Since we know that beer goes good with so many types of foods (and by itself too!!!), I thought I'd start up a thread containing reviews of the beers that I've been sampling.
Enjoy! And chime in with your opinions and recommendations!!!
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Since we know that beer goes good with so many types of foods (and by itself too!!!), I thought I'd start up a thread containing reviews of the beers that I've been sampling.
Enjoy! And chime in with your opinions and recommendations!!!
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Brew: Weisse Dark
Brewed by: Hacker-Pschoor Bräu; Munchen, Germany
Style: Weizenbock
Glassware: Best served in weizen glass or mug.
Personal Notes: These German brews are steadily growing on me! This brew sports a body that is a dark amber, slightly cloudy (maybe a bit murky?) but, moreover, like dark honey that has crystallized somewhat. Topped off with a thick, frothy, bubbly white head that stays with the bear all the way through! Warm scents of apple (like a warm apple pie), sweet malt, clovers and bananas tease the nose as you bring it close. This brew is soooooo smooth, thick (but not chewy!!) and creamy. Slightly fruity (apple? banana? but only so slight)... and malty (like a good malt from a fountain shop). There's a slight hint of bitter hops but it is so well blended in with the rest of the delicious flavors of this brew that it doesn't stand out. What a very wonderful dark wheat German beer!!
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Brew: Spaten Optimator
Brewed by: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, Germany
Style: Dopplebock
Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or beer mug. Although I don't mind mine in a goblet from time to time!!
Personal Notes:
What an awesome German dopplebock!! Once poured I knew I was in for a treat when I gazed upon that deep, DEEP dark brown/near black delicious body! Taste and smell are dazzled by a grand balance between malt and hops; not too bitter and not too sweet. The body is good and thick; I like to tease folks by saying it's "thick but not too chewy!" I think it's time to go back and enjoy a few more!
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Brew: Rahr & Sons Buffalo Butt
Brewed by: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company; Ft. Worth, Texas, USA
Style: American Amber Lager / American Red Ale
Glassware: Best served in a pint or mug.
Personal Notes: A lovely dark maroon brew that sports a fairly hearty head, which dissipates a bit too quickly for my preference. Lively scents and flavors of caramel, malt, toast, and toffee; and a slight reminiscent hint of warm flaky biscuits (yeah... Hungry Jack style). Not too hoppy ... not too sweet. Good carbonation makes for a light, refreshing mouth-feel.
It's an "ok" beer (not bad but not overly exciting) but it could be amped up some to represent Texas much better!! (How? I'm not sure.... will have to put more thought into that one!) Most interesting about this beer, for me, was not in the taste but rather in the labeling! It has an interesting 'story' which can be read on the label or on their website (click here for that 'story').
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Brew: Xingu Black Beer
Brewed by: Cervejaria Sul Brasileira; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Style: schwarzbier
Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or a heavy mug (which is what I prefer!!)
Personal Notes: Black gold.... that was my first thought when I poured this brew. Pleasant scents filled with sweet molasses, dark chocolate and slow-roasted malts. A hearty, foamy head stayed well for quite a while. But the taste... ooooh how smooth it was... so smooth I had to keep telling myself that this was beer! The taste was just a tad sweet but there was no detection of any bitterness at all! The flavors of sweet molasses, chocolate and malts come through so teasingly well in this black beer. One reviewer somewhere even said it "smells like cocoa krispies, tastes like heaven" ... yeah I can see where they would say that!! This is definitely one full bodied, easy to drink black beer that you don't want to pass up when you can get it!!
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I like a good german beer maybe once a year. The other 364 days, I'm all American. Old Milwaukee and Miller High Life.
what?? no lone star in that list??!! got some texas beers coming up in the reviews soon.... got any recommendations of any micro brews coming out of illinois?
you need some bud neons and a beautiful bud pool table light to go with all that beer and a 4 ft tall busch neon? and more beer stuff including some falstaff
We had some "black and tan" at a buddy's house last night. We used Harp's and Guinness. Don't have pictures, but it was a great change of pace! I look forward to your continued posts...mg
Really enjoy all brews by Warsteiner...Paulaner...Koenig...Franziskaner....E rdinger. Have a great German bar/restaurant in town that keeps a great supply of bottled beers and draft beers on hand. Great idea for a post.
got reviews of some of those brews coming up!!
Brew: Abbey Belgian Style Ale
Brewed by: New Belgium Brewing Company; Fort Collins, Colorado USA
Style: Dubbel
Glassware: Best served in a goblet. (yeah I know the glass in the pic is a weizen glass! but that's how I was rolling that day!)
