Schlafly Pale Ale

Scorpion Island Brewing Co

Steve: Ahhh, The Beer that Made Milwaukee Famous. It was awful, but at least it wasn't God-awful. I wanted to get the full affect of this beer, so I sampled it straight from the can, out of a pilsner glass, and out of a plastic cup. My Wisconsin-born wife reminded me that cheap beers always taste better out of a plastic cup. From the can, it tasted like a flavored can, never a good sign. From the glass, it had a wonderful aroma of... a beer can. It had a watery, slightly malty can flavor (man, that's one strong can) that had a tinge of funk to it; I was surprised that the funk was of a non-canned origin. Finally, the Wisconsin rule of thumb proved true. It did indeed taste better out of a plastic cup. The smell was less can-like, the taste was less funky, and a bit smoother as well. Much more easy-drinking. I could probably drink this all night long at a Wisconsin wedding, which is the most common venue for drinking Schlitz in a plastic cup. Long story short, tastes like Pabst. (3/13/2004)

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Schmidt's

G. Heileman Brewing Co

Kris: The label says "premium beer," and I'm thinking no, it's not. A premium beer would smell like, oh, I don't know, beer. I had no idea a beer could smell dusty. The color is comparable to Budweiser, if someone poured out the Bud and filled the glass with water. I know I've tasted worse beers than this, but thinking of them makes my head hurt, much like drinking this beer. Whoever gave this crap to me can rot in the bowels of hell. There is one redeeming quality to this, and that is the fact that I'll never drink it again. (7/10/2004)

Scorpion Pale Ale

Moab Brewery

Steve: This is the 2nd beer named Scorpion that I've had, and neither was all that impressive, although this was better than the British session lager. It was perfectly drinkable, I was just disappointed because the label built it up so much. This tried to get a bit more badass, with the following statement on the label: Beware, it is known as "The Ale That Stings". What? If you're going to make a claim like that, please back it up. And don't you know it's not cool to give yourself (or your beer) a nickname? Label lays claim to 6 hop additions, but I think they were the same kind of hop. It needed a little more maltiness to give it some body. As it was, it was like really hoppy water. Maybe they can rename it "The Hoppy Water That Stings." (11/27/2004)

Scorpion Premium Lager

Steve: While drinking this, you might want to try singing the Scorpion's hit from the mid-80's, "Rock You Like A Hurricane." It might actually help the taste. It certainly can't hurt, anyway, because it can't get much worse unless kegs of this were pulled by Clydesdales. Lagers don't have to taste bad. Why, then, must everyone make a bland lager? By the way, got that song out of your head yet? Try "Wind of Change," maybe that will help. (6/19/2004)

Scrimshaw Pilsner Style Ale

North Coast Brewing Co

Steve: This may have been a lagered beer (which pilsner fits into), but I believe they got the recipe wrong. Pilsners should be smooth, light tasting, malty, and crisp. This was pretty bitter, indicating heavy on the hops (for a pils anyway). Not exactly what I was expecting. Not a bad beer, but loses points for misadvertising. Also, the label suggests that the consumer "drink when fresh." Huh? Is there a better time to drink it? Or are they assuming that we might think it is wine or scotch? (10/10/1998)

Sea Dog Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale

Pugsley Brewing LLC

Kris: The label has blueberries. The aroma is of blueberries. The taste? Eh, not so much. Very faint, almost like an afterthought. What about the beer, you ask? Well, maybe that's something you shouldn't ask. Aside from the "almost blueberry" taste, it's wholly unremarkable. I would treat this as a novelty, not something you'd drink often. Granted, it's not bad, I mean, it didn't make my eyeballs, nose, ears, or any other external orifice bleed, but, well, it's not something I'd reach for again. (6/5/2004)

Session Premium Lager

Full Sail Brewing Co

Sam: Strictly an impulse buy at first. Saw the stubby bottles and was intrigued. My interest picked up a bit when I saw this was brewed by Full Sail, who's better known for its ales. Last night, when I tried it the first time, I was disappointed and a little peeved I'd spent the money. Today, though, as I sit and write this review with a Session in hand, I'm feeling more forgiving. Must've been in a bad mood last night. This is golden yellow in color, lightly carbonated, full flavor but not heavy. Their website touts this is only made with malted barley--no adjuncts. If I had to compare this to lagers I've had in the past, I'd say this is definitely better than Yuengling and about as good as Capital 1900. I may have found myself a new lawnmower beer, because I could definitely drink a passel of these in one hot sweaty summer afternoon. Oh: and maybe I'll put a mouse in one of the stubbies, eh, and take it to the brewery and say, "We heard if you found a mouse in your beer you'd get free beer, eh?" (8/26/2006)

Sharp's

Miller Brewing Co

Guest Review - Chris J: Hmmm. How to rate this so-called beer...Better than O'Doul's...yet has an undescribable bad taste. How about: slightly better than the worst! (9/22/2001)

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Shiner 96

Sam: I'm pissed. I've been hearing buzz about this beer for at least a month, but none of my local retailers have grown a pair and stocked it. Even Steve got it before I did. Well, someone finally took a chance and put some on the shelf. About time, fellas. Turns out, Shiner 96 was worth the wait. Lovely. Lovely, lovely. Billowy head, lots of carbonation, deep golden in the pint glass. Malty aroma and full flavor. Too darn bad Shiner is only putting this out 'til the end of December (they bottled it to celebrate 96 years in business); this is far and away the best beer they've bottled. This should be a year-round offering. Then again, maybe they'll offer a 97. And a 98. And a... (12/31/2005)

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Shiner 97

Sam: The next in Shiner's Seasonals heading up to their 100th anniversary, this one is a schwarzbier. Think Sam Adams Black Lager, but a little smokier. This is jet-black with vague ruby tones held to the light. Aroma is very light malt, but the flavor is smoky, malty sweetness. Man, this is good! Oddly, though, it tastes better to me straight from the bottle than it does in the glass. Regardless, I really hope Shiner considers making this a permanent seasonal, because it's REALLY tasty. (3/3/2007)

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Shiner 98

Sam: Spoetzl's shakin' things up a bit this year. Their 96 and 97 were fall/winter releases, but this year they're putting out the 98 for the summer. A "Bavarian Style" amber lager, it's a light amber color with a rich malty nose. It's pretty flavorful, but that annoying metallic taste is back this year, just like with the 96. It's not totally off-putting, but still noticeable enough to comment on. Cool label, though. If you see it, try it. (6/3/2007)

Shiner 99

Sam: Helles beers are meant to be light beers as opposed to the dunkel or dark German beers (do I have that translation right, Steve?). Anyway, Shiner's next anniversary beer, the 99, is a Helles style lager. By and large, I'm not a huge fan of the lighter beers, and haven't had a whole ton of Helles lagers. Having said that, I'd say Shiner's offering squares up pretty good. Golden yellow in the glass, malty nose, smooth and slightly spicy going down. I could most definitely see a lot of these being quaffed in the backyard this spring. Wonder how beer-boiled brats would be with Shiner 99...? To the kitchen! (9/27/2008)

Shiner Blonde

Steve: This is what I now classify as a Deja Vu beer...meaning, I've had this before, but it was called something else; in this case, it had an Old Style label on it. Now I know that OS is a "blonde." Now, I happen to like Old Style (when I'm out of cash, that is), but to Shiner fans this will probably be an insult. I don't care. Shiner Blonde tastes like Old Swill, there, I said it.

Shiner Bock

Sam: We actually had a keg of this at our wedding. It's a serviceable beer, but I think calling it a true bock is a stretch. It tastes to me like it's been cut with something to cut cost corners. If it's your first beer of the night, and your expectations aren't too high, then have at it. But if you've had real German (or even well put-together American) bocks, then skip this one. Yeah, I know, Texans who drink this because they think they're above the Big Three swill will probably take issue with this review. Put your concealed weapon back in your holster, take a deep breath, and ask yourself: "What would Dubya drink?" Probably not this wasted effort. (8/23/2003)

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Shiner Commemorator

Steve: This is it. Few beers have had as anticipated a birthday as Shiner, which has been producing some quality beers the last few years getting us ready. What we have to celebrate their centennial is a doppelbock-style lager. Much like their flagship Shiner Bock, this falls short of being a doppelbock that thrills you, but like Shiner Bock, it is by itself a decent dark lager. It was sweet and malty, with a nice touch of alcohol. This won't blow you away, but I think you'll find it a decent beer. (7/18/2010)

Shiner Hefeweizen

Steve: I went into this assuming this would be another substandard attempt at a popular German beer recipe (typical of Shiner). This is not the best hefeweizen that I've ever had, but one of the best American attempts. It has that yeast smell, malty taste and lemon background, without a trace of hops. It did finish a bit weak, kind of flavorless, but all in all a good effort, one that I was impressed with....kind of like when the Cubs have a winning record. I think I might actually try this again. (2/27/2004)

Shiner Light

Sam: Damn. I'm still trying to figure out the point of low-carb beers. If you're drinking beer but worried about carbs, your priorities are out of whack. It's like watching some tub of lard order a Big Mac, Super-Size fries, an ice cream sundae, and a diet Coke. I bought this beer on a whim, and now I regret it (anyone want two-thirds of a six pack?). Regular Shiner ain't that great, and this is of course a pale imitation. Tastes vaguely Shiner-like, with that disconcerting sour taste similar to Michelob Ultra. Is that nasty taste in all low-carb beers?? My wife summed this beer up more succintly. She wrinkled her nose when she smelled it, then took a sip, poured the rest out and said, "What is this, Budweiser"? (3/20/2004)

Shiner Winter Brew

Sam: Well, my learning curve is still steep. This was my first dunkelweiss (dark wheat) when I tried it several years ago. I thought it was really good--malty, dark, slightly sweet. A good, thick, hearty winter brew. Since then I've had Weiheinstephaner, Aventinus, and others, so I know a better rendition can be had. Still, let's be fair to Shiner. On my re-try recently, I still thought it was a damned decent offering. It's far superior to their bock style. And at $5.99 to $6.99 a six-pack, it won't knock a hole in your wallet. If you see this on the shelf and you're looking for something different, give it a spin. I don't think you'll be disappointed. (5/8/2004)

Shipyard Blue Fin Stout

Shipyard Brewing Co

Steve: This had a smokey burnt flavor. Kind of like burnt toast. Not my ideal stout. I kind of feel bad, because a friend sent this to me, so I really wanted to like it more than I did. But honestly, I haven't been thrilled with Shipyard products, and their stout is kind of in that same line. (8/30/2008)

Shipyard IPA

Shipyard Brewing Co

Sam: In 1995, my wife (fiancee then) was a corporate trainer for a restaurant chain, and they were opening a Macaroni Grill in Portland. At that time, Shipyard was a year old. She sent me two six packs of their ale, and I remember it fondly. So I came across this in Austin several weeks ago and bought a six pack, anticipating greatness. Today I'm on the fourth bottle in about as many weeks, and I'm still trying to decide if I like it. The answer is a hesitant, "Yes." Not quite that deep coppery color you'd expect from IPA's. Pleasant-smelling, but the taste is a little too sweet; is it the Fuggles hops they use? I don't know, but I look for a stronger, spicier bite from the hops in most IPA's. I think the final decision is that this is a good beer, though I've had better. What the hell. If you see it on the shelf, try it at least once. And tell me what you think. (4/16/2005)

