Category: Beer Reviews

Posted on: December 28, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

20” Brown Ale Review

This beer pours with a very reddish-brown hue and a very small but persistent white head. The beer blends toasted malts with a slight hint of hops. Taken together, the introduction that one has with the 20” Brown will be a good one. As the beer warms up, a solid amount of sweetness will ensure that the beer is inviting without hitting too strongly on the malt, barley, or hop…

Posted on: December 20, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout Beer Review

Big coffee flavors, with a alcohol kick. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout offers a strong yet very drinkable experience. When poured into a glass, the Old Rasputin produces a large foamy head that remains throughout the entirety of the beer. The beer is thick and hearty, which is perfect for a warm-up during those cold winter nights. At 9% ABV, the stout has an even balance of alcoholic kick with…

Posted on: December 20, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Pipeline Porter Review

The beer pours with a dark brown, along with an off-white head that sticks around long after the initial pour. The beer has hints of cocoa, coffee, and malt; a slight sweetness creeps through that makes for a very balanced effort. The slight bit of alcohol that is present here provides an additional level of complexity; imbibers will be able to discern a different constellation of flavors and nuances with…

Posted on: December 17, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Merry Maker Beer Review

This is quite possibly the first gingerbread stout that we have reviewed. The beer pours with a head that does not dissipate, whiel the overall color of the beer is an incredibly dark brown / black that permits no light through. The nose of the beer is a little bit of an enigma; while it has hints of alcohol present, what will ultimately present itself to imbibers is considerably different.…

Posted on: December 17, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Witch Hunt Beer Review

Witch Hunt pours with an amber/orange color and a slight head that dissipates shortly after the initial pour. There is a spiced flavor to this beer that is moderated by the presence of a slight hop bite. The beer is able to stay lively with the presence of a decent dollop of carbonation; the beer is able to steer away from an overly sweet character, instead opting from something that…

Posted on: December 12, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Ironwood Imperial Porter Review

Ironwood pours with a very dark brown, nearly black color. The head is pretty thin (about ¼ to ½ of an inch), and is off-white. The initial sip will provide imbibers with hints of chocolate and cocoa, along with a slight hint of sweetness at the end. This allows the 7.0% alcohol percentage to be shrouded perfectly, making for an eminently drinkable effort. As the beer warms up, the dark…

Posted on: December 9, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Double Stout Black Ale Review

      The brew pours extremely dark, with nary a bit of light shining through this black brew. There is a tenacious head that sticks with the beer from beginning to end. Rather than being effervescent, this is a thick and filling beer. A perfect beer for the cold winter months, the Green Flash Double Stout is able to unite the deep complexity of the stout format with a…

Posted on: December 9, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

Dogfish Head Kvasir Review

Simply put, Dogfish Head’s Kvasir is one of the most complex and fulfilling beers that we have tasted. This could be due to the fact that the beer is based off the remnants that were present in an ancient Danish cup. The 10% ABV may scare imbibers away, but the heavy alcohol content is moderated by an intense blend of syrups (honey, birch), berries (lingonberries and cranberries) and a slew…

Posted on: December 7, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Global Warmer Review

      Global Warmer has a piney nose with a pour that is very effervescent. The beer is a reddish-orange with a small, rapidly-dissolving head. The mouth feel contains a decent amount of hops, but dissipates quickly. Subtle hints of spice can be discerned alongside a dry malt backdrop. The overall taste of Global Warmer opens up as the effort warms up; a maltier and heavier fruit presence ensures…

Posted on: November 30, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Breckenridge Christmas Ale Review

  The beer pours with a very dark brown, reddish tint; there is a small amount of an off-white head. The initial nose is not too assertive, with minor hints of hop and malt. Each sip is very smooth and provides imbibers with hints of fruits (berries, cherries), ginger, and spices (nutmeg, vanilla). The specific constellation of flavors changes as the beer approaches room temperature. Breckenridge’s Christmas Ale is one…