Friday, July 30, 2010

Oregon Brewers Festival!

While on the west coast, my wife and I had the chance to attend the Oregon Brewers Festival. Arguably, the best outdoor beer festival in the country, this event took place in the picturesque Tom McCall Waterfront Park. 81 different domestic brewers showed up with one special beer. The festival itself worked on a token system; 1 token (or about $1) for a 4 oz sample, or 4 tokens for a full mug of beer. Of course, our goals was to try as many different beers as possible, but totally insane lines (we were there on a Saturday) led us to switch over to pints at the end of the afternoon. Regardless, this was easily the best festival we have been to and an awesome afternoon of drinking.

Tier 1:
Firestone Walker Union Jack (8) was my number one priority coming in and was a very piney, sweet IPA. Not on my radar was New Belgium Ranger IPA (8) with an equally big flavor. Double Mountain The Vaporizer (9) and Boundary Bay German-tradition Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale (9) two excellent pale ale’s, and possibly my favorite beers of the whole day. Surly Bitter Brewer (10) belongs in those discussions as well; I would love to be able to buy six of these cans at a time. Cascade Summer Gose (9) was certainly my wife’s favorite beer of the day and I too found it to be a very refreshing sour. Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale (9) was another top priority and I was duly impressed with the use of corn flakes to smooth out the mouthfeel. Rounding out the top tier was Upright Reggae Junkie Gruit (8). New to the scene, Upright did an excellent job of simulating the sensation of hops by using heather tips, orange peel, and a healthy level of carbonation.

Tier 2:
Tier 2 started out with three solid IPA’s: Beer Valley Leafer Madness (7), Laurelwood Organic Deranger Imperial Red (6), and Fort George Vortex (6). Surprisingly, Laughing Dog Dogzilla Black IPA (8) was the only “Cascadian Dark Ale” to make an appearance. This newly-emerging style has great potential, and indeed the hops and roasted malts played very well with each other. Maui Coconut Porter (7) took the prize for longest line of the day and kicked pretty early on. Coconut worked well, if imparting slightly too much sweetness in the middle of the flavor. Buckbean Original Orange Blossom Ale (7) tasted like a frozen orange ice pop according to Kelly, which was actually pretty good. Easy drinking Pelican Pub Kiwanda Cream Ale (7), 10 Barrel ISA (7), and Collaborator Sunstone Pils (7) round out this class.

Tier 3:
Our last grouping features some very ambitious beers that didn’t quite come together. Caldera Hibiscus Ginger Beer (4) and Caldera Rose (5) came on too strong to be enjoyable but didn’t miss by much. Natian Destinatian (5) is a new nano-brewer that got the invite and responded admirably with an interesting brew containing Oregon honey. MacTarnahan’s Lipstinger Farmhouse (3) utilizing peppercorn was less good. Same goes for Ram Barefoot Wit (4) and Great Northern Wheatfish Wheat Lager (5). The surprise of the day though had to be not one, but two beers from The Bruery falling to the last category. The Bruey Oud Tart (6) and The Bruery 7 Grain Saision (5) were very one-dimensional offerings.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

ProPho: Oh! You Pretty Things

A great new beer is coming to town
By JOSH SMITH July 14, 2010
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/105436-oh-you-pretty-things/

Dann Paquette, head brewer for the Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project, fondly refers to himself as a "gypsy brewer." And while it may or may not be a permanent home, Rhode Island can be thankful that these Pretty Things are showinng up on their doorstep.

When Buzzards Bay Brewing of Westport, Massachusetts, closed up shop last September, Paquette stepped in to fill the void. Formerly contracting with Paper City Brewery in western Massachusetts, Paquette decided to relocate to the larger South Coast brewery.

While Pretty Things may be new to the craft beer scene, Paquette — a veteran brewer, most recently off a stint in England — is not. Impressively, Pretty Things’ lineup already boasts nine beers, ranging from a Pale Lager to a Quadrupel. My favorite though is undoubtedly their flagship beer: the JACK D'OR.

Now I’m on record as a big believer in quality over quantity, and slowing down to appreciate the finer side of beer. That said, in my columns I have rarely had the opportunity to say more than a few passing words on any one beer. But Pretty Things’ gem is one of those beers that demands a closer look. In fact, 700 words may not be enough!

As his first ever-release, Paquette calls the Jack D'or a "Saison Americain." The Saison style, also known as Farmhouse Ale, is of Belgian and French origin. Fruity, yeasty, and spiced, these beers are typically complex, full of flavor, and easy to drink. Of course, given the self-selected style name, we are probably in for a surprise.