Shipyard Light Ale

Shipyard Brewing Co

Kris: Picture Budweiser or Coors Light with less taste and more bubbles. Of course, either of those two "beers" with less taste would probably be a good thing. This is definitely a "light" ale. Sub-par, in my opinion, unless you like that sort of thing. See my review of Bud Ice Light for another beer with no taste. (5/18/2002)

Sierra Blanca Nut Brown Ale

Sierra Blanca Brewing Co

Sam: Of their beers, this is my favorite. Dark amber brown, malty and sweet. There are better Nut Brown Ales out there, but when you're sipping this brew on the front porch of your cabin, looking over the Rio Ruidoso on a fair summer evening, you'll be hard-pressed to be convinced of it. (12/11/2004)

Sierra Dorada

Highfalls Brewery

Sam: Actually, it's formally "Sierra Dorada Cerveza Clara". Clear beer. Sounds yummy. I'm still confused, since it says on the label brewed by Cave Creek Brewery in Arizona, of Crazy Ed's Cave Creek Chili Beer fame. So I'm guessing Highfalls contract brews FOR Cave Creek. At any rate, they should both be ashamed to have their names on the can. Sickly sweet corn flavor, lots of fizz, some alcohol to give you a buzz, and that's about it. I suspect if you tossed a serrano pepper into this you'd have Crazy Ed's. Pass. (9/30/2006)

Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale

Sam: An American IPA, it's very nice, but it's pretty danged hoppy. It has a puckering grapefruity hoppiness, not that balanced, floral, piney hoppiness of their standard pale ale. Still, it was good as a change of pace. You might try it if you see it. (4/20/2008)

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Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

Steve: Not as spicy as some winter ales, but still a nice touch of Cascade hops, and I thought an orange peel taste. I used this to wash down the bile rising in my throat watching George W's press conference on 4/13/2004 (regarding our progress, or lack thereof, in Iraq), and it was then that my wife and I came up with a drinking game..every time W says "uhh" or "umm" like the slack-jawed yokel he really is, you have to take a drink. Unfortunately, with the large number of "uhh's", coupled with the 6.8% ABV in this ale, I would've been pissed in no time (then again, considering he stumbled through English like a drunk stumbling through a moving train car, I probably would've been pissed drinking Amstel Light, so I thought better of it on a work night). (7/24/2004)

Sierra Nevada ESB

Sam: A new spring seasonal from SN, they call it Early Spring Beer. Hyuck hyuck. But the beer's pretty true to style. It's unfiltered, so it pours a slightly turbid orange-amber. Aroma is muted malts. Nice spicy hops bite but mostly it's about the malt here. It's actually a pretty pleasant little number. If you like the ESB style, I recommend trying theirs. (12/6/2008)

Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale

Sam: Hey, alright. I recently picked this up while in Austin. Man, I wish this was available in Waco! Much more spicy hops bite than the regular Pale Ale, and not quite as floral. The IPA could be my new session beer. I definitely recommend trying it. (8/25/2007)

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Kris: A slight raspberry scent, fresh taste, and dry aftertaste make this an excellent summer beer. Surprisingly, this travelled very well across country from California, a state well known for its smog, among other things. And of course, that fact makes this beer seem even better.

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Sierra Nevada Porter

Sam: Porter is my absolute favorite style. This is an old beer, the precursor to stout. You don't run into this style very often. Sierra Nevada has done itself proud. A dark, smoky ale, with a sweet, malty flavor, lots of hops and carbonation. I really feel there's more flavor in a porter than a stout. Besides, every time I pour one up I remember that scene in "The Quiet Man", when John Wayne says, "I'll have one of those black beers." And the publican says, "Ah, the porter. Yes sir." This is a perfect winter beer to sip on and listen to good music and read a good book. Too gay for you? Fuck you, then, go drink a Michelob Ultra. (2/27/2004)

Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale

Steve: The idea behind this beer series is to use fresh hops, hops that were picked the week before the beer was brewed. Sierra Nevada does this in the fall with Harvest Ale, because that's when the hop harvest is. Well, they then went and did it again in the Spring, using hops harvested in New Zealand, flying the fresh dried hops up here to the US. What you have isn't an overly fantastic ale that will impress you, but it is a tasty, fresh ale that leaves you feeling like you've had a good beer. The flavor was kind of dry, and the IBU's were noticeble (66 according to the website) but not off the charts like Stone or others. Of course, with those Kiwi ingredients in me, plus the alcohol, I have the urge to beat a hotel clerk with a telephone. (8/9/2009)

Sierra Nevada Stout

Steve: Either I am getting used to stouts, or this is damn good. Nice smokey flavor, smooth, this is something I definitely could drink often.

Sierra Nevada Summerfest

Steve: For a lager, this was fairly hoppy, and had a slight fruity flavor, both something that's much more prevalent in ales. However, it was a nice balance, not too strong at all. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much on a hot summer day as I did on this late November evening, but when it comes back out I'll have to try it. (2/8/2003)

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Sierra Nevada Wheat Beer

Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Co

Rocky: Cloudy (unfiltered) and golden, like a wheat beer should be. Citrusy hops, crisp, a little bit tart. It's a fine example of the style. Wheat beer fans should enjoy this, although it may not be their favorite. It's a great summer brew, and would be a good beer to bridge that macro-swill drinking neighbor of yours over to some finer things. While I may not go out of my way to keep some in the fridge at all times, I'll definitely have it again. (8/23/2003)

Silver Gulch Coldfoot Pilsner

Kris: Not too shabby. Ok, technically, it could be very shabby, but seeing as I'm trying this right after I reviewed Hairoun (look it up), anything could taste good, even, and I shudder to say this, Steel Reserve 211. This has an odd taste that I'm having a hard time placing. If I were to go out on a limb, I'd say the taste was "not suck". Or simply, "taste". Of course, the more I drink of this, the more that taste bothers me. You might want to give it a miss. Unless you need something to get the taste of the worst beer on earth out of your mouth. Then it's fine. (12/15/2007)

Silver Gulch Copper Creek Amber Ale

Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Co

Kris: Claimed as "America's Most Northern Brewery". Well, that is certainly something. The beer? Not so much. I wouldn't call it bad, in fact I think it's slightly better than average, but unless you live in or around Fairbanks, Alaska, or find this in your local, I wouldn't go out of my way to try it. Thankfully, my friend John went to Alaska specifically for a beer run for me. Ok, that's a lie. He also did some sightseeing. (12/31/2005)

Singletrack Copper Ale

Boulder Beer Co

Steve: Note to self: Dammit, stop drinking beer at the point in the evening when you should've gone to bed 2 hours prior. All beer will be wasted on you at that point, you ignorant jackass. You're exhausted from a long day, you're just drinking and not thinking about the beer, and the only thing that's happening is the alcohol is pushing you closer and closer to sleep. You may as well have been drinking Miller or Stroh's. What I can remember is a more malty flavor, slightly sweet, and a good copper color. And, I have a vague recollection of a slight citrus flavor, which would be from the rye, but I might've imagined that while sleeping. (3/25/2006)

Skyy Blue

Miller Brewing Co

Kris: I'll be honest, I didn't really like this. Perhaps it had something to do with the taste. Unfortunately, I couldn't put my finger on what it tasted like, exactly. Maybe if I hadn't just had a Bacardi Silver right before trying it, I'd have liked it better, but I doubt it. I'll be sticking with Bacardi or Smirnoff for my malternative beverage of choice. (4/26/2003)

Smirnoff Ice

Smirnoff

Kris: Ahh, liquid candy. Ok, so I admit, this is definitely not beer. And it starts to lose something if I drink a lot of it over an extended span. But if I haven't had it in awhile, this will kick the crap out of most beers. It's similar to Mike's Hard Lemonade, but much much better. Think of it as watching hockey, vs. watching the Devils. Hockey is fun to watch (unless it's two suck-ass teams like, oh, say, the Islanders and the Rangers), but it's nothing when compared to watching the Devils. If you're not a Devils fan for this analogy, pretend you are. (8/9/2001)

Smirnoff Ice Triple Black

Smirnoff

Kris: Tastes very much like the original Smirnoff Ice, but smoother. It's also clear, and that's a very good thing, considering the original looks like semen. Don't know about you, but drinking man-goo out of a bottle doesn't appeal to me. Not that there's anything wrong if you do get off on that (literally or figuratively). The beer purists out there won't like this, because it isn't beer. But that's fine, because that means more for me. (11/8/2003)

Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale

Steve: I got this in a beer trade with a buddy of mine. Sweet, wheaty, full bodied, loaded with alcohol, man this completely messed me up. Of course, it wasn't my first beer of the evening, but still. This would've been better sharing with someone. But then I wouldn't have had it all to myself. Smuttynose is definitely becoming one of my favorite US microbrews. Definitely a lot of talent there in Portsmouth NH. (4/13/2008)

Smuttynose Robust Porter

Steve: I'm only a moderate fan of porters, but this is one of the best I've ever had. It had a distinct nutty flavor, and was very warming on a cool autumn night. Behind the nuttiness was a balanced hop flavor, not too strong so that it didn't overpower the other aspects. Unfortunately, this is a New Hampshire regional micro, so I was only able to try it because my brother Erik brought a couple bottles down when he visited. 5.7% ABV, in case anyone's interested. (4/17/2004)

Smuttynose Summer Weizen Ale

Kris: Steve could probably tell you what a "weizen" is, what it should taste like, and how I'm completely off-base in my review. To me, "weizen" comes before "heimer" and has nothing to do with beer. As a summer ale, this wasn't too great. I would expect a summer ale to be more, I don't know, refreshing, and not as strong, whereas this would seem to be better in autumn, as the weather is getting a little cooler. But as a beer (ignoring the season), it was pretty damn good. Almost forgot, ignore the label as well. Picture a woman in a pool. Now picture your mother in a pool when you were about 5 years old. Like when you look back at old family photos from that time and think, "Whew, why would you ever think to wear THAT? Blech." That's what's on the label. (9/27/2008)

Smuttynose Wheat Wine

Steve: This is the "drunk dial" version of beer reviewing. That is, reviewing the beer after I've actually drank (drunk? drunken?) the beer. A lot of the beer. A lot of the high ABV beer. This thing has spellcheck, right? LOL!!!11ONE!!! Part wheat ale, part barleywine, part barleywine, part OMG I can't feel my face. I watched the original "King Kong" while drinking this, and I actually laughed when King Kong burst through the gate separating the jungle from the native village, because while hammered on this beer, he looked like The Abominable from "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer." So, yeah, I might be a tad over the limit to drive. (2/16/2008)

Smuttynose Winter Ale

Steve: One of the more disappointing winter ales I've ever had. To be honest, it seemed like your everyday brown ale. A good brown ale, but still a brown ale. A winter ale should be warming, and perhaps roasty. I didn't really notice that. And to top it off, you have New Hampshire's version of the St. Pauli girl on the label,...a middle-aged woman in a winter coat and a head wrap, surrounded by snow, and carrying a couple boxes of donuts or some shit like that. (9/2/2007)

Sockeye Red IPA

Midnight Sun Brewing Co

Kris: Another beer brewed in Utah for an Alaskan brewery. This one wasn't as good (although I wasn't doing yardwork, so who knows). I'm wondering if I went to Alaska, would I find any beers brewed there at all? Or is this some elaborate ruse by the Utah brewery so they aren't held responsible? "Sorry, sir, we have nothing to do with the recipe, we're just brewing it for an Alaskan brewery." "Alaska, huh?" "Yep." "Damn, I really wanted to complain about this beer, but Alaska, man, that's far away." "(snicker) Yes sir, it sure is." Yeah, it's not great, but not bad enough to go to Alaska (or Utah, for that matter) to complain about it. (7/23/2005)

