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

Other links:

• Hofbräu München Oktoberfestbier scored a B- on
• Hofbräu München Oktoberfestbier scored 2.86 on

From Beer

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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

Other links:

• Smithwick's scored a B on
• Smithwick's scored 3.06 on

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Anchor Porter

Date:	11/18/2007
Brewery:	Anchor Brewing Co.
Beer:	Anchor Porter
Origin:	San Francisco, California
Style:	American Porter
Container:	12 oz. Brown Glass Bottle
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, Texas
Price:	$8.99 per 6-pack
Alcohol:	5.60% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	San Francisco's famous Anchor Porter brand is made in one of the smallest and most traditional breweries in the world by the brewers of Anchor Steam beer. Our old-fashioned porter is virtually handmade, with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. We use 100% malted barley, generous amounts of fresh, whole hops, entirely natural carbonation and a simple, natural brewing process which is like no other in the world. The deep black color, the thick, creamy head and the intensely rich flavor of Anchor Porter, made in San Francisco since 1974, have earned this delicious and unique brew a worldwide reputation for outstanding quality. It is aesthetically pleasing and wholly superior in every respect.
Appearance:	Very dark brown in color. Head is dark tan. Poured a nice head. Retention was short. Too dark to see any bubbles.
Aroma:	Heavy malt smell - very coffee-like.
Taste:	The heavy malt smell carries over to the taste. Can definitely taste a coffee likeness.
Mouth Feel:	It has a good feel and carbonation level. It’s thicker (more viscous) than something like an Anchor Liberty or Steam.
Drinkability:	This one is pretty decent, but I prefer an Anchor Bock or London Porter.
Score:	6 / 10

Other links:

• Anchor Porter scored an A- on
• Anchor Porter scored 3.85 on

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Shiner 97 Bohemian Black Lager

Date:	11/16/2007
Brewery:	Spoetzl Brewery
Beer:	Shiner Bohemian Black Lager - Shiner 97
Origin:	Shiner, TX
Style:	Schwarzbier
Container:	12 oz. brown glass bottle, screw cap
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$6.99 per 6-pack
Alcohol:	4.9% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	Don't be afraid of the dark. Here in Shiner, Texas (Pop. 2,070), we've been handcrafting beer since 1909. The passion of our original brewmaster, Kosmos Spoetzl, continues to inspire our efforts today. First brewed to commemorate our 97th anniversary, this Bohemian black lager remains true to the old-world heritage of the German and Czech immigrants who settled Shiner. Imported Czech Saaz and Styrian hops, and select roasted malts make this "Schwarzbier" our darkest brew yet. PROSIT! This rare and delicious style of beer is referred to in Germany as a "Schwarzbier", or black beer. This handcrafted Bohemian black beauty is brewed with select roasted malts and imported hops.
Appearance:	Very dark brown in color. Can barely see a light through it when held up to a light source. Poured moderate head but did not retain it very long. Too dark to see bubbles. Similar in appearance to a porter or an Anchor Bock.
Aroma:	Can smell some spice. Not much else, but I am getting a cold so my nose isn't at its best.
Taste:	Has both a sweet and spice note. More taste after its swallowed.
Mouth Feel:	Has a good feel. Not as thick/viscous as a porter. Carbonation level is good.
Drinkability:	This is a good beer. I like it more now than when I tried my first bottle of it. It grows on you.
Score:	6 / 10

Other links:

• Shiner Bohemian Black Lager - Shiner 97 scored a B on
• Shiner Bohemian Black Lager - Shiner 97 scored 2.98 on

From Beer

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Samuel Smith's, The Famous Taddy Porter

Date:	11/8/2007
Brewery:	Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Beer:	Samuel Smith's, The Famous Taddy Porter
Origin:	N. Yorks, England, UK
Style:	English Porter
Container:	1 pt. 2.7 oz. brown glass bottle, normal cap covered in foil
Purchased:	SuperTarget, Rowlett, TX
Price:	$2.78 per single bottle
Alcohol:	5.00% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	History: Porter was the first commercially brewed beer. It was named for the train porters who were its original servers and consumers. Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery, Yorkshire’s oldest, reintroduced authentic porter to the British beer scene in 1979 after an absence of more than 50 years. Taste: Very dark, fairly full in body and packed with flavor. Intense, dry tangy character of roasted barley. Serving Suggestions: Oysters on the half shell, Rockefeller or Cajun style; clams, mussels, crab cocktail, lobster bisque and other shellfish, smoked mackerel pâté, veal with green peppercorns, porterhouse steak and of course chocolate. Serve at 55 degrees in nonik or tumbler. Alecolade: Platinum Medal, World Champion Porter - World Beer Championships "One of the world’s five best beers." -Michael Jackson Product sizes and quantities: Twelve 18.7-ounce "Victorian Pint" bottles. Twenty-four 12 ounce bottles.
Appearance:	Very dark brown in color. Poured a huge head and retained it pretty well. Head is a tan color. Too dark to see bubbles.
Aroma:	Smells rich like other porters. Can pick up chocolate and coffee smells.
Taste:	Definitely taste the coffee malt. First drink was kind of a shock. Got better after that.
Mouth Feel:	Not much carbonation. More than in a widget can, but still not much. Just a bit more would make it quite a bit better. After I poured the rest of the bottle, it was a bit better.
Drinkability:	Decent. I like Fuller's London Porter better, but this may be better than the Anchor porter.
Score:	4 / 10

