Flying Dog Dogtoberfest Märzen


Date:9/5/2009
Brewery:Flying Dog Brewery
Beer:Dogtoberfest Märzen
Origin:Frederick, Maryland
Style:Oktoberfest Marzen
Container:12 oz. brown glass bottle with pry-off cap
Purchased:Iliff Crossing Liquors, Aurora, Colorado
Price:$0 per 6-pack
Alcohol:5.3% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:If you put back as many steins as the Germans do in October, lederhosen and polka dancing would seem like a good idea to you, too. Our DOGtoberfest Märzen has a caramel finish and was crafted by a guy who studied brewing in Deutschland. And yes, he does like to strap on some lederhosen when he's feeling saucy.
Appearance:Poured a good amount of light-tan head composed of very fine bubbles. Retained very well in my plastic Solo cup. While being poured, it was a light brown color.
Aroma:Malty smell, but can't pick out any one specific odor. I don't smell much hopiness.
Taste:More malt than hops, but not overly-sweet. Definitely more aftertaste than in-mouth taste. Not bad, but not my favorite.
Mouth Feel:Feels fine. Carbonation is good.
Drinkability:Pretty easy to drink. This one isn't bad at all, but isn't one of my favorites.
Score:6 / 10

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Leinie's Oktoberfest


Date:9/3/2009
Brewery:Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Beer:Leinie's Oktoberfest
Origin:Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Style:Märzen
Container:Draught
Purchased:Green Mill Restaurant, Fairmont, Minnesota
Price:$0 per Keg
Alcohol:5.10% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:We brewed our first Oktoberfest in 2001 to celebrate the fall season in true German fashion. Available August through October each year, our traditional Marzen-style bier is brewed with Munich, Caramel and a blend of Pale malts. Hallertau, Tettnang, Perle, and Cluster hops provide the aroma for this well balanced, smooth, festive lager.
Appearance:Medium brown in color with a caramel colored head.
Aroma:Honestly, I didn't notice. I wasn't really trying to review this one, but I thought I'd write down what I remember.
Taste:Tastes pretty good. Hoppier than something like a Killian's, which is a good thing. Killian's is too sweet for my palate, now. Had pretty good balance of hops and malt.
Mouth Feel:Feel was fine. Rather unremarkable. Might have been served a little too cold. Was drawn into frozen glasses.
Drinkability:Pretty good one, I thought. I wouldn't call it a favorite by any means, but I'd surely get this again. If I could find some in Denver, I might buy some bottles.
Score:7 / 10

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Wynkoop Brewing Company

, , , , , , | Posted by John at 9:00 AM

In a recent visit to the mile-high city, we visited some old friends at the Wynkoop Brewing Company at 18th & Wynkoop in downtown Denver.

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Accompanying my very good BBQ ribs, I sampled their Railyard Ale and B3K Schwarzbier.

From Wynkoop's website:

B3K Schwarzbier
This German-style black lager has a deep color and gently roasted flavors balanced by an understated hoppiness. A thirst-quenching version of dark beer. A 2008 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal Winner in the German Schwarzbier category. ABV 5.3%

Railyard Ale
Our flagship brew is a smooth, amber beer that combines the malty goodness of an Octoberfest lager with the slight fruitiness of an ale. Hearty but refreshing. ABV 5.2%

BBQ Ribs
1 1/4 pounds of smoked and chile beer braised porks ribs glazed with our homemade BBQ sauce served with pub fries and coleslaw. $15.95 Chef's beer selection: Railyard Ale

Both were good, but I preferred the schwarzbier. It had a sweetness to it, oddly like that of a root beer. Not that it was like drinking alcoholic root beer, it just had some similarities in the taste. Quite interesting, and somewhat different from the only other schwarzbier that I've tried, Shiner '99 Bohemian Black Lager. The food and beer were good and a grand time was had by all at the Wynkoop. I'd definitely recommend it if you have a chance to visit.

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New Glarus Crack'd Wheat


Date:8/4/2009
Brewery:New Glarus Brewing Company
Beer:Crack'd Wheat
Origin:New Glarus, Wisconsin
Style:Hefeweizen
Container:12 oz. brown glass bottle with normal cap
Purchased:Keg N Kork, Chetek, Wisconsin
Price:$8.39 per 6-pack of bottles
Alcohol:5.95% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:This is Dan's bold creation. You hold the international marriage of a sophisticated Bavarian Hefeweiss and an assertive American Pale Ale. Amarillo dry hopping drives Wisconsin Red Wheat. Traditional open top fermentation cultivates our proprietary Bavarian Weiss yeast in our own Wheat Beer Cellars. Absolutely 100% natural bottle conditioned. This is a living beer.