Southern Pecan Brown ale

Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co

Sam: FINALLY! I've been hearing about this beer for over a year, but have been so frustrated in trying to find it. So, just recently, back home visiting the folks, I'm idly cruising the beer isle, and I blunder into a mini-keg of Southern Pecan Brown Ale. Hot dog! The holy grail! I gladly paid the price for it and a mini of Amberjaque Amber Ale. Couldn't wait to get them cold enough to drink. So finally the time was right. I tapped the keg, poured up a glass, and...yep, you guessed it. Completely underwhelmed. Oh, don't get me wrong. It wasn't terrible, and I'll definitely buy it again (support your local brewer and all), but I didn't even taste so much as a hint of pecans. It tasted like a very middle of the road brown ale, and brown ales aren't my favorite style. Still...the thrill of FINALLY finding the damned thing... (10/28/2006)

Southern Tier Big Red Imperial Red Ale

Southern Tier Brewing Co

Kris: I think I may just let my wife pen my reviews. For a couple of people who don't like overly bitter beers, we both liked this. She said it has a very nice, nutty aroma. Probably due to the (from the label) chocolate and caramel malts, and the (someone smack me for even bringing this up) hallertau hops. I didn't have it in a snifter like I was supposed to (piss off, Steve), so the finer points were probably lost on me. Anyway, this was a very tasty Red. I especially liked how the bitter didn't hang around on my (sigh) palette, making me wish I had a lager. No, sir, this was an excellent Red. (12/6/2008)

Southern Tier Imperial Mokah

Southern Tier Brewing Co

Kris: Wow, chocolate and coffee. Seriously, wow. Three of my favorite things in one bottle. A lot of chocolate beers I've had have a hint of chocolate. There is no hinting about this stout. The flavor runs up to you and starts shouting. And then clubs you in the taste buds. Repeatedly. I'm never one to say anything is "too sweet", but this comes close. Reminded me of Kahlua in a big glass. Most definitely a sipping beer. (7/18/2010)

Spanish Peaks Honey Raspberry Ale

Spanish Peaks Brewing Co

Steve: They say that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I say the road to good intentions is paved with novelty beer. I've found a few beers with fruit that didn't repulse me. This ain't one of them. It had a dominant raspberry flavor to it, but unfortunately that was about it. It fell flat both in character and effervescence. That was my biggest gripe, that it didn't have any character. Maybe this was brewed to get women to drink it. Maybe they really wanted the one-two punch of honey AND raspberry. Who knows? It was very easy drinking, but it bored me. I wish I had tried something more challenging. One of TOBP's forum readers was lamenting about Foo-Foo beers with fruit. This must be what he was talking about. (10/25/2003)

Spanish Peaks Monterey Pale Ale

Spanish Peaks Brewing Co

Steve: I've really come to enjoy pale ales as one of my more favorite styles. I love aromatic beers and a good pale ale fits the bill. Spanish Peaks was obviously trying to cash in on Sierra Nevada's popularity. It is a little flowery, but it falls a little flat in the end, and is a little more watered down. It's good, but not great. If you like Pale Ales, I think you'll like this, but there are better out there. The neck label says "No Whiners." No whining here, in fact try this before you try the stronger stuff, so you can get used to them. (3/6/2004)

Spanish Peaks Porter

Spanish Peaks Brewing Co

Sam: Mmmm...My favorite beer style, my favorite thing to do while drinking beer: fishing for the wily brown trout on the Chama River. I didn't catch a lot of trout, but I drank a lot of these beers. A rich chocolate brown, smoky, hoppy, and warm. It didn't even bother me that a bear tried to climb into the tent with us later that night. This is a beer that'll take the chill out of Rocky Mountain evenings. Pick up a sixer or two. I sure as hell did. (1/8/2005)

Sportz Beer

Sam: Honest to god, what the hell is wrong with you people?? In my quest to bring you gentle readers a wide variety of beers to read about and choose from, I occasionally must slum. This beer gives slumming a GOOD name. Holy crap, what a nightmare! It's brewed in San Antonio, probably in the old Pearl brewery, and as bad as Pearl was in its final gasps, I can see why this is so horrid. The misspelling should have been my first clue. I'm still wiping tears from my eyes and sweat from my brow. The rest of this goes in my worst enemy's gas tank. Good lord, I should get hazard pay for having to review dreck like this. I'm pretty sure this beer sucked a year or at least a few months from my life expectancy. (10/9/2004)

Sprecher Abbey Triple

Steve: Sprecher's Triple is missing one thing that most triples have....that sweet alcoholic burn on the finish. Up front, it's nice and malty, with a sugary sweetness. There's a little bit of fruit in there, but it's missing that warmth, that alcohol. Then again, it's only 8.4%, so it's about what most Belgian dubbels have. If Sprecher can add about another point, it could be as good as Westmalle or Chimay. (10/25/2008)

Sprecher Black Bavarian Style Lager

Steve: I traveled 1000 miles to find this black lager. It's almost stout-like, with its dark chocolate background, slightly sweet flavor, and dark maltiness. I am dying to go to Milwaukee to check out this brewery (among others). It'd be like a trip to the Holy Land for the Pope. This was made for winter nights. (1/31/2004)

Sprecher Generation Porter

Steve: One of my favorite Sprecher beers to date, this was brewed to celebrate their 20th anniversary. I opted for the 4-pack of pint bottles over the $20 750ml commemorative bottle. This had a nice chocolate and raspberry flavor, like a nice desert. The one I finished in January 2007 was better than the one I first tried in July 2006, so a little aging definitely goes a long way. (7/30/2007)

Sprecher Pipers Scotch-Style Ale

Steve: Sprecher is one of the great Wisconsin microbreweries, but despite it's Germanic name, they excel in making beers of all styles..Belgian, English, German, etc. This one is no exception. I almost wish I had a thistle glass when drinking this. It's a deceptive ale, it doesn't taste strong at first, but you feel the alcohol later. It's a malty ale, with a nice sweet, caramel-like flavor, with a smokey background. The hops are nicely balanced. I think this could be a good session ale, but the 8.3% abv would catch up to you very quickly. (11/8/2009)

Sprecher Pub Ale

Steve: Sprecher beers were definitely made for Wisconsin. Good quality, and they all have screw caps like Bud and Miller, so they don't seem pretentious. Very important for a state that has more bars than Georgia has Waffle Houses. I wasn't as thrilled with the Pub Ale as I was with Sprecher's other beers that I tried. It was very light flavored, a bit watery, although the hops did fight their way to my nose and taste buds. Then again, that could be the Wisconsin in it, making an ale that would be appreciated by people used to drinking Old Style and Pabst. (3/20/2004)

Sprecher Shakparo

Steve: Shakparo is a beer that would take some getting used to. First, it's not brewed with any grains that contain gluten....which is just about every beer you've probably ever had (barley, wheat, oats, rye). Instead, in true African style, it is brewed with sorghum and millet. The resulting product is a fairly fruity, light-tasting beer with a strong woody finish. It's ideal for those suffering from Celiac disease, or who otherwise have a gluten intolerance (like my wife). Unfortunately, after trying it, my wife suggested that if this was the only beer she could have, then drinking beer wasn't worth it. The solid fruit flavor was kind of off-putting to her, but I didn't mind it too much. It seems ideal for a hot-weather session beer. (6/6/2010)

St. Arnold Bock

Sam: In Texas, bluebonnets cover the countryside in spring, and celebrate the end of winter. Bock beers are brewed for the same reason: to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring. So cleverly, St. Arnold's incorporated a field of bluebonnets on their bock label. It's a shame they didn't concentrate more on the beer. Oh, it's pleasant enough, I guess, but not particularly memorable. And like so many St. Arnold's brews, it HAS to be poured into a glass, because from the bottle, it has that peculiar chemical flavor. Sigh. Maybe they'll tweak this a little and give us a better version next year. In the meantime, try to just admire the label. (9/2/2006)

St. Arnold Brown Ale

Sam: I'd really like to like this beer. The label's cool, with St. Arnold, the "patron saint of beer". The color's good, it looks good in the glass. But you take a sniff and it smells a little stale. Houston's only three hours from me, so it can't be out of date. You take a swallow and it has a weird chemical taste. From the glass it's okay if ice cold. It's damn-near undrinkable from the bottle. Besides, if it smells bad, would you volunteer to drink it? St. Arnold's has better offerings. (2/7/2004)

St. Arnold Elissa IPA

Sam: Wow. Very nice. I've had several of St. Arnold's offerings, but had never seen this one before. So I gave 'er a spin. Nice color, spicy aroma, sweet and hoppy. They couldn't have brewed this with Houston's god-awful water supply; must've imported some good stuff. I was sippin' this while neck-deep in the pool on a steamy 98-degree summer afternoon. I'd say that would be the activity this beer was tailor-made for. (2/12/2005)

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St. Arnold Lawnmower Beer

Sam: I just looked at their website. I had no idea this was a Kolsch style beer. What a pleasant surprise! This beer does tend to suffer from that weird chemical taste some microbrews have, but that's overcome by pouring it into a glass. This beer is sweet but not too sweet, and has a little more hops taste than the average Kolsch (which always taste a little anemic to me). On the whole, this is an excellent choice over any of the big three while you're out mucking around in the backyard. This'll cool you off without tasting like shit at the same time. Give it a try. (3/20/2004)

St. Arnold Oktoberfest

Sam: YUM! My wife and I wound up at Cricket's this last weekend after taking the ankle-biters to the zoo. They have "a hundred taps" and were advertising all their new beers; this was one of them, and I had it after Live Oak's Oktoberfest. It was good, but the St. Arnold's was outSTANDING. Deep amber color, with a rich malty-sweet aroma. Delicious thick, malty flavor with a nice hops bite. A real knock-out. And to top it off, our waitress was actually attentive, unlike most of the self-important, jiggly Baylor co-eds we've usually been forced to endure. So the whole experience was pleasant--for a change. Needless to say, she was tipped well. Too bad the local liquor stores don't keep this stocked; I could sure re-visit this beer in my fridge. (Original review, rated 4 in 2004:I'm really trying hard to like this beer. Oktoberfest is a tasty style. I'm afraid this is just an average beer at best. Oh, don't get me wrong, this is far better than the mass-produced garbage, but among Oktoberfests this is pretty underwhelming. Drunk from the bottle, it has an odd chemical flavor. This is partially overcome by pouring it up and letting it "breathe". The color and carbonation are nice, but I'm afraid the taste is just average.) (12/3/2005)

St. Arnold Summer Pils

Sam: Now this beer has something to offer. Cool label, with a funky tie-dyed color, with the Patron Saint wearing shades. The beer comes out cool, clean, slightly sweet with a nice hop aroma. This is a perfect summer beer, not at all heavy, but not anemic like a lite beer. If you can find it, I highly recommend picking up a sixer. (2/21/2004)

