Eastside Dark

Steve: This was one of my favorite of the bunch. It was pretty hoppy, but it wasn't overpowering like some are, where they just have the hops loaded in but nothing else going for it. A decent, well-made ale. Definitely a nice relaxing beer, or something you would have with dinner. It's not too bad for the summer, either. (10/13/2002)

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Flying Dog Dogtoberfest

Kris: I don't like Flying Dog brews just because the brewery sends them to us for free. No, they put out a great product as well. I have no idea if Dogtoberfest makes the grade in Germany during Oktoberfest, as I've never been there for it, but I can tell you that being here in New Jersey in the middle of August, it's a damn fine brew. Chock full of flavor, but not too hoppy, this is definitely something I'd get again. (10/6/2007)

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Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter

Steve: Much like this beer's namesake, author Hunter S. Thompson, this beer left me a bit bewildered. It's an imperial porter, but the alcohol was not at all noticeable. A porter, among the most flavorful of ale styles, and the most predominant flavor was a burnt toast flavor. Also like Thompson, this didn't impress me at all. For a special offering, I think they could've done a better job. Mostly, it just bored me. (6/3/2007)

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Flying Dog Heller Hound Maibock

Steve: A nice addition to what is turning out to be a nice, albeit dry, Spring. Nice and solid, good hop flavor in the background, but also a nice malty smoothness. I wouldn't mind having a six pack of this around, this may be my favorite of the Flying Dog family. I really enjoyed this, it's a perfect beer to shake off Winter and welcome Spring. (4/7/2007)

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Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Altitude Ale

Steve: This wasn't too different from the amber lager, except not as malty and a bit more hoppy (not IPA hoppy, but noticeable). Alas, like Old Scratch, that's about all I can recall about it, except that it was worth the trouble to drink. Screw it, Kris is always bitching about my long reviews anyway. There, this is my review. Don't like it? Go try it yourself. You will like it, I can tell you that much. (10/5/2002)

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Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Lager

Steve: This had a pretty decent malty presence that just filled up my mouth. Perfect for a warm summer evening (this is Atlanta, and I had it in early May, that's like summer anywhere else), as it cools you down like such a beer should. Although, that's pretty much all I can remember since it was late when I tried it. Sorry. However, it was good, and I recommend it. (9/28/2002)

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Flying Dog Road Dog Scottish Porter

Steve: You gotta love a beer that says "Good beer, no shit" on the label. And seriously, this is a good beer. No shit. This is a little lighter in coloring than most porters you'll come across, and not as thick and creamy. I kept tasting dark semi-sweet chocolate in there....like Hershey's Special Dark, and of course that also brought to mind a coffee flavor, too. This is a sipping beer, so relax with this one. I think it carries its share of alcohol too, but I can't verify since the bottle doesn't give the ABV. I could research that, but you read this page for my strong opinions, not my researching ability, so look it up yourself. Overall, I have to say I would try this again. (9/20/2002)

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Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA

Steve: Slightly darker than the Tire Bite Golden Ale, with a bit more noticeable bitterness from the hops. I also noticed a sweet flavor as I got further down the glass, almost sugary. Hard to describe. This is certainly not like the IPA's that come out of the British Isles, but I guess you can use this to work your way up there. I liked this better than Tire Bite, so it gets a better rating. (9/1/2002)

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Flying Dog Tire Bite Golden Ale

Steve: This was a very basic ale. No bells, no whistles. You're going to notice the hop presence more than anything else, as it is otherwise a fairly light ale. Not hopped up like an IPA, but you notice it. Not much else. For those who want a basic, non-challenging ale, this is it. Sometimes, those are the hardest to get right, as evidenced by some of the 400 beers we've tried have proven. (9/1/2002)

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Flying Dog Wild Dog Barrel-aged Gonzo Imperial Porter

Kris: Thanks to Flying Dog for the samples. I had another review written for this beer, a very fancy review, one that you would have laughed at. Unfortunately, due to circumstances outside my control, you don't get to read it. I'll just say that I didn't get a chance to review the non barrel-aged version of this, and from what Steve wrote in his review of that, I'm glad. This was a very very tasty beer. If you can find it, try it. (8/17/2007)

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Flying Dog Woody Creek White

Steve: Wit-style beers differ from other wheat beers in that they are often spiced, with coriander, orange peel, or anything else that compliments the natural citrus taste of wheat beer. This, I think, leaned heavier towards the spice, and not enough to the citrus. That, of course, is a personal preference, so take this review with a grain of salt. Others may love the spicey flavor (because it's certainly prominent), and fall in love with this. If you like a spiced Wit, grab it, you'll enjoy it. Naturally, like any Wit, it's perfect for summer. (7/4/2007)

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Flying Fish Belgian Style Dubbel

Flying Fish Brewing Co

Steve: I noted the city where this is brewed, because I was amazed that New Jersey could crank out a decent beer. Not that NJ is the cesspool people think it is, but it's not known for it's breweries, like Wisconsin, Colorado, Washington, and other such states. This was a pretty thick beer, typical of a Dubbel (French for Double, similar to a Double Bock). Otherwise, the only novelty is that it's from Jersey. I think you might find a better tasting one from the Netherlands or Belgium, but this one will do, if you want to stay domestic. (2/21/2000)

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Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale

Flying Fish Brewing Co

Steve: Boy, you'd think with a name like this the stuff would be gross. Brewed in my home state of NJ, I was on business up there (from Atlanta), and of course travelling on business sucks. So at the end of a particularly sucky day, I went into Red Bank, sat down at Danny's Steak House, ordered a nice $20 prime rib (expense account, of course), and washed it down with this tasty beverage. The steak was huge, the beer was great, and the conversation didn't suck. All on the company tab. Gotta love it. Would this beer have tasted so good if I wasn't willing (at the time) to walk over my mother for a beer? Probably not. But it was there at the right place, right time, and it came through for me (like Claude Lemieux in the playoffs, the gay Frog), so it wins points. (4/20/2002)

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Fordham Copperhead Ale

Rocky: Pretty bad stuff. Wasn't really sure what style it was supposed to be, but I assumed a pale ale. Wrong, thankfully...it would have scored worse if that was the case...but it's an altbier. Not something you run across very often, but I've had a few others. Alt is German for "old" so in that sense maybe it is true to the style, because it seemed stale. I finished it off, but the other two from my beer club shipment are going to get exactly what they don't need before I have another. Time. (3/12/2005)

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Fordham Dunkel Weiss

Steve: A dark wheat beer from a microbrew in Annapolis, Maryland. Nice taste except for one feature: it was too over-hopped, which it shouldn't be for this style. It should be sweet and malty, not bitter. Otherwise, decent. Maybe it was the bottom of the keg for the night (it was bar time). You can tell it's fresh.

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Fordham Lager

Rocky: Good color for a lager, but then that isn't really the hard part. There's not much to it. Better than a bud/miller/coors lager, but not nearly as good as I would expect from a small micro. Not at all offensive in any way, but nothing really positive to say about it either. Grainy is the first adjective that came to mind, and no others really emerged as I continued drinking. (3/19/2005)

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Fordham Light Pilsner

Steve: This is one beer the brewery screwed up. Maybe they really like hops, but a pils should not be bitter AT ALL, like this one was. Didn't like it. Definitely fresh, awesome color, but if wasn't for the color, I'd be reviewing this as a pale ale.

