Beer Reviews
Filter by Letter
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
ORGoose Island Harvest Ale, 6 pk 12oz. btls. (USA)
FEATUREDBright, brilliant clarity with an amber/copper hue. Roasted malt aromas with a generous dose of floral hops. Wonderfully fruity with accents of toasted banana bread with the perfect addition of fresh hops and winter spices. Far too many Beers in the style are over done with both hops and malt. This Harvest Ale, like so many of the Goose Island Beers, is distinguished by it’s careful balance and complexity. Fantastic!

Goose Island Matilda, 4 pk 12oz btls. (USA)
FEATUREDThere are a great number of beers being brewed in the US that aim to be “Belgian” in style. Most fall well short of their benchmark. On the other side of that coin is Goose Island’s Matilda, which captures the essence of a Belgian Abbey style ale offering a complex mélange of fruit, malt, and hops accented with notes of citrus, clove, caramel, pepper, and cardamom that instantly transform you to a Brussels café. If you are lucky enough to find this limited beer on draft, it’s even better.

Lindemans Cuvée René Guezue, 750ml btls. (Belgium)
FEATUREDDeep orange-gold hue and quite hazy. Extraordinarily intense gueuze aromas with typical earth and leather character. The nose is reminiscent of a dry white wine and cider hybrid with amazing ester notes. Tart and crisp with a Fino Sherry like flavors. Incredibly refreshing with zesty citrus notes. It’s a classic beer, but not for the timid. It will certainly benefit from a few years in the cellar.

Abbaye des Rocs Spéciale Noël, 750ml btl. (Belgium)
Rich, complex fruit aroma of cherries, golden raisins, peaches, and assorted dried fruit, laced with honey and caramel. Smooth, rich flavors reminiscent of cherries dipped in caramel, finishing with notes of dried chocolate, roasted almonds, and a hint of molasses.

Abita Christmas Ale, 6 pk 12oz. btls. (USA)
A beautiful amber to mahogany color with great clarity and a generous white head. The nose is dense and spicy with scents of treacle and well-done gingerbread, roasted nuts and grain. The palate echoes the nose being a bit drier than expected with toasted grain notes completing the flavor profile with a healthy dose of acidity. We wanted a bit more stuffing as it became a bit thin.

Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale - 2008, 6 pk 12oz. btls. (USA)
Deep amber color, with a thick tan head. The aromas are rich and dense with scents of sweet malt, candied nuts, orange peel, fruitcake spices, and dark roasted coffee. Dry with a soft but grainy texture. Semi-bitter and clean finish. In the world of Christmas Beers, this is a session ale.

Anchor Brewing Steam, 6 pk 12oz. btls. (USA)
Rich amber hue. A true classic offering the ideal marriage of toasted malt and hops. It’s rich while crisp with beautiful floral hop notes that are woven seamlessly with rich malt flavors. Always a satisfying choice.

Anderson Valley Brewing Winter Solstice, 6 pk 12oz. btls. (USA)
Deep amber color. The nose is filled with fresh, spicy hop notes, pine cone, chocolate that is wildly reminiscent of a tootsie roll, and cream soda. On the palate this rich brew even takes on the texture of cream soda with rich vanilla flavors that mingle with fruity ale flavors and sweet chocolate. Very nicely balanced wearing its considerable strength with finesse and style.

Ayinger Weizen-Bock, 500ml btl. (Germany)
Deep, golden color with a dense haze and generous white head that lasts for the entire Beer. The nose reveals classic hefe-weizen notes with a dense fruit and spice driven core, fresh baked bread, and accents of tropical fruit. The palate echoes the nose delivering richness with ideal balance, vibrancy, and length. Notes of citrus, clove, ginger, and toasted grain mingle seamlessly. Spectacular.

Batemans Rosey Nosey Holiday Ale, 500ml btl. (England)
Bright tawny color with a perfect clarity and a modest white head. The nose is wonderfully fruity and rich with a great sense of balance due to English hops and a modest - dare we say session worthy - strength. Interwoven is a fresh layer of toasted grains with accents of caramel and fruitcake. A treat.