Stag

Steve: I've never had it. I don't know anyone who's had it. However, a friend of mine from college, Dr. Matt Smith (yes, he's a real doctor...which is funny considering I've seen him so drunk he could barely stand), once stole a six pack of this from the back of a neighbor's pickup back home in Blytheville, Ark. The smell that eminated from the can was so awful, so disgusting, that these 2 intrepid college students returned the rest of the six pack to its rightful owner, without drinking any of it. That's right. 2 college students with barely enough money for gas, in a town rampant with alcoholics that would drink Sterno to get a good buzz (sounds like a good country song), returned a stolen six pack of this stuff. And this is a guy who works in Infectious Diseases at St Judes in Memphis (you're a better man than anyone I know, Matt). You'd think he could handle a beer. Well, that pretty much told me all I needed to know about this beer. Which is why, instead of reviewing it, I'm telling this story. I'll let our readers rate this one. I know Matt's score is zero. And folks.... I've been to Blytheville....it's worth it to spend your visit drunk, and they still chose to remain sober instead of drinking Stag. That should tell us all something. (11/30/2002)

Stampede Light

Stampede Brewing

Sam: Stampede Light?? What the hell is that? All the danger, but with less than half the cows? No way this beer isn't contract brewed; it says on the label, "Born in Texas, brewed in Utica, NY". I shelled out $6.25 for a sixer of this, a beer no better than Bud Light. And at the risk of being branded a heretic, I'd drink a Bud Light WAY before I drank another Stampede Light. I SWEAR I only bought this so I could review it for you gentle folks. Now I think I need to be boiled. (4/15/2007)

Station 33 Firehouse Red

North Country Brewing Co

Tim: If you ever find yourself in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, it's worth your while to drop in at the North Country Brewing Company. Great food and great beer! Or at least this beer is great. This is an incredibly smooth drinking red. You'll taste malt, hops, and something mildly peppery. But it's so well balanced that not one taste stands out. Excellent craft brewing, and indeed it tastes excellent because it's freshly brewed on sight. And my rating may be a little inflated for that reason. But if you take the time to make your way to this place you should be rewarded with some good fresh beer. This is a comfortable beer that I could enjoy on a regular basis. Some of the proceeds from the sale of this beer go to the local firehouse (No. 33), so it's good knowing that they help the community like that. I'm glad that I stumbled onto the place. (11/26/2005)

Station House Red Ale

Chicago Grill & Brewery

Kris: When I started drinking this beer, it made me want to shit. Oh, sure, it was very fresh, having been brewed right on site, and it had a nice, fruity flavor, but that didn't stop images of toiletbowls from dancing in my head. In the interest of the review, I shouldered my way through the beer, and to my surprise, it got much better. I was actually smiling when I finished it. Our waiter was pleasant, and the pizza skins were great. (5/17/1999)

Steamworks Steam Engine Lager

Steamworks Brewing

Sam: WOW. This doesn't even look like a lager. Pours a deep copper color. The aroma is quite hoppy. Only when you take a sip will you catch a hint of lager flavor. This is hopped enough to taste amazingly close to an ale. My wife and I first encountered Steamworks on our honeymoon, when they were just a fledgling brewpub. Since then they've started bottling, but I'm pleased to report they didn't dummy down their product. Nor did they seem to fall for marketing gimmicks over brew quality (cough*Ska Brewing*cough). Unless you just roundly detest lagers, do yourself a favor and take this beer for a test drive. (4/1/2006)

Steamworks Summer Kolsch

Steamworks Brewing

Sam: Hear that? That was my jaws creaking from the cavernous yawn this beer elicited from me. Boring and forgettable, this tasted like any standard beer. No light, citrusy, summer flavors like you'd expect from a Kolsch. Any number of Kolsch styles I've tried would leave this one in the dust. If you try this, expect to be underwhelmed. (2/5/2006)

Steel Reserve 211

Steel Brewing Co

Steve: This big ol' steel-colored 24 oz can of malt-liquor goodness came from my local Circle K. It was purchased (for $1.09) after Kris more or less dared me. When I brought it to young lady behind the counter, she asked, "Have you ever had this?" (umm, no) She, of course, said, "It's good. I really like it... a lot, and I'm not a beer fan." So, now I've got to live with the fear that I have a whackjob working 1 mile away who really likes this. I, on the other hand, did not; I tried it when I was three sheets to the wind, when I probably would've tried turpentine on a dare. Due to a cup malfunction, we were only able to split 12 ounces between us. Which is why I'm alive to write this today. Before drinking, one should take the advise of Roger Daltry..."If I swallow anything evil, put your finger down my throat." (4/3/2004)

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Steelhead Extra Stout

Mad River Brewing Co

Steve: Holy Jesus, was this good. The best way I could describe the flavor and taste would be to compare it to those Lindt chocolate balls, the one with the chocolate mousse or truffle mix in the middle. If you've had them, you know what I'm talking about. This was almost a desert beer, probably best suited for a brandy glass, while eating a rich cheesecake or something like that. I wish I had more of this. Of the Steelhead samples that Mad River Brewing was kind enough to send me, this was by far the best. I knew there was a reason I was saving this for last. (12/18/2004)

Steelhead Scotch Porter

Mad River Brewing Co

Steve: Mmm, the perfect compliment to a chilly Thanksgiving day, especially as a pre-dinner drink while I'm preparing the turkey fryer and starting a fire. It has a nice, balanced roasted chocolate malt flavor, and is definitely a beer I could see John Wayne ordering in an Irish pub. Put this on your Christmas list. (5/28/2005)

Steve's Homemade Black & Tan

The Opinionated Beer Co

Steve: This is just what it sounds. I took a Guiness Extra Stout and a Labatt's Ice and mixed them. It was GOOD! It was a sweet tasting dark ale, and it got rid of the part of Guiness that I think tastes bad. I recommend trying this (lighter beer of your choice, of course; I've heard that Pabst is also good) to anyone who wants to like a Guiness but can't get past the uggggh taste. Use a pint glass with a 50/50 mix.

Stickenjab Beer

Heavyweight Brewing

Steve: A Sticke is a type of Alt beer, brewed in the old style of German beers before lagering (i.e., it has the characteristics of an Ale). These are about as hard to find in the US as the German Koelsch style. Even though Alts are one of the styles I'm least familiar with, I can say that Stickenjab was right on target. I liked this American take on this German style. It was sweet, almost caramel-like, so it made for a good after-dinner relaxer. It's a shame I no longer live in Ocean Twp NJ, I'd like to be around this brewery to see what else they can do. (11/26/2005)

Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale

Rocky: 7.2% and hoppy but with enough of a malty backbone to support it. Strong aroma, strong flavor. This beer kicks ass. The bottle tells you that you're not worthy, and there is an excellent chance they're right. (4/3/2004)

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Stone Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Joel: I think every word in the name of this beer makes me want it. It's like the phrase "I'm not wearing any panties". I'll compare the beer to the type of woman who may utter such a phrase; if you have enough of either, they'll leave you broke, disoriented, and looking for your pants. But given just enough it'll be a very good time. You get the feeling that it that it would be even better if you had it in front of a fire in late fall rather than in the SoCal summer while your sweating your balls off, but it's still good enough to tell your friends about. Go for it, you know you want to...might want to get yourself checked out after though. (12/6/2008)

Stone IPA

Rocky: I find that anticipation can ruin some things. You wait a long time to try something and you can build it up in your mind so much that when you finally have it you can't help but be a little disappointed. Well, that didn't happen in this case...with this or any of the Stone beers I've finally gotten my hands on. Those guys in San Diego have got the best brewery in the country and you need to do yourself a favor and get their beers somehow. This smells awesome, if you like hops, and they hit immediately. Not overly bitter...more floral or citrus-like. Fantastic brew! (5/8/2004)

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Stone Mill Pale Ale

Sam: Golden yellow, pleasant hops aroma, bland hop flavor, with mild sweetness. You wouldn't have to look hard at all to find a better pale ale at a cheaper price. The label says "Crooked Creek Brewing", but it's brewed at A-B's Redhook facility in Portsmouth, NH. Another slick move from your friendly neighborhood brewing juggernaut. (4/1/2007)

Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

Steve: I keep going back to read what I wrote about Stone's regular Arrogant Bastard. Then, I go and read the reviews I wrote about other oak-aged beers. Normally, you can tell a difference, usually a positive difference. But with this, I can't say anything special. This might have been the regular Arrogant Bastard for all I knew, so can I really give it the same review, if it's supposed to be "better," but isn't? It has the same taste. The same alcohol content. The same label, with the exception of the addition of the word "oaked." So why can't I give it the same review? Well, if you don't know how I feel about marketing by now, then you'll never get it. (8/9/2009)

Stone Ruination IPA

Rocky: 100+ IBU's, 7.7% ABV. This beer is not for the faint of heart. In a side by side comparison with several other quality IPA's, this beer stood above the competition and was considered to be the best of bunch by some pretty serious beer drinkers. I loved this beer. I'm almost glad I don't have regular access to it due to it's limited distribution area. I almost believe them when they say that it could prevent you from being able to enjoy lesser brews. It's just such a big beer! There is so much flavor... it's almost unreal, and almost certainly unrivaled (although the folks at Dogfish Head and Victory would disagree). Despite the high IBU's it is very drinkable. If you like hops you've gotta try this beer no matter what it takes to get it. Find one of those online mail order beer stores and don't worry about the shipping costs...it's worth it. Also from the bottle, and quite fitting: A liquid poem to the glory of the hop! (9/26/2004)

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Stone Russian Imperial Stout

Joel: Wow, now this is a beer. Pouring this in the glass it's black, and I mean black in the classical definition; devoid of color, complete absorption of light. I think I've seen quasars with more color. And it tastes as dark as it looks, very malty with lots of chocolate and roasted coffee flavors. The alcohol (though close to 11% ABV) isn't overpowering and in fact helps to balance the malt flavors. I can't put this ahead of Old Rasputin (my favorite Russian Imperial Stout of all time) but I can't really put it behind it either. My buddies and I drank this while listening to the Soviet national anthem and it made me long for Mother Russia (despite the fact I'm German, better not let my grandma see this). Za vas, Comrades! (7/6/2008)

Stoudt's Maibock

Steve: OK, this one I'll try again. I bought 3 six-packs of Stoudt's beers in one day, and finished 1 for 3 in beers I'd be willing to spend money on again. Nice sweet malty flavor, noticeable alcohol, great color. Not as tasty or strong as the better ones from Capital or Einbeck, but a good start. So far, the best Stoudt's beer I've ever had. Maybe they're better with stronger lagers. (9/30/2006)

Stoudt's Pils

Steve: Am I the only one who thinks it's odd that we've been doing TOBP for 10 years, and this is the first Stoudt's beer we reviewed? Yes? Well, carry on then. The Pils had many characteristics of German pilsner-style lagers, but it was lacking something. If Miller Lite is a 1 on the litmus test, and Czechvar or Hofbrau are 10, I'd say Stoudt's is a 4. In other words, it's closer to the mega-brews then the classic imported styles. A decent beer, still better then the mega-swill, but barely enough to make it worthwhile. (9/16/2006)

Stoudt's Triple

Steve: Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of a joke? A Triple? Jesus....not even close. Maybe an enkel/blonde. But a Triple? A Triple should have the potential to knock you on your ass. You should be able to *feel* the alcohol. Taste the fruit, the plumb, that hearty alcoholic burn on your tongue. This was just....a waste of glass in a recycling dumpster. (3/15/2008)

Stoudt's Weizen

Steve: I know there are decent US-brewed Hefeweizen out there. I've seen them. I've drank them, I've reveled in their glory. This isn't one of them. I'm probably a little harsher then I should be, because this is my favorite style and I'm biased, but I guess I'm tired of mediocre performances. It was a drinkable Weizen, it was close to the style, but it was weak. It was missing the banana-clove aromas and that wheaty finish that I love so much, and the citrus background wasn't strong enough. The groundwork is good, but I think they need to work on it. Until then, all I can do is simply say it's better then Pyramid, Saranac or Harpoon, and that isn't saying much. (9/23/2006)