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Fred

Hair of the Dog

Rocky: I love the way HOTD names their beers. Fred is named after Fred Eckhardt, a beer historian. Others are Adam, Rose, and Ruth. The bottle says it's a Golden Special Ale. It's not golden, but I can live with "special", and it's definitely an ale. It seems to have a personality conflict between barleywine and tripple. 10% ABV, 10 hop varieties, it's very highly carbonated yet full, almost chewy, mouthfeel. It would be a nice beer to sip on a cool evening. Not at all a beer for beginners, but if barleywine with an interesting twist sounds appealing you will really enjoy Fred. (3/19/2006)

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Full Sail Amber

Full Sail Brewing Co

Sam: Not to be confused with a beer of the same name from Australia. I first ran into this beer in 1994, in Kalispell, Montana. ANY beer tastes good in Kalispell, but this was a standout. Malty, smooth, sweet but not too sweet. Nice coppery-red in the glass. Not at all heavy. This is a great summertime beer, whether you're grilling on the back deck or having a good meal with friends. I highly recommend it. (11/8/2003)

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Full Sail IPA

Full Sail Brewing Co

Sam: When I first had this, they had the old labels, with a stylized sailboat, sails billowing. The IPA's sail was tiger-striped, a witty reference I assumed to IPA's heritage as an overly-hopped ale to preserve it on the long, hot passage to quench the thirst of the British troops in India. Now it's just a ho-hum yellow label. But do NOT let that fool you; the beer within is still aggressively hopped, spicy, sweet, and bitter. A handsome deep amber in the glass. Do not pass this beer up if you see it in the case. I recommend it. (2/5/2006)

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Full Sail Rip Curl

Full Sail Brewing Co

Sam: Yum. I've had several beers from Full Sail, and have been impressed with each one. Never saw the Rip Curl before, though. So I ran into this in Temple, Texas, right on the cusp of the Hill Country. Gave 'er a spin. Now I wish I'd bought more than a six pack. Deep coppery red color, nice carbonation, spicy and sweet. My only complaint about this beer is the plain label. Full Sail used to have more colorful labels. That's small potatoes, though. If you're fortunate enough to run across this one at your local beer store, pick up a couple six packs. (2/26/2005)

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Furthermore Oscura

Furthermore Brewing LLC

Steve: I am regretting having only purchased one bottle on my last trip to Wisconsin, because I think there is more to this beer than what I cought in my first sampling. Oscura uses free trade coffee (say it with me..."Ooooohhh, Ahhhhhh") combined with a brown lager base recipe, to give it a nice carbonated coffee flavor. Coffee is a big ingredient in stouts and darker ales, but you don't see it as much with lagers. I like Furthermore, and I'll be sure to check out more of their product. (12/31/2010)

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Geary's Pale Ale

DL Geary Brewing Co

Steve: This is just an average pale ale, with nothing to distinguish it. The flavor is bitter from the hops, but that's it. As far as this style goes, it's just a plain beer. It does have a neat picture of a lobster on the label.

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Genesee Ale

Steve: This wasn't the Cream Ale everyone tells us to try; this was the basic ale in their line (if it has a regular name, maybe their fans can tell me it was on tap at a bar, so I couldn't get more details than that). A coworker, originally from upstate New York (a Genny haven) told me to forget the Cream Ale, but try this stuff. It wasn't bad. It was kind of like drinking Miller. Like one of the better mega brews out there. Smooth, a little watery, but finished easily, and washed wings down very nicely. It's not worth stocking the fridge with something like this, but if you want to try different things, this could go on the list, I suppose. I don't think I'll try it again, though, as I can get the same flavor for less money. (4/4/2000)

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Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

Steve: For some reason, declaring a loyalty to an area code (in this case 312) is just sad. I lived in the same house in NJ for 20+ years and had 3 different area codes. Between my work, my home, my cell phone and my wife's cell phone, we have 3 area codes just under one roof. So naming this beer after one of Chicago's area codes is just ridiculous. And, coincidentally, so is this beer. GI's website says "like the area code, it's densely populated with flavor and character." It had neither flavor nor character. It "looked" like the perfect wheat beer. Its taste was devoid of hops, or any of that citrus zest that you should get from a wheat. In other words, it just fell flat. Not even the Chicago Cubs wanted to be associated with 312, they jumped to 773. (1/12/2008)

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Goose Island Demolition

Steve: Proof that if you don't like a beer, try one of two things. Age it, or try a different glass. I did both. 8 months after buying this, I poured it into a Duvel tulip glass, and enjoyed it thoroughly. It has the looks of a Belgian strong ale, but with more of a hop presence than a golden ale. Yet, it still had a nice fruity, citrus aroma. I think I have one more left, I'll let that one sit another few months and see if I like it better. (9/6/2008)

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Goose Island Hexnut Brown Ale

Rocky: I was glad to get some more of this. I had it in Chicago at the brewpub several years ago as I was just beginning to try a lot of different beers and appreciate different styles. I thought very highly of it then, and wondered if it would live up to my memories after having so many fine ales in the meantime. Thanks to a friend in Chicago that sent me a pub pack, I got to put it to the test, and it held up well. It beats Pete's and Newcastle, and is very comparable with Samuel Smiths Nut Brown, in my opinion. Definitely worth a try if you're in or near the Windy City. (6/4/2005)

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Goose Island Honker's Ale

Tim: Has the taste of an English ale except that there's a spicy hoppiness to it that gives it a slightly fruity taste. Particularly if you drink it out of a bottle. Apparently it's been rated "one of the best beers in Chicago", and it is good. I'd have to drink more of it to know if I'd call it great. But I probably wouldn't. (6/7/2003)

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Goose Island IPA

Steve: Beers like this make me wish Goose Island was readily available in Atlanta. They crank out an above average IPA like this one, plus a good Bohemian-style pilsner, a basic ale, plus all the higher-end ales and lagers they brew. I could have a fridge full of Goose Islands and have every possible mood covered whenever I want a beer. This isn't the best IPA I've had, but it delivers. The hops are definitely there, but of course it's nothing like the more extreme IPA's like Stone. But in all honesty, that could be a good thing. The tart grapefruit finish makes this a good summertime ale, at least here in Atlanta. (10/29/2005)

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Goose Island Kilgubbin Red Ale

Tim: Apparently a lot of Irish settled on "Kilgubbin" or Goose Island when they came to Chicago. Thus the name. The beer didn't seem like any Irish red I'd ever tasted though. Not frothy, not heavy. Instead you get a nice dark red ale with a good flavour. Easy drinking but not at all watery. Worth keeping an eye out for. (6/14/2003)

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Goose Island Matilda

Steve: Boy, I was ready to give up on Goose Island when they came out with 312 Urban Wheat. I truly felt they jumped the shark, Harpoon-style. But, Matilda is a nice Belgian ale. I'm still trying to determine which style. It's not effervescent enough to be a saison, and it's a little dark anyway. It has a pleasantly sour taste, but not too strong. This was part of a 4-pack which I purchased in July 2007, and I'm on #3, and this was better than the previous 2. Maybe I should've waited until #4 to write the review. I enjoyed it as an after dinner drink, but I don't think this is one that will leave a lasting impression on me. (3/15/2009)

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Goose Island Oatmeal Stout

Steve: The more I drink them, the more I believe that oatmeal stouts are my favorite type of stout. I love that roasted flavor and aroma, and how most of them, including Goose Island, have that chocolate background. This is definitely perfect for the middle of winter, in front of a fire. Not warming in itself, but it does fill the belly. This is yet another brewery that I wish had a presence in Atlanta. As it is, I usually only find their products when I'm in Wisconsin on vacation. If you're near Chicago, search out this brewery, you won't be disappointed. (8/13/2005)

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Goose Island Pils

Steve: This was a pretty hearty pilsner, a lot heavier than what fans of Miller and Bud are used to. And for its price it's kind of prohibitive to be a party beer, but it is pretty good. Nice for warm or cold days, I think. Definitely good for Chicago, but I don't see the blue collar Old Style drinkers flocking to this. A good example of a Central European lager. Note, the label said best consumed by 2/4/03; I had this in October 2003 and it was fine. (3/20/2004)

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Gordon Biersch Maibock

Gordon Biersch Brewery

Steve: I like Maibocks. Actually, I like most bocks. Even bocks that aren't really bocks (yes Shiner, I'm talking about you). This one isn't terribly awesome, but it's not terrible either. It's malty, sweet, and a little bit higher in alcohol than a typical lager. I think it's about right for shaking the stink off of winter, but really it's kind of like a slightly higher ABV session beer. It's not so strong that it would fill you up. I would suggest buying a six pack and keeping this on hand for friends visiting you so that they don't take your good stuff. (4/19/2012)

