Yard's Cape of Good Hope

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 8.1%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Amber color, clear, with nice a head and good lacing



Smell: 8
Pine, citrus, peach, mango, and sweet malt

Taste: 8
Initial metallic taste, but then the flavor follows the aroma, with a pleasant balanced finish

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Full-bodied and creamy, with low-medium carbonation.

Drinkability: 8.5
May I please have another?

Overall Score: 8.3

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78

Overall Impression:
Yard's consistently puts out good product, but this may be their best bottle release to date.  I am not a huge fan of the pronounced grapefruit flavors and aromas present in many of the American PA's regardless of strength  Thankfully, this fine DIPA only had hints of grapefruit, and the beer was very balanced.  Nice job Tom, Prost!

Stoudt's Pils

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: German Pilsner
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 5.4%
Serving Type: 12 oz. Bottle

Look: 9
Pale golden color, clear.  Thick white head with good retention and very nice lacing

Smell: 8.5
Floral hops, grass, and a touch of lemon and sweet malt

Taste: 8
Hops dominate the flavor profile, but there is just enough sweetness to balance it, somewhat.  Long hoppy finish.  Floral and Spicy.

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Light-medium body with medium-high carbonation.

Drinkability: 8.5
Very crisp and refreshing

Overall Score: 8.5

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78

Overall Impression:
Very true to the style.  Assertive hops from beginning to end.  Stoudt's definitely knows how to produce authentic German lagers!  I would have to say that this is my second favorite German Pilsner.  It's a great beer, and with the NFL season fast approaching, this would be an excellent choice to go with wings and nachos!

Stoudt's Gold Lager

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: Munich Helles Lager
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 5.0%
Serving Type: 12 oz. Bottle

Look: 8.5
Pale golden color, clear.  Thick white head with nice retention and decent lacing

Smell: 9
Sweet malt, toasted malt, grain, and floral hops

Taste: 8.5
Sweet/bready malt, balanced by herbal and mildly spicy hops, finishing with with a biscuit malt

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body and carbonation, with a slight creamy finish

Drinkability: 8.5
Uber-Drinkable

Overall Score: 8.6

Value: 9.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78

Overall Impression:
"Helles" means "bright" in German.  This style of lager was Munich's answer to the Bohemian (Czech) Pilsners  that quickly swept across Europe in the mid-1800's.  They are bit maltier, and more balanced compared to their hop forward cousins.

This is the third Munich Helles I've reviewed this week, and it is easily the best of the three.  Interesting that this one came from America, and the other two were from Germany.  However, it's not surprising given the huge influx of Germans in this region.  Breweries like Stoudt's and Victory obviously know how to produce outstanding lagers that rival the best of Germany.  Stoudt's Gold Lager is no exception.  Prost!

Food Pairing:
Here I am several hours later to add some additional color to this review.  I just made a chicken breast heavily seasoned with Jamaican Curry powder and Applewood Smoked Red Savina (a mutant red habanero that is twice as hot as a regular habanero - 550,000 Scoville Units).  The flavor and spice was powerful and amazing!  Stoudt"s Gold stood up to it no problem at all!  The sweet malt tamed the heat of the chilies, and blended nicely with the pungent curry.  The mild hops and ample carbonation scrubbed the palate, making every bite as good as the first.

The typical recommendation for pairing Munich Helles with food is: lighter dishes, chicken, sandwiches, and all things pork (of course).  Most experts would suggest an IPA as the perfect pairing for this fiery and pungent Jamaican dish, but this particular Munich Helles was spot on! 

Sly Fox Saison VOS

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 6.9%
Serving Type: 25.4 oz Bomber

Look: 10
Pale gold color, clear, Amazing head & lacing

Smell: 9
Apple, pear, hay, herbs & spices

Taste: 9
Up Front: Sweet candi, toasted malt, spicy, light fruit (pears). Finish: Slight candi sugar, pepper, and spice

Mouthfeel: 9
Light, effervescent, clean & crisp with a nice dry finish

Drinkability: 9
I could pound this one ALL day long!

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $3.53

Overall Impression:
WOW! This is an excellent Saison!!! I'd take this over Ommegang Hennepin or Saison Dupont any day. I wish it were available in a 4-pack or 6-pack, but I'll take it. Definitely one I will go back to often!

Yards Saison

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 6.5%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8
Hazy golden color with decent head & lacing

Smell: 7
Citrus, banana, some Belgian yeast

Taste: 7
Up Front: Spicy and sharp. Finish: Sweet with a lingering spiciness


Mouthfeel: 8
Light body and well carbonated.

Drinkability:7
It is a little on the harsh side for my palate.

Overall Score: 7.4

Value: 8.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78

Overall Impression:
Not a bad Saison, especially for the money. Certainly worth checking out.

