and a light hint of citrusy hops. Medium-bodied with a crisp, refreshing finish with a nice caramel flavor lingering about.

Pairing Recommendations: beef, buffalo, poultry, duck, goose, fish, partridge, pheasant, quail, grouse, rabbit, salmon, shellfish, squirrel, venison

Disclaimer: All beer tasting notes and reviews are subjective. The thoughts and opinions contained herein are those of the ‘bier vorgeschmack’ and him only. The intent of this beer review is to spur interest in brands and styles that one may not normally indulge in and to entice them to venture out and try new brews. While some may argue that there are no other beers than Miller, Coors, Bud, and Keystone, this is much akin to arguing which vanilla ice cream tastes the best. There are more brews out there; try some and enjoy the savory adventure.

[AWMiller]

Kulmbacher Eisbock
Kulmbacher Brauerei AG | Kulmbach, Germany
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Eisbock

ABV - 9.2%

What an amazing eisbock!! This brew poured up a near black-colored body with a bubbly head with moderate retention and lacing effects. Aromas full of dark roasted coffee beans, roasted malts and dark fruits (figs perhaps). Flavors of sweet malts, dark fruits, alcohol, and coffee. Full-bodied, thick and creamy, very smooth on the palate and warming finish reminiscent of fresh baked bread.

Pairing Recommendations: Save this one for dessert!! This brew would complement well with a rich beef or wild game meal.

Disclaimer: All beer tasting notes and reviews are subjective. The thoughts and opinions contained herein are those of the ‘bier vorgeschmack’ and him only. The intent of this beer review is to spur interest in brands and styles that one may not normally indulge in and to entice them to venture out and try new brews. While some may argue that there are no other beers than Miller, Coors, Bud, and Keystone, this is much akin to arguing which vanilla ice cream tastes the best. There are more brews out there; try some and enjoy the savory adventure.

[AWMiller]

Dendermonde Belgian Tripel
Brouwerij De Block | Peizegem-Merchtem, Belgium
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Tripel

ABV - 8%

Tripels are fast becoming a favorite brew-style of mine and this ale does not disappoint in any way! This brew poured up a slightly clear amber-colored body with a nice thick bubbly white head with good retention and lacing. Aromas of sweet malts, sugars, and bread dough. Flavors are loaded with lemon zest, wild honey, roasted malts, and a slight hint of hops. Medium-bodied, very smooth with a finish that is dry and refreshing with no harsh aftertastes.

Pairing Recommendations: beef, poultry, pork

Disclaimer: All beer tasting notes and reviews are subjective. The thoughts and opinions contained herein are those of the ‘bier vorgeschmack’ and him only. The intent of this beer review is to spur interest in brands and styles that one may not normally indulge in and to entice them to venture out and try new brews. While some may argue that there are no other beers than Miller, Coors, Bud, and Keystone, this is much akin to arguing which vanilla ice cream tastes the best. There are more brews out there; try some and enjoy the savory adventure.

[AWMiller]

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
Guinness Ltd. | Dublin, Ireland
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Foreign/Export Stout

ABV - 7.5%

This brew poured up a jet-black colored body with an insanely huge mocha-colored bubbly head with amazing retention and lacing. Aromas of rum, slow roasted robust coffee beans, and toasted malts. Flavors of the same but filled with good hits of the citrusy hops and then mellowed out with the sweet malts. Medium-bodied with a very dry finish with lingering notes of hazelnut. For me this brew seemed a little “thin” for a stout but still a good brew nonetheless. Would pair up nicely with some of my decadent burgers!

Pairing Recommendations: beef, buffalo, dove, duck, geese, squirrel, venison, wild boar

Disclaimer: All beer tasting notes and reviews are subjective. The thoughts and opinions contained herein are those of the ‘bier vorgeschmack’ and him only. The intent of this beer review is to spur interest in brands and styles that one may not normally indulge in and to entice them to venture out and try new brews. While some may argue that there are no other beers than Miller, Coors, Bud, and Keystone, this is much akin to arguing which vanilla ice cream tastes the best. There are more brews out there; try some and enjoy the savory adventure.

[AWMiller]

Chimay Tripel / Blanche (White) Cinq Cents
Bieres de Chimay (Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont) | Baileux (Chimay), Belgium
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Tripel

ABV - 8%

The Tripel craze continues! If you have not had the chance to try a tripel, you MUST! This brew poured up a hazy dark-orange colored body with an intensely creamy, foamy off-white colored head; long-lasting retention and lacing effects. Aromas of yeast, orange zest, cloves, and peppery spices. Flavors are quite complex and well-balanced with a very sweet-n-sour hit up front followed by a dry finish with light citrusy flavors lingering long afterwards. Loads of carbonation in the medium-bodied brew. Would pair this up with a slow-roasted pork rack or perhaps a slow-roasted rack of lamb.

Pairing Recommendations: beef, poultry, pork

Disclaimer: All beer tasting notes and reviews are subjective. The thoughts and opinions contained herein are those of the ‘bier vorgeschmack’ and him only. The intent of this beer review is to spur interest in brands and styles that one may not normally indulge in and to entice them to venture out and try new brews. While some may argue that there are no other beers than Miller, Coors, Bud, and Keystone, this is much akin to arguing which vanilla ice cream tastes the best. There are more brews out there; try some and enjoy the savory adventure.

