Category: Beer Reviews
BEER REVIEW: New Glarus Brewing’s Black Top (B)
BlackTopBlackIPA

DESCRIPTION “Political debate rages over the origins of this jet black beer as both coasts feel they deserve credit. Our Black Top is a pleasant road connecting Villages and Communities statewide on a ride of Black IPA discovery. Expect this beer to pour a hop forward jet black glass brimming with aromatic bitterness. Brewmaster Dan skillfully weaves molasses and chocolate

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BEER REVIEW: Velvet Rooster (C+)
VelvetRooster

“This beer is a Belgian Tripel that lives up to its name. Smooth and carefully crafted like a fine velvet painting, but with an 8.5% ABV this bird has some spurs! The beer pours a golden straw color with brilliant clarity. Topped with a lofty pure white head the beer has a wonderful floral nose, with subtle fruit notes

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REVIEW: Lakefront Brewery’s Dan Brewed a Baltic Porter (A-)
DansPorter

“The first of the My Turn Series, Dan took his opportunity to brew a Baltic porter. This beer is dark and robust with a malty sweetness. A touch hoppier than the typical porter, the medium bitterness balances the malts and a deep chocolate or coffee aroma stops just short of burnt. This one is one big, full-bodied beer. Look for four to six My Turn releases per year, all with varying styles, ingredients, and flavors. Once one is gone, we’ll immediately start on a new one.”

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REVIEW: New Glarus Brewing’s Hop Hearty Ale (B-)
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“Finally, Hop Hearty Ale, the Wisconsin I.P.A. you’ve been thirsten’ for. This ale is brewed with the best of Old and New World Hops. Then we infuse the aging tanks with a dry hop addition of Cascade and East Kent Goldings to bring home the hops! Expect this ale to pour a glass brimming with rich caramel flavors along with an intense hop aroma that you won’t soon forget. Cleanly bitter and aromatic, this ale is not for the faint of heart.”

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Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Edmond Fitzgerald (A-)
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“Sure, Gordon Lightfoot hasn’t penned an ode to it (yet), but this porter is song-worthy—much like its legendary namesake ship that frequently docked in Cleveland and tragically sunk in Lake Superior in 1975 with many Northeast Ohioans on board. Style Origin: Originated in Great Britain and named after the porters who hauled goods from wagons to the stands at the open air markets common to England at that time. Flavor: Bittersweet

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American Honor Declaration Ale (B-)
American Honor Declaration Ale

“Declaration Ale, our classic American Ale, is brewed with two row barley and other choice malts, Cascade & Centennial hops, and pure Pocono mountain water. Our country’s founders declared the individual’s Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness in 1776. General Liberty raises a toast to each and every individual who honors these Natural Rights and in

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Spaten Optimator (A)
SpatenOptimator

“The classic German dark beer, bottom fermented ‘Doppel Bock.’ The flavor profile is full-bodied with a deep dark color and rich roasted malt flavor.” REVIEWERS Jonny (A), Craig (A+), Phil (A) LINKS Beer Advocate Company Website

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Schmaltz-Terrapin Reunion Ale 2011 (B)
Schmaltz-Terrapin Reunion Ale 2011

“This year’s beer is a dark ale brewed with cocoa nibs from our friends at Olive and Sinclair in Nashville, vanilla, and chili peppers. It was inspired by a fantastic dessert we used to share with Virginia at our favorite restaurant. This brown ale leads with a sweet and subtle spicy aroma. The flavor begins with complex malt overtones and

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Scuttlebutt Brewing Company Hoptopia Imperial IPA (C+)
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REVIEWERS Jonny (B-), Craig (C), Phil (C+) LINKS Beer Advocate Company Website

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New Glarus Staghorn Oktoberfest (C)
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“100% Natural – Great Midwest barleys, the world’s most expensive hops, fresh yeast from Germany, and clear Wisconsin water make our Staghorn Octoberfest ‘Wisconsin’s Real Red.’ You will find absolutely no additives, preservatives, or artificial agents of any kind in this bier. Brewed using the time honored methods and an extra slow lager to release the smooth flavor of our

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Shock Top Raspberry Belgian Wheat (B+)
Shock-Top-Raspberry

“Our Raspberry Wheat brew allows you to enjoy the smooth taste you expect from Shock Top with a hint of Raspberry flavor. This traditional Belgian-Style wheat ale is brewed with wild raspberry essence and hand-selected hops which gives the brew a crisp and distinctive taste with a flavorful twist. This unfiltered ale has a light golden color and a smooth,

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Samuel Smith’s The Celebrated Oatmeal Stout (B)
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“Brewed with well water (the original well at the Old Brewery, sunk in 1758, is still in use, with the hard well water being drawn from 85 feet underground); fermented in ‘stone Yorkshire squares’ to create an almost opaque, wonderfully silky and smooth textured ale with a complex medium dry palate and bittersweet finish.” REVIEWERS Jonny (B-), Craig (B+), Phil

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Furthermore Knot Stock Pale Ale (B)
FurthermoreKnotStock

“Black, cracked, stuffed in a sack, boiled and cold-infused. The real treat of our A.P.A. is the tangle of flavors that fresh cracked pepper and Northern Brewer Hops create. At 65 IBUs (bitterness units) there’s plenty of zing for the Hop Heads or Bitter Bettys, but not so much to overpower the tingle of the black pepper as it slowly

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Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale (C+)
Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale

“Pumking is an ode to Púca, a creature of Celtic folklore, who is both feared and respected by those who believe in it. Púca is said to waylay travelers throughout the night, tossing them on its back, and providing them the ride of their lives, from whichthey return forever changed! Brewed in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, a time

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Anderson Valley Brewing Company’s Hop Ottin IPA (D)
hopottinipa

“Hop Ottin’ IPA is, just like Anderson Valley itself, easy for anyone to appreciate while offering depth and complexity for those who take the time to savor. Brilliant copper color with a lingering, lacy white head. The nose sings of grapefruit, pine needles, citron, roses, and bergamot. The flavor is rich in the citrusy, resiny flavors typical of the Pacific-Northwest hops

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