Sly Fox Instigator

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: Doppelbock
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 7.3%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Varga Bar

Look: 9
Deep ruby/brown color, creamy tan head with decent retention & lacing


Smell: 7.5
Malt, caramel

Taste: 8

Malt, brown sugar from beginning to end

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body & carbonation, sticky

Drinkability: 8.5

Light flavors make this a good session beer

Overall Score: 8.3

Value: 6.5

Cost/12 oz serving: $6.00 ($3.25 for Happy Hour)

Overall Impression:
Not as flavorful or as complex as the better German examples, but still a good local beer worth sampling. Great beer for Newbeez!

Allentown Brew Works Hop'solutely

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 10.5%
Serving Type: 22 oz Bottle

Look: 7.5
Deep copper/amber color, slight haze, almost no head with little retention & lacing.

Smell: 8.5
Tons of malt, with caramel, citrus

Taste: 7.5
Up Front: Very sweet malt, toffee, caramel. Finish: Citrus and pine hops, more malt

Mouthfeel: 7
Full body with little to no carbonation, very cloying

Drinkability: 7
I had a tough time with this one

Overall Score: 7.5

Value: 6
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.75

Overall Impression:
The malt/toffee,caramel flavors were really nice, but I felt the beer was flat, too sweet, not nearly hoppy enough, and thus unbalanced. If you like super sweet beers, you'll love it.

I'd like to throw out some kudos to Chris and his staff over at Hawthorne's Cafe in Philly. Very courteous & knowledgeable staff, great food & atmosphere, and an impressive selection of Quality Craft Beer. PROST!

Stoudt's Double IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 10.6%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Medium golden color, fluffy head, nice sticky lacing

Smell: 8.5
Grass, citrus, strawberry, hops, honey

Taste: 9
Up Front: The sweetness and malt hit you first, then…
Finish: The hoppines really kicks in with some slight alcohol

Mouthfeel: 9
Sticky, bread, slight carbonation

Drinkability: 9
The 10.6 ABV is well hidden. I’ve had sessions with this brew! It is a fun beer!...heehee!

Overall Score: 8.8

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.14

Overall Impression:
I’ve had this beer on tap at Stoudt's brewery at a Microfest and it was yummy! It is malty for an Imperial IPA, but it is a nice departure from some of the West Coast IPA’s. If this beer was aged in oak….OH BOY! I can dream…can I? OH CAROL! ….We needs to talk!

Victory Wild Devil

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 6.7%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 9.5
Deep amber/mahogany, cloudy, massive head with great retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Brett funk, citrus hops, sweet malt

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Sweet and slightly tart, citrus. Finish: Nice blast of Brett funk, sweet malt

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body and carbonation

Drinkability: 9
Very quaffable!

Overall Score: 8.9

Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.29

Overall Impression:
I have done a complete 180. A while back, this was my first Wild Ale, and I hated it. Since then I have taken quite a liking to American Brett Ale, so I decided to give this beer another chance. I'm glad I did. This is a very tasty American Brett Ale. Want to know the impact of yeast in brewing? Compare Hop Devil to Wild Devil, and see for yourself. Brett is an interesting little creature indeed!

Yuengling Bock Beer

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Bock
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 5.1%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8
Medium amber color, big fluffy head, light lacing

Smell: 7
Slight malt, sweet, yeast

Taste: 6
Up Front: Malt, caramel, soda. Finish: brown sugar, bread

Mouthfeel: 6
Slight sweetness and dry

Drinkability: 6
Its low ABV makes it a session beer. Just make sure I’m not drinking in on that session! Just kidding! I’ll drink with anyone of our fanz!

Overall Score: 6.6

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.25

Overall Impression:
Yuengling is America’s oldest brewery and they have been around 180 years, making them almost as old as Herr Rick (He is immortal ya know!) So I have a lot of respect for the brewery itself, it just is a weak beer for the style. Just not for me. But someone who is on a tight budget may consider this beer before moving up the ladder to "actual" Doublebocks!

Victory Yakima Twilight

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: American Strong Ale
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 8.7%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Dark copper/mahogany color, clear, fluffy head with good retention and decent lacing

Smell: 9
Caramel, toffee, sweet malt, citrus

Taste: 9
Up Front: Caramel, toffee. Finish: Pine, citrus, slight metallic taste - pretty complex

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body with medium carbonation, and a bit sticky

Drinkability: 8.5

Warming and quaffable

Overall Score: 8.7

Value: 9

Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78

Overall Impression:
This is Victory's answer to Stone's Arrogant Bastard. It's a flavorful and complex brew. A great beer for the colder months.