Personal Notes: It is hard to tell what I like most about this beer. Is it the sweet aroma? Is it the smooth full-bodied taste? Whatever the case may be, this is one to have stocked up in your cellar!! When poured, the beer boasts a sultry, dark mahogony brown and sports a thick frothy head that stays with the beer for quite a while. The flavor is a meld of chocolate, smoky hops, hints of banana and possibly cinnamon. Definitely one to be enjoyed all throughout the year!
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Brew: Mardi Gras Bock
Brewed by: Abita Brewing Co.; Abita Springs, Louisiana, USA
Style: Maibock / Helles Bock
Glassware: Best served in pilsner glass or beer mug.
Personal Notes: A good beer with a rich amber color and a somewhat nice thin foamy head. Not too heavy so it's a good beer to be enjoyed readily throughout the day. Scents and tastes of caramel and malt are noted but neither of which are too heavy or overbearing of the other; but there's a nice little bite of hops at the end that makes this a right-tasty beer!
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Brew: Hobgoblin
Brewed by: Wychwood Brewery Company, Oxsfordshire, United Kingdom ... check out their wicked website!!!
Style: English Brown Ale
Glassware: Best served in pint glass (becker or tumbler) or a good ol' mug.
Personal Notes: The appearance is a dark amber / dark ruby red sporting a nice frothy head that lasts for the entire beer; with nice lacing throughout. Scent and flavor reminiscent of toffee with just enough hops to finish it off nice and smooth. Definitely one of those all-day beers... one that you can enjoy all day! Oddly though... I found myself enjoy the beer after it warmed up just a tad!
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Brew: Moose Drool Brown Ale
Brewed by: Big Sky Brewing Company; Missoula, Montana USA
Style: American brown ale
Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or mug.
Personal Notes: This one’s fast becoming one of my favorite go-to brown ales!! Sporting a thin creamy head (1 to 1.5 finger in thickness) and a deep brown mahogany color body. Hints of coffee and chocolate scented with notes of honey and warm butter! This is one fine smooth drinking beer. It’s fine by itself but a fine steak or fall-off-the-bone rack of ribs really compliments this brew very well!
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Brew: Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale
Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch, Inc.; St. Louis, Missouri USA
Style: pumpkin ale
Glassware: Best served in a pint glass (or I like it in a goblet)
Personal Notes:
For something coming from Anheuser-Busch, this is not that bad of a beer. When poured, there’s a slight foamy head atop a copper-colored body … here’s where I was hoping for a more hearty head of foam on this pumpkin ale. The beer is full of spice and nutmeg with just a tad hint of pumpkin; and adorned with hints of aroma like pumpkin bread (or is some cases like a warm pumpkin pie right out of the oven). It’s a very easy beer to drink and one to be enjoyed during the Fall.
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those beers look good i quit drinking two tears ago and just one would set me off lol
well brother... if you're off then I congratulate you and encourage you to stay on track!!
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Brew: New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale
Brewed by: New Belgium Brewing; Fort Collins, Colorado USA
Style: Belgian dark ale
Glassware: Best served in a snifter, tulip or over-sized wine glass.
Personal Notes:
Ok… I’m a believer now! I’ve been trying several “black ales” and just haven’t found one that truly tempted my taste buds. That was until I enjoyed this 1554 Enlightened Black Ale by New Belgium brewing company in Fort Collins, Colorado. The beer is a lovely dark chocolaty brown with the scent of chocolate and dark roasted coffee and topped off with creamy tan-colored head that is not too thick nor is it too thin. Upon my first taste my taste buds went into total shock. Did I really taste what I thought I tasted or was I just dreaming? But the second taste confirmed it! Flavors of strong coffee (much like espresso), chocolate and subtle hints of bitter malt. One taste led to another and then there were none!
This is definitely one going into my Beer Hall of Fame!!
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Brew: Session Premium Black Lager
Brewed by: Full Sail Brewing Co.; Hood River, Oregon, USA
Style: schwarzbier
Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass (and I don’t mind it in a goblet cause that’s how I roll!)
Personal Notes: Well the black lager kick continues on!! This Session black lager is such a delight! It’s dark, but not black like a Guinness (which I still haven’t acquired the taste for…). Forms a small mocha-colored head when poured; which tapers off a bit too soon for my likes. The aroma of coffee and cooking chocolates fill the nose; neither of which are too heavy as one is drinking the beer. This is a very mellow beer with just the right amount of ‘heaviness’ and can be enjoyed easily throughout the day. Not too sweet and not too ‘hoppy’… just the way I prefer a good black lager. Definitely one being added to my black lager preferential list!!