Other links:

• Samuel Smith's, The Famous Taddy Porter scored an A- on
• Samuel Smith's, The Famous Taddy Porter scored 3.71 on

From Beer

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Turbodog

Date:	11/6/2007
Brewery:	Abita Brewing Company, LLC
Beer:	Turbodog
Origin:	Abita Springs, Louisiana
Style:	English Brown Ale
Container:	12 oz. brown glass bottle, twist-off cap
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$6.99 per 6-pack
Alcohol:	5.6% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	From label: Abita's turbodog is a dark brown ale brewed with a combination of pale, crystal and chocolate malts, dry-hopped with the finest Williamette hops, and fermented using a unique, German Alt yeast. Each batch is hand crafted using the pristine Artesian waters of Abita Springs, Louisiana, resulting in a rich body and color, and a sweet-chocolate-toffee like flavor. Guided by our principle of "quality before quantity," Turbodog is cold filtered and brewed in small batches using no additives or preservatives. Like all of our beers, Turbodog is prepared with the attention to detail upon which we have built our reputation as one of the country's finest breweries. From website: Turbodog is a dark brown ale brewed with Willamette hops and a combination of pale, crystal and chocolate malts. This combination gives Turbodog its rich body and color and a sweet chocolate toffee-like flavor. Turbodog began as a specialty ale but has gained a huge loyal following and has become one of our flagship brews. This ale pairs well with most meats and is great served with hamburgers or sausages. It is a good match with smoked fish and can even stand up to wild game dishes. Turbodog is also great for marinating and braising meats and cooking such things as cabbage and greens. Colby, Gloucester, Cheddar and Blue cheeses go nicely with Turbodog. It’s perfect with spicy Louisiana jambalaya or Spanish paella. Some even like it paired with chocolate!
Appearance:	Dark brown color, tan head. Poured a nice head, but didn't retain it for very long. Too dark to see any bubbles. I've read that beer loses its head if you don't properly clean your glassware. Maybe most beers are doing that quickly for me because I put my glassware in the dishwasher. I don't have the drive or time to wash all my beer glasses by hand. I'd rather be doing something else.
Aroma:	Smells rich. Can smell the toffee-like malt.
Taste:	Tastes good. I detect a small amount of sweetness. Can also taste a hint of coffee.
Mouth Feel:	Good feel. A little more viscous than a pilsner or light lager. Just enough carbonation.
Drinkability:	A very good choice. Will definitely get more of this.
Score:	7 / 10

Other links:

• Turbodog scored a B on
• Turbodog scored 3.2 on

From Beer

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Victory Prima Pils

Date:	10/31/2007
Brewery:	Victory Brewing Co.
Beer:	Prima Pils
Origin:	Downingtown, PA
Style:	Pilsner
Container:	12 oz. brown glass bottle
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$ per 6-pack
Alcohol:	5.3% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	Prima! An exclamation of joy. A recognition of accomplishment. Though it's spoken in German, it's felt in all languages. It's what escaped from our lips as we sampled the first brew of this mighty pilsner beer. Though we'd been through a few in our years with other breweries, finally, with whole flower european hops and fine German malts we had achieved what we'd sought for so long. Prima… An exclamation of victory! Prost! "A refined pilsner beer for natural enjoyment."
Appearance:	Light, golden yellow. Poured a nice head, but retained only a short time. Random bubbles rise slowly.
Aroma:	Smells pretty good. Like a typical light-colored beer. Maybe a little yeast smell. A little like bread, but not nearly as pronounced as in a Pyramid Curve Ball Kolsch.
Taste:	A little bitter for me. That's kind of what I thought of the Urquell that I had, which may have been skunked. This does not taste skunky at all. It's getting better as I drink it.
Mouth Feel:	Has a good feel. Nice carbonation level that's just a bit higher than perfect.
Drinkability:	Not bad, but not my favorite. I guess I like them sweeter than this.
Score:	5 / 10

Other links:

• Prima Pils scored an A- on
• Prima Pils scored 3.58 on

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