Beer Reviews

Country

Type

Rating

Tieton Cider Works “Cherry” (USA)
Bright, natural burgundy color with a fine bead of bubbles. The nose is wonderfully complex and appealing with a careful blend of sweet and tart cherries, apple juice, and apple skins. The palate is equally compelling offering the perfect balance of cherry and apple as well as sweet and tart. A semi-dry style that benefits from the slight touch of sugar as it adds heft to the complex fruit blend. It is lovely in its simplicity as well as its complexity making it perfect for any crowd or occasion. Terrific stuff. 5 Stars

Lindemans Cuvée René Guezue (Belgium)
Deep 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. 5 Stars

Orval Trappist (Belgium)
Unlike the other Trappist breweries, Orval makes just one style of beer. Their ale is orange to brown in color with a wildly aromatic nose offering scents of grain, citrus, and coriander. The palate is medium to full filled with fruity notes accented by spice, dried hops, and wild flowers. Incredibly complex begging the next sip. This is a classic! 5 Stars

New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red (USA)
Dark tan with a reddish tint. Medium bodied. Exotic brown spice and cooked cherry aromas. This has clearly seen good oak aging. Carries a fine note of soured cherry, matched with some sweetness and a rich, woody character that lingers on the finish. Very harmonious and quite unique. 5 Stars

Young & Co. Oatmeal Stout (England)
Deep blackish-brown appearance. Medium-bodied. Lovely sweet malt aromas are inviting. Rich sweet caramel malt entry has a nice roasted accent that lingers through the finish. Smooth, rounded and very drinkable. Fruity hop flavors show through, especially on the finish. Complex yet wonderfully balanced. 5 Stars

Dupont Saison, Farm House Ale (Belgium)
Cloudy with a bright golden color. Medium-bodied to full-bodied offering unique depth and style. Outstanding floral hop aromas provide a fruity accent. Pours with a huge frothy white head. The mildly sweet pale malt bite gives way to a bucket-load of wonderful hop flavors that never turn too bitter while giving the finish great authority and definition. 5 Stars

Dupont Moinette Blonde (Organic Saison) (Belgium)
A hazy beer much like the Weiss Beers you have seen at your favorite tavern. Complex aromas of brown spice and herbs. Bright citrus note upfront with toasted malt palate giving contrasting sweet malt/toffee flavors. A very impressive and complex brew that will satisfy the experts while being approachable to the novice. 5 Stars

Traquair Jacobite Ale (Scotland)
Deep mahogany color with a rocky white head. The nose presents a complex and pleasing aromatic profile that offers as much spice and herbal-like hops notes as dense malted barley. The palate offers waves of malt and grain with accents of caramel, cocoa nibs, fruitcake, with star anise, cardamom, and a hint of clove. Ideally balanced, skillfully masking its considerable strength. Tremendous. 5 Stars

Harviestoun “Ola Dubh” Special Reserve 16 (Scotland)
Black as night with a modest tan head of foam. The nose is rich and malty with notes of dried fruits, mocha, a touch of smoke, toasted walnuts, chocolate, and sweet grains. The palate echoes the nose being rich and silky while not being too heavy offering complex, ever changing flavors. A wonderful night cap! null null null 5 Stars

Harviestoun “Ola Dubh” Special Reserve 30 (Scotland)
Black as night with a modest tan head of foam. Very rich and malty on the nose with generous aromatic notes of dried fruit, chocolate, and vanilla. The palate confirms the nose adding a distinctive whisky note that is much more pronounced than the 12 and 16, becoming a lovely scotch ale/scotch whisky hybrid. 5 Stars