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Brew: Leffe Blonde

Brewed by: Abbaye de Leffe S.A.; Belgium

Style: Belgian pale ale

Glassware: Best served in a snifter, tulip glass or over-sized wine glass.

Personal Notes:

Let me introduce you to my most favorite Belgian Pale Ale… Leffe Blonde. Pale amber in color, this ale pumps out a full-bodied, flavor-rich beer. First you’ll notice the soothing amber color in which light dances on the surface and deep within the glass. Take a moment to enjoy the substantial head that forms when the beer is poured just right. As you enjoy this fine ale, take note of the foam rings that line your glass. Drinking doesn’t just involve taste… take time to enjoy the look and display that your beer provides!

Then take in your first drink… no other ale fills my mouth like this hearty Belgian Ale! I notice different flavors each time I enjoy this ale but for the most part it imparts a slightly sweet yet slightly spicy flavor that is as soft as warm caramel on the tongue. There are also subtle hints of vanilla and maybe even some toffee. At times I’ve tasted (or did I imagine it?!) slight tastes of banana but definitely some sweet spices! As for the aroma of the ale… well… it really smells like banana nut bread!

Keep in mind that Belgian ales are thought to be amongst the best in the world. They are very complex but very, very rewarding to the ale connoisseur! So grab ya some Leffe… get it as cold as you can, pour you a glass and enjoy this awesome ale!

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Brew: Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball Ale

Brewed by: Lagunitas Brewing Co.; Petaluma, California USA

Style: American Strong Ale

Glassware: Best served in a mug, pint/shaker, or a snifter.

Personal Notes: Ok, this is my second review on a Lagunitas brew and it will most likely be my last. Is their water coming from Death Valley??!! Oh my gosh this brew was horrid; not even worthy of being used in my yard tonic for fear of killing off all vegetation! It pours up a pleasingly rich dark mahogany colored body with a somewhat nice foamy head. The aromas were very pleasing; filled with toasted malts, sugars, and hints of cherry. The taste (oh my) was definitely NOT to my liking. I don't know what it is but none of their brews possess a well-balanced taste in my opinion. Like a dry, dry wine it was very chalky and it was just something that I could not get around. It was almost like gnawing on a rotted piece of burlap; yeah, it was that bad. So I've tried a few of their brews but don't look for any further reviews on their products (unless someone has just begged and pleaded to buy me one, cause I'm not spending any more of my money on them!).

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Brew: Magic Hat Wacko

Brewed by: Magic Hat Brewing Co; Burlington, Vermont USA

Style: Hybrid (Fruit Beer)

Glassware: Best served in the trash (seriously).

Personal Notes: I'm not even gonna waste anyone's time on this one. It sucks big time! This is NOT beer. Seriously, 'wacko' is the perfect term for this brew. I'd much rather eat the bottle than to take another sip of this atrocity!

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Brew: Shiner Ruby Redbird

Brewed by: Spoetzl Brewery; Shiner, Texas USA

Style: Hybrid (Fruit beer)

Glassware: Best served in a mug or pint/shaker.

Personal Notes: http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/a...ilies/barf.gif oh yuck!! I should have stopped when I read that this brew was blended with grapefruit and ginger!!! There’s just something about fruit-infused beers that are just not up to my liking! But if you’re into these sorts of hybrids then by all means read on! It pours up a rich amber body with very little head and that’s gone about as soon as you stop pouring the bottle out! The smell of ginger and grapefruit were just too much for me and frankly it is very overpowering. The taste has a bite to it that almost had me spitting it out (but I held back because I didn’t want to have to clean up the mess!). All I tasted was bad ginger and bad grapefruit and it’s very very bitter. Shiner totes that this is the “perfect summer beer”. Well they (and others) can have it that way as I have far better summer beer preferences! If you’re looking for the strange and unusual in the craft brew world, this one’s for you (but not me)!

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Brew: Bohemia Clasica

Brewed by: Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma, S.A. de C.V.; Monterrey (Nuevo Leon), Mexico

Style: Mexican Light Lager

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or a pint/shaker.

Personal Notes: An average brew to say the least. It pours up a pale golden body with a somewhat fizzy head. Marginal scents and flavors of corn and grains. The body is very light and carbonated somewhat heavily. Of the light beer family, there are many others that would be more fulfilling than this brew.

