AW's Beer Reviews

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Baltika #6 Porter

Brewed by:  Pivzavod Baltika / Baltic Beverages Holding | St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Style:   Russian/Baltic Porter

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/shaker/nonic/becker/tumbler.

Personal Notes:  What an amazing Russian brew!!  This bad boy pours up a deep dark brown (almost black) body sporting a huge four-finger tan frothy head.  Head retention was a good as it stayed with the brew as it reduced down to about a one-finger head.  The smell was just as amazing with wisps of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and something akin to roasted hazelnuts.  The flavors just add to the symphony of delight; dark chocolate, cocoa powder (like taking cocoa powder and adding just a tad bit of water to make a paste and eating it!), caramel, warm bread, plums, raisins, a twinge of hops, cloves, and more!  This brew is full bodied (but not too thick) and no real detection of alcohol.  Definitely not a session brew as this one is made to be savored very slowly as I found the tastes and smells just amassed as the brew slowly warmed up.  Something that could easily be enjoyed all year long, I can see this one being especially comforting on those wintry days spent by the fireside.  Excellent when paired up with hearty steaks or wild game dinners; and enjoyed just as easily all by itself.

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Samuel Smith’s The Famous Taddy Porter

Brewed by:   Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) | Tadcaster, United Kingdom (England)

Style:   English Porter

Glassware: Best served in a pint (becker/nonic/tumbler) or a mug.

Personal Notes:   Yet another entry going into the AW BHoF!!!  Definitely one of the best porters I’ve savored in a long, long time!  This brew pours up a rich dark brown body with a frothy tan head that leaves some of the most exquisite lacing I’ve yet to behold!  The scents coming off of this brew were just exceptional â€" vanilla, chocolate, syrup, and rich coffee.  The flavors matched up strongly with robust hits of vanilla, chocolate and  coffee.  The body of the brew was rich and creamy; one meant to be savored slowly.  This brew tastes best when it is chilled but not cold.  This would be an awesome accompaniment to a hearty steak or a wild game dinner.

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA

Brewed by:   Boston Beer Company | Boston, Massachusetts USA

Style:   American IPA

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/shaker glass.

Personal Notes:  First things first, me and IPAs have a hard time getting along.  I keep trying them but there is just something in those brews that just does not appeal to my tastes.  Nonetheless, on with this review.  This brew pours up a rich amber colored body with a decent 1-finger head that stays with the brew for a little while.  Immediately upon opening the scent of heavy hops is presented along with some subtle hints of malt.  The taste is what I've come to expect from IPAs - bitter!  Very, very bitter and very, very overwhelming.  For me it was just too much but other brew lovers may be looking for a brew that possesses that bitter bite, if so this one is for you.

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Big Sky Heavy Horse Scotch Ale

Brewed by:   Big Sky Brewing Company | Missoula, Montana  USA

Style:  American Scotch Ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint/nonic, snifter or tulip glass.

Personal Notes:  Another entry into the AW BHoF!   Big Sky nailed it with this brew; simply nailed it!  It pours up a deep mahogany body with a nice 1-finger head that hangs around for quite a while.  Scents of rich malts and dark fruits like cherries and plums precede the flavors of sweet malts, caramel and dark fruits.  Put the sense of smell and taste into overdrive by breathing in through your nose just as you are drinking some of this fine brew!!  Oh yeah!  There's just enough hit of hops to make this one amazingly fine brew!  This is a easy session brew so keep track of how many you enjoy!  This brew is a hit with a hearty grilled steak or smoked salmon!

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

Brewed by:   Breckenridge Brewery | Denver, Colorado USA

Style:    American Porter

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/nonic glass.

Personal Notes:   Simply put ... this is one nice brew!  This brew pours up a near pitch black body with a good 1-finger head.  Aromas of vanilla (duh!) and coffee match up to the well-balanced flavors of vanilla and coffee in this brew.  The body is smooth, creamy and has just the right amount of 'thickness' that one would want is this great brew!  Pair this bad boy up with grilled steaks or smoked meats or even some wild game for dinner and you'll be on the Bliss Express!

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

Brewed by:   Great Divide Brewing Company | Denver, Colorado USA

Style:   American Imperial Stout

Glassware: Best served in a snifter or perhaps a pint or nonic glass.

Personal Notes: Let there be no misconceptions.  This is an excellent brew!  This brew pours up a pitch black body with a tan head that is absolutely meant to be admired!  The head sticks with the beer for a very long time and leaves some amazing lacing while you’re enjoying this brew!  Dominating scents and flavors include: roasted malts, hot caramel, warm toffee, robust coffee.  The balance between the hops and the malts is just superb!  This is such an easy drinking brew and one that I know I’ll enjoy all throughout the year; especially when paired up with some slow-grilled steaks or perhaps as a dessert brew all by itself.



Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Rahr & Sons Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer

Brewed by:   Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Fort Worth, Texas  USA

Style:   American Strong Ale / Winter Warmer

Glassware:   Best served in a pint glass or a becker/nonic glass.