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Great Divide Denver Pale Ale

Steve: The uninitiated will buy this, expecting an explosion of hops and might be disappointed. Well, don't be (about that anyway). This is an English-style pale ale, which leans towards a maltier balance than an American pale ale. You still get the nice aroma of hops, but what you find is more of a balanced beer than the average pale ale flooding the market. It was good, perhaps above average, but it felt more like a session ale than anything. (8/28/2010)

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Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale

Sam: Cool idea. Make an ale with freshly picked hops. This beer was surprisingly mild, given the floral explosion of fragrant hops that first hits your nose when you open this. Fairly standard copper color, and again the hops flavor doesn't overwhelm; rather it complements the maltiness. But I could just breathe in this beer all day. Mmm...hops... (4/1/2007)

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Great Divide Hercules Double IPA

Sam: Woof. This ale is not for the young or faint of heart. The hops will curl your hair. My wife and I split a bomber of this recently, and both agreed it was delicious. It's bottle-conditioned, too, so it'll last on your shelf awhile if you treat it right. She took the first sip, and I wish I'd had a camera to catch her first reaction. Eyes wide open, she was obviously taken aback then pleasantly surprised. Definitely a beer to savor. I highly recommend it, but don't plan to drive after drinking this. I don't know the alcohol percent, but I can tell you it knocked MY socks off. Give it a spin. (7/9/2005)

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Great Divide Saint Bridget's Porter

Steve: Saint Bridget is a Patron Saint of Ireland, and supposedly is known for turning her bathwater into beer for some visiting clerics (I couldn't find that story on her Wikipedia site, so it must be true). This would be the earliest documented case of a man saying, "Damn, she's so hot, I'd drink her bathwater." Saint Bridget obviously took them up on it (the harlot!), and they were too enamored...or drunk...to know the difference (TOBP....come for the beer reviews, stay for the historical facts). In reality, it could just be that she recycled her bathwater and used it to brew beer. So I have to believe Great Divide's version is better than Bridget's original bathwater. For one thing, there are no Klingon's in this beer. Hey-yoo!!! Nice beer, good chocolate/coffee flavor, and much better than bathwater. Unless we're talking about St. Bridget, cause she was grr, baby. Very grrr. (4/26/2008)

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Great Divide Titan IPA

Sam: It's OK. My wife and I split this bomber several days after enjoying their double IPA (an outstanding brew, by the way). There's something a little unbalanced in this beer. The label touts their "piney hop aromas"--yeah, and that's how the beer tastes, too. This was like drinking ale steeped in pine boughs. There wasn't enough of that expected sweetness to balance the hops. So it was OK. You might want to try it yourself if you're a hophead, but I think I'll stick with their double if I see this beer again. (7/16/2005)

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Great Divide Yeti Oak Aged Imperial Stout

Sam: I've been going through a "big beer" phase recently, mainly because they've recently become available to me and piqued my curiosity. Still, this one's been sitting in my beer fridge a month, waiting for me to screw my courage up enough to try it. Well, a couple nights ago, I did it. Has a downright viscous pour, absolutely jet black and doesn't let the least bit of light through. Dark brown head. The room fills with malt aroma. The first sip is positively Homeric. Malty, chocolatey, with a definite alcoholic bite. I unwisely drank the entire bomber, because at 9.2% ABV, it snuck up and clocked me, but good. As absolutely delicious and smooth as this was, I don't think I'll be re-addressing this one soon. I'm such a wuss... (10/14/2006)

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Gumballhead

Three Floyds Brewing Co

Rocky: I may have found the perfect summer beer. Perfect for me, anyway, and anyone else who is a big fan of hops. It's ingenious, really. A hoppy wheat beer. Why didn't I think of this? I love my IPA's, but they're a little heavy for the summer months, so I tend to move towards wheats/hefes. This beer gives you the benefits of wheat...a little lighter, a little more crisp, but you get to keep the hops! I've taken off points of other beers for not being within style guidelines and think I need to be somewhat consistent or this score would be even higher. The IBU's on this one would certainly exceed the norm, but if you're going to stray from the guidelines do it on the side of hops as far as I'm concerned. Very well done! (12/31/2005)

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Hair of the Dog

Guest Review - Steven S: Hair of the Dog is a dark ale brewed in Portland, Oregon. Pour it all out slowly at once into a beer mug, put it up against a light, and watch it fizzle like a Diet Pepsi. If you think Barq's has bite then watch out!! This rabid pitbull of an ale will kick your taste buds into high gear with its many flavors. It's thick, smooth, hoppy, slightly sweet, and chocolatey. The taste reminds me of those chocolates filled with rum and a cherry minus the hops. The downfall of this ale is it's variety of flavors which hits your taste buds too fast and too hard. It's like a story with no beginning, no end, and no point whatsoever. Beware! At 10% this ale will bite some peoples head off - not mine though - *smirk*. (12/1/2000)

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Hamm's Beer

Pabst Brewing Co

Sam: I used to consume this in mass quantities on fishing trips with my dad in younger days. Ice-cold swill, cheap as dirt. A pleasant thirst quencher on a sweltering hot Mississippi summer afternoon. So on a recent trip out west, I blundered into this beer again, and out of nostalgia, I bought a twelve pack. Not very bad a-tall. I have to say, if this were available here in Central Texas, I'd be tempted to give up my beloved Lone Star. Hamm's is a damn fine lawn mower beer, and it's exactly as I remember: ice-cold swill, cheap as dirt. (12/10/2005)

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Harpoon India Pale Ale

Steve: Based in Boston, the is the worst IPA I've ever tried. Someone should harpoon this beer straight to the bottom of Boston Harbor. The first taste was bad. That's it, just bad. It did get better the farther down the bottle I went, but it ain't worth the first few sips. It was like a reverse Bud. Nothing more than mediocre. Blaah! (speaking of Boston, the Bruins suck, the Celtics suck, the Sox suck - connection?)

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Harpoon Maibock

Steve: Tasted and smelled of bitter fruit (maybe had cyanide). Not rich and fruity enough to be a bock, much less a Mai (May, for spring) Bock. Too bland and ordinary, but typical for this brewery, I now realize. Plus, a real faggy label.

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Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen

Steve: Arrrr, she blows. (7/3/2004)

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Harpoon Winter Warmer

Kris: Eh, not bad. Not great, but not bad. Mediocre, I'd hazard to say. So so? Anyway, you get the idea. (4/2/2005)

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Haystack Black Porter

Portland Brewing Co

Sam: Mmmm...delicious. This used to be called Long-Shot Black Ale, one of those homebrew recipes that won some contest to be mass-produced. I haven't found it in my beer cooler lately, which is a shame. I love porters, and this is a good representative. Black as pitch, and less sweet than some others. Not exactly smoky, but darn near. This is a perfect beer to be sippin' on the bank of the Dolores River in Colorado, pokin' the coals of your fire on a crisp Rocky Mountain summer night. (10/23/2004)

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Hazed & Infused

Rockies Brewing Company

Rocky: I was excited to see this as one of the selections in the Beer of the Month Club. An APA, my favorite style, with a cool name, cool label, and a damn fine brew. "Hazed" because it's unfiltered, "Infused" with a blend of Centennial & Crystal for dry-hopping (adding hops to the fermenting vessel and not just the boil kettle). They say the IBU's are 70+, yet this is still pretty smooth. Very nicely done. This beer kicks ass...I'm ordering more of it. (11/27/2004)

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HC Berger Chocolate Stout

Steve: Most stouts are very multi-dimensional, meaning that they hit several senses, and even have multiple flavors in them (example, hop bitterness is tasted on the back of your tongue...no clue what the other parts taste). This, however, is only about one or two dimensional. It was kind of flat (carbonated flat, that is), so not that foamy (which translates to taste, too), and had a bit of the coffee and hop flavor common to stouts. Other than that, it wasn't exactly an attack on the senses, which is what makes a stout worthwhile to drink. If I want a beer with that's average, I'll have a basic ale. This wasn't a bad beer, just not fantastic. On the upside, I recall similar beers (chocolate stouts) tasting like they were filtered through a bag of used Kingsford. This did not have that taste, so I guess it wasn't that bad. Could be worse. (2/9/2002)