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Brew: Avery – The Czar

Brewed by: Avery Brewing Co; Boulder, Colorado USA

Style: American Imperial Stout

Glassware: Best served in a snifter or a pint/shaker.

Personal Notes: Oh yeah… another one to add to the AW Beer Hall of Fame!!! This brew pours up a rich black body sporting a rich tan creamy head that stays with the brew for quite some time leaving some nice lacing on the glass while the brew is being enjoyed. One’s sense of smell is flooded with chocolate, roasted hazelnuts and something along the lines of warm snicker-doodle or warm gingerbread cookies. The flavor of this beer is very complex and yet very, very enjoyable. I can’t even find the right words to adequately describe the flavors noted in this brews; but they are all well-balanced and very much to be savored slowly! The body is just how I like a good stout to be; thick, rich and almost chewy! This brew is definitely one to be enjoyed as a dessert (even though I devoured mine along with some rich, spicy hot wings!!!).

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Brew: Kingfisher Premium Lager

Brewed by: United Breweries – UB Group | Bangalore, India

Style: Indian Pale Lager

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass.

Personal Notes: This is my first “Indian” brew to review and I am very pleased with it! This brew pours up an excellent golden yellow/amber body color with a decent white fizzy head. Scents and flavors of malts and hops abound in this well-balanced brew. The body feels light and carbonated abundantly. An easy session brew during the hot summer months and tastes good even when it warms a bit. This would be a great brew to have with some poultry or fish/seafood meals as well as will many Indian recipes!

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Brew: Konig Pilsener

Brewed by: König-Brauerei GmbH; Duisburg, Germany

Style: German Pilsener

Glassware: Best served in a mug or pilsener glass.

Personal Notes: A very good German pilsener! Taken from BeerAdvocate.com: (from the bottle) “Das Konig der Biere (the King of Beer); Purum Laudatur (Purest [Highest] Praise); Gebraut nach dem Reinheitzgebot von 1516 (Brewed According to the Reinheitsgebot [Purity Law] of 1516)”. This brews pours up a clear yellow/amber colored body with a nice frothy head (not a thick one but nice enough!). Wonderful scents and flavors of hops and robust malts. The body is very light with just the right amount of carbonation. A nice German pils indeed! A great compliment to a spicy fish/seafood meal!

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Brew: Rahr & Sons Bucking Bock

Brewed by: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Fort Worth, Texas USA

Style: American Maibock / Helles Bock

Glassware: Best served in a flute, pilsner glass, or a mug.

Personal Notes: Oh sweet day in May!! This is one AWESOME bock! An awesome session brew to be enjoyed over and over and over!! This brew pours up a rich almost caramel-y body and sports and amazing frothy head. The scents are absolutely intoxicating! Sweet toasted malts mixed in with some caramel and subtle hints of baked apples. The flavors in this brew are stunning to say the least! Loads of malts and an exceptionally balanced sweet/bitter bite with a solid finish that entices you to your next savoring. Again this is an exceptional brew to be enjoyed with some fish/seafood meals or all by itself! Excellent work Fritz!

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Brew: Saint Arnold Summer Pils

Brewed by: Saint Arnold Brewing Co.; Houston, Texas USA

Style: American Pilsner

Glassware: Best served in a mug or pilsner glass.

Personal Notes: This was a fairly good pilsner. Pours up a very clear, light yellow/amber body with a minimal fizzy head. Scents and flavors of malts and hops entice the senses. Just the right bitter kick on this smooth and easy drinking brew. Goes good with a grilled chicken or spicy fish meal! Makes for a good session brew on a hot summer day.

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Brew: Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout

Brewed by: Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) | Tadcaster, United Kingdom (England)

Style: English Oatmeal Stout

Glassware: Best served in a mug or pint/shaker.

Personal Notes: Well, here’s another addition to the AW BHoF!!! This hearty brew pours up a rich, dark (near black) body sporting an exceptional tan frothy head which provides for some excellent lacing as this brew was savored. The sense of smell is flooded with rich oats, robust/strong coffees, malts, caramel, and molasses. The taste is absolutely out of this world! Smooth, rich, creamy; these terms pale in comparison of the uniqueness of this fine brew! There’s just enough bite from the hops that keep this from being on overly sweet brew. What I enjoyed most were the teasings of toffee and chocolate aftertastes. Definitely a brew I would enjoy with smoked meats or a wild game dinner!