[AWMiller]

Chimay Bleue (Blue) Grande Reserve
Bières de Chimay (Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont) | Baileux (Chimay), Belgium
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

ABV - 9%

Ooooh mercy! This is one dark ale that needs to be on everyone’s taste list! This brew poured up a dark root-beer brown colored body sporting a huge frothy off-white colored head with good retention (slowly dissipating down to a thin sheen) and amazing lacing effects. Aromas of figs, dark cherries, sweet malts, pine nuts, cloves and spices (like nutmeg, cinnamon, etc.). The flavors are of the same but oh so complex – each sip has it’s own reward and it gets much better as the beer warms. Medium- to Full-bodied, ultra smooth, slow carbonation with a finish that is dry and you will definitely know that there is some alcohol in this one! Definitely a brew to pair with a slow-grilled juicy steak!

Pairing Recommendations: beef, buffalo, salmon, venison, wild boar

Disclaimer: All beer tasting notes and reviews are subjective. The thoughts and opinions contained herein are those of the ‘bier vorgeschmack’ and him only. The intent of this beer review is to spur interest in brands and styles that one may not normally indulge in and to entice them to venture out and try new brews. While some may argue that there are no other beers than Miller, Coors, Bud, and Keystone, this is much akin to arguing which vanilla ice cream tastes the best. There are more brews out there; try some and enjoy the savory adventure.

[AWMiller]

Carlow O’Hara’s Irish Red
Carlow Brewing Company | County Carlow, Ireland
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Irish Ale

ABV - 4.3%

A middle-of-the-road Irish ale in my opinion. This brew poured up a dark red colored body with a one-finger thick foamy head; moderate retention and lacing effects. Aromas of yeast, biscuits, honey. Flavors of the same but nothing over the top. Medium-bodied, variable levels of carbonation, with a very dry finish that is somewhat lacking in flavor of any noticeable sort. Not a bad brew but nothing much to rave about either; but definitely something to be chosen over any of the macros!!

Pairing Recommendations: beef, buffalo, poultry, duck, geese, fish, partridge, pheasant, quail, grouse, shellfish

Disclaimer: All beer tasting notes and reviews are subjective. The thoughts and opinions contained herein are those of the ‘bier vorgeschmack’ and him only. The intent of this beer review is to spur interest in brands and styles that one may not normally indulge in and to entice them to venture out and try new brews. While some may argue that there are no other beers than Miller, Coors, Bud, and Keystone, this is much akin to arguing which vanilla ice cream tastes the best. There are more brews out there; try some and enjoy the savory adventure.

[AWMiller]

Tilburg’s Dutch Brown Ale
Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V. | Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Belgian Dark Ale

ABV - 5%

There’s something in this brew that just reminds me way too much of fruit beers (which I really don’t care for). This brew poured up a dark cherry-colored body with a frothy tan head; good retention, minimal lacing. Aromas of grape juice (I think this is what is throwing me off), caramel and old molasses. Flavors of the same; raisins, caramel, molasses, grains. Really it reminded me of an old Nestle Chunky candy bar that had been sitting around for way too long (yeah, like when the chocolate turned that pasty white color!). Medium-bodied with a dry fruity finish full of dark fruits and peppery spices.

Pairing Recommendations: beef, buffalo, salmon, venison, wild boar

Disclaimer: All beer tasting notes and reviews are subjective. The thoughts and opinions contained herein are those of the ‘bier vorgeschmack’ and him only. The intent of this beer review is to spur interest in brands and styles that one may not normally indulge in and to entice them to venture out and try new brews. While some may argue that there are no other beers than Miller, Coors, Bud, and Keystone, this is much akin to arguing which vanilla ice cream tastes the best. There are more brews out there; try some and enjoy the savory adventure.

[AWMiller]

Abita Christmas Ale 2010
Abita Brewing Co. | Abita Springs, Louisiana USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: American Brown Ale

ABV - 6.13%

This brew poured up a dark amber colored body with a one-finger thick off-white colored head; moderate retention and minimal lacing. Aromas of citrusy hops, harvest spices (nutmeg, etc.) and orange zest. Flavors are rather bland making this brew a good chugger/quaffer for those into that sort of drinking style. Near medium-bodied, watered-down with a bland and tasteless finish. I was a bit dismayed at this brew and hope that future runs will improve.

Pairing Recommendations: beef, buffalo, dove, duck, geese, partridge, pork, rabbit, squirrel, venison

Disclaimer: All beer tasting notes and reviews are subjective. The thoughts and opinions contained herein are those of the ‘bier vorgeschmack’ and him only. The intent of this beer review is to spur interest in brands and styles that one may not normally indulge in and to entice them to venture out and try new brews. While some may argue that there are no other beers than Miller, Coors, Bud, and Keystone, this is much akin to arguing which vanilla ice cream tastes the best. There are more brews out there; try some and enjoy the savory adventure.

[AWMiller]

St. Bernardus Tripel
Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV | Watou, Belgium
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Tripel

ABV - 8%

This awesome brew poured up a cloudy dark orange colored body sporting a hearty two-finger frothy white colored head with good retention and lacing. Aromas of apricots, sugars, and some spice that I just have not been able to pinpoint as of yet. The flavors in this brew are just amazing and very well-balanced, full of caramel, toffee, fruits, lemon zest, and a slight hint of alcohol. Full-bodied, very creamy and smooth, with a dry, yeast-like finish.

Pairing Recommendations: beef, poultry, duck, geese, pheasant, quail, grouse, rabbit, rattlesnake, squirrel, venison, wild boar

Disclaimer: All beer tasting notes and reviews are subjective. The thoughts and opinions contained herein are those of the ‘bier vorgeschmack’ and him only. The intent of this beer review is to spur interest in brands and styles that one may not normally indulge in and to entice them to venture out and try new brews. While some may argue that there are no other beers than Miller, Coors, Bud, and Keystone, this is much akin to arguing which vanilla ice cream tastes the best. There are more brews out there; try some and enjoy the savory adventure.