Expect to pour a thick creamy head into your glass. Savor the fierce onslaught of clove, cinnamon, and citrus nose. Our very popular Imperial Weizen ratchets down for the session. Drink to adventure and friends in Wisconsin. We are the state of beer.

Style: Wheat
Flavor: Clove, cinnamon, and citrus
Alcohol: 5.95% by volume
Available in 6 packs, Cases, 1/2 Barrels, and 1/4 Barrels

Appearance:Poured a huge head and retained it for several minutes. I think this one had the longest head retention I've seen. Head eroded into a mound in the center of the glass, sloping downwards from the middle towards the walls. Color is light copper. It's unfiltered and is quite cloudy.
Aroma:Smells more like a pale ale than a traditional Hefeweiss. I can definitely smell hops like those in a pale ale.
Taste:Taste is a pretty good mix between the two styles. It's unlike anything else I've tried, so far. If I had to pick something else I've tried that might be in the ballpark, I'd say a Boulevard Lunar Ale, but there are significant differences there.
Mouth Feel:Feel is fine. The frothy head wasn't an indication of low carbonation as I thought it might have been, per the widget can trials I've had.
Drinkability:This one got better as I got through it. It was a little harsh at first, but became more and more appealing. I think I'd rather try some other brews from New Glarus instead of getting more of this one.
Score:5 / 10

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Point Special Lager


Date:8/4/2009
Brewery:Stevens Point Brewery
Beer:Point Special Lager
Origin:Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Style:American Adjunct Lager
Container:12 oz. brown glass bottles w/ screw-off caps
Purchased:Keg N Kork, Chetek, Wisconsin
Price:$5.99 per 6-pack of bottles
Alcohol:4.66% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:The brewery’s flagship brew since 1857, Point Special is a well-balanced, full-bodied classic American-Style lager. This award-winning pilsner is highly praised for its pleasant hop aroma and smooth, hearty flavor.
Appearance:Drank from a brown bottle, so I couldn't tell.
Aroma:Smells like a typical American lager. Think Budweiser.
Taste:Tastes better than most macro-brew lagers. It's very well balanced. Can taste hops more than in something like a Bud/Miller/Coors, but it's still pretty lightly hopped.
Mouth Feel:Feel is fine, but rather unremarkable. Carbonation level is good.
Drinkability:This is a very good one. Wish I could get it at home. I may have to go get some more before we go home. Very easy to drink, and very refreshing. Highly recommended.
Score:8 / 10

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Leinenkugel's Original


Date:8/3/2009
Brewery:Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Beer:Leinenkugel's Original
Origin:Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Style:American Adjunct Lager
Container:12 oz. can
Purchased:Keg & Cork, Chetek, Wisconsin
Price:$0 per 12-pack of cans
Alcohol: ABV
Brewer's Description:Jacob Leinenkugel's father brought this beer recipe from Germany when he migrated to the United States in the 1840s. We still brew this Great American Beer Festival winner of three medals - two Bronze in 1988 for the American Premium Pilsner and American Style Premium Lager categories, Gold in 1987 for the American Light Lager category - using a blend of three Pale malts and Chuster hops to give it the crisp, distinctive, smooth taste of a true German-style lager. That's the reason, after 140 years of brewing in Chippewa Falls, it's still so popular today!
Appearance:Tough to tell, since I drank it out of a can, but from pictures I found on flickr, it looks light golden in color.
Aroma:Smells about like a Budweiser or something similar. Maybe a little more hops. Not the same as a Point Special Lager, but not too far off.
Taste:Tastes hoppier than a Bud Light. Hops are more prevelant in this one than in most of the large-scale American lagers. I'd say this one is better than most of those, but it's still not great. The Point Special Lager I had on the same day was much better. I think it's just a better balance than this Lienie's.
Mouth Feel:Feel is fine and unremarkable.
Drinkability:This one is pretty good for what it is. For the price, it's tough to beat. At least in my experience, that's true.
Score:6 / 10