Six dollars will buy you a 22-ounce bomber of the Jack D’or — just the right amount of beer for my typical night of drinking. The colorful label features Jack, which according to their website is a “mournful grain of barley . . . the soul of beer, nature’s magician, creating sugar from starch and bringing together the Pretty Things to create the substance we adore: beer.” In Paquette’s artwork, Jack can be found in the woods, preparing for a dip into the mash tun and ostensibly pondering his future as beer. What a beautiful starting point for a brew.

The pour into my oversized wine glass is a magnificent golden with orange tint. It is hazy, yet clear enough that the stream of bubbles rising up steadily from the center of the glass is unmistakable. This same healthy level of carbonation creates a thick, whipped head that fades into wispy snowflake-like lacing on the side of the glass.

As appetizing as the Jack D’or looks in a glass, its bold nose draws you in even further. It has a very fruity aroma, with the hops taking on a citrusy, grassy, and lemony nature. There is a slight spiciness and some funky, musty yeast present, but both are far more restrained than is typical for the style.

The flavor of fruit in the beer is an evolving one; citrus and lemon again lead, with white grapes, pear, and grapefruit also registering. As a result, the taste is alternately bitter, tart, and sweet. The malt profile is more detectable in the flavor, with some pale pilsner malts and wheat bringing sanity and balance to the brew. In the end, the Americana side comes out in a solidly bitter finish that pushes this beer up the spectrum toward a Belgian IPA.

While the complexity within leads me to savor this beer, it is also immensely quaffable. The oats lend a real smoothness to the texture of this medium-bodied beer. And while there are no spices added, the yeast produces a delicate pepperiness throughout, creating an unmistakable dryness. Taken together, the Jack D'or strikes a balance between flavorful and refreshing, which is absolutely necessary for that perfect summer beer.

Ultimately, this beer’s bold characteristics and hopped-up flavor make it a distinctly American take on the classic Farmhouse style. I love the creativity and depth present in this beer — it’s a truly transcendent experience. And with the Rhode Island launch for Pretty Things coming up at the end of the month (check prettythingsbeertoday.com for updates), you’ll have the opportunity to join Jack and myself in contemplating this exquisite beer.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

MY COMPLETE BEER RATINGS

2 1/2 years, 200 plus posts, and 1,109 beers. Wow. I always print up these ratings on one sheet of paper to keep in my wallet and refer to when needed but that is getting harder and harder to do...

Beer, Score (1-10)

21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer, 1
21st Amendment IPA, 7

Abita Christmas Ale, 7
Abita Jockamo IPA, 4
Abita Purple Haze, 6
Abita Restoration Pale Ale, 2
Affligem Blond, 8
Alameda Bavarian Hefe, 8
Alameda East Village Amber, 6
Alameda Klickitat Pale Ale, 7
Alameda Irvington Juniper Porter, 7
Alameda El Torero Organic IPA, 8
Alameda Black Bear XX Stout C02, 7
Alameda Black Bear XX Stout Nitro, 8
Alameda Wolf Imperial IPA, 7
Alameda Siskiyou Golden, 3
Alaskan Amber, 7
Alaskan Smoked Porter 2008, 9
Albany Pump Station Evans Extra Stout, 9
AleSmith Horny Devil, 9
Alesmith IPA, 10
Alesmith Old Numbskull, 7
Alexander Keith's IPA, 2
Allagash Black, 7
Allagash Burnham Road, 2
Allagash Confluence Ale, 7
Allagash Curieux, 9
Allagash Dubbel Reserve, 8
Allagash Fluxus, 9
Allagash FOUR, 6
Allagash Grand Cru, 10
Allagash Hugh Malone, 8
Allagash Interlude, 7
Allagash Tripel Reserve, 10
Allagash Victoria Ale, 9
Allagash White, 10
American Flatbread Bob White. 6
American Flatbread Extra Stout, 7
American Flatbread Farmhouse Ale, 7
American Flatbread Solstice Gruit, 8
American Flatbread Wassail, 8
Amnesia Blonde Beech, 6
Amnesia Copacetic IPA, 9
Amnesia Desolation IPA, 7
Amnesia Double Dry Hopped Desolation, 8
Amnesia Dusty Trail Pale, 7
Amnesia Slow Train Porter, 7
Amnesia The ESB, 7
Anchor Christmas Ale, 4
Anchor Liberty Ale, 6
Anchor Old Foghorn Ale, 5
Anchor Porter, 8
Anchor Steam Beer, 8
Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, 9
Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale, 9
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' IPA, 9
Anderson Valley Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema, 6
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, 8
Andrew's English Pale Ale, 6
Andrew's St. Nick Porter, 8
Arcadia IPA, 5
Arcadia Scotch Ale, 4
Asahi Super Dry, 3
Atlantic Bar Harbor Summer Ale, 4
Atlantic Brother Adam's Bragget Ale, 5
Atlantic Coal Porter, 7
Atlantic MacFoochie's 7+ Scottish Ale, 7
Atlantic Mount Desert Isle Ginger, 7
Atwater Vanilla Java Porter, 7
Atwater Voodoovator, 6
Avec Les Bons Voeux, 7
Avery 14er ESB, 6
Avery Ale to the Chief , 9
Avery Anniversary Ale - Fifteen, 5
Avery Collaboration Not Litigation, 7
Avery Karma Ale, 5
Avery Out of Bounds Stout, 9
Avery The Czar, 5
Avery The Maharaja Imperial IPA, 9
Avery The Reverend, 9
Avery White Rascal, 5

