AW's Beer Reviews

[AWMiller]

Have you had rogue dead guy yet. That's a good one.

Sure have! It's nestled somewhere in this long list of reviews but it'll be easier just to hit my blog and read my thoughts on it. Click here ---> AW's Beer Review for Rogue Dead Guy Ale

[AWMiller]

Smithwick’s
Guinness Ltd. | Dublin, Ireland
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Irish Ale

This is another one of my go-to brews! Ultra smooth and crisp. Good sour bite all the way through. Silky caramel feel and taste from start to finish. Such an easy drinking brew that it can be enjoyed repeatedly all day long! Just a note I’d like to toss in – the “w” in Smithwick’s is silent! I get a good chuckle when folks order it at the bar! I tell folks that don’t care for a regular Guinness to give this brew a try and most that do tend to add it among their favorites! Give it a shot and I’m sure you’ll come to appreciate it as well. I’m thinking lamb burgers next time I’m enjoying this brew!!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Pyramid Juggernaut Red Ale
Pyramid Breweries, Inc. | Seattle, Washington USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Amber Ale

Quite a good brew for those looking for a red ale that is both flavorful and easy on the belly when drinking. This brew is loaded up with just the right amount of sweetness and bitterness that will have you enjoying every drop! Keep in mind this is more of a baseline brew in this beer style which means it is nothing over the top but definitely not a bad brew by any means. Paired up real well with some spicy chicken enchilada casserole.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Latrobe Rolling Rock Extra Pale
Latrobe Brewing Co. | St. Louis, Missouri USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Pale Lager

Pleasant summer time lager and a good thirst quencher. I would easily choose this brew over the ‘big-boy’ mass-produced brews anytime! Lots of corn in the smell and taste of this beer. Not much going on otherwise but still a tasty brew and easy on the pocketbook. Drink it ice cold!!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager
Dixie Brewing Co. | New Orleans, Louisiana USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Schwarzbier

A real good ‘drinkin’ beer; very easy drinker for a beer of this style. Sweet up front with a nice bitter bite on the finish. Not as dark as I was expecting but this one is way better than the brew they call “their best” (i.e. Dixie Beer)!! Definitely a good brew to have on-hand to enjoy with a good burger or some smoked brats.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
Boulevard Brewing Co. | Kansas City, Missouri USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale

Zangy & tangy!! This is definitely a lemon-lover’s brew!! Amazingly refreshing with an excellent ‘chewy’ texture. One of the best of this beer style that I have yet to savor! Smells like lemon meringue pie! Wicked carbonation in full effect. Tastes like ‘dessert-in-a-bottle’! Definitely one to put on your ‘to-try’ list if you haven’t had the pleasure of tasting this brew!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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[AWMiller]

Rogue Mocha Porter
Rogue Ales | Newport, Oregon USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Porter

What a heavenly scent one receives when this brew is first opened up! One of THE best American porters I have yet to try! Loads of chocolate and coffee/espresso in this brew. Let it sit out of the ‘fridge for an hour or so and enjoy the more robust flavors and scents! (Brews of this style intensify as they warm to room temperature!) This brew is absolutely superb!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Green Flash Trippel
Green Flash Brewing Co. | San Diego, California USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Abbey Tripel

What an outstanding tripel-style ale! Thick and full of flavor. I would definitely match this brew up against the Belgian Tripels anytime! This is one of those brews that one pours and then slowly savors because as this brew slowly warms up it intensifies in flavor! This brew blends sweetness, tartness and alcohol in a way that is absolutely delicious. Green Flash continues to impress!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Hoegaarden Original Witbier
Brouwerij van Hoegaarden | Hoegaarden, Belgium
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Belgian White (Witbier)

Considered by many to be the bench-mark for a witbier, this brew certainly does not disappoint!! Truly a great brew made for these hot Texas summers! The contrast of sweet and sour flavors pleases well on many levels – smell, taste, and quenching one’s thirst! Would definitely love to go to Belgium and try this brew there at its freshest.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Buffalo Bill’s America’s Original Pumpkin Ale
Buffalo Bill’s Brewery | Hayward, California USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable

Taunted as originally brewed by George Washington himself, I was quite curious to try this brew. Sadly though, that is where the excitement stopped. This is a marginal brew to say the least and I hope that Washington’s version was much, much better! (or maybe this is why his teeth were wood!!) Thin and very watery much like that runny juice on an old slice of pumpkin pie that has sat around too long. I most likely will not be going back to this brew ever again. There are definitely many more pumpkin ales to enjoy from other breweries.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Harpoon Octoberfest
Harpoon Brewery | Boston, Massachusetts USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Oktoberfest/Marzen