Stroh's

Rocky: It had been so long since I saw Stroh's that I didn't even think they still made it. I can remember my Dad drinking this when I was a kid, so it wouldn't surprise me if it was the first beer I ever tasted. Thats gotta be worth at least one bonus point. I wouldn't have found it, since I was checking out a different part of the cooler, but I saw a guy walk past me with three 12 packs of this stuff. I made my purchase, followed him out, and offered him a buck for one. It was worth a buck. Better than the big three macros and similar to PBR. (9/26/2004)

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Stroh's Light

Stroh Brewery Co

Steve: This was my choice of drink at the Kobalt Tools 500 (IRL race) at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Would I choose this for my backyard BBQ? No, but it sure went down nicely while I was sitting in the baking sun that day. Not the best beer around, but it has its uses. Actually, quite watery (the "making love in a canoe analogy...f***ing close to water"). I would have to say that this is not a whole lot better than Bud Light, but because I hate all things Busch, I would choose this. Not a bad price, either. (8/23/1999)

Sublime Hard Raspberry Lemonade

Long Beach Brewing Co

Steve: This is one of those malt beverages, that is supposed to be cooler than wine coolers. Elvis-cool, not temperature, that is. I suppose this is a bit better than a wine cooler, but that's because this isn't as fizzy (thus not as girly). Basically, if you've just driven home in 95 degree heat, in a bumper-to-bumper traffic situation, with no air conditioning, this is what you want to open up. It tastes quite a bit like lemonade, and who doesn't like lemonade? And since I live in Atlanta (which is closer to the sun than anyplace else on earth), this is even better still. However, I do not recommend drinking this during the Arkansas-Tennessee game, because you are bound to be bitch-slapped. Even Kris' wife would be laughing at you. However, this is what you want to open after mowing the lawn on the hottest day of the year....if a glass of sweet tea isn't available, that is. Plus, this is way better than those other hard lemony drinks I've reviewed. (11/3/2000)

Summit India Pale Ale

Summit Brewing Company

Rocky: Pretty typical, middle-of-the-road IPA. As compared to the granddaddy of American IPA's, Sierra Nevada, it's a little more hoppy, but not as good overall. Not as balanced and I noted a little bit of a metallic presence. Also, more like an English IPA...lacking the citrus presence that the American northwest hops are famous for. Worth trying if you're in the area, but not worth a special trip. (8/20/2005)

Summit Maibock

Summit Brewing Company

Steve: Well, this had the right color for a Maibock (darker then a pilsner, about the same color as a Festbier), but was way too hoppy. A good Maibock's balance should lean more towards the malty side, not hoppy. It was decent, but it didn't have that strong malt character that a good Maibock should have. (1/21/2006)

Summit Winter Ale

Summit Brewing Company

Rocky: At 5.9% ABV it might be slightly stronger than most beers but not exactly a "winter warmer". It's like a weak porter with subtle hints of some fruit & spices, which is common for winter beers. I liked it. A lot of small breweries really go over the top for their winter seasonal, but that wasn't the case for Summit. There's such a thing as a winter brew and such a thing as a session brew, but not many examples of a winter session brew. That's what this is. (5/22/2005)

Sundance Amber Ale

Rockies Brewing Company

Sam: Either they've really cleaned this recipe up, or the last time I had this before they changed the name, I got a bad batch. This used to be Boulder Amber Ale, and tasted pretty standard. I'm not really much of a connoisseur of ambers anyway; they strike me as a transition beer from the standards to better fare. But the label was intriguing, so I gave it a spin. Hey--not bad. Spicy, and not too sweet like so many other ambers. A handsome smoky color in the glass, too. What the hell--I'll recommend it. (12/31/2005)

Sweet Magnolia American Brown Ale

Big River Brewing Co

Steve: Big River's Chattanooga restaurant puts some of this into their pizza dough, so I figured, what the hell, so I ordered the pizza and a pint of the brown ale. Nice combination. I liked this better than the BR's Vienna lager and Newcastle, if you're looking for a brown ale comparison. You might have to go to Chattanooga to try this, but with the river park, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the tree-lined streets with horse-drawn carriages going up and down the road, you will probably feel that it's worth the effort. 4.13% ABW, in case you care. (12/18/2004)

Sweet Stout

Main Street Beer Co

Rocky: This was included in a friend's beer club shipment. Bottle cap is inscribed "You Earned It", and although I don't know what I did to earn it, I wish I had done it a little better. Not a bad beer, but nothing to get overly excited about. It's not very sweet at all, and it's not much of a stout either. Decent brew overall, but there are too many that are much better to give it another try. (6/5/2004)

Sweetgrass IPA

Grand Teton Brewing Co

Rocky: The beer club only ships two different styles from various breweries, but this along with Bitch Creek have made me a fan of Grand Teton Brewing. Like it's partner, this was also very drinkable. Kind of assertive, but then it is an IPA from the Pacific Northwest. Nestled in the part of the country that produces the majority of our hops you should expect a local brewery to snag a fair amount for themselves. Very tasty brew. (11/5/2005)

Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale

Steve: Another hometown beer, brewed here in Atlanta, this is a pretty good beer overall, and what appears to be the flagship beer of Sweetwater Brewing....a good place to start if you want to try this brewery's work. It had a crisp taste, a sweet start, and a light yet noticeable hoppy finish (not as bitter as a true Pale Ale, but that's fine by me), and it left a clean aftertaste. It didn't smell aromatic, only because I tried it at the Marietta Pizza Co (where it's kept on tap), so the only smell in the air was pizza, but every other characteristic pleased me. I think I'll try more of the Sweetwater product in the future. (11/30/2002)

Sweetwater Blue

Steve: Oh my God, sweet Jesus this beer is awesome. It is a perfect summer ale. Before drinking, take a big ol' whiff of this. Smell that? That's right, IHOP's blueberry pancakes. I never would've thought that I'd enjoy that smell in a beer, but I do. I swear, it smells like blueberry pancakes. The taste is also quite reminiscent of blueberries as well, but not the pancakey taste. This might have to become one of my regulars, but I think I'd probably become bored with it, so I better be careful. However, I will STRONGLY recommend it to all of you. This is a regional brewery out of Atlanta, so good luck finding it. If you doubt my endorsement, please check out the latest results from the GABF. Sweetwater walked away with a couple nice awards, so there is a winning pedigree behind this brewery. This goes well with pizza. Fortunately, Marietta Pizza Co keeps this on tap, so it's a nice combination. (8/30/2003)

Sweetwater ESB

Steve: This was a silver winner at the GABF and a gold winner at the World Beer Cup. How much else do you need to know? I think if you want to make an evening out of drinking an ale, and want to last a while, this may be your choice. It uses English malts and hops, so it will taste a little different than the ales you're used to in the US. Straight up ale, and a good one. (5/1/2004)

Sweetwater Exodus Porter

Steve: This is from one of Atlanta's hometown breweries, and based on the fact they have to rent a U-Haul to bring back all their awards from various beer festivals, logic would say it's Atlanta's best. After trying this, I'm not sure I can argue without sounding like an ass (like whenever I say I'm a Mets fan). I got ragged on by several co-workers when I brought this back to the table, but it was worth it. Dark like motor oil, thick like a delicious black bread, slightly sweet, with a balanced hoppy finish, I might have to get a six pack or two to carry me through winter this year. I've always decided against getting Sweetwater ales from the store because I'm always reluctant to try a six pack in case it sucks, but this sample has made me adventurous. (2/22/2003)

Sweetwater Festive Ale 2002

Steve: This is Sweetwater's Christmas/winter beer, brewed only one day a year, I heard. If you can get this, and you like to keep your fridge stocked with seasonal beers each winter, make sure this is one of them. It's got a rich, sweet, toffee-like taste to it, which balances nicely with the hops, so you can taste it on your entire tongue at once. It has a lot of flavors, so I recommend getting a six pack and drinking slowly so you can get the most pleasure out of it. (9/20/2003)

Sweetwater Festive Ale 2003

Steve: To date, I have only seen this in 33.8 oz bottles. Really cool looking collector bottles, flip tops (like Grolsch) with a wax seal around the top. It's also a limited bottling, I drank bottle 1112 of 4800. It had a sweet, toffee-like taste to it that I wasn't wild about at first, but after the first pint it grew on me. This was my choice for Christmas 2003, and I think it will visit again at Christmas 2004 (that is, if I don't die from joy after a 4th Stanley Cup for the Devils). The bottle alone is worth getting this, but hurry fast. (1/9/2004)

Sweetwater Happy Ending Imperial Stout

Steve: Can you think of a better name for an after-dinner beer? I love Sweetwater's sexually-suggestive beer names (this and Hummer), plus the little quotes on the six pack holder (It will put a smile on your face, resulting in an explosive finish, etc). That was probably the best part of it, as I think as far as Imperial Stouts go, this may be a bit disappointing. Good, but it doesn't quite live up to the name. A little more chocolate might make this a much better beer. But, it's certainly a conversation starter at a party. (12/8/2007)

Sweetwater Road Trip

Steve: Interesting name for a beer, but not as interesting as the fact that Mothers Against Drunk Driving hasn't maintained a 24/7 vigil outside Sweetwater's brewery. See, the whole idea of mixing alcohol with traveling by car tends to get under their skin a bit. But, aside from that, what we have here is a nice hybrid beer, that started out as a pilsner, but the brewers threw in ale yeast, creating a kind of cream ale. It's light, refreshing, and overall a good session beer that's perfect for backyard BBQ's. If they canned this, I'd keep a case on-hand at all times for picnics and trips to the pool. Putting away a six pack in one sitting is quite easy. Now, where the hell are my damn car keys? (12/22/2007)

Sweetwater Summer Hummer

Steve: Mmm, Summer Hummer. I just love to say that name. Puts a smile on the face, don't it? Well, guess what? The beer puts just as big a smile on the face. This may have become my single most favoritest Sweetwater beer yet, so much that I have to knock Blue down in the ratings and put this in its spot. It's got a solid, not subtle, orange and coriander flavor, with a nice wheat body. A lot of American wheats come across as too weak, like they hold back on the malt to let the spices come out (that's why I didn't like Ommegang Wit too much), but not this. You can taste the beer, not just the spice. Plus, let's face it. The name makes you think of BJ's. God bless Sweetwater and their sexually suggestive beer names. (12/3/2005)

Sweetwater Sweet Georgia Brown

Steve: This is, as I'm sure you could guess, a brown ale. This is also a 2001 gold medal winner for English syle Brown Ales at the GABF, so hopefully that is enough for most of you. It's a fairly easy beer to drink, with a nutty flavor, and a sweetness from the honey malt. Given this or Newcastle, I would go for this. Not my favorite Sweetwater, but worthy of a try. (1/24/2004)

Ten Springs Maple Lager

Olde Saratoga Brewing

Steve: I had 1 thought when I first smelled this beer in my glass: "Car Wax". And I had 2 thoughts when I sipped it: "I want my money back" and "My God, I just poisoned myself!". This is possibly the worst beer I ever had. Either the maple syrup in the beer came from a diseased tree, or maple syrup doesn't belong in beer, or the brewer is a completely retarded loser. At least North Country is an Equal Opportunity Employer. How could anyone bottle this swill in good conscience???