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Brew: Widmer Brothers Drifter Pale Ale

Brewed by: Widmer Brothers Brewing Company | Portland, Oregon USA

Style: American Pale Ale

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/shaker.

Personal Notes: A good ale that almost had me guessing that it was a hybrid (fruit beer with grapefruit/orange) in disguise! This brew pours up a copper-colored body and a good frothy head. Scents of grapefruit and orange abound. Flavors of grapefruit/orange are dominant followed up with a well-balanced hit of hops and malts and finishes off with a tart aftertaste. As strong as the citrus-y are, I’m not quite sure what would go well with this brew; therefore I would opt to enjoying it all by itself.

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Brew: Boddingtons Pub Ale

Brewed by: Boddingtons | Manchester, United Kingdom (England)

Style: English Pale Ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass (shaker/nonic/becker).

Personal Notes: This has DEFINITELY been one of the most interesting brews I’ve tried in a long, long time! This brew pours up a gorgeous copper colored body and it’s the pour that’s truly, well, intoxicating!! As this brew is being poured it is immediately clouded up from the bottom of the glass to the top of the liquid. And then suddenly the head begins rolling up and the body of the brew clears off revealing its rich dark color. The head of this brew is absolutely the best I’ve seen and tasted; ever! Foamy, thick, and rich. And it stays with the brew long after the liquid is gone! Scents of honeycomb and warm bread are detected right off the bat. Not too heavy, not too light; just right. Flavors of a well balanced set of malts and hops; maybe a little bit of lemon grass there at the end. The body of this brew is so smooth and creamy and there’s not a lot of carbonation going on which makes for an easy brew to drink and not get filled up too quickly. Definitely a great brew to have with some spicy Cajun shrimp or buttery lobster tails!

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Brew: Indian Wells Lobotomy Bock

Brewed by: Indian Wells Brewing Company | Inyokern, California USA

Style: American Dopplebock

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or a mug.

Personal Notes: I’d class this one as a near-average brew; not bad but not much to rave about. It pours up what looks just like a cola; which made me think about an ice cold Dr. Pepper at the time. No head at all; but that could be contributed to the fact that my glass was not a ‘beer clean’ glass. Aromas of sweet malts and caramel teased the sense of smell while flavors of that same sweet malt along with some English toffee were detected. This is a lager so be ready for a thinner body feel if you have some; don’t let that rich dark colored body trick your mind into something thick and rich is in that glass!

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Brew: Baltika #6 Porter

Brewed by: Pivzavod Baltika / Baltic Beverages Holding | St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Style: Russian/Baltic Porter

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/shaker/nonic/becker/tumbler.

Personal Notes: What an amazing Russian brew!! This bad boy pours up a deep dark brown (almost black) body sporting a huge four-finger tan frothy head. Head retention was a good as it stayed with the brew as it reduced down to about a one-finger head. The smell was just as amazing with wisps of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and something akin to roasted hazelnuts. The flavors just add to the symphony of delight; dark chocolate, cocoa powder (like taking cocoa powder and adding just a tad bit of water to make a paste and eating it!), caramel, warm bread, plums, raisins, a twinge of hops, cloves, and more! This brew is full bodied (but not too thick) and no real detection of alcohol. Definitely not a session brew as this one is made to be savored very slowly as I found the tastes and smells just amassed as the brew slowly warmed up. Something that could easily be enjoyed all year long, I can see this one being especially comforting on those wintry days spent by the fireside. Excellent when paired up with hearty steaks or wild game dinners; and enjoyed just as easily all by itself.

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Brew: Samuel Smith’s The Famous Taddy Porter

Brewed by: Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) | Tadcaster, United Kingdom (England)

Style: English Porter

Glassware: Best served in a pint (becker/nonic/tumbler) or a mug.

Personal Notes: Yet another entry going into the AW BHoF!!! Definitely one of the best porters I’ve savored in a long, long time! This brew pours up a rich dark brown body with a frothy tan head that leaves some of the most exquisite lacing I’ve yet to behold! The scents coming off of this brew were just exceptional – vanilla, chocolate, syrup, and rich coffee. The flavors matched up strongly with robust hits of vanilla, chocolate and coffee. The body of the brew was rich and creamy; one meant to be savored slowly. This brew tastes best when it is chilled but not cold. This would be an awesome accompaniment to a hearty steak or a wild game dinner.