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HC Berger Indégo Pale Ale

Steve: I am betting that the title means this is their own little version of the India Pale Ale that beer drinkers know and love, and which microbreweries love to duplicate, but are rarely successful at. Including this one. Don't get me wrong, though. This is a good beer. It is slightly bitter (a real IPA tastes like your drinking something filtered directly through a hop leaf), with a flavor good for an Autumn day. Just don't expect the hop flavor to knock your socks off. If you want to work your way up to the real IPA's, then try this. (4/15/2001)

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HC Berger Mountain Kölsch

Steve: This was a fairly decent beer, with a lemon background to it, with a good flavoring of hops, but not too bitter (kind of like the pale ales that you find brewed in US microbreweries, as opposed to those brewed in the British Isles). This has the coloring of a lager or lighter ale, so it would likely be good for those just starting to branch away from the larger, more watered-down megabrews. (11/3/2000)

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HC Berger Raspberry Wheat Ale

Steve: This wasn't as flat as the other HC Bergers that I tried, and consequently it was a bit better. Not much, but a bit. This was one of those beers whose overall character I had forgotten within half an hour after drinking it, so I don't have much to say. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. To use hockey terminology, this won't exactly light the lamp. If you don't follow hockey, then what the hell is wrong with you? (6/15/2002)

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HC Berger Red Banshee Ale

Steve: This is a kind of Bass-like ale, which I suppose is complimentary. I has a reddish color, good rich flavor, and a hoppy finish. I guess I have to give credit to the label, too, as it features a woman (a banshee, presumably) with wild hair, large bosom, and a mouth like those on a blow-up sex doll. Otherwise, if you're going to spend the money, buy a Bass Ale. No-frills label, but you'll get a much better taste for a similar beer. (2/17/2001)

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HC Berger Whistlepin Wheat Ale

Steve: Didn't like it. This was flat right out of the bottle. Literally. I mean, almost no carbonation. I don't know if it was sitting too long, or a fault in bottling, or made that way. It was just flat. Now, in comparing to flat Bud, Miller, or Old Style, this would probably be better. However, when I tried the flat versions of those beers, I was probably late into a college fraternity party, I was pretty drunk, and some jackass may have also tossed a cigarette butt into my beer thinking it had become an ashtray. So, since this came right out of the bottle flat, then I'm scared off. Not God-awful, just going by the old rule that there are plenty of decent ones out there, no need to waste time with this one. (11/22/2001)

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Heavy Seas Aarsh Red Ale

Steve: This is a big red ale, 7% abv, from Clipper City's Mutiny Fleet series.....big beers brewed in small batches. Aarsh Red Ale is a good-looking copper color, and leaves a nice ring of Belgian lace along the glass as you drain it. It is fairly aromatic, flowery from the hops, and quite tasty. The hops definitely dominate, and it comes in a 22oz bottle, so you definitely feel the alcohol. I've enjoyed the Heavy Seas beers in the past, and I think I'll look forward to them in the future. (7/4/2012)

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Heavy Seas Peg Leg Imperial Stout

Steve: This was kind of weak in the knees compared to many imperial stouts, it didn't give me that heady feeling, that feeling where things just feel better and you care less about your favorite sports team losing. But, it had a nice roasted coffee flavor, so it wasn't a total waste. (9/29/2007)

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Heavy Seas Über Pils

Steve: Heavy Seas Über Pils is exactly what a lager should taste like. Not just the watery stuff that comes out of North America, and the larger European breweries. This had flavor, it had hops, it had a nice dark golden color. If people who've had nothing but Bud and Miller all these years had this, they would know what a real Pilsner-style lager should taste like. Certainly not the best in class, but definitely solid. (11/3/2007)

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Heavy Seas Winter Storm

Steve: Not my favorite "winter beer." But, in reality, when you're drinking "winter beers" when it's 70 degrees outside, you're clearly in the wrong seasonal demographic. It was IPA-colored, and almost brown ale flavored, leaning towards malty. Note to self, maybe try this in January when it's a tad cooler and more "wintery." My buddy Sam in Texas might never have a good time to try this. (10/13/2007)

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He'Brew Genesis Ale

Schmalz Brewing Co

Steve: Oy vey! A kosher ale! And a good one at that. Normally, I read "kosher" and I translate it to mean "let's suck the fun out of every food you can possibly eat...oh, and we'll deny you shrimp scampi as well!" But, this was pretty damn tasty. It had a very nice hoppy character, not at all common in brown ales, but also had a nice malty sweetness. I've been seeing He'Brew beers for a while, but never bothered trying any until now. I might give some others a try. (1/30/2010)

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He'brew Jewbilation 13 Bar Mitzvah

Schmalz Brewing Co

Joel: Smells like cookie dough if you made it into a bread instead of cookies....I don't know by adding yeast or something, do I look like a baker...it's just imagery okay? Anyway, the gimmick on this is that it's made with 13 malts, 13 hops and it's 13% ABV. Unsurprisingly, the 13 hops are thoroughly barricaded behind the malt and alcohol sweetness. Also unsurprisingly by the end of the bottle I didn't really give a shit. Do you realize how much 13% ABV is? If I had this at my actual Bar Mitzvah I would have probably plotzed. (4/16/2011)

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He'Brew Messiah Bold

Schmalz Brewing Co

Steve: I'm kind of digging He'Brew's beers. I'll admit, a large part of that is the shtick, the novelty of the whole "Chosen Beer" thing, but they actually do produce a good quality ale. Their brown ale is no exception. Brown ales are famous for their rich, nutty flavor combined with drinkability, making for a session ale that you can actually taste. Messiah Bold is no exception. And the tagline on the neck label is funny, "The beer you've been waiting for." (Because, you know, Jews are still waiting for the Messiah. See? You read beer reviews, and you get educated about religion too!) (10/10/2010)

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Heiner Brau Kolsch

Heiner Brau

Rocky: This was very good, although seemed a little rich and full for a kolsch. I'd compare it to a Dortmunder-style lager. Very drinkable. I had two of them at the bar which was attached to a wine market, and happened to be closed at that hour. They let me walk back to check out the beer selection on the store side and I noticed three sixers of this. When I settled up I asked if I could put a sixer on the tab as well, and they let me. I tried to go back today before leaving Louisiana to get the other twelve but they were closed on Sundays. Best beer I've ever had from a can. They don't return phone calls, don't update their website, don't respond to e-mails....but they do make good beer. One at least, but one was enough to make me look forward to their others. If they'd just do one of the other three things maybe I'd know where to find them. (3/25/2006)

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Hereford & Hops Black Spring Double Stout

Steve: I'm glad I just got the 5 oz sample glass. Very thick. VERY thick. Maybe a bit too much. This had a noticeable coffee flavor from the deep roasted malts. Noticeable like a kick in the groin. My wife took a whiff, and a small sip, and that did it for her (she doesn't like coffee at all). I ventured a bit further, and in the background, on the back of my tongue, I tasted Scotch. No kidding. It gave the whole beer a very alcoholic feel to it. Not for the faint of heart. I'll be honest, I wasn't quite prepared for this, so it was hard to enjoy. Scotch flavor in beer always takes away from my ability to enjoy it. (11/15/2003)

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Hereford & Hops Cleary Red Amber Ale

Steve: I tried the 5 oz sampler, and liked it enough to get a pint of it (another plus for H&H...they provide beer in the proper glasses; ales come in pint glasses, pilsners come in pilsner glasses, etc). One thing I remember is the sweetness, and the copper coloring. This had a slight presence of caramel malts that my favorite reds have in abundance, but not too strong. Most beer drinkers could get to like this, I think. (11/23/2002)