Personal Notes:   Mark another awesome brew to be placed in the AW BHoF!!  This is simply an exquisite brew!  It pours up rich dark brown (nearly black) body with an intense foamy head that lingers for quite a long time and leaves some awesome lacing on the glass!  Scents and flavors of bourbon, vanilla, malts, and caramel; none of which overpower the other.  There’s just enough twinge from the alcohol that lets you know you’re drinking a hearty brew so don’t rush; sit back and enjoy slowly!  This brew has just the right amount of thickness and smoothness that reminds me of a fine well-aged bourbon.  Definitely a brew to stock up on and let the bottles age like a fine wine!  I can see this being a awesome brew to enjoy during the wintry months but it’s one that can be easily enjoyed year round.  I think I’ll pair this up with a hearty rib-eye, soon!




Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale

Brewed by:    Tommyknocker Brewery | Idaho Springs, Colorado  USA

Style:    American Brown Ale

Glassware:     Best served in a mug or a pint/nonic glass.

Personal Notes:   Probably one of THE best brown ales I have ever savored!  This brew pours up a rich chocolaty brown body with a good finger-thick head of foam that laces the glass very well.  Scents and flavors of maple syrup, dark chocolates, caramel, and fresh-brewed robust coffee.  This brew tastes just amazing; not too sweet and just enough hops to balance this brew out nicely.  With just the right heaviness in the body and finishing off nice, crisp and clean, it was hard waiting between savors to have the next one!  Going to pair this fine brew up with some steaks and decadent burgers!!



Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

[FinsnFur]

How many of those exotic beers so far have givin ya the scours, AW?

[AWMiller]

A few....

1) Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball
2) Lagunitas Censored Rich Copper Ale
3) Magic Hat Wacko
4) Indian Wells Lobotomy Bock
5) Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA
6) Shiner Ruby Redbird

[AWMiller]

Brew: Belhaven Scottish Ale

Brewed by: Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.; East Lothian, Scotland

Style: Scottish ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or mug.

Personal Notes:

From Scotland’s oldest brewery (since 1719) that is still in operation today, this is one heck of an enjoyable ale!! This ale sports a deep, dark walnut color and a somewhat thick (slightly heavy) rich malty, nutty flavor. Depending on how you pour it, the head can froth up from 1 finger to 3 fingers and stick with you through the entire drink! The warm fermentation process yields very subtle fruity flavors that are in no way overbearing but rather just a slight aftertaste that coincides with its very smooth and creamy finish. Enjoy some today!!



Got this brew @ Kegs & Corks.

[AWMiller]

Brew: Gordon Biersch Märzen

Brewed by: Gordon Biersch Brewing Company; San Jose, California USA

Style: märzen/oktoberfest

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or mug.

Personal Notes:

When it comes to lagers, I find my self reaching for Gordon Biersch’s Marzen more and more these days! It’s deep, dark amber body and frothy white head (which holds well and leaves tiny rings of lace around the glass) are a delight to behold.  The body of the beer is creamy and very smooth across the palate. The flavors are very robust and lightly sweet with a smooth finish that beckons you to sample more of its hearty flavors.  Truly one to have in stock and enjoyed with the best of friends!



Got this brew @ Kegs & Corks.

[AWMiller]

Brew:    Heineken Lager

Brewed by:    Heineken Nederland B.V. | Zoeterwoude, Netherlands

Style:   European Pale Lager

Glassware:   Best served in a pilsner glass.

Personal Notes:   Of the macro brews, Heineken is one of those at the top of the list for me.  It pours up a vibrant pale amber body and a nice foamy head that dissipates quickly and then tends to leave good lacing on the sides of the glass.  The aroma is just as I remember from over the years, very clean and possesses a slight hoppy hit.  Flavors of hops and just a tad of sweet malt; there's also somewhat of a lemon grass flavor floating around here and there.  Very easy to drink and makes for a suitable session brew from a macro-brewery.

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Rahr & Sons Snowmageddon

Brewed by:    Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Fort Worth, Texas  USA

Style:   American Imperial Stout

Glassware:   Best served in a snifter or a pint/shaker/nonic.

Personal Notes:   Fritz just keeps putting out some solid brews!  This brew pours up a luxurious jet black body with a well defined head that stays for a long time and leaves loads of lace on the glass.  Scents and flavors of roasted malts, coffee and chocolate.  The slight hit of alcohol plays well with the fine line being danced between sweetness and bitterness.  The body is just the way I like these stouts â€" slightly thick and very creamy.   As with most stouts, let them warm somewhat and the scents and flavors just explode with more robustness!

The following is the commercial description of this brew which I thought was rather interesting:

February 11, 2010 â€" cold dark and snowing. Not any ordinary snow â€" but instead a heavy, mean, ugly snow that spilled over the brewery. Leaving the brewery that late evening â€" who would have known there would be no brewery that next morning.

