Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: English Brown Ale
State/Country: England
ABV: 5.0%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Deep copper color, thick creamy head with great lacing.

Smell: 10
Toffee, caramel, sweet malt, butterscotch, apples and hay


Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Mild hops and caramel, with  nuts and sweet malt in the middle, and a mineral character in the long finish

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body with low-medium carbonation, and a dry finish

Drinkability: 10
Amazingly smooth and mellow!

Overall Score: 9.6

Value: 10
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.96

Overall Impression:
This is the classic Norther English Brown Ale!  It is smooth, warm nutty, and it has the signature butterscotch and mineral character that Samuel Smith beers are known for.  It simply does not get better than this!  As it was with their Taddy Porter, this was like revisiting a long lost friend.  I love Samuel Smith beers and I will be drinking them often.

Hill Farmstead Edward

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: American Pale Ale
State/Country: Vermont
ABV: 5.2%
Serving Type: On Tap @ The Hulmeville Inn

Look: 9
Amber color, hazy, with a big off-white head and great lacing

Smell: 10
Fresh and floral, with tropical fruit, and bready malt - WOW!

Taste: 10
Taste follows the aroma. The malt balances the beer, but the hops are the star of this show! So fresh and flavorful that it is almost mind-boggling!

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body with medium-high carbonation and a slightly dry finish

Drinkability: 10
Quaffable to the N'th degree!

Overall Score: 9.6
Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.75

Overall Impression:
Hill Farmstead Edward is unquestionably, the best American Pale Ale I have ever tasted!  It had more flavor than most IPA's...top rated IPA's at that!  I don't know how the brewers packed so much flavor and aroma into such a modest style, but who cares? This beer is truly Nectar of the Gods!  I look forward to trying more beers from this brewery...I hope the mighty Hulmeville Inn keeps tapping them!

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Reviewed By: Herr Mike

Style: Doppelbock
State/Country: Germany
ABV: 6.7%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Local 44

Look: 9
Dark mahogany color, creamy beige head, light lacing

Smell: 9.5
Malty, chocolate, roasted nuts, caramel

Taste: 10

Up Front: Malt, dark fruit, burnt toast, toffee, vanilla. Finish: Chocolate with a slight fruity finish

Mouthfeel: 10
Creamy and smooth

Drinkability: 10

Keep em’ coming!

Overall Score: 9.7

Value: 10

Cost/12 oz serving: $6.50 - it's $4.00 for bottles (green ones)

Overall Impression:
Had this one on tap and it was De-LISH! This beer has great depth to it, but it’s not overpowering, so you can have more than one. Herr Rick took a sip of my beer and he liked it too!

Stone Double Bastard Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: American Strong Ale
State/Country: California
ABV: 10.5%
Serving Type: 22 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Deep copper/orange color, cloudy, medium tan head with good retention & great lacing

Smell: 10
Sweet malt, caramel, toffee, citrus & pine hops, chocolate, molasses - Amazing!

Taste: 10
Up Front: Sweet malt, toffee, pine. Finish: Citrus, caramel/toffee - all kinds of flavors that keep going...

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Full body, medium/low carbonation, thick and creamy

Drinkability: 9.5

Very quaffable, alcohol well hidden.

Overall Score: 9.6

Value: 8

Cost/12 oz serving: $4.95

Overall Impression:
Very close to a Barleywine in style. Absolutely amazing beer in flavor, strength, and complexity! And if I have not stated it publicly before, Stone has far and away the best labels, graphics and (arrogant) attitude in the brewing world. Having said that, this beer is Nectar of the Mother Fucking Godz!!!

Founders Double Trouble

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Michigan
ABV: 9.4%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Local 44

Look: 9
Light copper color, small frothy head, thin lacing

Smell: 9.5
Hoppy, pine, citrus, honey

Taste: 10
Up Front: Malt, grapefruit, grass, caramel, pepper, alcohol
Finish: Slightly bready and sweet, then the spiciness of the hops hit

Mouthfeel: 10
Creamy and smooth with a touch of carbonation

Drinkability: 10
YOWZA! So much going on! If it wasn’t for the high ABV, I could drink this all day!

Overall Score: 9.7

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.50

Overall Impression:
This one goes on the Mikey Likey List for sure! A nice hoppy punch in the face with a sweet malty backbone makes this one a winner!

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: American IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 7%
Serving Type: 22 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Bright golden/amber color, clear, thick white head with very good retention & uber good lacing!

Smell: 9.5
Pungent pine hop aroma, grapefruit, apricot

Taste: 10

Up Front: Follows the smell, with the addition of biscuit malt. Finish: A touch of sweetness in the middle, and a very long hoppy finish - YUM!!!!!