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Hereford & Hops German Weisse

Steve: I tell you what, I can think of no better way to spend an evening then with close friends and family, grilling my own steak, and getting shit-housed on good micro-brewed beer, especially a good German-style Weisse, which are hard to come by in US microbreweries. You betcha. I couldn't tell you how this differed from H&H's hefeweizen, but the waitress assured me this was different, so it gets a different review. The main difference was that I got plowed while drinking this one. Kris wasn't wild about it, but like Sam he's admitted that Weissbiers and Hefeweizen aren't his thing, but that's cool. More for me. The only downside was I couldn't tell you exactly what this tasted like, other than "good." Alcohol has a tendency to kill the taste buds, and memory, and even a good time if you drink too much. But I can never have too much of a good Weisse. (12/3/2005)

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Hereford & Hops Hefeweizen

Steve: God damn! This is incredible! An American-made hefeweiss that doesn't taste like crap. On the contrary, it's amazing. Malty, smooth, sweet, great tasting. This is how they should taste. Why everyone else screws up this style I have no idea. If you like wheat beers, and you find yourself lost in Northern Wisconsin, look for their sign on I-39, and follow the smell of grilling steak. As Homer Simpson would say, "Mmmmmm, beeeeeeer." This is what he was talking about all this time. (10/25/2003)

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Hereford & Hops Koelsch

Steve: This had a woody flavor, in the background, light hoppiness, and a sweet, lemony flavor. Originated in Koln, Germany (aka Cologne), this is one of the least-duplicated styles in the US, so if you like this style, you might want to head to the Northwoods of Wisconsin to hunt this down. This is a good summer beer. I have to plead ignorance to how a Koelsch should taste, but I will say that I enjoyed this, so whether or not this nails the style, it was an enjoyable beer. (11/29/2003)

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Hereford & Hops Kulmbacher

Steve: Brewed in the style of Kulmbach, Germany, this is a deep copper- colored brown lager, and fairly strong tasting. I only got the 5 oz sample glass (H&H sells them at $.75 each, so I got 3), and that was like having 12 oz of a lighter beer. Very full-bodied, malty, with a strong aroma. I was half in the bag by the time I got to this, but their menu says it has a slightly sweet finish....I think I can agree with that. I wouldn't try this if you're used to the lighter lagers and ales. (11/23/2002)

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Hereford & Hops Northern Light Ale

Steve: This will remind most of you like an ale version of a N. American light lager. Light, not heavy on flavor, kind of airy. It had a slight woodiness to it, but otherwise there wasn't much to it. Since H&H specializes in enormous steaks, this might be a good one to go with when dining there, as it doesn't feel filling. Very easy drinking. Bud fans will like this, as there is little presence of hoppiness. As such, I have to knock points off of any beer that Bud drinkers would like. (10/11/2003)

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Hereford & Hops Piva Bohemian Pilsner

Steve: This was the first H&H beer I tried on my visit to this brewery, so it was the warmup, and I immediately wanted to try the rest of the beer menu. A bit bitter than what I want out of a Pils (Bud and Miller Lite addicts might not be interested), but still very good. Overall, light and crisp in flavor, and a good way to wet the palate before starting on their other beers, as it won't start killing the taste buds right away. Also good while standing over their hot grill. (11/16/2002)

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Hereford & Hops Razzberri Ale

Steve: A light raspberry flavor backs up this drinkable, smooth ale. For those who don't like hoppiness in ales, or are looking for a "chick drink," this is it. We took my mother-in-law to H&H for her 50th birthday, and she tried this, at my recommendation (after quizzing the waitress on the taste). She is not much of a drinker, and doesn't like the hard stuff, but was impressed by this. I had a sample myself. This was a nice one. Basically, this is their Whitetail Ale with berry flavoring. Good for after dinner relaxation, or on hot summer days, if you could get it to go. My wife thought that Leinie's Berry Weiss was better, and I would agree, but this is still good. (12/20/2003)

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Hereford & Hops Rib Mountain Rye

Steve: Named after the big ol' mountain in Wausau's backyard, also home to the local downhill ski trails. This was an explosion of flavors, due to the use of rye I would guess. I do remember it being sweet and malty, what I like in a beer. I didn't want to get too wasted, so I only had the 5 oz sampler, but I think I'd give this another shot in a larger size. Very distinct smell, too, that also had a variety of sources. A lot of thought and crafting went into this one. (11/30/2002)

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Hereford & Hops Schwarzbier

Steve: Quick German lesson: "Schwarzbier" = "Black Beer." And black beer it is. This was served in a tall glass so that it looked like I had a pillar of black marble on my table. It had a roasted, smoky flavor to it. Not much aroma, this beer was all about the roasted malty flavor. I'm puzzled as to why Hereford & Hops brewed this for summer, since this is a much better winter offering. But since it was cold enough here in July, and the air conditioning was cranked enough, that it really didn't matter. (1/15/2005)

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Hereford & Hops Whitetail Ale

Steve: This is a brewpub beer brewed in a restaurant in Wausau, WI, just off I-39 (H&H can also be found in Escanaba and Bay City, MI). If hunting season, the Hodag festival, or camping take you to the Northwoods of Wisconsin (or in my case, visiting in-laws), stop into this place. H&H is one of those grill-your-own steak joints with an incredible menu. Their steaks are huge portions for the price, their appetizers rock, and their staff is friendly (yes, I'll be sending them this review to try and get sponsorship). And above all, their beer is QUITE tasty, including the Whitetail Ale, their flagship beer (named after a type of deer that FIBs go to Wisconsin to try and hunt). In fact, I'm drinking it while I write this review. It's got a flowery aroma, a light hop presence, so it's not too overpowering, and a fruit flavor (but not strong or sour). All in all, a great ale. I only regret I didn't try this with my steak; instead, I got it in the 1 Pt 6 Oz to-go bottle (also available in growlers and kegs). Just as good, though. Man, I wish Atlanta had a Hereford & Hops. Pronounced Hur-furd, like the cow. (11/9/2002)

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HHBC Blueberry Amber

Steve: This reminded me quite a bit of Sweetwater Blue, with that same blueberry pancake smell, flowery aroma and flavor, and nice smooth maltiness. Not anywhere near as good, but still worth trying. So much so, I walked out of their brewpub with a growler (1/2 gallon bottle) of the stuff. (1/24/2004)

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HHBC Calibogue Amber

Steve: Of the four HHBC's that I tried on my visit to their brewpub on Hilton Head Island, this was my least favorite. It had a medium maltiness to it, but not much in the way of hoppy flavor. Basically a light ale. Overall, not much to write home about. Decent, but this brewery has better stuff. (2/7/2004)

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HHBC Pale Ale

Steve: The waitress told me that this reminded her a lot of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I have to agree, and since their blueberry amber was a lot like Sweetwater Blue, I have to say that they might be cloning recipes (just a suspicion, no proof). Fortunately, they are doing a good job with those recipes. This had that flowery, hoppy aroma and finish found in Sierra Nevada, smooth character and very easy to drink. I preferred the blueberry better, but this will do nicely. (1/9/2004)

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HHBC Pub Light Ale

Steve: Funny, I actually liked this better than the stronger Calibogue Amber. Just like the name, this is a light ale, easy drinking, light hop presence, and light bodied, with the malt more present. I found it to be a good beer with dinner, when I tried a pint of this with my pizza. Good choice. Many of you can't handle heavy beers with dinner, because they fill you up too quickly. If that's the case, this would be my choice every time while eating, save the stronger stuff for before or after dinner. (2/21/2004)

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Highfalls IPA

Steve: Not as bitter as some IPAs, which indicates not as much hops. That's no good, as it's the hops that give it the flavor it has. Overall, though, pretty good. Dark golden color, good taste, and a non-bitter finish. Not as good as Ballantine's or McEwan's, but good enough.

