AW's Beer Reviews

[AWMiller]

Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot (WTF) Ale
Lagunitas Brewing Company | Petaluma, California USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style:  American Strong Ale

ABV - 7.83%

IBU - 64

My personal notes: Well of the Lagunitas line-up, this is the first brew that I’ve tried that has brought about some respects! This brew poured up a deep, dark brown body with one-finger thick head that dissipated quickly but left some nice lacing effects on the glass.  Aromas of hops (I think I’ve mentioned on other reviews that Lagunitas is a hop-machine!), caramel, and brown sugar; but not sweet at all.  Flavors of the same but surprisingly the hops used in this style are not nearly as bitter as compared to other brews in their line.  Medium-bodied with a firm hoppy bite on the finish but nothing overbearing.  Would go well with a porterhouse steak or perhaps a venison or wild boar meal.

[AWMiller]

Squatters India Pale Ale
Utah Brewers Cooperative | Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  IPA

ABV - 6%

My personal notes: I have found an IPA that I truly enjoy and that’s why it’s going into my BHoF!! For those that know me, I’m a malt-head diligently working to gain an appreciation for IPAs.  Squatters has just proved to be the ones that will definitely help me down the hops-path!  This brew poured up an amber colored body with a foamy off-white colored head with outstanding retention and lacing effects on the glass.  Aromas of grapefruit, lemon-grass, pine, and hops.  Flavors of the same but all so very well balanced that the character of this brew is so hard to describe adequately. There’s a slight sweet malty hit on the finish that brings the flavors of this brew full circle!  No harsh aftertaste and a very clean and refreshing finish. Pair this brew up with spicy fish/seafood dishes or with some smoked salmon.  For wild game this would pair well with duck, pheasant, quail, squirrel, and spicy venison.

[AWMiller]

Squatters Hop Rising Double IPA
Squatters Pub Brewery | Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  Double|Imperial IPA

ABV - 9%

My personal notes:  This brew poured up a dark orange colored body with a hefty, frothy off-white head with generous retention and amazing lacing effects on the glass.  Aromas of grapefruit (a hint of lemon perhaps?), floral hops, and spices. Flavors of the same.  Medium-bodied and whoa buddy, hoppy!  For me this was a mouth-puckering experience but a delicious one all the same.  For hop-heads you will definitely enjoying this fine brew!  Nice dry finish with no harsh aftertastes.  Pair it up with some spicy fish/seafood meals or with some smoked salmon, roasted duck, or spicy venison sausage!

[AWMiller]

Stone Smoked Porter
Stone Brewing Co. | Escondido, California USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style:  Smoked Porter

ABV - 5.9%

My personal notes:  A mighty fine smoked porter! This brew poured up a dark ruby-brown colored body with a nice, foamy mocha-colored head with good retention and amazing lacing effects on the glass.  Aromas of heavy cream, coffee, sugars, chocolate and sweet malt.  Flavors of the same but light hints of smoke and roasted malts mix in at the finish. Medium- to Full-bodied, thick and creamy; definitely not a brew for those that don’t like big thick brews; somewhat chewy and that’s the way I like them!  Hit the smoker and pull off some slow-smoked ribs or some hearty venison steaks or wild boar burgers for an excellent pairing with this brew!

[AWMiller]

New Belgium La Folie (Lips of Faith)  2011
New Belgium Brewing | Fort Collins, Colorado USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style:  Flanders Red Ale

ABV - 6%

My personal notes:  This brew poured up a rich, dark amber colored body sporting a hearty foamy head that quickly dissipated but left a thin sheen on top to form out some amazing lacing effects on the glass.  Aromas rich with cherries and sour mash, oak and clover.  Flavors of sour cherries (really sour cherries), oak, spices, and clover.  Did I mention this bugger was sour?! All flavors are well-balance but it’s the ‘sour’ that you better get prepared for!  Medium-bodied with a spicy, sour finish; but very, very refreshing.  Pair this sour brew with a thick, juicy grilled steak!

[AWMiller]

Wasatch Winterfest
Utah Brewers Cooperative | Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  American Strong Ale

ABV - 7.1%

My personal notes:  This brew poured up dark chestnut brown body with a thin foamy head with great retention and lacing effects on the glass.  Aromas of toasted malts, toffee, caramel, chocolate, and a hint of hops.  Flavors of the same with all being well-balanced and enticing one to savor slowly.  Medium-bodied with a nice dry finish with just a touch of hoppy bitterness on the end.  Excellent for the wintertime by the roaring fire but definitely one that can be enjoyed anytime of the year! This is one brew that is meant to be enjoyed all by itself.  Paired up with any foods and you will just distort the flavors and textures that this brew imparts.

