Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Samuel Adams Cold Snap Review

The Boston Beer Company
1-888-661-2337
How about a website on the bottle?


5.3% abv

I bought this a couple months ago when we still had snow on the ground.  I just never got around to doing a review.  This is the last bottle from that six pack so, I guess it is time. 


Appearance: heavy golden haze with a one finger white head that leaves no lacing on the glass.

Aroma: spice from the coriander; light orange peel; fresh wheat


Flavors and Mouthfeel: moderate spice on the palate; the coriander stands out to me followed by the orange peel; then some fresh grains; medium body; moderate carbonation to keep things fresh;

To the Point: reminds me of a winter white (wit) beer; or a Belgian Wit - like Hoegaarden (I'm off to the store to buy some); pleasing spice profile; I would buy this again. I would give this beer a high B for a grade; okay a B+.  


Pair this with: white fish or shell fish


Sunday, May 25, 2014

Fischer Platz Means Summer is Here

One of the many things I love to do in the summer is stop by the Bavarian Inns Fischer Platz which is located on the south end of the Bavarian Inns Restaurant in the parking lot located along Main Street.


Linda Lee and all the accordion playing groups will be out there playing some fun polka music and more. 


One of my favorites is Joel Zwerk.  He has a good sense of humor.  You know he is playing when he has his Hurst sitting by the stage.  


He looks very good behind the tree
Get there early to get the best seat
You gotta love his slogan(s) on the side door of the Hurst


The plate in the window says, 'Party Like a Mortician Grab a Cold One'









Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale Review

Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Company
Lexington, Kentucky, USA


8.19% abv
$3.30 a bottle
12oz bottle
Picked up at a party store in Ohio
Ale aged in oak bourbon barrels

Appearance: crystal amber-copper; quarter finger white head with an aggressive pour; not much on the lacing front


Aroma: wet grains; little oak; not much else

Flavors: on the first few sips I couldn’t pick out a thing; as the ale opened up – a nice little spicy oak; a touch of bourbon soaked caramel;

Mouthfeel: moderate-light carbonation; crisp; seems thin at times; medium body; grainy bourbon on the finish and aftertaste; seems out of whack; thin of the front, then a light-moderate blast of spicy oak and then you are left thinking, ‘what is this?’  the bourbon soaked caramel is like an afterthought


To the Point: this is okay; I’ll give it a C+; 


Thursday, May 8, 2014

Kentucky Ale Review

Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Company
Lexington, Kentucky, USA


6% abv
$1.65 a bottle
12oz bottle
Picked up at a party store in Ohio
“A marriage of traditional English Pale Ale and Irish Red Ale styles.”

Appearance: bright shiny copper body; very clear; quarter finger white head that disappeared before you could even think about it; no lacing


Aroma: not much on the nose; maybe a hint of caramel and grains;

Flavors: a light caramel mineral water flavor; put this in a plastic bottle and sell it in the water section

Mouthfeel: watery; dirty water; light moderate carbonation; light – maybe light-moderate body;
Hell with my mouthfeel – I wonder how the grass is going to feel when I pour this on it. 


To the Point: This is my third beer from this brewery and I have not enjoyed one of them.  This is not even a good introductory beer; with family roots in Kentucky I was hoping to find a gem here; drinking this beer is like betting on a horse with 4-1 odds and watch it come in last place out of 19 horses.  


Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Kentucky Light Review

Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Company
Lexington, Kentucky, USA


4.32% abv
$1.65 a bottle
12oz bottle
Picked up at a party store in Ohio
Kolsch Style Beer

Appearance: bright yellow-golden body with a half finger white head that leaves some spotty lacing


Aroma: typical light beer nose; white bread at best

Flavors: water cracker; white bread; a light tart note on the back and finish

Mouthfeel: plenty of carbonation; crisp; boring; typical light beer style

To the Point: this is no Kolsch Beer; it is a plain and simple light beer; if you like light beers then you may like this; I don’t like light beers because they are void of flavors




Thursday, May 1, 2014

Kentucky Stout no Good - Let me do an Ohio Stout that is good

I just did a review on a Stout called, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout from Lexington, Kentucky.  I have to make this up to my palate.  That Stout was tasteless.  I have a couple of bottles left of Siberian Night Imperial Stout BB so, I’ll have to crack one.


This is more like it.  Great nose, wonderful taste, nice feel on the palate, and the legs are dripping on the glass.  Click here to read the full review on Siberian Night BB.


Time for a quality cigar and sit back and enjoy.   

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout Review

Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Company
Lexington, Kentucky, USA


Stout brewed with coffee and aged in oak barrels with Haitian coffee
8% abv
$3.55 a bottle
12oz bottle


Being born in Kentucky I am looking forward to trying some ales from Kentucky.  I was in Ohio last month and picked up several different beers from this brewery.  I bought two bottles of this stout because I like Bourbon Barrel Stouts and Porters.  

Appearance: black body with a half finger tan head that did not stay around long; no lacing; spotty lacing with each sip and it slowly slides down the glass to nothing; no syrupy legs


Aroma: just opened the bottle so maybe it has not warmed up to display the bouquet; nothing; just plain old nothing; weak watered down coffee at best; no bourbon here; went to my cellar got a bottle of bourbon for I thought maybe I forgot what it smelled like; yep, no bourbon on the nose; no roasted notes that a stout should have nothing, just plain ol’ nothing

Flavors: some charred oak; no bourbon; thin on the flavors if there are any;   

Mouthfeel: this is a stout; has the body of a black lager; fine fizzy carbonation; thin body; light bitter diner coffee;


To the Point: I would not even give this to someone as an introductory Bourbon Barrel Stout; Shit I bought two bottles of this crap; If they called this ‘Charred Oak Black Lager’ okay I would give it a B; for a Bourbon Barrel Stout – I’ll give it a D all day long;


At $3.55 a bottle for this dirty water go and buy: KBS, Siberian Night BB; Goose Island Bourbon Country; Arcadia Shipwreck Porter is great for the money; I say, don’t buy it and buy something good. 

This stuff is so bad that I don't won't to even bet on the Kentucky Derby and I never miss that opportunity.