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Highland Black Mocha Stout

Steve: This was an easy-drinking stout. Perhaps TOO easy-drinking. It didn't really challenge the senses all that much. The coffee flavor, while quite noticeable to my wife, was not as strong as it could've been. And I would've liked a little bit more chocolate flavor. And lastly, considering I drank it while watching Arkansas get their asses handed to them by Southern Cal, I would've loved it if it got me a lot drunker, so that I could've forgotten the shellacking. But that's just me. (12/23/2006)

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Highland Gaelic Ale

Sam: I first encountered this in 1996 when my in-laws lived in Asheville. It was heavenly and what I drank exclusively when we went to visit. They very shortly moved away, however, and I haven't had it now in about seven years. When my father-in-law recently managed to get ahold of some and send it to me, I was a little worried; since my palate has changed some, I was afraid it wouldn't be very good anymore. Shouldn't have worried. This beer is delicious! A deep, amber-copper color, it smells wonderful and tastes even better. Another beer that disproves the cool-label-sucky-beer rule of thumb, too. If you see this beer, don't limit yourself to just one six-pack. (6/4/2005)

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Highland Oatmeal Porter

Rocky: I don't understand why you see so many oatmeal stouts, but oatmeal porter is hard to come by. This stuff is great! More breweries need to brew with oats in my opinion. I've never had a bad beer with Oatmeal somewhere in the mix. I'd gladly drink this beer all the time in the colder months...it really hit the spot. Think of a smoother Anchor porter and you've got this. (4/9/2005)

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Highland St. Terese's Pale Ale

Sam: Another winner! I got this from the FIL along with their flagship Gaelic Ale. But the St. Terese is delicious, too. Not quite as deeply colored as I thought it should be, but it's clean and sweet, with a nice balancing hoppiness. All in all a very nice beer to savor. Grab it if you see it. (6/11/2005)

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Highlander Pale Ale

MacTarnahan's Brewing Co

Rocky: I can't stand for breweries to label their beer as one thing when it's clearly something else. This isn't a pale ale, and the thing is...they know it. This has won gold at the 1992 GABF...as Best American Amber Ale. At least they entered it in the correct category, because I don't think it would have fared well at all against other pale ales. They're going for a Scottish thing...the name, there's plaid on the label, and they use heather in the recipe. Didn't do it for me. There are much better pale ales out there, and much better amber ales as well. (9/26/2004)

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Hinterland Honey Wheat

Hinterland Brewery

Steve: My family took a day trip to Green Bay while visiting my in-laws, and I briefly considered adding Hinterland's brewery restaurant to our itinerary. Then I looked at their website and realized it was clearly no place to take a 9 and 3 year old that fight constantly, so we settled for Old Chicago Pizza instead. Thankfully, their 110 beers included Hinterland's Honey Wheat. For most Midwesterners, as fancy a beer as they go for is Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss, so it's a good idea for Hinterland to include that. Of course, the style is not exactly aggressive nor challenging. It's a light summer wheat beer, with a slight hint of lemon, zero bitterness, and a light sweetness. Not a bad beer to go with a Chicago-style pizza after a day at an amusement park. I will say this, it did seem to have more alcohol than the style normally includes. It does make me want to see what else Hinterland has on tap, but that will have to wait for another year. See, I also had my MIL take a picture of me giving the finger to Lambeau Field, so we need a year before we can come back to the Green Bay area. (5/2/2009)

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Hog Haus Curly Tail Ale

Kris: It's a pale ale. That's the only bit of info you're getting out of me regarding this beer. My tastebuds were fried after six beers, a ruben, and sweet potato fries. They could have given me year-old megaswill and I wouldn't have known it. I have to say, I give props to the brewpub. It's a great place to visit, even sober. (6/24/2006)

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Hog Haus Fat Boy Blue

Kris: Their Woodstock Wheat flavored with blueberries. "Prepare to be pleasantly surprised," says their website. Right. It smells great, like one big blueberry. It tastes like their Woodstock Wheat. I feel like I've been somehow gypped. (5/27/2006)

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Hog Haus Pale Rider

Kris: I'm not sure what this is, but damn it's good. I got the sampler at the brewpub, and this was the seasonal. I was going to ask exactly what it was, but by the time I remembered to ask, I was flying high as a kite. It's called having six beers on an empty stomach. Fun, but obviously you forget things (and have a hard time reading the review that you wrote on a bar napkin). (5/6/2006)

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Hog Haus Ruby Red Ale

Kris: This wasn't as tasty as the other beers in the sampler. The funny thing is, it got better as I got drunker, which wasn't good, as my fiancee and I were at the brewpub to meet with the director of graduate studies at the University, Dr. Reid. I mean, it was good that the beer got better, but not good because I was starting to slur. (5/13/2005)

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Hog Haus Scout Stout

Kris: Roasty, toasty, just what you'd expect a stout to be, although there was a distinct lack of aroma. I had this at the Hog Haus in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Nice little brewpub, named because the University of Arkansas are the Razorbacks, which is a pig. Not a disgusting, pot-bellied, playing in the mud, smelly pig. It's a Razorback. Look, I'm not from Arkansas, I didn't go to the university, you'll have to cut me some slack because I don't know any better way to explain it. Anyway, why they decided to go with the German "haus" instead of the typical "house" is beyond me. Then again, I'm not from Arkansas, I didn't go to the university, etc, etc. (3/19/2006)

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Hog Haus Woodstock Wheat

Kris: As wheat beers go, it was pretty good. Consider the fact that I'm not a big fan of wheat beers, so this one must have been really good. Either that, or I was getting near the end of the sampler and was rip-roaring drunk. Perhaps I'll try this one again when I get back to Fayetteville. (6/3/2006)

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Hoopers Lemon Hooch

Wm Hooper & Co

Steve: The ads use a hooligan- sounding Englishman to push this alcoholic lemon brew. The label on the neck says that it's "English Original." However, it also says "Made in USA." This ad scheme by many companies is getting too weird, pretending to be from someplace they're not. One thing's for sure, though. This stuff is good. Many people down a few beers after laying mulch, mowing the lawn, or yanking weeds. Screw that, drink this instead. Cool, refreshing, thirst quenching, yet enough alcohol to make pulling weeds not seem so crappy. This is similar to One-Eyed Jack in flavor, but Hootch is much better. Not so tart, smoother, more drinkable. For the college girls who throw down wine coolers, this is for you. You will probably look a little cooler, almost like you're drinking a beer. And this will get you drunk quicker than Bud (in most states), with 4.7% ABV. (12/7/1999)

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Hops Alligator Ale

Steve: The Hops sampler guide describes this as a mahogany-colored porter. Remember in "The Quiet Man," where John Wayne asked for "one of those black beers," and the publican replied, "ahh yes, The Porter"? Well, if this was the beer served to The Duke, you can bet your ass that he would've whipped you with a piece of farm equipment. While not required, porters should have somewhat of a robust maltiness to it, often with a roasted, charcoal-like flavor. This didn't have that. While drinkable, this wasn't a very good porter. (11/6/2004)

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Hops Clearwater Light

Steve: According to their sampler guide, this is "our crisp and refreshing version of the traditional American light beer." Well guess what? The "traditional American light beer" sucks. And so does this. I always thought the reason to go into craft brewing was to create something different, something special that would challenge the taste buds, not to duplicate the kind of piss that causes people to want to go into craft brewing in the first place. If I wanted to pay $3.75 for a glass of crap, I would've gone to Friday's and ordered a Corona. (10/9/2004)

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Hops Hammerhead Red Ale

Steve: I like the nice red lagers that get their color and sweet flavor from the caramel malts that go into the mash, but the dominant flavor at the start of this ale was the chocolate malt that was in the recipe as well. Way too much chocolate. As you got near the end the caramel came out to play, but not quickly enough. It was a decent all-around ale, and interesting with all the flavors, but I was disappointed because I thought it would turn out to be something it wasn't. Which is probably what every girl I ever dated thought about me. (10/23/2004)