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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,
A&W Classic Rootbeer for me. Actually like beer, but I don't drink alcohol, so I drink the next best out there!
Bassky
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by tholmes
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!
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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!
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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!
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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!!!
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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!!
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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.
Have you tried the Beast from Avery in Colorado?
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Nope... but it's now on my list!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by FAADAN
Brew: Shiner Spring Ale Dortmunder
Brewed by: Spoetzl Brewery; Shiner, Texas USA
Style: Dortmunder
Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass.
Personal Notes: Well this is my first ‘dortmunder’ to try out. The body is a nice rich golden color with a pretty good level of carbonation going on. As you can see it sports a tall, frothy head! Light scents of grain, malts and just a slight hint of hops here and there. Although I prefer ‘heavier’ beers, this one was a nice ‘light’ beer with subtle flavors of malt and grains and a tinge of spice from the hops at the end. I’d probably keep a few of these on-hand to enjoy after a long day spent working the yard/garden; but definitely something I’d enjoy during the spring or summer seasons.
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Brew: Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier
Brewed by: Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan; Freising, Germany
Style: Hefeweizen
Glassware: Best served in a weizen glass.
Personal Notes: Stop the press! I have just enjoyed the MOST amazing hefeweizen ever!! Definitely one that would make me pack a bag and head overseas to Freising, Germany, just to enjoy this beer at its freshest! It pours a tantalizing hazy golden colored brew with a hearty frothy head. Some beers are meant to be savored at many levels and this is exactly one of those beers! Sit back and let the scents of cloves and banana-nut bread along with subtle hints of citrus fill your sense of smell. The savor this prime brew and enjoy that warm banana-nut bread flavor following by a nice slightly citrus-y aftertaste. Words just cannot describe how amazing this one is … you just have to get some for yourself and enjoy!
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Brew: Samuel Adams Imperial Stout
Brewed by: Boston Beer Co.; Boston, Massachusetts USA
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Glassware: Best served in a pint glass, becker or a snifter.
Personal Notes: This is definitely the darkest beer I have yet to try (at least as of the time of this review)! Held it up to the light and all I could compare it to was a solar eclipse … light was not getting through! I was expecting a more frothy head but once the head ‘fell’ it formed a nice mocha-colored ring and formed subtle lace lines on the glass while I drank the beer. There were an abundance of scents and flavors in this beefy brew: chocolate, coffee, espresso, toffee, sweet raisins, vanilla, and more. That snifter glass is the key glassware to use to trap all those wonderful scents while you enjoy drinking this beer. The body is very thick (but not chewy!) and each sip is followed by a hearty aftertaste of strong coffee mixed in with some rich hot chocolate. Definitely a beer to be enjoyed during the chill of fall and winter months and absolutely NOT a beer that is to be quaffed!! Sit back, slow down and enjoy this beer for a while.
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Brew: Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower
Brewed by: Saint Arnold Brewing Co.; Houston, Texas USA
Style: kolsch/altbier
Glassware: Best served in a stange or pint.
Personal Notes: Pours a clear amber body with a nice white foamy head. Filled with scents of grains, bananas, and cloves. This is a nice crisp beer that’s to be truly enjoyed during the hot summer months. The carbonation in this beer is just right; crisp and a wonderful clean finish with only a slight bitter aftertaste. Flavors of sweet malt, bananas, and cloves are complimented well with ‘herbally’ hops. Stock up as the weather warms up!!
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Brew: Samuel Adams Imperial Series Double Bock
Brewed by: Boston Beer Company; Boston, Massachusetts USA
Style: doppelbock
Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or mug. But I really wish I had a becker glass for this particular brew!
Personal Notes: Whoa…. now this was one nice hearty brew!! Pours a deep dark mahogany with a sporty head that stays with the brew for a long time. Sweet scents and flavors of malts, caramel, toffee, espresso and hints of clove or some sweet fruit (almost candy-like). Definitely one of my favorite brews to enjoy during the chill of fall and winter. This is a thick (but not chewy!) brew and one that is easily drinkable so you can enjoy a few each time. This is a brew I turn to especially when having wild game for dinner!
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Here's a sneak peak at some upcoming beer reviews!
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Lazy Magnolia is down here in Kiln, MS... Southern Pecan is a pretty good dark pecan brew... May be worth lookin into for ya
I'll check with the store owner and get it on his next order!!