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Light/medium body with crisp carbonation and a dry finish

Drinkability: 10

It could not be better!

Overall Score: 9.7

Value: 6

Cost/12 oz serving: $7.59 - I bought this in Philly, so I feel like I was price gouged. I'm not sure what the going rate is for this limited release, but I'm sure you can get it for less than $13 plus tax

Overall Impression:
This is the best American IPA I've ever had! It's what West Coast (San Diego) IPA is all about. If only it were more readily available and affordable.

Russian River Supplication

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale (Barrel Aged)
State/Country: California
ABV: 7%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Standard Tap

Look: 9.5
Deep amber, slight haze, thin head with no retention little lacing. No surprise though.

Smell: 10
Brett funk, cherry, oak, and malt

Taste: 10
Up Front: Tartness, cherry. Finish: Brett funk, oak, an almost Pinot Noir like flavor at the end

Mouthfeel: 10
Light/crisp body with a light carbonation works perfectly here!

Drinkability: 10
Simply amazing

Overall Score: 9.9

Value: 6
Cost/12 oz serving: $12.00

Overall Impression:
This beer is beyond amazing!!! I enjoyed this even more than Consecration, and I was not sure that was possible. It's very hard to find, and it's expensive, but you simply MUST buy it if you see it. Once you taste it, you'll forget all the price.

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged)
State/Country: Michigan
ABV: 11.2%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 10
One of the blackest beer I've ever seen! I don't even think Avery's Mephistopheles was darker than this. Medium light brown head with little retention, but great lacing

Smell: 10
Dark roast coffee, roasted malt, chocolate, bourbon.


Taste: 10
Up Front: Espresso, chocolate, vanilla. Finish: Sweet malt, bourbon, roasted malt - absolutely decadent!!!

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Full body, low/medium carbonation, and very creamy

Drinkability: 9.5
I did not want it to end, but it would be hard to drink more than one of these

Overall Score: 9.8

Value: 8.5 ???
Cost/12 oz serving: $6.41 - Considering that it is currently rated #8 on BA's Top Beers on Planet Earth.........I'll take it. Hell, I was just happy to find it. If you see it, buy it!!!

Overall Impression:
Another beer that lives up to the hype! Simply amazing across the board. I was expecting more bourbon and less coffee. Regardless, it's one of the greatest Stouts ever!

Orval Trappist Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Belgian Pale Ale
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.9%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Orange/amber color, slight haze, massive head with excellent retention & lacing

Smell: 10
Brett Funk, bready malts, all kinds of fruit - amazing!

Taste: 10
Up Front: Tart, acidic, earthy, dark fruit. Finish: Brett funk, bready malt

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Light body, effervescence, with a dry finish

Drinkability: 10
Well balanced and it goes down easy, despite the alcohol bite

Overall Score: 9.8

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.72. Considering how magnificent this beer is, that's a bargain!

Overall Impression:
It's been a while since I had this beer. In fact, I had not developed an appreciation for Belgian's back then. I was not expecting much from this one; OH My ME was I wrong!!! This is what Begian beer is all about people!!! I see myself drinking this one very often. In fact, I may have to go get more this evening.

Russian River Pliny the Elder

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 8%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Monk's Cafe

Look: 10
Deep golden color, clear, with a think head and excellent lacing

Smell: 10
A citrus hop ASSAULT!!! Sweet malt. Incredibly floral. The freshest smelling beer ever - ahhhhhhh

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Tropical fruit, sweet malt. Finish: Hops balance out the the sweetness

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body, creamy & smooth, and perfectly balanced

Drinkability: 10
Ridiculously crisp and refreshing

Overall Score: 9.8

Value: 9.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $7.00

Overall Impression:
It appears that I saved the best review for last amidst the Chaos at Monk's Cafe. Although Pliny the Younger is considered by many to be the best Double IPA on the planet, I feel that Elder was better, or at least more in line with my palate. Double IPA is my favorite year-round style, and this is without a doubt the best one I've ever had!!! I wish I could have had more, but I was fading fast. I think I may have to move to California...within walking distance of Russian River Brewing Co

Russian River Pliny the Younger

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 11%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Monk's Cafe


Look: 9.5
Deep golden, slightly amber color, clear, with a medium head and great lacing

Smell: 9.5
Powerful citrus & pine hops, malt, caramel and toffee

Taste: 10
Up Front: Grapefruit, then pineapple, then apricot. Finish: Malt, with hops picking up steam along the way

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body, incredibly smooth, balanced, and a stickiness that coats the tongue and palate

Drinkability: 10
Alcohol is well hidden, and it's uber-drinkable!