February 12, 2010 â€" awoke to the sounds of twisted metal, gushing water and alarms as tons of snow came crashing down through the roof and into the brewery. We tried to save what we could and accept the loss of what we could not. As the day waned, through many a friends helping hands, a new beginning was forming. This was not the end, but alas a start to something new and wonderful.

Snowmageddon is a tribute to those who stood by and supported the rebuild of Rahr and Sons Brewery. Hard work, dedication, love and passion for brewing is what makes this late winter selection so special. Snowmageddon is a limited release available annually in late February to celebrate the rebirth of a brewery. Snowmageddon will be an annual limited release, with the style changing from year to year. This first year is an imperial oatmeal stout, based on a winning recipe by a local homebrewer.

Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Rahr & Sons Ugly Pug

Brewed by:    Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Fort Worth, Texas  USA

Style:   Schwarzbier

Glassware:   Best served in a pilsner glass or a mug.

Personal Notes:   Another outstanding brew from the boys at Rahr & Sons! This brew pours up dark brown body sporting a frothy off-white colored head (leaves minimal lacing).  Scents full of coffee and a beefy brew loaded with roasted malts giving off a fresh-baked bread smell with lots and lots of yeast.  The flavor is that of a robust beer with a lot of bread or yeast flavors with just the right about of bitterness and a dab of sweetness to balance it all out.  This is a very easy-drinking brew so keep track!!  Planning on pairing this up with some brats or wurst!



Got this brew @ Beer & Wine World.

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Abbey Monk’s Ale

Brewed by:    Abbey Beverage Co. | Pecos, New Mexico  USA

Style:   Pale Ale

Glassware:   Best served in a mug, snifter, tulip, or an over-sized wine glass.

Personal Notes:   This brew pours up a very hazy apricot-colored body with a minimal heads and no lacing (at least in this sampling).  Citrus-y scents waft about immediately upon opening and plenty of hops as well.  Lots of fruity flavors (mostly apple) and citrus-y flavors as well.  There just a tad bit of sweetness in the background but lots of hops hits you right off the bat.  Not too much, not too little. Thinking about pairing this up with some spicy fish tacos next time!



Got this brew @ Beer & Wine World.

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Guinness Extra Stout

Brewed by:    Guinness Ltd. | Dublin, Ireland

Style: Irish Dry Stout

Glassware:   Best served in a mug or a pilsner/nonic glass.

Personal Notes:   Whoa!  What an amazing stout! This brew pours up a decadent black colored body with an amazing thick foamy tan head that has superb retention and leaves amazing lacing on the sides of the glass.  Wonderful scents of chocolate, roasted malts and some dark fruits (like plums or prunes).  And the flavors, oh my!  Roasted malts galore with the sharp bite of hops mingled in with coffee and chocolates.  The body is dry with just a slight amount of carbonation.  A brew truly made to accompany a hearty grilled porterhouse steak!



Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

[AWMiller]

Brew: Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy

Brewed by: Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin USA

Style: American Fruit/Lambic

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or mug

Personal Notes:

Whoa!  When they say lemony flavor… they mean lemony flavor!!  I’m not a big fan of ‘fruity’ beers but this one was somewhat enjoyable.  It’s a good summer beer but only in small quantities because of the lemony taste which somewhat overpowers the flavor of the beer. Would definitely be a good ‘cooking’ beer as the beer and lemon flavors would greatly compliment fish/seafood dishes!

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Morland Old Speckled Hen

Brewed by:    Greene King / Morland Brewery | Suffolk, United Kingdom (England)

Style:   English Pale Ale

Glassware:   Best served in a pint glass or a becker/nonic.

Personal Notes:   This brew pours up a dark amber (maybe even copper) colored body with a foamy near-tan colored head which dissipates down to a thin foamy head that leaves suitable lacing on the glass for quite some time. Scents full of caramel and butterscotch along with some bread/biscuits here and there.  Flavors of melted caramel and warm butterscotch pudding along with the rich malts and a touch of hops keeps all the flavors in balance without being overly ‘hoppy’ or overly sweet.  This would be a great brew to have with some redfish on the half-shell or perhaps a spicy flounder meal.



Got this brew @ Beer & Wine World.

[AWMiller]

Brew:   Real Ale Brewhouse Brown Ale

Brewed by:   Real Ale Brewing Company | Blanco, Texas  USA

Style:   American Brown Ale

Glassware:   Best served in a pint glass or a mug.

Personal Notes:   What a great session brew! The brew pours up a ruby-brown body with a finger-thick short-lived head that leaves bare minimal lacing on the glass.  The aroma on this brew is amazing!  Toasted malts, chocolates and hints of caramel.  The flavors are just as enjoyable filled with malts, chocolates and the oh so subtle hint of caramel and warm bread.  This is a great brew to pair up with some grilled pork rack or perhaps some slow smoked wild game!



Got this brew @ Beer & Wine World.