Quite a tasty Oktoberfest style brew! For the most part this brew comes off sweet but nothing overbearing with just a tad hint of hops to balance things up. Surprisingly, this brew strikes me more of a rich amber ale rather than a marzen/oktoberfest; but still a good brew to enjoy nonetheless!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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[AWMiller]

Molson Canadian Lager
Molson Breweries Of Canada. Ltd. | Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Pale Lager

This was a much better tasting brew than I had anticipated! Corn is prevalent in the taste of this brew. Put this up next to Miller, Coors, etc. and I am choosing this one! The flavor is very robust and this is a really good thirst-quencher! Easy enough to put a 6-er away throughout the day. Very rich and a bit thicker than most other lagers of its style.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Moosehead Lager
Moosehead Breweries Ltd. | Saint John, New Brunswick (Canada)
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Pale Lager

Very “skunky” upon opening (a common trait for brews in clear or green colored bottles) but thankfully this wore off very quickly. Good hit of hops right off the bat wakes those taste buds up and then finishes off with a sweet malty taste. Truly a good beer designed for its purpose – to quench ones thirst. Oddly though, I was getting flavors of lemon saltwater taffy as an aftertaste. Need to enjoy more of this brew to confirm!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Boulevard ZON
Boulevard Brewing Co. | Kansas City, Missouri USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Belgian White (Witbier)

Not overly sweet (which is a personal plus for me!), very refreshing and quite the thirst quencher during this scorching Texas summer!! Lemony, sweet and very crisp. Very good representation of this brew style. Now all I need are some brats loaded up on top of some sauerkraut and spicy mustard and I’m in heaven!!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Boulevard Single-wide IPA
Boulevard Brewing Co. | Kansas City, Missouri USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)

This brew is insanely delicious! Intensely good hoppy hit right off the bat! Very aromatic and I was totally blown away with this IPA! Robust flavors of sweet caramel and burnt sugars linger long afterwards. Excellent with a homemade beef pot pie!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Real Ale Oktoberfest
Real Ale Brewing Company | Blanco, Texas USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Oktoberfest/Marzen

This brew is a right nice rendition of a marzen/oktoberfest beer! Not much hops detected and not overly sweet. Tastes good and is very refreshing. It was hard to fight not chugging this one down cause it is so tasty and so smooth! Fall is in full swing so its time to start enjoying the fall season brews!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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[AWMiller]

Lagunitas Imperial Stout (Unlimited Release)
Lagunitas Brewing Company | Petaluma, California USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Imperial Stout

Nursed this delicious brew as long as I possibly could (some 1.5 hours!!) after opening it! Oh how delicious this one got as it warmed up! Loads of flavors and all so deliciously balanced; espresso, nuts, caramel, tobacco, molasses, chocolate. Makes for a perfect nightcap! Vigorously aromatic!!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Yuengling Traditional Lager
D.G. Yuengling and Son Brewery | Pottsville, Pennsylvania USA
Purchased while on vacation in Florida.

Style: Pale Lager

A very good beer from the oldest brewery in America! Can’t find this brew in Texas (or at least in my area) so off to Florida (got this one in Key West) we went to enjoy some much-needed vacationing and savoring of some hard-to-find brews. Definitely the brew to choose when matched up to most mass-produced beers in its style. Very crisp with a clean finish and a definite thirst-quencher! This brew would be a staple brew in my stock if I could just get it in my area. Sweet (but not overdone), malty and a tad bit citrusy; delicious!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Miller High Life
Miller Brewing Co. | Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA
Not purchased; received as a gift.

Style: Pale Lager

Nope, you’re not seeing things! I’m actually doing a review on a brew that I enjoyed many moons ago; Miller High Life! I must say that this brew tastes better than what I remember as I have not tried any in ages! There’s not much going on except for the ever present taste of corn but this brew is very crisp and a good thirst quencher. One thing I have noticed is that I prefer the canned beer as opposed to the bottle beer. This is due to the fact that the bottle is clear and sunlight does a big number on destroying the taste of the brew if it is not properly stored at any point between the brewery to your counter. Quite the nostalgic brew for me as it brings up some great memories from way back when!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Unibroue La Terrible
Unibroue | Chambly, Quebec (Canada)

