This is a glorious day.
...And since it's Thursday...
Shiner Bavarian Style Amber, Limited Edition "98"
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| Date: | 9/19/2007 |
| Brewery: | Spoetzl Brewery |
| Beer: | Shiner Bavarian Style Amber, Limited Edition "98" |
| Origin: | Shiner, TX |
| Style: | Vienna Lager |
| Container: | 12oz. Brown Glass Bottle, Screw Cap |
| Purchased: | Tom Thumb, Rowlett, TX |
| Price: | $ per 6-pack |
| Alcohol: | 4.90% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | This limited edition anniversary beer commemorates the 98th year of handcrafted brewing at the Spoetzl brewery in Shiner, Texas. With every sip, this Bavarian amber lager pays tribute to the old-world Bavarian quality demanded by the German. From website: Kettle hopped with Hallertau tradition & dry hopped with Hallertau hersbrucker 80% pale malt, 20% Munich malt |
| Appearance: | Medium amber in color. Poured a fine head, but didn't retain it. Head was whitish in color. |
| Aroma: | Smells a little hoppy. Different from a pale ale. |
| Taste: | Maybe a little bitter for my taste. Can taste the hops. |
| Mouth Feel: | Mouth feel is ok. A little too much bite from carbonation. |
| Drinkability: | Overall, it's just OK and not great. Not as good as Shiner Bock. |
| Score: | 4 / 10 |
Other links:
- Shiner Bavarian Style Amber, Limited Edition "98" scored 81 on
- Shiner Bavarian Style Amber, Limited Edition "98" scored 2.83 on
Firemans #4 Blonde Ale
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- Firemans #4 - by "winter valentine"
- Fireman's 4 Cask conditioned - by "jgk79"
| Date: | 9/14/2007 |
| Brewery: | Real Ale Brewing Company |
| Beer: | Firemans #4 Blonde Ale |
| Origin: | Blanco, TX |
| Style: | American Blonde Ale |
| Container: | 12oz. Brown Glass Bottle |
| Purchased: | Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX |
| Price: | $0 per 6-Pack |
| Alcohol: | 5.1% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | This refreshing blonde ale achieves a perfect balance between the smoothness of the malt, the subtle fruitiness of our house ale yeast, and zesty citrus notes from Crystal hops. Fireman's #4 is a great way to beat the heat - enjoy it on a Texas summer day, or pair it with spicy foods to help put out the fire. ABV: 5.1%, IBU: 21, OG(plato): 12 |
| Appearance: | This beer is clear, golden yellow in color. There are multiple streams of bubbles effervescing. It poured a nice head, but did not retain it for very long. |
| Aroma: | I can detect definite citrus notes. |
| Taste: | This tastes a little sweet. I can barely pick up the taste of citrus. They are more pronounced in the aftertaste, but they’re not real obvious. |
| Mouth Feel: | This has a good amount of carbonation. It finishes smooth. |
| Drinkability: | I like this beer. It’s good, overall. It’s easy to drink and I could drink it for effect if I chose to. I would buy this one again. |
| Score: | 6 / 10 |
Other links:
- Firemans #4 Blonde Ale scored 82 on
- Firemans #4 Blonde Ale scored 2.97 on
Fuller's London Porter Ale
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| Date: | 9/13/2007 |
| Brewery: | Griffin Brewery |
| Beer: | Fuller's London Porter Ale |
| Origin: | Chiswick, London, England |
| Style: | English Porter |
| Container: | 11.2oz. Brown Glass Bottle |
| Purchased: | Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX |
| Price: | $0 per Single Bottle |
| Alcohol: | 5.4% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | Fuller’s London Porter is an award-winning example of this historic English style; smooth and creamy with delicious chocolate and coffee flavours. The Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London, has been brewing fine ales since 1654. The Fuller, Smith, & Turner partnership, dating back to 1845, brews an excellent range of award-winning ales, many of which are available in the USA, including London Pride Pale Ale and the world’s original ESB. I hope you will enjoy trying all our fine ales. |
| Appearance: | Dark brown in color. Head is a tan color. Not long head retention. Too dark to see any bubbles rising. |
| Aroma: | Has a very rich smell. I can smell the chocolate/coffee that they describe. |
| Taste: | This seems very rich for beer. It has almost a burned/charred taste. I can associate that taste with malt, I suppose. It’s pretty distinctive. Most of its taste comes as aftertaste. I don’t taste much bitterness or hoppiness. This is the beer that the lady at Kegs & Barrels suggested as a benchmark for malt flavor. |
| Mouth Feel: | It has a good feel. The carbonation level is good. It’s pretty creamy, but with carbonation release. It’s a little thicker (more viscous) feeling than others beers I’ve tried to date. |