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Hops Lightning Bold Gold

Steve: Light bodied with just a touch of fruitiness in the background, just like the NY Mets. Basically a pilsner-style lager, nothing fancy although it's a shade darker than the straw-colored ones that get cranked out of Milwaukee or St Louis. This washed the burger and wings down nicely, whereas I don't think the other offerings from my local Hops would've done the job as well. (9/26/2004)

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Hops Winter Amber Ale

Independence Brewing Company

Steve: Probably the best of the beers currently on tap at our local Hops in Kennesaw, but mostly because I didn't find some fatal flaw in this one that I found in the others. Then again, this didn't have the boldness and warming spiciness that you typically find in good winter ales, so maybe there was such a flaw. In all fairness, however, this was my last beer of the bunch, and my taste buds might've been somewhat altered (especially when you added Hops' extra-spicy Buffalo wings into the mix). This had the usual floral hoppiness to it that you find in most pale ales. Ironically, this was the first one that had a true hop character....ironic, that is, because of the name of the restaurant. (11/27/2004)

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IC Light

Iron City Brewing Co

Steve: Before settling on a rating, I first checked out our reviews for Iron City Lager. Both Sam and myself settled on a resounding Zero. And, as I finished my glass of Iron City Light (shrewdly packaged as "IC Light," to avoid the stigma), I realized this is probably worse. So how do you describe a beer that is worse than ball sweat, ass, and the Aussie term "Gin's Piss"? Well, it's hard. You can only go to that well so many times. So, I'll just say this is absolutely flavorless. As a liquid, it meets all requirements. As a beer, it meets none. It is weak, yellowish, flavorless, and a waste of time. Honestly, I was surprised Iron City needed a light beer, because the regular Iron City was already like the proverbial canoe sex. All I can say is, if you really hate the taste of beer, you'll love this, because this tastes nothing like beer. (5/2/2010)

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Icehouse

Plank Road Brewery

Steve: Made by the Plank Road Brewery division of Miller, their "craft beer" division in Milwaukee. Crisp flavor. The first ice beer I ever had, and it got me drunk. Very different from any other Miller product. High in alcohol, but I would go for something more flavorful. (7/28/2001)

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Independence Pale Ale

Sam: Butter. That's what I was tasting first time I tried it. It was such a handsome amber color in the glass, and had such a pleasant hop aroma the first time I tried this that I almost missed it. But there was something not quite right about the flavor, so I tried another bottle the next night. Hmm...thick, oily head. Take a sip: yep, there it is. Butter. Diacetyls, according to Magic Hat, who seems to really know his brews. I couldn't finish it. Damn. And I had such high hopes for this beer, since this is a new brewery down in Austin. Hope they can correct this soon. (8/19/2006)

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Ipswich Ale

Mercury Brewing Co

Steve: This was great! It's an unfiltered ale, which is pretty much the same as a weiss beer. It had that creamy, wheat taste to it, potent alcohol content, sweet and flavorful. This is one of the better microbrews around, in that it doesn't try to invent new trends in beer, but going to the old world style. For that they should be commended.

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Iron City Beer

Iron City Brewing Co

Sam: I'm composing this as I try valiantly--or foolishly--to finish the second bottle of Iron City. Say it with me: ARNFUCKIN'CITY!! We drank this gleefully when we were dumbass college kids, even though it tasted horrid back then as well, because it was $1.99 a six pack. Well, I saw this on the shelf this afternoon, and remembering dimly there was some discussion about the "new" aluminum bottle, I shelled out $6.99 for a sixer (much to my embarrassment). I drank the first one from the bottle. Oof. Just as acrid and chemical as I remember. This beer is best choked down ice-the-hell cold, if at all. Without warning her ahead of time, I offered my long-suffering wife a sip. She immediately wrinkled her nose, then I swear she tried to run away from the flavor. She chugged the rest of her bottled water, then called me several nasty names I can't repeat on such a family-friendly website. She threatened not to let me in the house with the rest of the six-pack, but I plied her with a Real Ale Full Moon Rye Pale Ale, and she relented. I'm staring at the remainder of the second beer, glaring back at me a malevolent shade of jaundice in my beer glass, and I'm telling you friends, I'm pretty sure I'm pouring it out. The aluminum bottle touts how it'll keep it colder and crisper; well...colder maybe, but there's nothing "crisp" about this beer. It's somewhat appalling. And please don't tell anyone what I payed for this travesty. (9/24/2005)

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Irons Dark Iron Chocolate Brown Ale

Irons Brewing Co

Kris: As I sit and stare at this virtually untouched beer, my thoughts turn to how much I like bud better than this crap. When I smelled it, a gag reflex set in, and I was afraid to taste it. Boldly going where only idiots have gone before, I sipped this monstrosity, and it ripped through me like a bowl of bad chili. Something is horribly wrong with this beer, and I suspect it's the brewery. STAY AWAY.

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Irons Long Iron Bohemian Style Pilsner

Irons Brewing Co

Steve: Again, another trashing of the good heritage of the Bohemians, even worse than Latrobe's. An utter disappointment and waste of money. In a word, horrible. This is the first beer I've sampled that I had to pour out. This tasted like Moosehead gone bad, with a seriously bad sour taste, weak and stale going down. Yuck! Bleccch!

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Island City Amber Light

Steve: Very much in the Vienna-style, but a little milder, this is slightly spicy, low on the hoppy side, and a little darker and maltier than the average light beer. This is probably the lightest-flavored of the MBC beers that I sampled in their brewpub. It goes fairly well with their Buffalo wings, which are on the hot and spicy side. Otherwise, not much else to say about this. (2/12/2005)

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Island City German Style Red Ale

Steve: Reminded me a little of a German Alt. The caramel malt gives it a little sweetness, but the hops dominate. This is one of MBC's year-round regulars, and makes for a better t-shirt design then the others (with Schloss Neuschwanstein on the label), but my wife managed to talk me out of buying one, so you'll just have to take my word for it. (1/29/2005)

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Island City Honey Ale

Steve: Brewed with pure Wisconsin honey, but not so much that it becomes a mead or even a braggot. It's kind of syrupy sweet. It's light flavored, but the body is thicker, undoubtedly from the honey addition. Not hoppy at all, I would suggest this as a good outdoor summer choice. Unfortunately, since this is a brewpub product, and not distributed, unless MBC adds an outdoor deck, you're SOL. (1/15/2005)

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Island City Honey Peach

Steve: This was the last sample I tried from MBC while dining at their brewpub. Since I was thirsty and on an empty stomach, I was a little loopy by the time I hit this one. It was sweet, refreshing, and you could definitely taste the peach and the sweet honey flavor. It actually tasted like one of those fruit-scented cleaners or dusting spray. Hard to place, really, so I'm not sure which one, but you'll have to take my word for it. It was good, though, good enough that I ordered a pint of this after I tried all of the samples. I'd like to try this again sober. (3/5/2005)

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Island City Pale Ale

Steve: The hops grab hold from the get-go, and there is even a hint of a citrus background, almost giving the impression of a wheat ale. Good enough that I couldn't help think how sad it was that people were still ordering Miller Lites in MBC's restaurant. Why anyone would want to order crap like that with good ales like this on tap is beyond me. (2/5/2005)

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Island City Rye Porter

Steve: This was the first of the MBC beers that I tried in their lake-side brewpub. I love rye in my ales, and it's beers like this that make me think so. It's got a rich, coffee-like flavor, with a little chocolate coming through. That roasted flavor would make this a great porter for sipping in the middle of winter, especially if I was sitting in MBC's bar while watching the ice fishermen. And since winter is 6 months long up there in Da Northwoods, the rye porter would be a daily staple if I lived there. (2/26/2005)

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Island City Ultra Light Low-Carb

Steve: When my waitress read this off of the beer menu, I actually made a face. It wasn't exactly my choice to get this, but it came with the $5.00 beer sampler that I ordered, and I'm not one to refuse a beer that I've already paid for. I will say this is the best low-carb beer I've ever had. I'm not sure what the carb count is, but in all honesty, I couldn't give a rat's ass, and if you're a TOBP regular, neither do you. It has a spicy, floral flavor to it, which makes it unlike any low-carb beer I've ever had (in other words, it actually has a flavor). Or, the waitress accidentally gave me something else. Either way, it's not bad. (1/22/2005)

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Jack Daniel's Amber Lager

Steve: This beer attracted me from the beginning. A definite light hoppy aroma, this beer reminded me of the classic Wisconsin pilsners and lagers like Miller, Old Style, and Pabst, with one exception... It's much better. This is a good every-day beer, and it has one of the coolest labels I've ever seen.

