Beer Reviews

Country

Type

Rating

Tucher Dunkles Hefeweizen (Germany)
Chestnut tan head with a subtle haze. Pours with a big, richly laced head. Medium bodied. Mild bitterness. Wonderful aromas feature banana, clove and toasty malt accents. Rich upfront, with frothy carbonation and a toasted malt note that turns drier through the finish where creamy, yeasty flavors come through. Relatively dry. Outstandingly flavorsome and refreshing. 4 Stars

Traquair House Ale (Scotland)
Dark mahogany color with a generous white head. Toasted grains, sweet malt, and toffee fill the nose. The palate echoes the nose as it seamlessly marries barley malt with semi-sweet caramel, roasted nuts, and hints of earth and brown spices. The finish lingers with rich but dry malt notes with a very delicate note of earthy hops. Dangerously sessionable. 4 Stars

Samuel Smith Winter Welcome (England)
Deep amber color. The aroma is very complex offering scents of toasted grains, sweet caramel, dried fruits (like a great fruit cake), and a balancing earthy bitterness. The palate confirms the aromatic notes with a rich, lush texture ideally balancing power with delicacy due in great part to its complex spice mélange. More than a “winter welcome” being a great winter remedy. 4 Stars

Harviestoun “Ola Dubh” Special Reserve 12 (Scotland)
Black as night with little head. Firm dark roasted malt scents abound running toward coffee, roasted nuts, treacle, and fruitcake. The palate confirms the nose adding a soft, sweet whisky note with a faint anise and semi-sour bread note. Exceptionally balanced and complex. Far from a gimmick beer, rather being a noble and tasty effort. 4 Stars

Kulmbacher Mönchshof Schwarzbier (Germany)
The oldest brand produced at Kulmbacher. Schwarzbier simply translates to black beer. A careful examination of the color reveals far more than black exhibiting a deep mahogany that appears to be black when viewed in the glass. This is exactly what a dark lager should be. Aromas of roasted malt with a beautiful - in measure - hop accent. Medium-bodied with an ideal texture being both lush and refreshing. 4 Stars

Mahrs Christmas Bock (Germany)
Deep bronze color with a short head. The aromatics offer classic scents of fresh yeast, early morning bakery style while also floral with a deft accent of hops, caramel, and roasted nuts, The texture is amazingly silky while vibrant showing incredible balance and complexity. The finish trails with a pretty marriage of malt and hops with a complimenting note of cocoa nibs. Wonderful. 4 Stars

Sam Adams Boston Lager (USA)
See the Full BevX Featured Review
Brilliant golden amber color. The nose reveals a complex marriage of roasted malt and fresh German hops that offer floral, citrus zest, and pine cone aromatics. The palate exhibits a rich malty, toffee like core with a crisp, mildly tart edge. Wonderfully balanced and ultimately satisfying. Medium to full-bodied with perfect balance seamlessly weaving malt and noble hop notes. 4 Stars

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold (USA)
See the Full BevX Featured Review
Brilliant golden color with a fine bead of bubbles that streams upward from the time it's poured until the last swallow. The aromatics are malty and floral with sweet grain notes and a well-integrated hops impression. The palate is substantial while dry with crisp grain and citrus notes. Ideally balanced with great length and a dry, vibrant finish. Richer than the classic German Dortmunders with more malt for the American Craft Beer lovers while keeping vibrant. 4 Stars