| Drinkability: | I think this is an aquired taste, but I think I could learn to like it without too much difficulty. I would buy it again if I was in the mood. |
| Score: | 5 / 10 |
Other links:
- Fuller's London Porter Ale scored 91 on
- Fuller's London Porter Ale scored 4.02 on
Abbot Ale
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| Date: | 9/11/2007 |
| Brewery: | Greene King |
| Beer: | Abbot Ale |
| Origin: | Suffolk, England |
| Style: | English Pale Ale |
| Container: | 1-Pint Can |
| Purchased: | Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX |
| Price: | $8.49 per 4-Pack |
| Alcohol: | 5% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | English Pub Ale - Brewed longer for a distinctive full flavor. From website: Greene King's flagship brand Abbot Ale is a favourite with the nation's discerning beer drinker. An iconic beer, Abbot is brewed for longer in a traditional way in order to achieve its world famous distinctive taste. The secret of Abbot Ale lies not only in its ingredients but the way it is treated along every step of its production, from the arrival of the raw ingredients at the brewery to the cask and beyond. The result (a pint of perfect beer) is due to the care, dedication and craftsmanship of everyone who works on Abbot Ale. Quality is the benchmark. Abbot Ale is brewed with pale crystal and amber malts to give an attractive colour and rich malty taste. Challenger hops give it bitterness with a spicy overtone and to really boost the taste and aroma to the maximum it is late-hopped with Fuggles to provide the floral tones and fruity esters. Full flavoured, smooth and mature, Abbot Ale is an exceptional, quality drink. No wonder this beer is the first choice for so many discerning real ale lovers. |
| Appearance: | Dark amber in color. Didn’t pour much head. Small bubbles randomly rise. |
| Aroma: | Has a somewhat rich aroma. Smelled a bit nutty. |
| Taste: | Not too far off from Wexford’s Irish Cream in taste. A bit bitter. |
| Mouth Feel: | At least it has more carbonation (a little) than Wexford’s. Still not enough. |
| Drinkability: | Overall, very much like Wexford’s. I don’t like it very much. I won’t get it again. I'll give it a 2, only because it had a tiny bit more carbonation than Wexford's. |
| Score: | 2 / 10 |
Other links:
Anchor Steam
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| Date: | 9/10/2007 |
| Brewery: | Anchor Brewing Co. |
| Beer: | Anchor Steam Beer |
| Origin: | San Francisco, CA |
| Style: | Steam Beer |
| Container: | 12oz. Brown Glass Bottle w/ blue twist-off cap |
| Purchased: | Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX |
| Price: | $8.99 per 6-Pack |
| Alcohol: | 4.9% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | Anchor Steam brand beer derives its unusual name from the 19th century when "steam" seems to have been a nickname for beer brewed on the west coast of America under primitive conditions and without ice. The word "steam" may have referred to the pressure of natural carbonation developing in the beers. Today the brewing methods of those days are a mystery, and for many decades anchor alone has used the quaint name "steam' for its unique beer. Anchor Steam brand beer is virtually hand-made with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. The deep amber color, the thick creamy head, and the rich flavor all testify to our traditional brewing methods. Today Anchor is one of the smallest and most traditional breweries in the world. San Francisco’s famous Anchor Steam brand beer is unique, for our brewing process has evolved over many decades and is like no other in the world. |
| Appearance: | Deep amber color. Poured a large head but did not reteain it long. |
| Aroma: | Odd smell. Can smell hops of some sort. Some sort of spiciness. |
| Taste: | As the long descriptions states, this has a unique flavor. Maybe a little bitter. |
| Mouth Feel: | Perfect carbonation level. When held in mouth, carbonation builds to a peak before falling off. |
| Drinkability: | Good, for sure. I’m not sure that I like it better than Anchor Liberty. Would definitely get it again and recommend it. |
| Score: | 6 / 10 |
Other links:
- Anchor Steam Beer scored 85 on
- Anchor Steam Beer scored 3.33 on
Boulevard Pale Ale
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| Date: | 9/7/2007 |
| Brewery: | Boulevard Brewing Co. |
| Beer: | Pale Ale |
| Origin: | Kansas City, MO |
| Style: | American Pale Ale |
| Container: | 12oz. Brown Glass Bottle, Twist-off Cap |
| Purchased: | |
| Price: | $0 per 12-pack |