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Jack Daniel's American Ale

Steve: Nice copper/amber color. Evident hop presence in the aroma and balance. In the finish, you could actually taste the oak this beer was aged with (coming from the whiskey barrels themselves). That added something special to it. This is without a doubt different, and a must try if you're lucky enough to live in one of the states it's sold in.

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Jack Daniel's Pilsner

Steve: A pils is the gatorade of beers... meant to be refreshing, thirst-quenching, but not big on taste explosion. Therefore, this pils fits that model perfectly. Better than just about any domestic pils I can recall trying, most having a flat, watery, weak taste. This has none of that. A must try.

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Jack Daniel's Summer Brew

Steve: Of all the summer beers I've tried, this sinks them all, Pete's and Sam's included. Light, creamy flavor, with a lemon hint to it, like a weiss or white beer. This would have been my first choice at my wedding if I could've gotten it. If you live south of the Mason Dixon, try this. If you live north of said line, "Road Trip!" Cool name, cool label, cool beer.

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Jack Daniel's Winter Brew

Steve: Dark maroon, almost like a stout, this first hits you with a strong, raspberry smell. The perfect winter beer. It started off weak, i.e. the water was too evident, but the finish was where the taste got you. Hold this in your mouth for few seconds, taste the fruit and the oak used in the aging process, and I guarantee you will enjoy it.

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Jamaica Red Ale

Mad River Brewing Co

Steve: This is insanely hoppy, and don't think for a minute that this is the least bit red. Not sure how it's classified that way, but bottom line this is a great ale, perfect for the cooler months. It reminded me a lot of Dogwood Decadent, which has 10 different kinds of hops, so I'm curious as to the ingredients of this one. The bitterness seems to just fill up your mouth, drowning out the malt flavor, until you get a sour citrus flavor on your tongue during the finish. Definitely not something I could see drinking in Jamaica, that still goes to Red Stripe, but since I don't plan on going to Jamaica, I'll stay here in Atlanta and drink this stuff instead. (5/14/2005)

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Jamaica Sunset India Pale Ale

Mad River Brewing Co

Steve: It's been a while since I've had an IPA, American or import. They don't tend to be as common as they were 5 years ago, from what I've seen. However, this was a nice one. Loaded with hops and a slight citrus background, this was very enjoyable. With only 2 samples tried so far, I'm very impressed with the folks at Mad river. I have to warn you, the label is kind of cheesy, but since my research shows the nicer labels cover up the worst beers, the opposite must be true. (12/18/2004)

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Jersey Harvest Ale

Hunterdon Brewing Co

Steve: Sharp, bitter hop taste, but interesting, not stale and cliche like so many other ale micros out there. Sharp taste may come from five different types of hops used (maybe didn't mix well). Plus, proceeds go to restore Jersey's lakes, rivers, and streams (some's kept for profit, I'm sure). Not the best ale, average, but good.

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JW Dundee's American Amber Lager

Kris: Ok, I am getting used to hops. This was less bitter, more sweet. I thought it could use a little something, specifically more bitter and less sweet. It's not a bad beer by any means, in fact it went very well with the burger I just had. But if I had to review this based upon what I actually wanted at the moment, it was lacking. (12/22/2007)

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JW Dundee's American Pale Ale

Sam: Ick. Not very good at all. Has a weird chemical taste that's very off-putting, and the color's too anemic. I shoulda known this wouldn't taste great, just because of the price ($4.99 for a sixer). Maybe this might be good for someone just starting to branch out into better beers, because it's not very bold; on the other hand, it might just turn them away from the good stuff if they think it all tastes like this. Do yourself a favor and sink a couple extra bucks into something tastier than this. And tell your swill-drinkin' buddies that if they want to try a craft brew, this ain't the one. (4/30/2005)

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JW Dundee's Honey Brown

Steve: This microbrew certainly has a honey flavor to it, with absolutely no aftertaste whatsoever. The flavor would be nothing without the honey, which is not necessarily bad. I can say I liked it, as did my brother. This is a good place to get used to flavored lagers, as it isn't rough on the taste buds. (12/21/2003)

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JW Dundee's IPA

Kris: I tried this at a party for my dad, who just turned 60. It was pretty damn good. I haven't had the Honey Brown in a while, but I recall it being sweet, perhaps a bit too sweet. Not the case with this IPA. Don't know if this beer isn't that hoppy or I'm starting to like hoppy beers. I'm not sure if this is just a relabel of the Highfalls IPA we've already reviewed, and I'm too lazy to check, so let's just say no, it's a new beer. Either way, give it a shot. (9/2/2007)

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Kashmir IPA

Rocky: Light in color for an IPA, making me think that there wasn't enough malt presence to balance the amount of hops used in an IPA, but I was mistaken. It's well balanced. The hops provide the bitterness, and sometimes it's floral, sometimes citrus...in this one it's grassy. This isn't bad, but it's my favorite style and there are so many choices that are a better IPA pick. (10/15/2005)

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Kelly's Irish Stone Brewed Light

Atlanta Brewing Co

Steve: Ever wish for a light beer with flavor, but thought it didn't exist? Ever want a beer for an event like a Super Bowl party, where you wanted something drinkeable, yet not too heavy that you couldn't throw down several while sitting through those great commercials? This is your beer. Brewed with the Stone Brewing process (too long too explain, either buy this beer and read the carton, or buy a Michael Jackson book, this is yet another fine creation from the ABC, and almost a miracle to boot! A drinkable light beer! Still light in flavor, texture, and finish, but not watery or flat. Pretty expensive if you are in a Miller Lite mood, but if you fall into the two categories I mentioned above, or if you actually cash a paycheck that didn't make the bank teller laugh, then go for it. (4/19/1999)

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Keystone

Rocky: Well, to their credit my face did not take on an altered Cabbage Patch Doll look. It's not a bitter beer...truth in advertising. Of course, if you like hops a bitter beer isn't such a bad thing. What they don't tell you is that it's not a malty beer either. It's not much of anything. It doesn't smell good, it doesn't taste good, but it does pour down the drain quite nicely. Pass. (2/27/2004)

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Keystone Light

Rocky: Maybe I should have had this and the regular Keystone side by side for comparison, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. After a week I felt my palate had recovered to the point of accepting more abuse, and based on memory I can't tell a lot of difference between this and the original. I guess regular is supposed to be more full-bodied, but apparently water is water regardless of it's label. They're so similar that I did a little research. Regular Keystone (keystone "premium"...what a crock) has 108 calories. Keystone Light has 104. Big freaking deal. I'm really thinking they're the same beer and they just put a little less in the Light can. (3/6/2004)

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Killarney's Red Lager

Anheuser-Busch

Kris: I hate this beer. Not because of the taste, or smell, or even the bottle. Those were all relatively decent. I hate it because it was made by Anheuser-Busch, and it didn't suck. I was so surprised at that fact I that had another. But pissed off I am. I am so used to having AB crank out the worst beers imaginable. I was looking forward to bashing them yet again. Can't do it this time. Granted, I could think of a couple of "Irish" Red Lagers that are better than this, but like I said, it was decent. Maybe the brewmaster didn't piss in the vat before making this... Does this signal a change at AB? Probably not, but we'll see. (3/21/2001)

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Killian's Honey Brown Lager

Steve: My first impression was a very good, sweet taste, definitely honey in there. The swallow, on the other hand, was kinda bitter. A decent beer, but that taste when swallowing prevents it from getting any better. I'd have to say JW Dundee's is better.

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Killian's Red