[AWMiller]

Wasatch The Devastator Double Bock
Utah Brewers Cooperative | Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  Doppelbock

ABV - 8%

My personal notes:  Oh what a silky smooth double bock; worthy of induction into the AW BHoF! This brew poured up a rich mahogany-colored body with a one-finger off-white bubbly head that dissipated quickly but left amazing lacing effects on the glass.  Aromas caramel, toasted malts, warm biscuits (Hungry Jack style), cocoa powder (like Nestles Quik) and a light hint of espresso.  Flavors of the same but oh so wonderfully balanced.  Medium-bodied, lightly carbonated, and goes down real smooth with no bitter aftertastes.  Easy to drink so keep an eye on how many you have had! Pair this brew up with a wild game dinner (rattlesnake, venison, wild boar, or a hearty squirrel stew).

[AWMiller]

Pyramid Snow Cap Ale (2009)
Pyramid Breweries, Inc. | Seattle, Washington USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  Winter Warmer

ABV - 7%

My personal notes:  A very nice competitor in the winter warmer category! This brew poured up a dark chocolaty brown body with a thin off-white colored bubbly head that quickly dissipated and left marginal lacing effects on the glass.  Aromas of dark fruits (figs, raisins, plums), chocolate, espresso, caramel, roasted malts.  Flavors of the same with just the right amount of hops to balance out with all that sweetness. Medium-bodied with low carbonation; easy to drink so watch how many you put down!  Pair this sweet ale up with a hearty wild game dinner; spicy pheasant fajitas, stuffed pheasant, or roasted duck.

[AWMiller]

Celis White
Michigan Brewing Company | Webberville, Michigan USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style:  Witbier

ABV - 5%

My personal notes:  Now this is one good witbier!  This brew poured up a hazy, pale yellow body with a thick frothy bright white head with good retention and lacing effects on the glass. Aromas of lemons, orange, grains, and some yeast in the background.  Flavors of citrusy fruits, spices (cloves and cinnamon), wheat grains, mixed nuts.  Light-bodied, smooth and creamy, refreshing finish. Excellent when paired up with spicy fish/shellfish dinners.

[AWMiller]

Green Flash Double Stout
Green Flash Brewing Co. | Vista, California USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style:  Imperial/Double Stout

ABV - 8.8%

My personal notes:  Definitely one of the best tasting stouts around! This brew poured up a near-black body with a one-finger bubbly head with amazing retention and lacing effects on the glass.  Aromas of rum, vanilla, chocolate, espresso, dark fruits (plums, figs), roasted malts.  Flavors of the same but are so well-balanced.  Medium- to Full-bodied, rich and thick, smooth and creamy.  Refreshingly clean finish with no harsh aftertastes whatsoever. Personally I would enjoy this brew all by itself; but if paired up for a meal it would be smoked ribs, venison, or wild boar.

[AWMiller]

Breckenridge Avalanche Amber
Breckenridge Brewery | Denver, Colorado USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style:  American Amber/Red Ale

ABV - 5.41%

My personal notes:  Definitely going to be a staple brew in my fridge! This brew poured up a dark copper-colored body with a two-finger thick foamy head that dissipated somewhat quickly and left nice lacing effects on the glass. Aromas of oranges, dark sugars, caramel.  Flavors of the same but they are very, very intense and well-balanced.  Light- to medium-bodied, lightly carbonated, smooth and easy to drink with a crisp, clean finish with just a slight bite. Excellent when paired up with a spicy, creamy fish/shellfish meal or creamy beef and noodle dinner.

[AWMiller]

Anchor Steam Beer
Anchor Brewing Company | San Francisco, California USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style:  California Common / Steam Beer

ABV - 4.9%

My personal notes:  Now this is one jim-dandy of a brew! This brew poured up a hazy copper-colored body with a wonderfully thick, off-white colored head with good retention and lacing effects on the glass.  Aromas of malts, caramel, citrus fruits (lemons, and maybe some orange).  Flavors of the same in a malty concoction that beckons you to take the next sip just as soon as you finish one.  Medium-bodied, full-flavored with a dry finish and citrusy aftertaste.  Grill up a nice spicy rack of pork to pair up with this amazing brew; or grill some fish or shrimp!

Interesting note: Early steam beers were brewed with lager yeasts, but fermented at warmer temperatures due to the lack of means to cool the tanks in California’s warm climate (back in the late 1800s). Cooling was brought about by the use of wide, shallow fermenting vessels. The resulting beer was very lively and, when the casks were tapped, they were said to “steam” with carbon dioxide.  Source: Beers of the World; Kanning, David

[AWMiller]

Pyramid Curve Ball Blonde Ale
Pyramid Breweries, Inc. | Seattle, Washington USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Corks - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  Kolsch

ABV - 5%

My personal notes:  This brew poured up a hazy golden-amber colored body with a nice frothy head that dissipated quickly down to a small sheen on top with minimal lacing effects on the glass. Aromas of honey, lemon, and bread fresh out of the oven. Flavors of the same in this light-bodied brew with a hearty amount of carbonation.  This is a great brew for those dog days of summer! Easy to drink and very flavorful; pair it up with your favorite meats at the BBQ or fish at the fish fry.

