Beer Reviews

Country

Type

Rating

Belhaven Scottish Ale (Scotland)
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Brilliant chestnut/amber with a substantial, creamy white head. The aromatics are fresh and generous with notes of roasted nuts and grain, tea biscuits, and subtle brown baking spices with accents of British hops. The palate confirms the nose delivering a silky malt core with waves of toffee, toasted grains, and soft notes of honey. Medium-bodied with ideal balance thanks to a bright dose of acidity and earthy hop notes. 4.5 Stars

Hinterland Oktoberfest (USA)
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Brilliant, deep golden/amber color. The aromatics are fresh and vibrant with bready notes first greeting the nose followed by caramel malt and a bright dose of Hallertau hops. The palate echoes the nose delivering toasted and slightly sweet malt-driven core with waves of toasted bread and hops. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced being more restrained and dry than most American Oktoberfest. 4 Stars

Ridgeway Santa’s Butt (England)
Deep amber to black color. Intense malt aromatics with a hints of earth, brown spices, toasted nuts, and ginger biscuits. The palate is in full agreement with rich, warming malt flavors touched by caramel and nutmeg. 3 Stars

Ridgeway Very Bad Elf (England)
Bright amber to copper color. The nose filled with scents of toasted grain with accents of dried fruits, caramel, and iodine. Malty while fresh and vibrant delivering complex flavors of malt and grains with a tough of earth, juniper, and fruitcake. 3 Stars

St. Feuillien Cuvée Noel (Belgium)
Deep amber to mahogany color. The aromatics are wonderfully complex and inviting. With a little time in the glass you are confronted with scents of fruitcake, toffee, treacle, cherry, sweet malted barley, currants, and brown baking spices. The palate delivers the promise of the nose. Lush while balanced with baked fruit flavors accented by spice and a fine carbonation. Lovely. 4 Stars

Full Sail Wreck the Halls (USA)
Bright amber with golden tones. Semi-cloudy with a thick, rocky head of foam. The nose is fresh with sweet malt and citrus forward hops. The palate carries on where the nose has led us offering a firm hop driven profile with a sharp, bitter finish. This brew will thrill the hopheads. 3 Stars

Full Sail Old Broadhead Barleywine Ale (USA)
Deep amber/burgundy color. The nose is rich with sweet, caramel, a touch of allspice, rich malt, roasted nuts, toffee, and baked apples. The palate concurs being rich and lush while ideally balanced with fresh acidity and bright hops notes. A blockbuster Ale with super balance and layers of flavors to add interest. A very stylish Barley Wine. 4 Stars

Ayinger Weizen-Bock (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. 5 Stars

Batemans Rosey Nosey Holiday Ale (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. 4 Stars

Eel River Brewing Climax Noel 2009 (USA)
Dense amber to brick red with a good bit of haze and a creamy layer of foam. The nose is bright and assertive with berry fruits, cherry, sweet caramel, allspice, and dried raspberry. The palate confirms the nose being rich and quite sweet veering toward dessert flavors with pumpkin pie spices, ginger, and caramel. Far from shy. 3 Stars