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Brew: Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA

Brewed by: Boston Beer Company | Boston, Massachusetts USA

Style: American IPA

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/shaker glass.

Personal Notes: First things first, me and IPAs have a hard time getting along. I keep trying them but there is just something in those brews that just does not appeal to my tastes. Nonetheless, on with this review. This brew pours up a rich amber colored body with a decent 1-finger head that stays with the brew for a little while. Immediately upon opening the scent of heavy hops is presented along with some subtle hints of malt. The taste is what I've come to expect from IPAs - bitter! Very, very bitter and very, very overwhelming. For me it was just too much but other brew lovers may be looking for a brew that possesses that bitter bite, if so this one is for you.

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Brew: Big Sky Heavy Horse Scotch Ale

Brewed by: Big Sky Brewing Company | Missoula, Montana USA

Style: American Scotch Ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint/nonic, snifter or tulip glass.

Personal Notes: Another entry into the AW BHoF! Big Sky nailed it with this brew; simply nailed it! It pours up a deep mahogany body with a nice 1-finger head that hangs around for quite a while. Scents of rich malts and dark fruits like cherries and plums precede the flavors of sweet malts, caramel and dark fruits. Put the sense of smell and taste into overdrive by breathing in through your nose just as you are drinking some of this fine brew!! Oh yeah! There's just enough hit of hops to make this one amazingly fine brew! This is a easy session brew so keep track of how many you enjoy! This brew is a hit with a hearty grilled steak or smoked salmon!

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Brew: Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

Brewed by: Breckenridge Brewery | Denver, Colorado USA

Style: American Porter

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/nonic glass.

Personal Notes: Simply put ... this is one nice brew! This brew pours up a near pitch black body with a good 1-finger head. Aromas of vanilla (duh!) and coffee match up to the well-balanced flavors of vanilla and coffee in this brew. The body is smooth, creamy and has just the right amount of 'thickness' that one would want is this great brew! Pair this bad boy up with grilled steaks or smoked meats or even some wild game for dinner and you'll be on the Bliss Express!

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Brew: Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

Brewed by: Great Divide Brewing Company | Denver, Colorado USA

Style: American Imperial Stout

Glassware: Best served in a snifter or perhaps a pint or nonic glass.

Personal Notes: Let there be no misconceptions. This is an excellent brew! This brew pours up a pitch black body with a tan head that is absolutely meant to be admired! The head sticks with the beer for a very long time and leaves some amazing lacing while you’re enjoying this brew! Dominating scents and flavors include: roasted malts, hot caramel, warm toffee, robust coffee. The balance between the hops and the malts is just superb! This is such an easy drinking brew and one that I know I’ll enjoy all throughout the year; especially when paired up with some slow-grilled steaks or perhaps as a dessert brew all by itself.

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Brew: Rahr & Sons Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer

Brewed by: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Fort Worth, Texas USA

Style: American Strong Ale / Winter Warmer

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or a becker/nonic glass.

Personal Notes: Mark another awesome brew to be placed in the AW BHoF!! This is simply an exquisite brew! It pours up rich dark brown (nearly black) body with an intense foamy head that lingers for quite a long time and leaves some awesome lacing on the glass! Scents and flavors of bourbon, vanilla, malts, and caramel; none of which overpower the other. There’s just enough twinge from the alcohol that lets you know you’re drinking a hearty brew so don’t rush; sit back and enjoy slowly! This brew has just the right amount of thickness and smoothness that reminds me of a fine well-aged bourbon. Definitely a brew to stock up on and let the bottles age like a fine wine! I can see this being a awesome brew to enjoy during the wintry months but it’s one that can be easily enjoyed year round. I think I’ll pair this up with a hearty rib-eye, soon!

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Brew: Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale

Brewed by: Tommyknocker Brewery | Idaho Springs, Colorado USA

Style: American Brown Ale

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint/nonic glass.