Style: Belgian Strong Ale

These brews from Unibroue continue to amaze! This is definitely one of the more complex brews that I have enjoyed in quite a long time! This brew is definitely a ‘sipper’ as there are just so many intriguing flavors. This brew really came across muck like a fine port wine more than a beer. With these dark ales I prefer to open them up and take a quick sip and then let it sit at room temperature for roughly an hour and then pour and savor. Doing this lets the flavors intensify! While enjoying this brew I noticed the “best before” date was 01-30-2016!!! Time to go get several bottles and let them age!!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Svyturys Baltas (White)
UAB Svyturys | Klaipeda, Lithuania
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Hefeweizen

This is the first brew from Lithuania for me to savor, and enjoy! I am quite pleased with this brew and it is definitely a great intro-beer from this region! Near full-bodied and packed with the right flavors and balance that a good witbier should possess. If you find some, grab ‘em up as they are not in high demand (yet!) and quantities are limited. I love the big citrus hit up front and the sweet, slightly tart, finish! Shake well before opening. Seriously! This releases more flavors and they even say to do so on their website!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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[Tank 1]

Wow, I just scrolled through 33 pages of beer reviews and not one Founders beer?Doh

Founders KBS, Backwoods Bastard, Centennial IPA, CBS (very rare), Devil Dancer and Breakfast Stout are all very good beers.

Also, Bells Brewery makes some good beer. Like Hopslam, Oracle (my favorite Bells beer), Expedition Stout and Two Hearted to name a few.

Try some of those and see what you think.

[AWMiller]

all seem to be great brews but if I can't get them in Texas then I won't be doing reviews on them... would love to try them but I'd have to travel to a destination that those brews are being delivered to or order them online... both options pose extra costs not in my budget right now....

Wow, I just scrolled through 33 pages of beer reviews and not one Founders beer?Doh

Founders KBS, Backwoods Bastard, Centennial IPA, CBS (very rare), Devil Dancer and Breakfast Stout are all very good beers.

Also, Bells Brewery makes some good beer. Like Hopslam, Oracle (my favorite Bells beer), Expedition Stout and Two Hearted to name a few.

Try some of those and see what you think.

[AWMiller]

Svyturys Ekstra
UAB Svyturys | Klaipeda, Lithuania
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Dortmunder/Helles

Very refreshing and quite a tasty thirst quencher! This is my second brew from this brewery in Lithuania and both have been very good beers! Put this next to Miller, Coors, etc., and I am choose this one! Holds up well as the brew slows warms. Most brews in this style get that dry, chalky flavor/texture when it starts to warm up but not this brew! Very clean and crisp with none of those adjunct (a.k.a. “add junk”) aftertastes! Could definitely enjoy several of these on a hot Texas summer day!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Lagunitas Hop Stoopid
Lagunitas Brewing Company | Petaluma, California USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: Imperial/Double IPA

Insanely aromatic!! Good hard punches of hops from start to finish with wild flavors of grapefruit throughout. Although intensely hoppy, this brew finishes off smooth with a nice blending of sweet malts and bitter hops. For a malt-head like myself this brew will definitely make a hop-lover out of ya! Went superbly well with my Kalbi (Korean) dinner.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Mendocino White Hawk Original IPA
Mendocino Brewing Co. | Hopland, California USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Barrels - Plano, Texas USA

Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)

Quite a good drankin’ beer and makes for a great beer to have with some slow-grilled burgers. This is my first brew to try from Mendocino and from the tastes of this brew I’m looking forward to tasting more from them! This brew has an extremely smooth texture (almost silky) and it tastes a shy bit more hoppy than other brews in its style but it is nothing overbearing in any way. Nice hint of orange zest in the aftertaste! And now, it’s time for another brew!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Genesee Cream Ale
Genesee Brewing Co. / Dundee Brewing Co. | Rochester, New York USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Barrels - Plano, Texas USA

Style: Cream Ale

Not a bad brew but not something I will search out to have again. It is really light and tastes so much like a Corona it’s crazy! For what it is, it is a flavorful thirst quencher. Would be a good brew to have with some spicy hot wings though. Would love to do a blind tasting with this and a Corona and see who can guess correctly!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Ridgeway Foreign Export Stout
Ridgeway Brewing | South Stoke, United Kingdom (England)
Purchased @ Kegs & Barrels - Plano, Texas USA

Style: Foreign Stout

This is a good stout for folks to try if they have never had a stout before. Would make for a good breakfast brew! This is a very flavorful brew that gets better the more it warms. Flavors of chocolate, coffee, taffy, caramel and just enough hops to keep it from being overbearingly sweet. Clean, silky smooth and a long-lasting sweet malty aftertaste makes this one brew that I’ll definitely be savoring again soon!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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[AWMiller]

New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale
New Belgium Brewing | Fort Collins, Colorado USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Blonde/Golden Ale

