Samuel Adams Chocolate Cherry Bock

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: Bock
State/Country: Massachusetts
ABV: 7.0%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Hawthorne's

Look: 9.5
Black color with reddish hues, thick creamy tan head with great lacing.

Smell: 8.5
Dark chocolate, roasted malt, and lots of cherry

Taste: 9
Blast of cherries and chocolate up front, balanced by the hops and roast in the middle, and finishing with chocolate and cherries.  Flavors are linear, which is typical for the style

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium-heavy body with low carbonation, and a slick finish

Drinkability: 9
Decadent!

Overall Score: 9

Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.50

Overall Impression:
It was like drinking Cellas® dark chocolate covered cherries.  Deelish!

Food Pairing:
As I was drinking this I was thinking how great it would be with ANY type of chocolate desert with or without cherries strawberries or raspberries, cheesecake again with or without fruit, and vanilla ice cream.  I paired my second one with food...here is the review

Allagash Les Deux Brassuers

An Allagash/De Proef Collaboration.  Les Deux Brasseurs is a Golden Ale fermented with two strains of Brettanomyces.

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale (Brett)
State/Country: Maine/Belgium
ABV: 8.5%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Issac Newton's

Look: 9
Golden color, clear, with a fluffy white head and great lacing

Smell: 9.5
Nice and fruity featuring pear and pineapple mostly, with a a touch of Brett funk, and floral/spicy Saaz hops

Taste: 10
Lots of fruit, with Brett, graham cracker, and spicy hops. Very complex with a long finish. Very Funkilicious!

Mouthfeel: 9
Light-medium body with medium-high carbonation, and a crisp, dry finish

Drinkability: 9
Highly quaffable, but be careful, the high ABV can sneak up on you

Overall Score: 9.3
Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $7.00

Overall Impression:
I love Brett, beers from Allagash, beers from De Proeff, and this one was no exception.  Issac Newton's mistakenly had this listed as a Tripel, so I was thrown off at first because this was obviously a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. The Brett and graham cracker created an interesting flavor combination that I really enjoyed. The Brett was not overwhelming, so if you are new to Wild/Brett beers, this would be a great one to try....if you can find it.

Triumph Bitter

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: Ordinary Bitter (English)
State/Country: New Jersey
ABV: 4.7%
Serving Type: On Hand Pump @ Triumph Brewing Co (Princeton)

Look: 10
Reddish Brown color, very clear, with a foamy tan  head and amazing lacing

Smell: 8
Bready malts and floral English hops


Taste: 9
Malty, fruity and complex from beginning to end. Tons of flavor from a session beer!

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body with low carbonation due to cask

Drinkability:9
If Suzy-QCB wasn't with me, I would have pounded several!  

Overall Score: 9
Value: 6
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.50

Overall Impression:
I had this right after the Bohemian Pilsner, so that may have affected my judgment, but I loved this beer! Then again, I usually do enjoy this particular beer on cask@ Triumph Princeton. Real Cask Ale done right is always a treat.

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: Dortmunder Export
State/Country: Ohio
ABV: 5.8%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Light amber color, very clear, with a foamy white head and excellent lacing

Smell: 9
Grain, bready malts, and some grassy hops

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Massive grainy malt flavor...WOW! Finish: Sweet bready malt and grasssy hops. Long and dry

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation

Drinkability: 9
A well balanced, full-flavored lager. Very quaffable!  I had 2, but could have kept going.

Overall Score: 9.1
Value: 10
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.96

Overall Impression:
I had never tasted a beer where the bready and grainy malt was so dominant.  The initial blast of flavor was unexpected, but very much appreciated. This multiple award winning lager will go over well with newbeez, those that prefer fine lagers, and even most "ale only" snobs.
 
Food Pairings:
This beer was a great match with Mexican food! Because of its fuller malt character as compared to Pilsner, it would also stand up to steaks, burgers and rich meats, yet it is still has enough hoppy enough to match up with all kinds of spicy foods as well.

Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: Dunkel
State/Country: Germany
ABV: 5.0%
Serving Type: 16.9 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Deep reddish brown color, very clear, with a dense tan head with nice lacing

Smell: 9
Bready malts, toffee, and a hint of smoke


Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Crisp hoppy flavor giving way to sweet malt and a touch of caramel. Finish: Dry, malty and grainy...YUM!