Overall Score: 9.7

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $8.40 - $7 for a 10 oz glass. That plus tip, a parking ticket, and 4 other beers from Russian River, and I still think it was worth it!!!

Overall Impression:
This is the most hyped beer on the planet at this time. With all the hype surrounding this beer I was concerned that I might be underwhelmed. I was not, and the hype is warranted. However, this turned out to be my 2nd favorite Double IPA of the day (I preferred Pliny the Elder), and my 3rd favorite of all time. Simply amazing! Too bad only 2 sixtels were sent to PA, and now we have to wait for next year to have another opportunity to enjoy it.

Russian River Consecration

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale (Barrel Aged)
State/Country: California
ABV: 10%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Monk's Cafe

Look: 9
Deep crimson, slight haze, thin head with little lacing

Smell: 10
Brett funk, dark fruit, caramel, oak, and malt

Taste: 10
Up Front: Lemon zest, white grape, malt. Finish: brett funk, oak at the end

Mouthfeel: 10
Medium body with a light/medium carbonation. It got even creamier as it warmed up!

Drinkability: 10
Tart, incredibly smooth, and refreshing! Does not get more drinakble than this?

Overall Score: 9.8

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $8.40 - $7 for a 10oz glass, but I would have paid $10. Then again, with tip included I did - haha

Overall Impression:
This was the first American Brett Ale I've had since Victory's Wid Devil - a beer I disliked so much I almost dumped it. Almost. Having said that, I was unsure how this would beer would go over with me. Upon the first sip, my skepticism was gone! This is without a doubt the most complex beer/ale I've ever tasted!!! First the aging in Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels was obvious. The brett was a perfect compliment to the complexity of this amazing ale. It's kinda like a cross between a wine and a beer, and not a cheap version of either. If this is not Nectar of the Godz, I don't know what is.

[EDIT: I tried Victory Wild Devil again on 03/25/10 and I rather enjoyed it. I have acquired a taste for American Brett Beers]

Bell's HopSlam Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Michigan
ABV: 10%
Serving Type: On Tap @ The POPE

Look: 9 .5
Golden amber, clear, with a medium head and decent lacing (perhaps it was the glass?)

Smell: 10
Massive citrus hop aroma! Malt and a slight amount of honey also present

Taste: 10
Up Front: Sweet malt and hops do battle, grapefruit, apricot. Finish: Honey, with malt and hops still duking it out

Mouthfeel: 10
Medium body, incredibly smooth and balanced!

Drinkability: 10
Alcohol is well hidden, uber-drinkable, but watch out, it's a shit kicker!

Overall Score: 9.9

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $7, but worth every penny!!!

Overall Impression:
I started and ended my session with the mighty HopSlam. This is the best Double IPA I've had to date! That may not last though, because Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger are coming to Philly on March 1. (Edit: as it turns out, I actually preferred Hopslam to Pliny the Younger, making this my 2nd favorite Double IPA, second only to Pliny the Elder)

This beer reminds me of Boulder's Mojo in that it has honey and apricot flavors in addition to the typical grapefruit. Of course it's much higher octane, and the flavors are significantly more intense. Truly Nectar of the Fucking Godz!

General Layayette Grim Reaper

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 8.5%
Serving Type: On Tap @ General Lafayette Inn & Brewery

Look: 9.5
Pitch black, with a dark brown head, and good lacing

Smell: 9.5
Chocolate, coffee, and molasses

Taste: 10
Up Front: Chocolate, malt. Finish: Dark fruit, espresso

Mouthfeel: 10
Full body - thick & creamy with low/medium carbonation

Drinkability: 9.5
It was rich, yet smooth, and it went down easy

Overall Score: 9.7

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.00. Considering that you can only get this on tap in Philly, that is perfectly reasonable

Overall Impression:
This English Style R.I.S. went over well with ReRe The Dark Beer Goddezz and I. In fact, she stole my my first one and went back for seconds - hahaha!!! It doesn't get much better than this mortalz!

Oskar Blues Ten Fidy

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
State/Country: Colorado
ABV: 9.5%
Serving Type: 12 oz Can

Look: 10
Pitch black with a perfect, dark brown head! Excellent lacing too!

Smell: 9
Chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and cherry

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Chocolate, coffee. Finish: Malted milk balls, and a little smoke right at the very end

Mouthfeel: 10
Full body - thick & creamy and perfect carbonation

Drinkability: 9.5
Goes down really smooth, and the alcohol is well hidden

Overall Score: 9.6

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.00. This is a pricey beer, but soooooooo worth it!