Ten Springs Whiteface Pale Ale

Olde Saratoga Brewing

Steve: Nothing special for a pale ale. Tasted decent, but there are enough "decent" pale ales out there. The only thing that stands out for this one is the beautiful label -- an eagle -- otherwise, this is just a basic, run-of-the-mill, unoriginal, slightly bitter pale ale.

Tequiza

Kris: When I first heard of this beer that tastes like tequila and lime, I thought it was the stupidest idea I had ever heard of. That thought was confirmed after tasting. Mind you, it wasn't bad. It's just that when I think of tequila and lime, I think, "I'm getting drunk". I certainly don't think, "Mmm-mmm tastes great". If you like the taste of tequila and you don't mind not getting drunk, this beer is for you. Personally, I will not be trying it again. It's a fad that will die a slow death. (4/19/1999)

Terrapin All American Imperial Pilsner

Steve: This was Terrapin's summer release, obvious with the red, white and blue imagery on the bottle, perfect for Independence Day. Perfect for the whole year, actually. This is a pilsner the way it should be. Nice and malty, you can taste a nice touch of hops too, and it's 7.5% abv, but you wouldn't know it. The alcohol is pretty deceptive. And it looks fantastic in a pilsner glass, with a nice dark golden color. Not as good as the Rye Squared in their Monster Beer Tour, but it's still quite good in its own right. (3/17/2007)

Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster

Steve: This is Terrapin's first release in its Monster Beer Tour, it's collection of specialty limited release ales, and what a great start they made. This Imperial Red Ale is fantastic, lots of hops, and yet you can still taste that sweet malt flavor. There's a nice balance of all flavors, something you don't often find with very hoppy beers. I think I'll use the word hop or hoppy just one more time, to give Kris a conniption because I'm sounding like a real beer reviewer. Hoppy. Hoppidy doo. Hoparoonee. Hopalong Cassidy. (8/19/2006)

Terrapin 'Dos Cocoas' Chocolate Porter

Steve: I am a huge fan of Terrapin, but I was a bit disappointed with this. There wasn't as much roasted chocolate flavor as I wanted, and you don't get as much of the deep roasted malt that a porter should have. This beer could've been bigger, richer, and overall more like what a porter should be. It was just too average, especially considering this is in Terrapin's "Side Project" series of special one-time beers. (1/30/2010)

Terrapin Extreme Cream Ale

Steve: This is a distinctly North American brewing style, a mixture of ales and lagers. What this means in Terrapin is that you get what amounts to a lighter pale ale. This is very easy drinking, and is quite good with dinner as it's not competing and isn't heavy. This is an ale that micro enthusiasts can enjoy, but will also be appreciated by those not used to hoppier ales. Terrapin's website claims to use a generous amount of flaked maize (obviously avoiding the use of the word "corn," which implies adjuncts), but you'd never notice it. (12/11/2004)

Terrapin Gamma Ray WheatWine Ale

Steve: Note to self: Look at the alcohol content of a 22 oz bomber of beer before opening it at 10PM. 11%? I'll be lucky to stay awake long enough to finish it. Somehow, I did (watching Superbad may have helped). It was incredibly chock full of alcohol, I could smell that from a distance. It had a nice orange-ish color, not that bubbly. And the smell and taste of honey was almost overwhelming. At the first sip, I wasn't sure I'd like this, but I nursed the beer, allowed it to warm up quite a bit, and it turned into something quite nice. The hops fought through the sweetness, and the balance was quite enjoyable. This was the third of Terrapin's "Side Project Series", which they cleverly included in the name Gamma Ray.....Gamma being the third letter of the Greek alphabet. Anyway, this was tasty. A lot of breweries seem to get into weird stuff with their special releases, but Terrapin is brewing some good, yet unusual stuff. (6/6/2010)

Terrapin Rye Pale Ale

Steve: This won the gold for Pale Ales at the 2002 GABF, after only existing for a year, or something like that. After finally trying this, I think they deserve accolades. Very tasty, malty, with a flowery, sweet presence to it. Interesting thing was, that taste dissipated after about 2 seconds. What that meant, though, was that I wanted it back, so I killed the glass pretty quickly. Fairly similar to Sierra Nevada Pale, if you ask me, which is a compliment to both. Regrettably, only available on tap at metro Atlanta restaurants and bars at the time of this writing, but hopefully soon they'll be bottling this. (11/29/2003)

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Terrapin Rye Squared

Steve: There is one thing I dislike about this beer. It's friggin seasonal. This was Terrapin's Spring release in their Monster Beer Tour, and in my opinion is the best of the bunch thus far. In a nutshell, it doubles the ingredients of their Rye Pale Ale. And as a rye lover, if some rye is good, twice the rye is twice as good. It just screams flavor. Nice citrus background from the rye and the hops, if this was a 12 month beer, I'd have it in my fridge 12 months out of the year. (3/10/2007)

Terrapin Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout

Rocky: Coffee and Oatmeal...Breakfast in a bottle! Coffee aroma is distinct, but coffee notes are common for the style whether it's used in the recipe or not, and this wasn't drastically different in that regard. Also some nice bittersweet chocolate as part of the flavor profile. Maybe the oatmeal balances out whatever harshness coffee would add, because it was very smooth. Seemed a little thin for an Imperial (7.5% ABV), but definitely worth getting. (5/6/2006)

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Third Stone Brown

Empyrean Ales Brewery

Rocky: I knew the rating of this beer after the first few swallows and nothing happened later to change my mind. As for the positives, I'll keep it simple and straightforward...the beer was good. The negative would be that it was maybe a little thin and watery, but thats being pretty nitpicky. This is a basic brown ale. Nothing really distinct about it, good or bad. It's very drinkable but there's no reason to rush to Nebraska to try it. (5/14/2005)

Thomas Hooker American Pale Ale

Steve: I've heard so many wonderful things about this brewery, and I had them on a very high pedestal before ever even having one of their beers, which is why I'm so disappointed in this one, the first Troutbrook beer I ever had. Many of you will look at Sierra Nevada as the benchmark of the American Pale Ale, and if so, this one falls short. The hop bitterness fades a lot quicker, and with it dies the flavor as well. In addition, the aroma is also understated, which is one of the reasons I drink this style. It's good, I guess, but it left me wondering if Troutbrook is just overhyped. (4/15/2006)

Thomas Hooker Imperial Porter

Steve: To be honest, I was expecting something better. I was expecting my socks to literally be knocked off, for all the hype surrounding Troutbrook beers. I went into a retailer hoping to find their Liberator Doppelbock, but was still surprised to find this. Honestly, I would've preferred the Liberator. I did enjoy the roasted coffee-like flavor, with the caramel sweetness in the background, but I guess I was just expecting something akin to liquid gold. (10/27/2007)

Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock

Steve: I'll admit, for as long as I've heard of this beer, one thought has always gone through my juvenile mind: "FREE THE HOOKERS!" It's like the beer is in support of a prostitute underground railroad. In reality, the brewery simply named this line after the founder of the colony of Connecticut (an interesting choice, considering Thomas Hooker was a Puritan, and Connecticut remains one of the few states that prohibits Sunday alcohol sales). Upon purchasing and sampling, I realized I overpaid for this beer. This beer only recently became available in Georgia. Unfortunately, it hasn't been considered a quality Doppelbock in, by some estimates, for a few years. The alcohol is barely noticeable, so it's nothing more than a dark, malty lager. Considering you pay $8 for a half liter, you quickly feel the sharp pain that can best be described as "getting ripped off." Do a search for our video beer review for this beer on YouTube. (11/8/2009)

Thomas Hooker Octoberfest

Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub

Steve: I never understood US micros that call them Octoberfests, instead of Oktoberfest. You use "fest," and that's German, so why not go the distance and say Oktoberfest too? Anyway, again I was left wanting with this one. I think I found the perfect American Festbier in Capital Brewing, and Troutbrook really does pale by comparison. It was a decent lager, but it was missing that warming feeling that a good Oktoberfest should have. Great as a beer, but not great in style. (5/6/2006)

Thunderhead Stout

MacTarnahan's Brewing Co

Rocky: I'm trying to think of something to say that would be unique to this beer, but it's impossible to do. Yeah, it's black, and roasty, and there are some hints of chocolate and coffee, full-bodied, somewhat bitter finish, etc. If you've had a lot of stouts, those descriptions would work for a very large percentage of them. In other words, this is pretty average. Don't avoid it, but don't go out of your way to find it. (11/27/2004)

Tie Die Red Ale

Park City Brewing Co

Steve: This has a play on words in the title which most Americans are too undereducated to notice, I'm guessing. You see, normally it's Tie Dye. In this case, it's Tie Die. D-I-E. As in Dead. Which means very little, but makes sense when you see the skeleton wearing a parka and skiing on the label. Skeletons, skiing and beer. Yup, exactly what I was thinking. I've grown to enjoy American red lagers, due to their usual sweet flavor from the caramel malts, but this red ale has more of an English hop flavor that dominates, and is not sweet at all. Foams like hell when you pour it in a glass, so it takes a while to drink. Good think it's decent, or I wouldn't wait for the head to collapse. (8/7/2004)

Tommyknocker Butt Head Doppelbock

Steve: This reminded me a little of Leinenkugel's Big Butt Doppelbock. Kind of a stretch to consider it a good Doppelbock, but definitely a hearty strong lager. But this isn't a winter warmer like traditional Doppelbocks. The bottle doesn't indicate the alcohol, but I think it probably hovers around 7. (9/12/2009)

Tommyknocker Jack Whacker Wheat Ale

Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub

Steve: Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from this one. American wheat ales are hit or miss, either decent or bad. The bad ones are under-flavored, weak, and not worth the money. Jack Whacker, however, had a nice malty flavor, a good lemon background, and a well-developed head, so it wasn't as thin as the typical American wheat. The fact that they make a decent wheat makes me interested in their other offerings. (9/19/2009)

Tröegs Bavarian Style Lager

Steve: From a local micro in central PA, this is a stronger lager than what most of you will find. Most micros stay away from lagers, but this one shows that there is a lot you can do with them, if you're creative. It had a noticeable alcoholic flavor to it, but it wasn't very malty. More hop presence than most lagers tend to have. Considering the label has hop plants (which is becoming an overused label art), I guess I shouldn't be surprised. All in all, not a bad beer. (12/27/2003)

Tröegs Mad Elf

Rocky: If you're a fan of Christmas beers, you like cherries, and appreciate a high-alcohol brew...this is the beer for you! A definite winter warmer at 11% ABV, but the alcohol is fairly well hidden. Honey is evident as well, but not nearly as prominent to me as the cherries. You should get some of this if you see it anywhere, and I'd also consider putting a few bottles back to see how this one ages. For a Christmas seasonal, this kicks ass. (4/16/2005)

Tröegs Pale Ale

Steve: Yet another beer that would appeal to most fans of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. If you like it, but want to go for something different, head for this, if you can find it. I think you'll find that Sierra Nevada is cheaper, and just as good (if not better), but this won't disappoint if you're treating yourself. Nice flowery, hoppy presence, one to enjoy with most of your senses, and went nicely with my Animal House DVD. (1/17/2004)