| Alcohol: | 4.9% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | -Bottle Conditioned- In the tradition of great ales, we've added a small amount of yeast to the beer just before packaging to produce a secondary fermentation in the bottle. The yeast, which settles naturally to the bottom of the bottle, encourages further maturation and contributes to the beer's complex flavor. Brewed with two row barley malt, pure water, whole hops and yeast. |
| Appearance: | Medium-amber in color. Poured a good head and retained it well. Very small bubbles evolve while sitting in a glass on the counter. |
| Aroma: | Not quite as "spicy" as the HopDevil, but can smell what I guess is hops. Nothing too distinct. |
| Taste: | Very good pale ale. Just the right bitterness. Mild, not too bitter. |
| Mouth Feel: | Just right carbonation. Smooth. |
| Drinkability: | Very drinkable. So far, my favorite American Pale Ale. |
| Score: | 7 / 10 |
Other links:
Victory HopDevil
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| Date: | 9/5/2007 |
| Brewery: | Victory Brewing Co. |
| Beer: | Hop Devil India Pale Ale |
| Origin: | Downintown, PA |
| Style: | IPA |
| Container: | 12oz. Brown Glass Bottle, Normal Cap |
| Purchased: | Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX |
| Price: | $0 per Single bottle |
| Alcohol: | 6.7% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | The mythical Hopdevil resides in the lore of farmers. Our HopDevil is the real deal. Bold, spicy and menacingly delicious. He's the product of distinctive American hops and meticulous craftmanship. Arising from the heady wilds of our hop back and gently tamed with time, this devil makes a great companion! |
| Appearance: | Medium-dark amber in color. Poured a perfect amount of head. Retained head for a little while. No visible bubbles while sitting on counter. |
| Aroma: | Smells spicy for beer. |
| Taste: | Somewhat similar to Boulevard Pale Ale. More bitterness than something like a Kolsch, but not overly bitter. I definitely know what to expect from an IPA now. |
| Mouth Feel: | Some carbonation release, but not a lot. Smooth finish. |
| Drinkability: | A bit better than the Rahr. On par, or maybe better than Boulevard. This was what the lady at K&B suggested as a benchmark for hops. So I suppose I know what hoppy" means now. |
| Score: | 6 / 10 |
Other links:
- Hop Devil India Pale Ale scored 89 on
- Hop Devil India Pale Ale scored 3.9 on
Rahr & Sons Stormcloud IPA
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| Date: | 9/3/2007 |
| Brewery: | Rahr & Sons Brewing LP |
| Beer: | Stormcloud India Pale Ale |
| Origin: | Ft. Wort, TX |
| Style: | IPA |
| Container: | 12oz. Brown Glass Bottle, Screw Cap |
| Purchased: | Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX |
| Price: | $0 per 6-pack |
| Alcohol: | 6.00% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | During a fierce storm on his voyage across the ocean, William Rahr could be heard yelling from the tall masted ship: "Roll on old sea! And when you are done, when the storm clouds have destroyed themselves, we will still be standing and drinking!" Today, we have created the ultimate ale for a voyage such as this: A German-Style IPA - a traditional India Pale Ale with German Influence. Our German-Style IPA is brewed with a blend of all German malts, hops, and yeast. It has a rich maltiness with both floral and spicy hop characteristics. So get ready and hang on - Stormcloud will see you through your roughest seas and straight on to smooth sailing. |
| Appearance: | Pale amber in color. Poured a nice head and retained it for a little while. Small, slow bubbles while sitting in a glass on the counter. |
| Aroma: | Can smell what they might be calling spice. Otherwise, smells like a regular ale. |
| Taste: | A little bitter, but not too bad. Somewhat similar to Boulevard Pale Ale, but not quite as good. Has a bitter aftertaste. |
| Mouth Feel: | Just the right amount of carbonation. Nice and smooth. |
| Drinkability: | Very drinkable IPA. Good when I'm in the mood for pale ale, which isn't always. |
| Score: | 5 / 10 |
Other links:
- Stormcloud India Pale Ale scored 82 on
- Stormcloud India Pale Ale scored 2.94 on
Shiner Kölsch
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| Date: | 8/29/2007 |
| Brewery: | Spoetzl Brewery |
| Beer: | Shiner Kölsch |
| Origin: | Shiner, TX |
| Style: | Kölsch |
| Container: | 12oz. Brown Glass Bottle, Twist-off Cap |
| Purchased: | Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX |
| Price: | $6.99 per 6-pack |