Personal Notes: Probably one of THE best brown ales I have ever savored! This brew pours up a rich chocolaty brown body with a good finger-thick head of foam that laces the glass very well. Scents and flavors of maple syrup, dark chocolates, caramel, and fresh-brewed robust coffee. This brew tastes just amazing; not too sweet and just enough hops to balance this brew out nicely. With just the right heaviness in the body and finishing off nice, crisp and clean, it was hard waiting between savors to have the next one! Going to pair this fine brew up with some steaks and decadent burgers!!

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Brew: Belhaven Scottish Ale

Brewed by: Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.; East Lothian, Scotland

Style: Scottish ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or mug.

Personal Notes:

From Scotland’s oldest brewery (since 1719) that is still in operation today, this is one heck of an enjoyable ale!! This ale sports a deep, dark walnut color and a somewhat thick (slightly heavy) rich malty, nutty flavor. Depending on how you pour it, the head can froth up from 1 finger to 3 fingers and stick with you through the entire drink! The warm fermentation process yields very subtle fruity flavors that are in no way overbearing but rather just a slight aftertaste that coincides with its very smooth and creamy finish. Enjoy some today!!

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Got this brew @ Kegs & Corks.

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Brew: Gordon Biersch Märzen

Brewed by: Gordon Biersch Brewing Company; San Jose, California USA

Style: märzen/oktoberfest

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or mug.

Personal Notes:

When it comes to lagers, I find my self reaching for Gordon Biersch’s Marzen more and more these days! It’s deep, dark amber body and frothy white head (which holds well and leaves tiny rings of lace around the glass) are a delight to behold. The body of the beer is creamy and very smooth across the palate. The flavors are very robust and lightly sweet with a smooth finish that beckons you to sample more of its hearty flavors. Truly one to have in stock and enjoyed with the best of friends!

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Got this brew @ Kegs & Corks.

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Brew: Heineken Lager

Brewed by: Heineken Nederland B.V. | Zoeterwoude, Netherlands

Style: European Pale Lager

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass.

Personal Notes: Of the macro brews, Heineken is one of those at the top of the list for me. It pours up a vibrant pale amber body and a nice foamy head that dissipates quickly and then tends to leave good lacing on the sides of the glass. The aroma is just as I remember from over the years, very clean and possesses a slight hoppy hit. Flavors of hops and just a tad of sweet malt; there's also somewhat of a lemon grass flavor floating around here and there. Very easy to drink and makes for a suitable session brew from a macro-brewery.

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Brew: Rahr & Sons Snowmageddon

Brewed by: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Fort Worth, Texas USA

Style: American Imperial Stout

Glassware: Best served in a snifter or a pint/shaker/nonic.

Personal Notes: Fritz just keeps putting out some solid brews! This brew pours up a luxurious jet black body with a well defined head that stays for a long time and leaves loads of lace on the glass. Scents and flavors of roasted malts, coffee and chocolate. The slight hit of alcohol plays well with the fine line being danced between sweetness and bitterness. The body is just the way I like these stouts – slightly thick and very creamy. As with most stouts, let them warm somewhat and the scents and flavors just explode with more robustness!

The following is the commercial description of this brew which I thought was rather interesting:

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Brew: Rahr & Sons Ugly Pug

Brewed by: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Fort Worth, Texas USA

Style: Schwarzbier

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or a mug.

Personal Notes: Another outstanding brew from the boys at Rahr & Sons! This brew pours up dark brown body sporting a frothy off-white colored head (leaves minimal lacing). Scents full of coffee and a beefy brew loaded with roasted malts giving off a fresh-baked bread smell with lots and lots of yeast. The flavor is that of a robust beer with a lot of bread or yeast flavors with just the right about of bitterness and a dab of sweetness to balance it all out. This is a very easy-drinking brew so keep track!! Planning on pairing this up with some brats or wurst!

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Got this brew @ Beer & Wine World.

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Brew: Abbey Monk’s Ale

Brewed by: Abbey Beverage Co. | Pecos, New Mexico USA

Style: Pale Ale

Glassware: Best served in a mug, snifter, tulip, or an over-sized wine glass.

Personal Notes: This brew pours up a very hazy apricot-colored body with a minimal heads and no lacing (at least in this sampling). Citrus-y scents waft about immediately upon opening and plenty of hops as well. Lots of fruity flavors (mostly apple) and citrus-y flavors as well. There just a tad bit of sweetness in the background but lots of hops hits you right off the bat. Not too much, not too little. Thinking about pairing this up with some spicy fish tacos next time!