Overall Impression:
Don't let the can fool you, this is one of the best Russian Imperial Stouts that's not barrel aged that you'll ever have!!! In truth, I would have thought that it was a barrel aged beer based on the complexity and depth of flavor.

Aventinus Eisbock

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Eisbock (Wheat)
State/Country: Germany
ABV: 12%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Deep ruby/brown, slightly cloudy with a nice head that hung out for a while, yet left little lacing

Smell: 10
Cloves, and dark fruit - raisins & prunes

Taste: 10
Up Front: Alcohol bite, cloves, and other spices. Finish: Banana, raisin, clove, caramel, sweet malt - very complex

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body, and smooth. This is 12% abv??? I never would have guessed. Having said that, the carbonation is also higher than expected, but still on point

Drinkability: 10
I am savoring every sip!!!

Overall Score: 9.8

Value: 10
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.75 - Less than $3 - are you fucking kidding me?

Overall Impression:
This beer is essentially a concentrated version of Aventinus Weizenbock. The flavor is intense and the incredible finish just keep going and transforming. Seriously, I did not think it could get any better than their Weizenbock, but I stand corrected. Hey, sometimes it feels good to be wrong ;)

Allagash Curieux

Reviewed By: Herr Mike AND Herr Rick
Style: Tripel (Barrel Aged)
State/Country: Maine
ABV: 11%
Serving Type: On Tap @ The Institute

Look: 9
Golden honey color, medium head with decent lacing

Smell: 9.5
Bourbon, vanilla, slight fruit

Taste: 10
It tastes like it smells. The flavor is amazingly complex and well balanced

Mouthfeel: 10
Creamy, and smooth; Perfect!

Drinkability: 9.5
You'd never know this was 11% abv!!! Very easy to drink, but be careful mortalz

Overall Score: 9.6

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $6.00 - In bottles for home consumption it would be about the same, perhaps a little less.

Overall Impression:
We lovez us some Bourbon! The fact that Allagash was able to blend that flavor perfectly with a delicate style like a Tripel is just amazing. Even Newbeez might love this beer.

Lagunitas Hairy Eyball

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: American Strong Ale
State/Country: California
ABV: 8.7%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Deep Amber, almost chocolaty color, head drops off fast, but the lacing lingers

Smell: 9
Dried fruit, chocolate, brown sugar, some roasted malts

Taste: 10
Up Front: Malty, raisiny, caramel, a touch of sweetness
Finish: A little alcohol comes through after a surge of hops and malt

Mouthfeel: 10
Sticky and rich, my tongue is doing back flips…Rightchaw!

Drinkability: 10
Quaffable times ten! , This could be a winter session beer for me, mortalz, maybe 1 or 2 at a sitting

Overall Score: 9.6

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.96

Overall Impression:
This beer is so good, that my brother in law ( who is a Coors Light drinker ) was so scared of the ABV that he had to split one with me, but he liked this beer a lot!

Unibroue Trois Pistoles

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
State/Country: Canada
ABV: 9%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 10
Dark brown almost black, cloudy with a thick head and great lacing

Smell: 10
Spicy, citrus, dark fruit, and a bit of roasted, chocolately goodness

Taste: 10
Up Front: Spicy, Citrus, and Dark Fruit
Finish: Dark fruit, booze, and faint chocolate - It tastes like it smellz

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body, with moderate/high carbonation, yet very smooth

Drinkability: 10
This is great beer to drink slowly and savor every sip!!!

Overall Score: 9.8

Value: 9.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.68

Overall Impression:
This is truly Nectar of the Godz, and my favorite ale from Unibroue. The slightly higher carbonation is the only thing preventing it from being a perfect 10

Victory Moonglow

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Weizenbock
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 8.7%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Dark orange color, like a lava lamp with suspended yeast flakes, head dissipates quickly, light lacing

Smell: 10
Bananas, cloves, cinnamon, dried fruit

Taste: 10
Up Front: Tastes like banana bread with walnuts
Finish: The bread lingers, little spice, alcohol present

Mouthfeel: 10
Happy thick mouthful of chewy yuminess!

Drinkability: 10
It has a great flavor and you can’t tell it’s almost 9% abv, too heavy for session beer

Overall Score: 9.8

Value: 9.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.87

Overall Impression:
I am not a big wheat beer drinker, but this beer kicks ass and has a comfort food feel that makes it a good beer on a snowy day!