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation

Drinkability: 9.5
A malt-forward beer that finishes clean and dry...very refreshing!

Overall Score: 9.2
Value: 10
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.13

Overall Impression:
What can I say...Ayinger simply produces top-notch German beers! Sadly, Dunkel had fallen out of favor since the onslaught of Pilsner. Although it is a typically around 5% ABV, it is actually a very flavorful style.  Not to be confused with many European beers that are merely doused with coloring agents and passed off as "dark", this is an authentic Dunkel which gets it's color from Munich Malts and the German style of mashing known as decoction. This is the style of beer known as Liquid Bread, and one taste of this beer and you'll see why!  It's a great session-able beer that is great all by itself or with food.
 
Food Pairings:
Suzy QCB and I had it with Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Veggies, and it was amazing! The malt and mild caramel flavors are a perfect match with all types of roasted meats, particularly pork. Roasted veggies, sweet & sour foods, sauerkraut and even pickled veggies wouild match up with the sweet malt as well. Sausages, especially German styles are perfect with Dunkel. It even goes well with spicy dishes and Chinese food.

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!

Oskar Blues Gordon Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 8.7%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Varga Bar



Look: 9.5
Deep amber/copper color, clear, solid tan head with good retention & very good lacing

Smell: 9
Sweet malt, caramel, pine citrus

Taste: 9.5

Up Front: Caramel, toffee Finish: Sweet malt, pine & citrus hops

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation, creamy

Drinkability: 9.5

Highly quaffable!!!

Overall Score: 9.3

Value: 8

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

Overall Impression:
Another Uber Good beer from Oskar Blues. I have yet to have a beer from them that was not in the upper echelon for the style.

Tripel Karmeliet

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Tripel
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.4%
Serving Type: On Tap @ BXL Cafe

Look: 9.5
Bright golden/orange color, cloudy, fluffy white head with very good retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Sweet malt, honey, orange, spices

Taste: 9
Up Front: Malt forward, honey. Finish: Citrus, spices

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body & effervescent

Drinkability: 9.5
Super quaffaliscious

Overall Score: 9.3

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $9.00

Overall Impression:
It was my 3rd beer of the night, and my favorite of the three. I had 3 of them - YUMMY!!!!

Delirium Tremens

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.5%
Serving Type: On Tap @ BXL Cafe

Look: 9
Bright golden color, clear, medium head with good retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Belgian yeast, very fruity and floral

Taste: 9
Up Front: All kinds of fruit, bready malts. Finish: Spicy with mild hops


Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body with a crisp/sharp carbonation

Drinkability: 9.5
I could quaff these all day!

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $9 - again, it was NYC. It would be more like $6-7 in Philly Tap Rooms

Overall Impression:
This is a Excellent Belgian Strong Pale Ale! Would have had more than one, but there were other Belgian Ales I had to try

Stillwater Stateside Saison

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
State/Country: Maryland
ABV: 6.8%
Serving Type: On Tap @ the Hulmeville Inn

Look: 9
Bright golden/orange color, cloudy, medium head with decent retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Lemon, spices, sweet malt

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Tart, mild funk, sweet malt. Finish: Pepper & spices

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation, with a smooth, dry finish

Drinkability: 9.5
I could quaff this down ALL day!

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.25

Overall Impression:
I really liked this Saison. I'd have to say it is my favorite Non-Brett, American Saison I've had to date. It had a small batch hand crafted feel to it, which is a great thing. I'd take this over Hennepin any day!

After dinner I decided to try one of these. Shortly thereafter, I found out that the brewer (Brian) was there and a Stillwater Event was taking place. I had a chance to chat with him briefly. It turns out that this is his brewery's very first product - how awesome is that! I wish them continued success and I hope all of their offerings are as good as this one! PROST!!!!

Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Michigan
ABV: 13.6%
Serving Type: On Tap @ the Hulmeville Inn

Look: 8.5
Deep copper/amber color, clear, slight head with decent retention & lacing.

