Heavy Seas Black Cannon: Review

Black IPA

Clipper City Brewing Company

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

7.25% abv

45 IBU

Available January thru March

Heavyseasbeer.com

Appearance: black body with a one finger tan head that leaves some lacing on the glass.

Aroma: not big, but I am picking up a hint of pine, a touch of floral, a touch roasted grains, a little coffee note

Flavors: toasted flavors, roasted grains, pine in the mix, a little semi-sweet chocolate,

Mouthfeel: a little wool like on the texture, roasted notes linger,

To the Point: a nice Black IPA; worthy to try

Augustinerbrau Munchen Maximator: Review

Augustinerbrau Munchen Maximator

Munchner Bier Maximator

Augustiner Brewery

Munich, Germany

Style: Doppelbock

7.5% abv

$17.00 a six pack

Appearance: clear mahogany body with a little beige head and no lacing

Aroma: rich sweet malty tones

Flavors: rich malty notes, caramel, lightly toasted toffee, dark sugar, dark fruits,

Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, semi-thick feel, the rich malty notes cling to the palate,

To the Point: I can only drink one of these.  Too rich and the dark sugary profile makes it a one and done for me.  It is an okay to midland as far as Doppelbocks go. For the price ... there is better out there. 

poperings hommel ale: Review

Brewed & Bottled by:

NV Van Eecke

Watou, Belgium

7.5% abv

11.2oz bottle

$16.99 a four pack

I came across this beer about three years ago and thanks to Global Beer the American importer of this ale and many others.  This is a Belgian IPA and sorry American Hopheads it is not a bitter bomb.  But, it is liquid art. 

Appearance: a hazy blend of gold and amber with a two finger egg-shell white head with plenty of lacing on the glass.  Make sure to get that sediment off the bottom of the bottle. 

Aroma: light floral hops, a twist of lemon rind, hint of fresh apple and pear, hint of sweet malts and Belgium yeast.  Nice aromatic hops – sorry hopheads not bitter hops. 

Flavors: let this ale warm a little after taking it out of the fridge for the flavor pop once it hits the 50 degree mark; floral, a rosy-floral note, hint of lemon meat – just a hint, a little fruity – white fruit like, a pinch of coriander, a dash (one dash) of pink peppercorn, low sodium saltine cracker, sweet malts – sweet dough like

Mouthfeel: good Belgian carbonation, there is an oily feel from the hops, the nice fizzy and oily feel gives it a semi-creamy feel, lingering floral and that twist of lemon rind on the aftertaste

To the Point: this ale is soooo easy to drink and at 7.5% watch out for it will catch up to you.  This is one of my favorite Belgians – right up there with Piraat – I am not saying that it is like Piraat – I am saying it is one of my favorites like Piraat. 

Arbor Brewing Michael Faricy’s Stout

Arbor Brewing Company

Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA

5% abv

42 IBU

Style: Dry Irish Stout

Source: Arborbrewing.com

$9.99 a six pack

Serve this around 50 to 55 degrees

Served right out of the fridge the aromas and flavors will be muted. 

Appearance: a fairly aggressive pour to get almost a one finger tan head that sits atop the black colored body of this Irish Stout.  Some lacing is left behind on the first couple of sips; after that minimal lacing.   

Aroma: roasted grains, mocha coffee, nice touch of smoke

Flavors: smoky roasted grains, grainy coffee from a dive diner, spicy – like it was brewed with rye, so it reminds me of rye bread with a hint of caraway seed, lightly bitter style that makes me think of 85% dark chocolate on the back of the palate,

Mouthfeel: medium body for a stout (it is an Irish Stout), a light / very fine fizzy carbonation feel, I would not call it creamy – the spice style plus the 85% dark chocolate bitterness are just not creamy, nice spicy feel, light bitterness on the mid and finish, slight smoky burnt campfire aftertaste, dry-roasted aftertaste

To the Point: a nice Irish Stout, I found it easy to enjoy, I have always thought that ‘Irish Stouts’ should just be called ‘Black Beer’.  

Thirsty Dog Twisted Kilt

Scottish Style Export Ale

Thirsty Dog Brewing Company

Akron, Ohio, USA

Thirstydog.com

5.3% abv

13.5 IBU

Appearance: amber body with a decent off white head that leaves no lacing behind on the glass

Aroma: toasted caramel, roasted grains and bread

Flavors: sweet toasted caramel, roasted grains and wheat or wheat and rye bread like;

Mouthfeel: the sweet caramelized sugar shows through, while the sweetness shows up the hops must being doing a little work to help out for at least the sweetness does not slap you silly, moderate carbonation, light-moderate body overall,

To the Point: nice flavors, nothing super special here, easy to drink, for me personally on the sweet side so one and done.  

My Sadie is still sweeter than this beer
She has a one IBU rating

Bell’s Midwestern Pale Ale: Review

Bell’s Brewery

Comstock, Michigan, USA

5.2% abv

Bottled: 10-23-12

Bellsbeer.com

Appearance: hazy golden orange body that has tons of plankton (super fine sediment) floating around – that is from all the sediment on the bottom of the bottle.  Two finger white head that leaves tons of lacing on the glass.  Tons of lacing on the glass during the first ¼ of the beverage – spotty thereafter.