Victory Golden Monkey

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Tripel
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 9.5%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Bright golden color, medium head with low retention, and little to no lacing

Smell: 8
Booze, Belgian yeast, citrus

Taste: 7
Up Front: Alcohol, orange and lemon. Finish: Malt, typical spices from Belgian yeast

Mouthfeel: 7.5
Light/Medium body, high carbonation

Drinkability: 7.5
It's Crisp...perhaps too much so. That plus the alcohol bite, makes this just average in this department

Overall Score: 7.7

Value: 8.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78

Overall Impression:
This is a great starter Tripel for Newbeez, but those already familiar with the style may find it to be average at best. It IS a great value, and it is from one of our local breweries, so give it a shot.

Troegs Mad Elf

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Fruit Beer
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 11%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Clear reddish color, hardly any head, light lacing

Smell: 9
Caramel, malt, cherry candy

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Sweet, malty, cherry, spicy
Finish: Toffee, candied fruit, chocolate, slight alcohol

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Smooth and dry

Drinkability: 8.5
I’m not a big cherry fan; it kind of reminds me of cherry cough syrup, without the medicinal taste. Almost taste like a light cherry brandy. Almost no alcohol taste, and at 11%, this is definitely a one and done.

Overall Score: 8.6

Value: 8.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.68

Overall Impression:
This is Troegs Christmas offering and it is a very unique brew. It’s not cheap for the budget conscious, but it is worth a try. After sipping this Mad Elf, Mikey is one Happy Elf!

Victory St Victorious

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Doppelbock
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 7.9%
Serving Type: 12oz Bottle

Look: 10
Deep amber color, fluffy head that dissipates quick, good lacing, a beauty

Smell: 9
Malty, sweet, bready, nutty

Taste: 9
Up Front: Caramel, roasted nuts, dark fruit, slight alcohol
Finish: Sweet with a tiny hop kick

Mouthfeel: 9
Slightly dry, doughy

Drinkability: 9.5
Yum in the tum! This one goes down easy! Mortalz should be aware of the ABV

Overall Score: 9.3

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.96

Overall Impression:
This is a damn good beer! This is the only style of Lager that I really like and it didn’t disappoint! I gave it a lower value score because there is another Doppelbock that I will review that is less money. That said, this beer is worth looking for.

Yards Poor Richard's Spruce Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Herb/Spiced Beer
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 5%
Serving Type: 12oz Bottle

Look: 9
Reddish brown color, small head, light lacing

Smell: 8
Pine, ginger, brown sugar

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Malty, pine, slight spiciness
Finish: Dry, sweet and minty

Mouthfeel: 8
Light and tingly (in a non-gay way)

Drinkability: 8
At 5% it could be a session beer if you like spicy, otherwise it could be a one and done.

Overall Score: 8.3

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.73

Overall Impression:
This brew reminds me of Christmas ale, so it is a good winter beer. I feel like I just quaffed a brew with our founding fathers. I feel the need to fly a kite in a electrical storm now!

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!

Voodoo Love Child

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Fruit Beer
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 9.5%
Serving Type: 22 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Golden color, little bubbles, thin fluffy head, lacing present, but not sticking

Smell: 8.5
Yeast, slightly hoppy, cherry

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Fruity, hoppy. Finish: Dry, slightly malty

Mouthfeel: 8
Thin, effervescent, soda pop feel

Drinkability: 8.5
It’s light and citrusy, has the Belgium funk going on, easy to drink if you like the style. This baby comes in at 9.5 abv, mortalz beware!

Overall Score: 8.4

Value: 6
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.00

Overall Impression:
At $4 a serving, there are better beers in this style to quaff. It wasn’t bad, and I’m feeling the 9.5 abv X 2 = Hee Hee!

Victory Hop Devil

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American IPA
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 6.7%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Deep copper, slightly hazy, with medium a head, and good lacing

Smell: 8.5
Pine, citrus, and sweet malt

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Sweet malt, and tropical fruit
Finish: Hops, then an assertive hop bitterness

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body and carbonation

Drinkability: 8.5
Refreshing easy to drink

Overall Score: 8.7

Value: 10
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.43

Overall Impression:
Hop Devil is a damn fine beer. This beer may not go over too well with Newbeez due to the bitter finish. Hop Headz will definitely enjoy it though!

SEE COMMENTS for much more on this beer

Troegs Nugget Nectar

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: American Amber Ale
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 7.5%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 10
Nice orangey amber color, the head just doesn’t quit! , nice lacing

Smell: 8
Hoppy, citrusy, yeasty

Taste: 9
Up Front: Hoppy, tangerine, some pine
Finish: Little malty with a touch of orange

Mouthfeel: 8
Medium thickness

Drinkability: 10
This is a beer I drink as a break from the malty winter beers

Overall Score: 9

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.96

Overall Impression:
Troegs is one of my favorite brewers and this does not disappoint! Almost an IPA. A good step up hoppy beer for a newbie.

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!