| Alcohol: | 4.9% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | Refreshingly effervescent, this Summer brew is fashioned after the Kölsch biers that originated in Cologne, Germany in the 1800's. Hallertau Magnum and Mount Hood Hops combine for an especially clean, crisp finish. Handcrafted with small-town pride in Shiner, Texas. Since 1909, the Little Brewery has been the source of every drop of Shiner Beer. We hope you enjoy this beer with the same passion that went into brewing it. Prosit! Here in Shiner, Texas (Pop. 2,070), we've been handcrafting beer for nearly a century. It all started when Czec and German farmers built the Little Brewery to satisfy their thirst for old-world brews. The passion of our original brewmaster, Kosmos Spoetzl, continues to inspire our efforts today. This traditional Kölsch bier is the product of our proud German heritage. |
| Appearance: | Medium golden yellow in color. Slow bubbles evolve while sitting in glass. Poured about an inch of head and retained it for less than a minute. |
| Aroma: | I pick up only a little bread smell compared to the Curve Ball, but more noticeable than in something like Bud Light. |
| Taste: | Decent. Not as good as Curve Ball, but I would drink it if I couldn't get Curve Ball. Not too bitter. Just about right on the bitterness/sweetness scale, for me. |
| Mouth Feel: | Carbonation releases when held in mouth, but not too much. Smooth afterwards. |
| Drinkability: | Good. See taste comments. |
| Score: | 5 / 10 |
Other links:
- Shiner Kölsch scored 81 on
- Shiner Kölsch scored 2.59 on
Original Wexford's Irish Cream Ale
| Date: | 8/28/2007 |
| Brewery: | Greene King Brewing Company |
| Beer: | Original Wexford's Irish Cream Ale |
| Origin: | Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, UK |
| Style: | Cream Ale |
| Container: | 1-pint Aluminum Can w/ Pressurized Widget |
| Purchased: | Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX |
| Price: | $8.49 per 4-pack |
| Alcohol: | 5.0% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | Based on a traditional Irish recipe from County Wexford that dates back to 1810, we use only the best ingredients to ensure that our Wexford ale has a smooth mellow creaminess we believe you will enjoy. Following in an age-old tradition only the freshest, most natural ingredients are used to create the smooth mellow taste of our Wexford ale. For best results chill for at least 2-3 hours but do not freeze. Pour carefully down the side of a glass, observe the creamy head and enjoy the smooth mellow taste of Wexford. |
| Appearance: | Medium amber in color. Lots of foam immediately when pouring. Very long head retention. No bubbles rise while sitting. |
| Aroma: | Pleasant smell. Nothing in particular sticks out. Not strong smelling. |
| Taste: | Not impressed. Perhaps too much hops for my taste? Somewhat bitter. |
| Mouth Feel: | I can see what they mean by cream. Very smooth, maybe too much so. Not enough carbonation. Seems very flat. Almost like drinking tea that tastes like beer. |
| Drinkability: | Not good at all. I will not miss this beer. Lady at Kegs & Barrels said that it's no longer imported to the US. Good riddance!!! |
| Score: | 1 / 10 |
Other links:
- Original Wexford's Irish Cream Ale scored 81 on
- Original Wexford's Irish Cream Ale scored 2.86 on
Fuller's ESB
| Date: | 8/27/2007 |
| Brewery: | Griffin Brewery |
| Beer: | Fuller's ESB |
| Origin: | Chiswick, London, England |
| Style: | Extra Special Bitter |
| Container: | 11.2oz Brown Glass Bottle, Normal Cap |
| Purchased: | Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX |
| Price: | $10.99 per 6-pack |
| Alcohol: | 5.9% ABV |
| Brewer's Description: | Fuller's ESB is the famous winner of many awards around the world; bursting with powerful malt and hop flavors, it is the world's original and the one by which others are judged! The Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London, has been brewing fine ales since 1654. The Fuller, Smith & Turner partnership, dating back to 1845, brews an excellent range of award winning ales, many of which are available in the USA, including London Pride Pale Ale and the world's original ESB. |
| Appearance: | Dark amber. Does not evolve many bubbles at all while just sitting in a glass. Had about 1 inch of head when poured. Retained head fairly well. Bubles evolve when drinking. |
| Aroma: | Having trouble picking out any distinct smells. Definitely smells like an amber beer, but that's about it. |
| Taste: | This is another beer that has more aftertaste than anything. A little bitter for my taste, but not the worst. Not as good as Old Speckled Hen. |
| Mouth Feel: | This does have a good feel. Carbonation releases in mouth and provides just the right bite. Afterwards, it's smooth. |
| Drinkability: | Overall, I would prefer an Old Speckled Hen or Anchor Steam/Liberty. This is not bad, I just prefer others. |
| Score: | 4 / 10 |
Other links:
- Fuller's ESB scored 88 on
- Fuller's ESB scored 3.64 on