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Got this brew @ Beer & Wine World.

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Brew: Guinness Extra Stout

Brewed by: Guinness Ltd. | Dublin, Ireland

Style: Irish Dry Stout

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pilsner/nonic glass.

Personal Notes: Whoa! What an amazing stout! This brew pours up a decadent black colored body with an amazing thick foamy tan head that has superb retention and leaves amazing lacing on the sides of the glass. Wonderful scents of chocolate, roasted malts and some dark fruits (like plums or prunes). And the flavors, oh my! Roasted malts galore with the sharp bite of hops mingled in with coffee and chocolates. The body is dry with just a slight amount of carbonation. A brew truly made to accompany a hearty grilled porterhouse steak!

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Brew: Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy

Brewed by: Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin USA

Style: American Fruit/Lambic

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or mug

Personal Notes:

Whoa! When they say lemony flavor… they mean lemony flavor!! I’m not a big fan of ‘fruity’ beers but this one was somewhat enjoyable. It’s a good summer beer but only in small quantities because of the lemony taste which somewhat overpowers the flavor of the beer. Would definitely be a good ‘cooking’ beer as the beer and lemon flavors would greatly compliment fish/seafood dishes!

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Brew: Morland Old Speckled Hen

Brewed by: Greene King / Morland Brewery | Suffolk, United Kingdom (England)

Style: English Pale Ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or a becker/nonic.

Personal Notes: This brew pours up a dark amber (maybe even copper) colored body with a foamy near-tan colored head which dissipates down to a thin foamy head that leaves suitable lacing on the glass for quite some time. Scents full of caramel and butterscotch along with some bread/biscuits here and there. Flavors of melted caramel and warm butterscotch pudding along with the rich malts and a touch of hops keeps all the flavors in balance without being overly ‘hoppy’ or overly sweet. This would be a great brew to have with some redfish on the half-shell or perhaps a spicy flounder meal.

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Got this brew @ Beer & Wine World.

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Brew: Real Ale Brewhouse Brown Ale

Brewed by: Real Ale Brewing Company | Blanco, Texas USA

Style: American Brown Ale

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass or a mug.

Personal Notes: What a great session brew! The brew pours up a ruby-brown body with a finger-thick short-lived head that leaves bare minimal lacing on the glass. The aroma on this brew is amazing! Toasted malts, chocolates and hints of caramel. The flavors are just as enjoyable filled with malts, chocolates and the oh so subtle hint of caramel and warm bread. This is a great brew to pair up with some grilled pork rack or perhaps some slow smoked wild game!

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Got this brew @ Beer & Wine World.

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Brew: Warsteiner Premium Verum

Brewed by: Warsteiner Brauerei | Warstein, Germany

Style: German Pilsner

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass or a mug.

Personal Notes: This brew is a great session brew! It pours up a light, golden colored body (almost like the color of a starfruit) and sports a frothy/bubbly head that dissipates rather quickly down to a fine film of a head. The smell is not overbearing by any means; filled with subtle hints of hops and a light citrus-y smell. The flavors are filled with the nice bite of hops touched up with some warm hints of citrus fruits and something grassy (lemon-grass perhaps?). The body of the brew is awesome; no bitter aftertaste, very light, and a clean finish. Definitely a brew to be enjoyed with some fish/seafood or better yet with some brats/wurst and some sauerkraut!

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Brew: Wild Blue Blueberry Lager

Brewed by: Anheuser-Busch, Inc. | Saint Louis, Missouri USA

Style: American Fruit/Lambic

Glassware: Best served in a mug or a pint glass.

Personal Notes: Not a bad brew to have after a long day of some serious yard work! Just pour over crushed ice and add in a few splashes of tequila and you’re good to go! This brews pours up a near purple (wine-colored) body with a nice frothy head that lingers around for a little bit but dissipates and then leaves some nice lacing on the glass. Scents of, yeah you guessed it, blueberries (duh)! And flavors, well, blueberries! To be honest this is more like a wine cooler than a beer in my humble opinion. Argue the difference in ABVs but I’ll argue back in the overly sweet taste that I needed to temper just a tad to make it more enjoyable! Just watch how many you down with this brew! Enjoy it all by itself, foods will just dilute the ‘robust’ blueberry flavor.