Tröegs Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale

Steve: Definitely an odd one. I was expecting something like Newcastle or Sam Smiths. What I found instead was a really rich roasted malt flavor, a lot like a stout, yet with a brown ale color. Not a bad beer altogether, but I think most of you will be surprised at what you find with this one. I really wasn't in the mood for a stout, so it was kind of a shock. Not the kind of shock when you learn that Miller Lite has only 3.2 grams of carbs, but still a shock. (1/31/2004)

Tröegs Troegenator Doppelbock

Hal and Mal's Resaurant and Brewery

Steve: This was an above average Doppelbock, but that's as high as I'd go. It has a nice alcoholic bite (8.2%), but that's the only prominent part of the flavor. There wasn't much of a malty characteristic, although it had a nice color and I got a nice buzz off of it. A step above Shiner Bock, but not quite as good as Salvator, Korbinian, etc. (8/2/2009)

Trophy Buck Stout

Sam: So, I've already polished off their Pale Ale (best of the lot, by far) and Pilsner, and had some of the best damned New Orleans style food around. My wife is having dessert, a home-made bread pudding. My "dessert" is their stout. So dark, even the head is brown. Wow, is this sweet. Not quite enough hops for my taste, but creamy and delicious nonetheless. Good thing my wife's on the wagon; I'm gonna need a double D. There's not much I miss about Mississippi, but this joint is one of them. Seek out Hal and Mal's if you're in the area. And don't forget to try the stout! (3/19/2005)

True Blonde Ale

Ska Brewing

Sam: This was a freebie in a twelve pack brought to me from Durango by my sister. Golden yellow, mildly hopped, mild flavor--a step up maybe from the average golden ale. It's not my favorite style, but you might entice a convert to better beers with this. (3/22/2009)

Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale

Old Dominion Brewing Co

Steve: If you love hops in a beer like a junkie loves smack, then this is what you need to drink when you're jones'in for some hops. This is true to its name, and if one uses hops as a preservative, this beer will be good forever. However, I found that this beer didn't have too many other things going for it. If you have a variety of beers in your fridge, be careful not to reach for this one after mowing the lawn. This is the kind of thing you drink after raking the leaves or at the end of the last sailing day of the season. Unfortunately, it takes a special occasion to drink this (at least for me), as I didn't have too much ambition to throw the rest down at leisure at any other time. Pretty good, but there's a lot of pretty good cars out there, doesn't mean you're going to buy one. (10/2/1999)

Tupper's Hop Pocket Pils

Old Dominion Brewing Co

Rocky: This is a good pils. Looks like most, but is --- no shock here --- more hoppy. I enjoyed that, but I also like the fact that it just seems richer or fuller. Mouthfeel is hard to explain, but this one has it and many of the style do not. Dry at the end with a lingering bitterness in the aftertaste. This is a gold medal winner at the 2001 Great American Beer Fest. Those judges apparently thought more of it than I do, but I will say it's a quality brew. (9/26/2004)

Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea

Twisted Tea Brewing Co

Kris: Ok, so there wasn't a party in the bottle, but this was really good, regardless. It tasted like, get this, iced tea. Now before you all give me a collective "duh!", by that I mean it didn't taste like alcohol. At 5% ABV, that was pretty surprising. Problem with that is I just kept drinking and drinking them and woke up with a nasty hangover the next day. Ah, it's tough being a beer reviewer. Yeah, I know, this isn't beer (except in Texas, apparently). You people are so frigging picky. (10/20/2002)

Ugly Pug Black Lager

Rahr and Sons Brewing Co

Sam: Black. Acidic. Metallic. Yuck. I've had several schwarzbiers, all of which were head-and-shoulders better than this. The cute little story about how this beer got its name does not in any way make up for my disappointment in the flavor. Don't waste your money unless you're a label collector. (8/26/2006)

Uncle Otto's Octoberfest Marzen

MacTarnahan's Brewing Co

Sam: The label is hideous. The beer's okay. I love Octoberfest beers, but this one tasted just a wee bit chemical. There are other choices, but what the heck--if you like to try new beers, try this one once. (10/23/2004)

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Victory Baltic Thunder

Steve: I grabbed this from a shelf at a NJ retailer, knowing I would not likely see this in Georgia. It came in a bomber, and packed an 8.5% wallop. It had a nice tan head that floated on top in a large mug, and had a nice roasted flavor, with a fruit background....might have been plum, but not totally sure. It was good in July. I bet it'd be even better in January. I'm starting to like Baltic porters more and more, thanks to beers like this. (6/14/2009)

Victory Golden Monkey

Steve: Can you go wrong with a beer called Monkey? This is a nice Belgian-style golden ale, and it's yummy. This recently hit Atlanta, and I might have to get a whole six pack. Think Duvel, Lucifer, and any others, and you know the style I'm talking about. I've heard it said Victory doesn't brew a bad beer, I think I know what they mean. (10/5/2008)

Victory Hop Wallop Very Hoppy Ale

Sam: Ok, so it's...good. Not great, but good. Has an intense grapefruit aroma and the flavor is grapefruit city. Where HopDevil is a symphony of malt and hops for your taste buds, Hop Wallop is a speed bag work out for your uvula, a fizzy grapefruit cocktail. And yes, I'm fully aware they're two different styles of ales. I'm just saying that next time I see the two of them on the shelf at my local, I'll grab two sixers of HopDevil as opposed to one sixer of each. (9/2/2007)

Victory HopDevil Ale

Rocky: I'm becoming a hophead, and it's thanks in part to this beer, as well as the Stone brews I've managed to get my hands on recently. A regular pale ale just doesn't do it for me any more. Even though they get a lot of hop flavor it's still pretty well balanced. The alcohol level at 6.7% proves that they're using plenty of malt to support all those hops, and the flavors play off each other really well. Fantastic brew here, but I've got to put it one notch below the Ruination IPA. Still, if I'm making a current top 3 list, this is on it. (4/10/2004)

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Victory Prima Pils

Steve: Go ahead, look at the bottle. You can look at it as many times as you want, it won't change. It's not green, never will be green. Yes, I realize it tastes much like all those green-bottled imports from Germany, Holland, Czech Republic, etc, but it's really a brown bottle. Definitely true to form in a German/Czech style Pilsner, with the prominent hops, with a smooth malt flavor. If this was available in Atlanta, I might make this my standby German lager. I like the use of Prima, the German slang word which is used to mean "excellent," or "sweet!" Yes, I know it sounds Italian, but if the Italians think they're bad enough to take it back, they can march their troops up to Germany and retake it. No? Yeah, I didn't think so. (11/12/2005)

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Victory Storm King Imperial Stout

Kris: Thanks to Liam at West Milford Fire Department Co 4 for turning me on to this. Please note I said "to this". I don't want anyone calling me a fag. A good tasting, strong, thick beer. Looks like Guinness, but tastes better. This is one of those beers that will throw you for a loop after about three of them. One, for bud drinkers. In fact, it's a good thing bud drinkers don't like strong beers. Leaves more for us. (11/10/2001)

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Victory V-Twelve

Wellhead Restaurant and Brewpub

Steve: If you are home alone, while the wife and kids are out of town for the weekend, and you want to kick back, relax, and revel in the fact that you don't need to drive anywhere, may I suggest you open this beer up? It is a delicious Belgian-style ale, 12% ABV, with nice undertones of flesh fruit, particularly plums, and a sweet background. It had a nice dark brown color, and was overall a pleasure to drink. This came in a corked 750ml bottle, and I kind of wished I had a second one. If you see this, grab it, because it's part of a limited-edition series released a year ago. (8/2/2009)

Wailing Wench Ale

Middle Ages Brewing Co

Steve: There is a beautiful woman on the label. Picture: Mid 80's Molly Ringwald, with long red hair, fantastic cleavage, in a "beer wench" costume (like that found at Rennaisance festivals), with her mouth opened in...how do I put this?....fellatio mode. Yeah, that's the best way to phrase it, I think. Just absolutely beautiful. Of course, the wonderful label made me automatically think the beer would blow, much like the Molly lookalike is about to. But friends, I am here to tell you this beer most certainly did not blow. In fact, I will sing its praises. Wonderfully hopped, this is an extreme beer, an American strong ale. I could both drink this all day, and stare at the label all day. An almost-perfect drinking experience. (8/13/2006)

Wailua Wheat Ale

Kona Brewing Co

Joel: The label says this is a limited release, I'm guessing they chose to market it this way after tasting it and realizing they'd never get away with brewing it again. It's dubbed a "wheat ale brewed with passion fruit". I'll be honest, I've never had a passion fruit by itself nor would I even recognize one if I saw it, but if it tastes anything like this beer I don't think I'd want to. If you can get past the overwhelming fruit flavor you can kind of taste a passable wheat ale in the background but that's a tall order. Maybe your girlfriend would like it if she's really into Miller Chill, and it's definitely a step up from there, but much like Lance Bass it's just too fruity. It might be good at a luau in Maui but if you see it in a store in the contiguous US I'd take a pass. (6/1/2008)

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Warsh Pail Ale

Millstream Brewing Co

Rocky: No, I didn't spell it wrong...they're being funny. There's a picture on the bottle of a lady with her hands in a soapy tub with one of those old scrubber things. I have some relatives in rural Ohio that would say "wash" as it's written above, and I guess that pronunciation extends at least as far west as Iowa, where this beer is made. The beer itself is the important thing, but the bottle is more entertaining than it's contents. Not bad. It will quench your thirst without assaulting your taste buds, but I don't see too many awards in it's future. Pretty bland for an American Pale as far as I'm concerned. (7/9/2005)

Weidman's Danny Boy Stout

Old Fort Brew Pub Inc

Steve: This is in the same mold as Sam Adam's Cream stout, and I think it's time we take the moldmaker out back and kick his ass. This too was filtered through a dirty ashtray (or a used charcoal briquette, or both). Burnt chocolate. Absolutely undrinkeable. As a former Arkansan, I am embarrassed that this bottle says "Product of Arkansas." Horrible. Also, with a name like Weidman's, shouldn't this be "Schlomo My Boy Stout?"

Weidman's Rope Swing Red Ale

Old Fort Brew Pub Inc

Steve: I didn't realize soap was part of the ingredients listed in the Reinheitsgebot. Cause that's what this smelled like. Fragrant soap. On the upside, while this is bottled, I'm not sure if this is available outside of Arkansas, so the rest of us are pretty damn lucky. If you're going to open up a brewpub, please make damn sure you make a product worth drinking. Not the worst beer I've ever had, but it's bad enough to be pissed at my efforts.