Smell: 9
Caramel, malt, molasses/brown sugar

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Sweet malt. Finish: Citrus hops, caramel/toffee

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium/full body with medium carbonation, nice oily texture

Drinkability: 9
You'd think this had half the abv. Super smooth and balanced

Overall Score: 9.1

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.25

Overall Impression:
Huge malt backbone, balanced out nicely with herbal/citrus hops. Loved the caramel/toffee flavors in the finish. Was not as hoppy as I would have thought, but it worked! It was not cloying or unbalanced - very well done! If you like big malty beers, this one is a must!

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: American Strong Ale
State/Country: California
ABV: 8.7%
Serving Type: 22 oz Bottle


Look: 9
Very dark brown color, clear, medium light tan head with good retention & great lacing

Smell: 9.5
Pine, Bready malt, citrus, dark fruit mellow roast coffee - there is a lot going on here


Taste: 9
Up Front: Pine & citrus hops, caramel, bread, dark fruit.Finish: Roasted malt, hops all the way, lingering bitterness

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation, oily, and oh so smooth

Drinkability: 9

Very quaffable considering the complexity and high ABV

Overall Score: 9.1

Value: 7.5

Cost/12 oz serving: $5.25

Overall Impression:
This beer lulls you into thinking it will be like a porter/stout, and suddenly BAM; the hops blast you. Like most Stone offerings, this beer is aggressive & complex. The flavors don't seem to mesh on paper, but they work here rather well. This is not a beer for Newbeez, but if you like powerful, complex and beers that defy the norm, then this is one for you!

---

Stone's Description:
We re brewers whose substantial mettle and idiomatic approach to brewing allows us to consistently create works of art such as this justifiably self righteous ale. Its bitterness hits our sweet spot. Its blackness lightens our hearts. Its liquid dichotomy pulls it all together in this sublimely sacrosanct ale. Yes, we damn well know our stuff here at Stone, and it would be irresponsible of us not to acknowledge how remarkable this heavenly creation of ours is. Thus the name we are compelled to give it ... Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Ale ... serves as a reminder of just how good we are, in both liquid and verbal form.

We re certainly not perfect. Too often, we allow our modesty to get the best of us as we re simply not inclined towards senseless braggadocio. When you're good, you're good. And when you do something great, the least you can do is acknowledge it. Others benefit from knowing. In this case, we find that we are compelled to point out how amazing this beer is that we rightly call the Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Ale.

First brewed in 2007 as Stone 11th Anniversary Ale, this beer was an instant hit. With us. Other folks with great taste loved it too, but we were focused on how much we liked it, and we felt it was truly sublime. That euphoria didn't last long though, as it was soon replaced with the grim reality that when we sold out of it there wouldn't be any more. For Us. And that was simply unacceptable. So, we are now blessing ourselves, and you the enlightened, with this beer on a full time basis.. Thusly, you may now revel in your own self righteousness as you see fit with this glorious example of ours. You are genuinely welcome, as it is our pleasure.

St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: Gueuze
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Local 44

Look: 9.5
Bright golden color, cloudy, fluffy white head, very good retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Blast of brett funk, citrus

Taste: 9.5

Up Front: Very tart, lemon, brett funk comes in next
Finish: Sweet candy sugar, and then some bready malt.

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium/low body and effervescent.

Drinkability: 8.5

If you like tart, sour and funky, it is a real treat.

Overall Score: 9

Value: 6

Cost/12 oz serving: $9.42

Overall Impression:
A real tart, thirst quencher. It stays Funkaliscious from beginning to end. This is an acquired taste, one that I have acquired :D

Paulaner Salvator

Reviewed By: Herr Mike

Style: Doppelbock
State/Country: Germany
ABV: 7.9%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Light amber color, fluffy off white head, nice lacing

Smell: 9
Bread, malt, toffee, honey, chocolate

Taste: 9

Up Front: Malt, alcohol, caramel, spice
Finish: Alcohol and then a hit of malt

Mouthfeel: 9
Dry and chewy, almost like eating a dark sweet bread

Drinkability: 9

I’m not a big lager fan, but this is the style I can drink during the cold winter months

Overall Score: 9

Value: 10

Cost/12 oz serving: $1.52

Overall Impression:
This is a beer that is the benchmark for the style and it’s a great value to boot! If I had to drink this during lent, I’d be one happy monk!

Chimay Cinq Cents

Reviewed By: Herr Rick & Herr Mike
Style: Tripel
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle


Look: 9.5
Bright golden/orange color, cloudy, fluffy white head with uber good retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Banana, clove, sweet malt, bubblegum, black pepper


Taste: 9
Up Front: Apple, malt
Finish: Malt, spices, pepper - VERY complex!