This one is hoppy all the way through from start to finish. Crisp and very refreshing; an easy drinking brew for sure! Not a bad brew but I am not all too excited about the hops though (must be the malt-head in me!). Something there just does not grab my fancy; maybe if it had a bit more mellowing from the sweet malts. It’s not bad but just something not quite to my liking.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Saint Arnold Oktoberfest
Saint Arnold Brewing Company | Houston, Texas USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Oktoberfest/Marzen

One of the more robust and flavorful Oktoberfest style brews that I have enjoyed lately! I just wish it was a tad bit thicker in the body. Another fine brew from Saint Arnold and one that is not heavy in any way so it can be enjoyed repeatedly throughout the day. This would be a good dessert type beer with some bread pudding or rum cake!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Widmer Brothers Drop Top Amber Ale
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company | Portland, Oregon USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Amber Ale

What an exceptional session ale!! Easy to drink but one that causes you to go slow in order to enjoy its great flavor. Definitely a brew to share with the gang at the BBQ or fish fry! Not at all complex but still very flavorful!! Check out the ‘beer-nerd’ details for even more insights.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA
Harpoon Brewery | Boston, Massachusetts USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Barrels - Plano, Texas USA

Style: Imperial/Double IPA

Ohhhh my! Just found me a new staple brew to have on-hand! Delicious, crisp, refreshing, flavorful; need I go on?! YES!! This malt-head is steadily learning to appreciate the hops and brews like this are paving the way to hop-heaven! So well balanced and the flavors are just astounding. If I’m told to choose an IPA this is going to be high up on my list of choices!!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Del Norte Orale Cerveza Clara
Del Norte Brewing | Denver, Colorado USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Pale Lager

If ever a quaffer this one is it! So easy to drink and so crisp, refreshing and flavorful. Watch out brews from Mexico, this one will definitely give you a run for the peso! Forget the lime and sale and drink it straight in order to enjoy its delicious flavor! I just might have found a new brew for my BBQ/fish fry! Now that I’ve enjoy a couple of these on the slow savor, it’s time to quaff a few cause these are sooo good!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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[AWMiller]

Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company | Portland, Oregon USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Barrels - Plano, Texas USA

Style: Wheat Ale

I say I am tired of hefeweizens yet I keep coming back to try them out! this one possesses the standards of a pale wheat ale but is really dry (almost chalky) on the finish. Not really something I am found of, especially in a hefeweizen. It’s an ‘ok’ brew but I shall more on to other brews in this style over this one.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Flensburger Dunkel
Flensburger Brauerei GmbH Und Co. KG | Flensburg, Germany
Purchased @ Kegs & Barrels - Plano, Texas USA

Style: Dunkel

A good brew but nothing really attention-getting. A very easy drinker; almost too easy. Well-balanced brew that is not too malty sweet or too bitter from the hops. My first brew to try with a flip-top ceramic lid. I reckon that’s probably the most exciting part of this beer for me. Thus I continue on in my search for a dunkel that is going to truly capture my attention.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Real Ale Sisyphus 2010
Real Ale Brewing Company | Blanco, Texas USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Barrels - Plano, Texas USA

Style: Barleywine

My first Barleywine and if this is my starting bar of comparison to future barleywines they better knock me off my feet if they are to beat this one! This brew is absolutely delicious. It’s one of those brews that you just have to try in order to understand why mere words are not enough to describe just how delicious this one is! Keep in mind the ABV on this brew because that alcohol is very well hidden in the flavor of this beer! Definitely grabbing more and cellaring it for a few years to see how it ages! NOTE: This was the 2010 release.

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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Avery Samael’s Ale
Avery Brewing Company | Boulder, Colorado USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Barleywine

Excellent dessert brew loaded with cherries and a slow warming effect from the high alcohol content (16.45%!!); this brew would pair wonderfully with some wild game as well! Go slow and enjoy this brew to its fullest; it’s pricey, full of flavor and loaded with alcohol. Will definitely get a few more of these and cellar them for a while as I’m sure this brew improves with aging! Enjoy some today; and tomorrow; and … you get the picture!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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St. Feuillien Saison
Brasserie St. Feuillien | Le Roeulx, Belgium
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale

Due to my lack of experience at this time with saisons (farmhouse ales) this one was a tad different from others that I have savored. Most noticeably is that this one was so much sweeter and did not possess that big sour/tart bite that others had. Still it is a good brew and one that should be savored at least once as the sweetness just might be what you are looking for!

For my 'beer-nerd' details on this brew, please click here.

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