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Brew: Sierra Nevada Summerfest 2011

Brewed by: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. | Chico, California USA

Style: Czech Pilsener

Glassware: Best served in a pilsner glass, mug, or a stange.

Personal Notes: Another entry into my personal BHoF! This brew pours a rich amber-gold colored body and sports a frothy/bubbly head which dissipates to a thin head with good retention and lacing. Scents of sweet malts and citrus-y fruits. Flavors of sweet malts and citrus-y fruits are absolutely amazing! The body is light, crisp, and dry which makes for an incredibly easy-drinking brew. When compared against other Czech lagers (whether imported or domestic) this one has them beat hands down! Definitely a brew to be enjoyed on hot Texas summer days; but also an excellent brew to enjoy year-round. luminous pale gold, very slight haze, and stark white head that retains a thin head for the duration of the pint. An excellent pairing with some grilled fish/seafood!

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Brew: Urthel Saisonniere

Brewed by: De Leyerth Brouwerijen (Urthel) | Ruiselede, Belgium

Style: Belgian Ale Saison/Farmhouse

Glassware: Best served in a pint glass (becker or nonic), a tulip glass or an oversized wine glass.

Personal Notes: Yet another entry into my personal BHoF! This brew pours up a hazy amber-gold body and an enormous frothy head that leaves some amazing lacing on the glass. Scents of yeast, grains (like wheat), and fruits. Flavors of wheat and lemons along with subtle spices and something akin to warm butter. This brew is meant to be savored slowly and enjoyed for all the intense flavors and textures that it yields. An excellent brew to have with some grilled poultry or perhaps some spicy grilled fish/shrimp.

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Dundee Original Honey Brown Lager

Brewed by: Genesee Brewing Co./Dundee Brewing Co. | Rochester, New York USA

Style: Amber/Red Lager

My preferred glassware: Shaker

My personal notes:
This is a great session brew! It pours up a rich copper-colored body with a one-finger foamy head that dissipates quickly. Scents of honey (duh!), caramel, malts, warm bread. Flavor is a twinge of sweetness from the honey, caramel, and Hungry Jack biscuits! No heavy aftertaste, just a good, clean finish. Goes darn good with some homemade tacos and burritos.


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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Birra Moretti La Rossa

Brewed by: Heineken Italia | Milano, Italy

Style: Doppelbock

My preferred glassware: Shaker

My personal notes:
A great Italian session brew! This brew pours up a rich ruby-brown body with a frothy two-finger head. Scents and flavors of caramel, roasted malts, and sweet molasses. Very rich with a clean, crisp finish and no harsh aftertaste. This would go great paired up with some dry-rubbed/smoked ribs!

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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North Coast Old Rasputin

Brewed by: North Coast Brewing Co. | Ft. Bragg, California USA

Style: Russian Imperial Stout

My preferred glassware: Snifter

My personal notes:
What an amazing imperial stout!! This brew pours up a rich, black body sporting a frothy one-finger thick tan-colored head that dissipates slowly into a tan-colored ring (with very good retention) that leaves incredible lacing on the sides of the glass. Scents of roasted malts, dark chocolates, strong coffee and alcohol. Flavors of the same embody a light syrupy body texture with just a slight tinge of bitter aftertaste (but that is what makes it so good!). As the brew warms, the flavors and scents just intensify! This is a very easy-drinking imperial stout so go slow and enjoy the robustness of this brew. A great brew year-round but especially one to be enjoyed in the wintry months next to a roaring fire!


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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.

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Abita Turbodog

Brewed by: Abita Brewing Co.; Abita Springs, Louisiana USA

Style: English Brown Ale

My preferred glassware: Pint glass

My personal notes:
Probably one of the best offerings one can enjoy from Abita! This brew pours up a deep, dark chocolaty brown body and sports a rich, foamy tan-colored head. Scents of espresso, caramel, roasted malts and even those of a well aged bourbon. Flavors of slow-roasted coffee, dark chocolates and bits of toffee; also mixed in this complex brew are dark fruits (akin to plums). This is a great session brew and definitely one to be enjoyed with some grilled meats or even a good wild game dinner!

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Got this brew @ Lone Star Beverages.