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation, dry finish.

Drinkability: 8.5
At this point we had already drank quite a few, so it may have been a 9.5 - heehee!!!

Overall Score: 9

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.05

Overall Impression:
A unique, yet Classic Belgian Tripel. Not my favorite, but it is still a very special ale! Add it to your "Must Try" list

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: American Barleywine
State/Country: California
ABV: 9.6%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Med amber color, big frothy head, sticky lacing

Smell: 9
Dried fruit, malt, citrus, wood

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Brown sugar, caramel, orange, pine, grass, bread, cinnamon. Finish: earthy, hoppy, spicy, dates, alcohol

Mouthfeel: 9
Creamy, chewy, slight carbonation

Drinkability: 10
At 9.6 ABV, it’s not the most potent barley wine out there, but that’s OK with me, cause I might have another!

Overall Score: 9.3

Value: 10
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.32

Overall Impression:
WOAH! This is one complex beer! It’s malty up front and has a nice hoppy finish, but there is so much going on here! This is one beer that makes me wish winter would never end! I might have to sneak one of these on a cool summer night!

Gulden Draak

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 10.5%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Blue Monkey Tavern

Look: 9
Dark mahogany color, med head, awesome lacing

Smell: 9
Yeasty, dried fruit, chocolate, plum, caramel, bourbon

Taste: 9
Up Front: Yeast, coffee, brown sugar, raisins, toffee
Finish: Sweet, slight hoppy, slight alcohol

Mouthfeel: 9
Smooth, thick and creamy

Drinkability: 9.5
OH YEAH! I could quaff one or two….uh… two or three….It’s a Belgian Dammit!

Overall Score: 9.1

Value: 10
Cost/12 oz serving: $6.50 - I gave it a 10 for value because this one was on Don Mirsky!

Overall Impression:
This is a funky, complex beer, just like me, except with more alcohol! If you find this beer…DRINK IT!

St Bernardus Abt 12

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Quadrupel (Quad)
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 10.5%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Brown color, cloudy, massive tan head with uber good retention & lacing

Smell: 9.5
Fruity, sweet malt, clove

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Clove, brown sugar. Finish: Sweet malt

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body and well carbonated, a little sticky

Drinkability: 9.5
Creamy, smooth & decadent

Overall Score: 9.4

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.57

Overall Impression:
This is my new favorite Quad. Absolutely yumiliscious!!!

St Bernardus Tripel

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Tripel
State/Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Serving Type: 11.2 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Golden/orange color, cloudy, massive head with uber good retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Banana, toffee, apricot

Taste: 10
Up Front: Apricot, banana, toffee. Finish: Caramel, toasted malt, spices

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body and well carbonated.

Drinkability: 9.5
Crisp, creamy & smooth

Overall Score: 9.5

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.57

Overall Impression:
One of the best Tripels out there. Even ReRe liked this one!!! I'll be drinking this one quite often!

Dogfish Head Burton Baton

Reviewed By: Herr Rick & Herr Mike
Style: Double/Imperial IPA (Barrel Aged)
State/Country: Delaware
ABV: 10%
Serving Type: On Tap @ the Hulmeville Inn

Look: 9
Deep copper color, clear, medium head with decent retention & great lacing

Smell: 9.5
Pine, caramel, vanilla, oak

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Pine hops, apricot, sweet malt. Finish: Vanilla, oak, caramel, booze

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Full body, low/medium carbonation, really coats the palate

Drinkability: 9
The 10% abv is very well hidden, but 3-4 of these would probably hit you like a ton of bricks

Overall Score: 9.3

Value: 8.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.25 - The Hulmeville ROCKS!!! This would be $6+ elsewhere

Overall Impression:
This beer almost reminds me more of a Barleywine than a Double IPA, yet it still has the drinkability of an IPA. It has a flavor profile very similar to Troegs Nugget Nectar, however the flavors are more concentrated, but the hop bite is subdued by the vanilla and oak. Very interesting. I LOVE this beer!!! In fact, I bought a 4-pack of it ($3.75/12 oz serving) the next day. Every one I cracked open made me VERY happy! --Herr Rick