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Heineken


Date:12/20/2007
Brewery:Heineken Brouwerijen
Beer:Heineken
Origin:Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Style:German Pilsener
Container:1 pt. 8oz. Keg Can
Purchased:Tom Thumb, Rowlett, Texas
Price:$0 per single can
Alcohol: ABV
Brewer's Description:"Lager Beer"
Appearance:Light, golden yellow in color. Head is like whipped egg white. Poured a nice head. Did not retain it long at all. Multiple bubble trails.
Aroma:Smells like a good pilsner.
Taste:Tastes much better than the Heinekens I've had from bottles. Not skunkly like the other times I've tried it.
Mouth Feel:Good feel with nice carbonation level.
Drinkability:Much better than I had remembered. There must be something to the green bottle/skunky beer thing. I would drink this again, but only from cans. Would be a good choice on a plane, if you had to choose between it, Bud Light, or Miller Light.
Score:6 / 10

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Victory Hop Wallop


Date:12/8/2007
Brewery:Victory Brewing Co.
Beer:'Hop' Wallop
Origin:Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Style:American Double / Imperial IPA
Container:12 oz. brown glass bottle
Purchased:Kegs & Barrels, Plano, Texas
Price:$0 per 6-pack
Alcohol:8.5% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:The legend of ‘Hop’ Wallop:

Horace ‘Hop’ Wallop headed west a broken man. For in the City of Blues a Miss LuLu Belle Lager had left him thirsting for more. Drawn by wild tales of riches to be had in the gold mines, Hop pressed on westward. His last nickel spent on a prospecting pan. Hop’s hunger got the best of him. Two fistfuls of barley and three of some wild and wayward hops tossed in a pan with some clear water was to be his meal. But sleep overcame him and he later awoke to a bubbling, cacophonous concoction. Overjoyed with the beautiful ale that he had made, Hop realized the secret of the green gold he had discovered in those fresh hops. Celebrated far and wide, Hop Wallop lives on in this vivid ale with his words, ""Hoppiness is happiness."" ENJOY!

Appearance:Light amber color. Poured a nice head without much retention. Not many bubbles.
Aroma:VERY strong hop smell.
Taste:VERY strong hop taste.
Mouth Feel:Feel is fine with good carbonation.
Drinkability:Not very good, in my opinion. It’s too hoppy for my taste. I prefer Hop Devil quite a bit.
Score:4 / 10

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Hofbräu München Oktoberfestbier


Date:12/7/2007
Brewery:Staatliches Hoffbräuhaus
Beer:Hofbräu München Oktoberfestbier
Origin:München (Munich), Germany
Style:Märzen
Container:12 oz. green glass bottle
Purchased:Kegs & Barrels, Plano, Texas
Price:$1.49 per single bottle
Alcohol: ABV
Brewer's Description:Munich specialty. Brewed according to the German Purity Law.

The Oktoberfest originated in 1810 in Munich, Germany, as a wedding celebration for the crown prince Ludwig of Bavaria. This product was created especially for this event and is brewed usually for the Oktoberfest, one of the biggest party events in the world. Hoffbräu München (HB) is one of a selected group of breweries granted the privileges of supplying the Oktoberfest with their products. Using the highest quality ingredients, HB's Oktoberfest specialty has its own distinctive and unmistakable taste.

Appearance:Light golden yellow in color. Poured a small head but did not retain it long at all. Random bubbles rising throughout the glass.
Aroma:Smells like a good version of a Bud or something similar. Can't really smell specific hops or malt.
Taste:Tastes very good. Much better than an American style macro-brew.
Mouth Feel:Feel is good with barely enough carbonation for my liking.
Drinkability:Excellent. This one is delicious.
Score:8 / 10

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Smithwick's


Date:12/6/2007
Brewery:E. Smithwick & Sons Ltd. (Guinness & Co.)
Beer:Smithwick's
Origin:St. Francis Abbey, Kilkenny, Ireland
Style:Irish Red Ale
Container:12 oz. brown glass bottle with regular cap
Purchased:Kegs & Barrels, Plano, Texas
Price:$0 per 6-pack
Alcohol:4.50% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:The brewery at St. Francis Abbey in Kilkenny, Ireland has been in operation since 1710. Smithwick's is Ireland's oldest ber, inspired by John Smithwick's original recipe. This beer delivers a distinctive amber color, full bodied taste and ultra-smooth finish.
Appearance:Dark amber/brown color, somewhat similar to a Shiner Bock. Poured a nice head and retained it for a few minutes. One visible bubble trail.
Aroma:Smells good, but I couldn't pick out anything specific.
Taste:Good balance, with not too much bitterness or sweetness. I can taste the malt more than the hops.
Mouth Feel:Smooth feel with just enough carbonation for my liking.
Drinkability:Smithwick's is a very drinkable beer. I'll definitely get some more of this one.
Score:7 / 10

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