[AWMiller]

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. | Chico, California USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Corks - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  American IPA

ABV - 7.2%

My personal notes:  This brew poured up a rich dark copper-colored body with a thick off-white foamy head with good retention and lacing effects on the glass. Aromas of floral hops, grapefruit, and spicy peppers.  Flavors of the same packed with a bitter punch right in the kisser! Medium-bodied, very dry, hoppy, spicy, hoppy with a bone-dry, bitter finish. Oh, did I mention it was ‘hoppy’?! Smoked salmon, grilled flounder, stuffed shrimp, beer-butt chicken all come to mind as great pairings for this mouth-puckering brew!!

[AWMiller]

Flying Dog In-Heat Wheat
Flying Dog Brewery | Frederick, Maryland USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Corks - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  Hefeweizen

ABV - 6.7%

IBU - 12

My personal notes:  Well, another ‘hefe’ added to the AW BHoF!! This brew poured up a cloudy, golden-orange colored body gold beer with a thick foamy head.  Careful on the pour as there are yeast floating about so pour in roughly 3/4 of the bottle then give the bottle a few swirls to break up that yeast and then pour the remainder of the bottle into your glass. Aromas of yeast, bananas, cloves and grains.  Flavors of lemons, sweet malts, cloves, bananas, and caramel.  Light-bodied with good carbonation with a crisp, smooth, clean finish and a long-lingering aftertaste of banana nut bread.  Definitely one of the best from the Flying Dog brew line-up! Pairings include: spicy, spicy fish tacos or spicy grilled oysters!

[AWMiller]

Anchor Porter
Anchor Brewing Company | San Francisco, California USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style:  American Porter

ABV - 5.6%

My personal notes:  One of my favorite go-to porters! This brew poured up near black with a mocha-colored, very foamy head with amazing retention and lacing effects.  Aromas of caramel, coffee, toffee, dark fruits (figs, raisins), and a touch of molasses.  Flavors of the same in a medium-bodied brew.  Extra creamy and smooth with just a touch of a hoppy bite to make for a clean, refreshing finish.  You can’t go wrong with this porter! Fire up the grill or smoker and toss on your favorite meat cuts!  For the outdoorsy type pair up this brew with some venison or wild boar!!

[shaddragger]

  That's a thicker head then mine!

[AWMiller]

Deschutes Black Butte Porter
Deschutes Brewery | Bend, Oregon USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Corks - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  American Porter

ABV - 5.2%

My personal notes:  How can one go wrong when it comes to choosing an awesome porter? By not choosing this one!! This brew poured up a rich, dark brown colored body with a frothy one-finger head with good retention and excellent lacing effects on the glass.  Sweet aromas filled with coffee, roasted malts, warm breads, and a hint of hops. Medium-bodied, silky smooth, and a rich malt-filled flavorful brew.  There’s just enough hops to balance out with the malts for a nice, crisp finish full of flavors of brown sugar and grains. If you are going to be stocking up on porters, this needs to be part of your stash! Pair this brew up with your favorite grilled or smoked meats; for wild game this would be excellent with wild boar, venison, dove, ducks and squirrel.

[AWMiller]

Guinnes Draught
Guinness Ltd. | Dublin, Ireland
Purchased @ Kegs & Corks - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  Irish Dry Stout

ABV - 4.1%

IBU - 40

My personal notes:  I had high expectations for the Draught. I mean, being from Guinness I was ready for one stellar Irish-style Dry Stout.  Unfortunately this one did not meet those expectations.  Maybe the recipe was changed or something? Whatever the case may be I think I am going to stick with other brews in the Guinness lineup until this one gets some backbone put back into it.  This brew poured up a near pitch black colored body with a creamy one-finger head with excellent retention and lacing effects (at least the visuals were enticing!).  Aromas of hot caramel, sweet malts, coffee and chocolate; all somewhat on the smokey end of the spectrum.  Medium-bodied (but rather watered-down tasting) with flavors of roasted malts, coffee with a very dry, slightly hoppy bite on the finish.  I say that it is medium-bodied but in all honesty this one was just way to watery for my tastes and expectations.  It is not a bad brew, but it is definitely not the best in this beer style. Best paired up with smoke meats (rich in fat) and grilled veggies.

[AWMiller]

Lone Star Beer
Lone Star Brewing Company | San Antonio, Texas USA
Purchased @ Beer & Wine World - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style:  American Adjunct Lager

ABV - 4.72%

My personal notes:  When it comes to macro-brews, this here’s my go-to! A Texas boy’s gotta love a Texas macro-brew!! Salute, y’all!  Now being an adjunct (mass produced) brew, I don’t hold it up to those standards as I do for the much better craft brews!  Nevertheless, this is one brew that I’ve always liked for some reason or another. This brew poured up a clear, straw-colored body with a one-finger bubbly head that quickly dissipated to a thin sheen and minimal lacing effects on the glass.  Scents and flavors of basically any adjunct lager; grains, some malts, some hops.  Light-bodied and smooth; some sweet malty flavors followed up with a clean, refreshing finish of a little hoppy bitterness. I’d definitely go for this one before any of the other mass-produced, mass-advertised brews (Miller, Coors, Busch, Keystone, etc.).  A good beer for the BBQ or fish fry or some greasy, beefy nachos during the big game!