Aroma: light bouquet overall; light spice, hint of floral, not much else

Flavors: spicy, semi-sweet grains, earthy, little bitterness, mineral water around the edges

Mouthfeel: light carbonation feel, spicy, light to moderate bittering on the mid palate, medium body, light aftertaste – just a touch of spice … nothing special

Overall: average to slightly above average; doesn't have character – missing distinct notes and depth; easy to drink; nice to try but not a must have

Bell’s Amber Ale: Review

Bell’s Brewery

Comstock, Michigan, USA

5.8% abv

Bellsbeer.com

Date: 11-26-12

Appearance: cloudy amber body with a two finger fine light beige head

Aroma: hint of caramel malts, ever so slight citrus; okay on the nose

Flavors: toasted grains, citrus nip, floral note, spice, sweet caramel swirling around the other flavors, these flavors mingle together for a tasty Amber Ale

Mouthfeel: crisp, moderate carbonation, spicy on the back of the palate, mild-moderate citrus peel bitter note on the aftertaste

To the Point: a top-notch tasty Amber Ale, use this to judge all others

Tap Room No. 21 Pale Ale: Review

Moe’s Backroom Pale Ale

5.3% abv

Appearance: misty amber body with maybe a one finger white head that left some lacing on the glass on the first two sips.

Aroma: wow, a little pale ale like; did the Tap Room make a mistake and get this one close.  A weak citrus note, a little fruity like, and not much else.

Flavors: a light citrus note, faint fruit, little bready, grassy hops, maybe herbal water

Mouthfeel: light on the delivery (thin), little citrus mid and finish, grassy on the finish, fine carbonation, light on the palate, weak aftertaste – no linger notes

To the Point: average at best; thin and weak come to mind; maybe a good introductory beer.  I reviewed four beers from the Tap Room and this was their best.  I would pass on any of their beers.  

Tap Room No. 21 Amber Ale: Review

Moe’s Backroom Amber Ale

Honey Added

4.8% abv

Appearance: clear amber colored body with ¼ inch white head that leaves no lacing behind.

Aroma: dusty grains and muted spice mingled with some sweet bread

Flavors: a strange sweet note (if that is the honey – I don’t like it) – I think that sweet note is coming from corn, stale caramel malt, flat dusty grains – old corn, dainty non-descript spice on the back

Mouthfeel: just a bad taste on the palate, strange, strange and strange, good thing it has a weak nasty aftertaste it won't stay around long.

To the Point: a first time home brewer can do better making it out of their bath tub. Yes, this is terrible, save your money, save your taste buds, save the future of mankind - refuse to even try this beer.  

This week I have reviewed three of their beers and have not been impressed one bit.  I have one more bottle, their Pale Ale.  

Read Reviews on:
Tap Room Wheat
Tap Room Lager
Tap Room Pale Ale

Tap Room No. 21 Wheat Beer: Review

Moe’s Backroom Wheat Beer

Tap Room Brewing Company

Rochester, New York, USA

Appearance: misty yellow-gold body with a half finger white head that leaves some lacing behind.  No wheat sediment – interesting? 

Aroma: light lemon citrus soda; dainty wheat;

Flavors: citrus zip, hint of dusty wheat, sour dough bread, watery around the edge

Mouthfeel: citrus up front and then some light wheat, fine fizzy carbonation,

To the Point: not the best wheat beer around but, it should hit the spot on a hot summer day if there was nothing else around.  A sub pair wheat beer.  I am getting a feeling (after trying a couple of their beers) that Tap Room is just a big beer company masquerading as a craft beer.

Read the Reviews:
Tap Room Pale Ale
Tap Room Lager
Tap Room Amber Ale

Tap Room 21 Lager: Review

Moe’s Backroom Lager

Tap Room Brewing Company

Rochester, New York, USA

4.5% abv

Celebrating the Repeal of Prohibition 1933

Appearance: clear amber body with a half finger off white head and no lacing

Aroma: super mild, light bread, nothing else

Flavors: wheat bread; grains, maybe a watered down floral

Mouthfeel: good carbonation, fizzy feel, typical lager with a touch of flavor, at least I can say it does not have an artificial sugar taste like some national brand lager

To the Point: an average beer drinker will probably like this; I could skip it; 

Read Reviews on:
Tap Room Amber Ale
Tap Room Wheat
Tap Room Pale Ale

Harpoon Rich & Dan’s Rye IPA: Review

Harpoon Brewery

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

6.9% abv

70 IBU’s

Harpoonbrewery.com

After reviewing some rather sweet style beers and fruity type beers it is about time to review a real beer – an IPA. 

Appearance: misty amber body with a big two finger off white head that leaves tons of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: nice rye spiciness, touch of citrus/floral hops, light fruit

Flavors: whole grain cracker, rye spiciness, slight bitterness, earthy grains, touch of pine on the back, hint of fruit

Mouthfeel: light fizzy carbonation, sweet caramel on the delivery, spicy feel right behind hitting the mid and finish, bitterness on the back with that nice touch of pine, slightly oily, lingering twang on the palate, slightly dry feel, good balancing act for being on the bitter side of town

To the Point: to me this is a nice rye IPA, I will buy this again, 

Dark Horse Raspberry Ale: Review

Dark Horse Brewery

Marshall, Michigan, USA

5% abv

No date on the bottle

Appearance: butterscotch candy – strange color for a raspberry ale

Aroma: earthy wheat, dusty earth

Flavors: no clue – dirty grains; sour/tart mash;

To the Point: skip this one; Dark Horse makes some nice beers … buy those

must be $11.99 a six pack
I wouldn't give 1.99 for the six