Wellhead Crude Oil Stout

Sam: Out in the Permian Basin, not too far from the Texas border, sits a little New Mexican town with an image problem. Unlike its larger and flashier sister to the north, Roswell--of UFO conspiracy theories fame--Artesia can only claim oil wells. Lots and lots of oil wells. Most days the town smells like a permanent fart from all the sulfur dioxide floating around. Most times I've passed through this little burgh, it was with the intent of getting to the mountains to the west. However, I noticed The Wellhead on the way through this last time, and my wife and I decided we had time to stop for a pint or two. Good decision! Their brewer (whose name escapes me just now) knows her stuff. This stout poured black as--well, you know--with a tan head, and had a delicious smoky aroma. Smoky and sweet flavor, with a nice hops balance. Very refreshing indeed. Should you find yourself in this dusty little corner of New Mexico, don't just hold your nose and keep driving. Stop off at The Wellhead and let them pour you a pint. (6/24/2006)

Wellhead Pale Ale

Wellhead Restaurant and Brewpub

Sam: Wow, who'd have thought such an unpreposessing little town could have such an undiscovered gem? This poured up a handsome amber color, and had a pleasant floral aroma. Nicely spiced with hops, and sweet but not too sweet. Everything you could ask for in a pale ale. It's a shame we couldn't stay for another pint. Try it if you're in the area. (7/23/2006)

Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot Barley-Wine Style Ale

Steve: At 11.1% ABV, this will make you a blithering idiot if not consumed with caution. Fortunately, that's not likely to be a problem for me, as I'm not likely to try it again. Don't get me wrong, it's not an awful beer, it's just that barley wines in general don't agree with me, and this one was probably not even one of the stronger ones. Each initial sip was alright, it was the finish that got me. Almost like a burning feeling, that made me make a face akin to Popeye, I think. I only had half (Kris had the other half), but that half alone had more alcohol than a normal 12 oz beer. They say that the more you try something, the more you'll get used to it, but this will take a lot of samplings for me, so I think I'll just stick to the lighter stuff. (6/22/2002)

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Weyerbacher Heresy Imperial Stout

Steve: Looking back at it, I wish I had saved this beer for a better occasion, like a holiday. It aged in my beer fridge for about a year and a half, so I figured I'd best crack it open before something happened. This was unbelievably good. I think saying anything else flowery about it would just be redundant. This was a complete drinking experience, right down to the cool label of a picture of a lightning bolt. (3/3/2007)

Weyerbacher Merry Monks' Belgian Style Golden Ale

Steve: This was a pretty good triple, with the obligatory pudgy drunken monks (side note....you never see a monk that has the physique of Lance Armstrong or Dwayne Johnson....why is that?). The head was already forming when I uncorked the 750ml bottle....that's right, it foamed right up and out of the bottle. So, I thought that maybe it had gone bad, but it poured really easily after that, and created a nice 2 finger head. There was a solid lemon flavor, with some sourness in the background. It was very easily drinkable, which means it was easy to put a 9.3% abv beer into me rather quickly. (1/23/2010)

Weyerbacher Slam Dunkel

Steve: There is only one way you need to market this beer towards me: Put "Double Dunkelweizen" on the label. That's like telling a meth addict "it has extra Benzene!" They're complex, to say the least. Like Owen Wilson explaining how he's not a wedding crasher in "Wedding Crashers." It's complicated. The light, easy drinking flavor of wheat, with the robust roasted dunkel flavor. There's a slight hint of bitter chocolate, and a nice banana aroma. I had this right after a Weihenstephaner Dunkel Hefeweissbier, and noted a strong resemblance. With the banana and chocolate accents, along with a fruitiness I detected (plum?) it's like a dessert beer. The lemon was subdued, like it was fighting its way out. It pours very nicely, with a perfect beer-foam-mustache inducing head, and leaving a lovely Belgian lace behind. It was missing something, I think it was a little extra alcohol kick. (3/22/2009)

Widmer Amberbier

Steve: This has a caramel sweetness to it, making it one of the best ambers I've ever had, domestic or import. This is easy drinking, perfect for red meat or a relaxing evening.

Widmer Broken Halo IPA

Sam: Serious beer snobs will probably turn their noses up at this review; Widmer Bros. for some reason isn't thought of particularly highly at other beer websites. But I'm going to come down in favor of Broken Halo. I thought it was delicious. Light amber, pleasant hops nose, not too sweet. Nicely malty and not over-the-top hops. It was clean, I thought. I would most definitely keep this in my beer fridge if it were routinely available here. (10/13/2007)

Widmer Drop Top Amber Ale

Sam: Nice. A little cloying--the caramel flavor's sort of sticky-sweet. But it's pleasantly enough hopped. A pretty decent springboard beer. Buy it if you don't feel like being challenged much. (12/15/2007)

Widmer Hefeweizen

Steve: I tried this on tap recently at Taco Mac, when the bartender provided a sample. I have to say that I was quite pleased. It wasn't very aromatic (although, it was served in a shot glass), but the taste was nice and malty, and a bit fruity too. No hop presence, perfect for a Hefe, so it allows the other flavors to shine through. The oddest part of it was the distinctive taste of Fruit Loops. Now, that might put some of you off, but take my word, it was a good thing. (1/9/2004)

Widmer Snow Plow Milk Stout

Sam: This is a pretty standard milk stout. Jet black, nice sweet smell, flavor's a little smokier than I would prefer. Still, when a chill hits the air, I'd turn to this if offered. Sorry, I'd love to give you something more creative, but this isn't a very memorable stout, and I'm writing this review in the dead of a Texas summer, when it's hotter than two rabbits boffing in a wool sock. This here's pale ale weather. (12/18/2005)

Wild Boar Amber

Georgia Brewing Co

Steve: I used to drink this beer considerably, but no more. I kind of grew tired of the taste, I guess. Ambers have a funny taste to me, like a stale ale. This is better than some I've sampled, and the best domestic one. However, if I want an amber, I'm going UK, not USA.

Wild Hop Organic Lager

Sam: About two weeks ago, I was idly perusing the beer labels at the local grocery, hoping for something new. I came across Wild Hops and figured what the heck. Got it home, cracked it open, poured it up. Golden, mildly carbonated. Bland but inoffensive. A little lemony character, not at all bad, per se, but the label just plain bothered me. Too slick. And odd for a chain grocery to go out on a limb with something new and exciting. So I looked it up. Yep, I've been had once again. The label says "Green Valley Brewing", but it's brewed at the A-B facility in Fairfield, CA. How's that for cynical? Anheuser-Busch wants into the organic market. They want your money so badly, they're willing to misrepresent who brews the beer. And just like the ghastly World Select, Wild Hop is easily a dollar a sixer more than "regular" craft beers. If you REALLY want to go organic, and you're willing to cough up the dough, and you're willing to fund this subterfuge, go ahead. Me, I feel dirty. And duped. (3/3/2007)

Winterhook Winter Ale

Redhook Brewing Co

Steve: Typical American winter ale, I suppose. Wasn't all that fantastic. Tasted kind of like their hefe-weizen, actually. I was expecting something better, because I love winter ales. Not nearly as tasty as Catamount's, just average; good, drinkable, but average. Neat bottle if you're a collector, though.

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Wisconsin Belgian Red

New Glarus Brewing Co

Steve: Apparently a pound of Door County (Wis) cherries go into every bottle of this. They are not kidding. This is an extremely fruity beer, almost champagne-like. Definitely a unique beer, brewed in a Belgian style, one you don't find too often here in the US. I think more carbonation would've helped, but this did sit in my fridge for about a year, so that might've had something to do with it. Good nonetheless, I might have to try this again. It certainly makes me want to venture into the original Belgian versions of this style. (9/2/2006)

Wit! Amber

Spring St. Brewery

Steve: This tasted more like a pale ale than an amber ale, but good nonetheless. If a beer is decent, I don't care if it meets the style it's shooting for...they can always change the label. Anyway, this was a hoppy, creamy beer that went down rather smooth. Not much else to say, as I've had a dozen beers that tasted just like this. Again, as long as it tastes good, who can complain?

Woodchuck Draft Cider (Amber)

Green Mountain Cidery

Steve: This is like a really good champagne, without the side effects. It had a sweet, apple wine taste, very effervescent. This is a great change from the same old thing. If I had had this a year ago, I would have had this at my wedding instead of One Eyed Jack (or, I would have had them both).

Woodchuck Draft Cider (Dark and Dry)

Green Mountain Cidery

Kris: This is like the Amber, just darker and drier. For those of you Bud drinkers that have no idea what that means (I think that means all of you), it's just not as sweet. A great drink to down before watching the Devils win, especially if that win comes at the expense of the Flyers, whose fans are literally a bunch of fags, or the Rangers, who are better at golf than hockey these days. If you can drink one or two of these before watching the Anti-Christ Lindros take a career-ending hit from, say, Scott Stevens, all the better. (10/20/2001)

Woodchuck Draft Cider (Granny Smith)

Green Mountain Cidery

Kris: I didn't think this was as good as the Amber. Too tart and sweet for my tastes. Think of a Sour Apple Blow Pop, and you know what it tastes like. I'm sorry, but there isn't much more to say. (10/9/2001)

Yazoo Amarillo Pale Ale

Yazoo Brewing Co

Sam: A lot lighter in color than you'd expect, has a light citrus hoppy aroma, and is pleasantly spicy-sweet in flavor. Wish I could say more. It's not the best APA I ever had, but it's fairly solid. (3/3/2007)

Youngblood's Imperial Porter

Dogwood Brewing Co

Steve: I initially purchased 2 of these right around the time that Dogwood went out of business in late 2004. This is the second of the two, which I drank a year later. It's a shame they folded, because this has to have been the best Dogwood beer I ever had. It had a nice roasted feel to it, with a nice chocolate taste in the background. And while the alcohol content was high, you didn't notice it until the end. I hope this is a recipe that gets picked up and brewed elsewhere, because it's Atlanta's loss that this was a last hurrah before Dogwood disappeared. (5/27/2006)

Yuengling Black & Tan

Yuengling Brewery

Steve: I have to say this is pretty damn good. No aftertaste, smooth, it looks almost as dark as Guiness, has the same sludgy foam, but none of the bitter taste. It is created by mixing a porter with a "premium" beer and it comes out great. If you like a dark beer but can't get used to that harsh coffee taste, try this.

Yuengling Porter

Yuengling Brewery

Steve: This was consumed after returning home from a business trip (via a 4 hour drive). I recommend this for anyone in such a situation. It is smooth, thick, malty, a little hoppy, basically almost a meal. Take your time drinking it, as you owe it to yourself to savor it. This is the oldest active brewery in the US, and their expertise shows in their products. This beer makes up 1/2 of their black and tan, which is one of the better ones I've had, so this is worth a try. And they say Americans can't brew beer. (9/26/1998)

Yuengling Traditional Lager

Yuengling Brewery

Steve: This isn't a review, this is a history lesson. The year is 1829. The Civil War is still 32 years away, Texas isn't a state yet (if only they had known then, they could've done something about that), in fact the US hadn't really expanded beyond the Mississippi. The Busch family is busy selling crap to German peasants back in Europe, still about 60 years away from selling crap to American peasants. 1829 is when this country was graced with our classic American lager, Yuengling. Now, it wasn't this specific type, but Traditional has become their flagship label. 174 years later, they've survived wars, depressions, disco, and Anheuser Busch raping the brewing countryside, and they've done it while brewing a quality beer. This doesn't cost that much more than Bud, and it has a crisp, smooth flavor and a nice maltiness to it. So why drink Bud when you can have this? Well, this is a regional brewery, so you're lucky to find it outside the East Coast. However, call your distributor and the brewery and insist they sell it, and maybe this country will find that we've been duped into believing that Bigger is Better (isn't that why we buy SUV's?). There are better beers, but this is a staple beer, one you should always keep on-hand. Give your money to a real American brewery, one that cares about quality. No, this isn't a paid advertisement, but dammit, I will take their money if they want to send it!!! (5/31/2003)

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Z Lager

Fort Collins Brewery

Steve: Z is a Rauchbier. Not sure why it is called Z. My guess is, so it goes last on all beer review websites that are sorted alphabetically, but if so, people will scroll right past Z to Anheuser-Busch's Ziegenbock. As far as Rauchbiers go, like many American versions of classic German styles, this is weak. You can taste the smokey flavor of the malt, but it fades very quickly, and leaves behind a bland taste. Overall, I was not thrilled. (5/8/2010)

Ziegenbock