Baladin Elixir, 3
Ballast Point Big Eye IPA, 8
Ballast Point Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter, 8
Baltika #4, 6
Bar Harbor Acadia Pale Ale, 9
Bar Harbor Cadillac Mountain Stout, 10
Bar Harbor Harbor Lighthouse Ale, 8
Bar Harbor Thunder Hole Ale, 9
Bass Pale Ale, 6
Bayerischer Bahnhof Brau Berliner Style Weisse, 5
Beamish Irish Stout, 5
Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout, 10
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, 10
Bear Republic Racer 5 India Pale Ale, 8
Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale, 9
Bear Republic XP Pale Ale, 7
Beer Belly Ball and Chain IPA, 8
Beer Valley Pigskin Pale Ale, 6
Beer Works Back Bay IPA, 7
Beer Works Bay State ESB, 8
Beer Works Black Bat Stout, 5
Beer Works Bunker Hill Blueberry, 7
Beer Works North Shore Light, 3
Beer Works Pumpkinhead Ale, 5
Beer Works Saison Nouveau, 8
Beer Works Salem American Pale Ale, 8
Beer Works Smoked Porter, 6
Beer Works Splendid Splinter, 6
Beer Works Tell Tale Lager, 7
Beer Works Terrier Scottish Ale, 5
Beer Works The Grinch, 6
Beer Works Triple A Amber, 7
Beer Works Winter Works, 7
Beer Works Witch City Red, 5
Belfast Bay Lobster Ale, 4
Belfast Bay McGovern's Oatmeal Stout, 5
Belhaven Scottish Ale / Export / 80 Shilling, 7
Bell Lager, 2
Bell's Java Stout, 5
Bell's Pale Ale, 5
Bell's Porter, 7
Bell's Two Hearted Ale, 10
Berkshire Cabin Fever Ale, 6
Berkshire Coffeehouse Porter, 9
Berkshire Draymens Porter, 8
Berkshire Imperial Stout, 9
Berkshire Lost Sailor India Pale Ale, 8
Berkshire River Ale, 5
Berkshire "Shabadoo" Black & Tan Ale, 8
Berkshire Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale, 4
Berkshire Traditional Pale Ale, 7
Berkshire Springs Stock Ale, 4
Big Horse Russian Redneck, 8
Bison Organic Chocolate Stout, 5
Black Bear Pail Ale, 5
Blue & Gray Stonewall Stout, 7
Blue Hills Extra Pale Ale, 6
Blue Hills India Pale Ale, 8
Blue Hills Wampatuk Wheat, 7
Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, 5
Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale, 6
Blue Point Honey Moon Summer Ale, 6
Blue Point Rastafar Rye Ale, 7
Blue Point Toasted Lager, 3
Blue Point Winter Ale, 3
Boddington Pub Ale, 5
Boulder Beer Hazed and Infused, 7
Boulder Beer Mojo IPA, 8
Boulder Beer Pass Time Pale Ale, 3
Boulder Beer Planet Porter, 6
Boulder Sundance Amber Ale, 4
Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel Peche Mortel, 8
Bray's Brewpub Brandy Pond Blonde Pale Ale, 4
Bray's Brewpub Causeway Cream, 6
Bray's Brewpub Mount Olympus Special Ale, 5
Bray's Brewpub Red Eye Pale Ale, 7
Bray's Brewpub Smokehouse Brown, 3
Bridgeport Black Strap Stout, 4
BridgePort Blue Heron Ale, 7
Bridgeport ESB, 6
Bridgeport Haymaker Extra Pale Ale, 7
Bridgeport Hop Czar, 6
BridgePort IPA, 6
Bridgeport Porter, 7
BridgePort Ropewalk Amber Ale, 6
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, 10
Brooklyn Brown Ale, 8
Brooklyn Cuvee de Cardoz, 8
Brooklyn East India Pale Ale, 5
Brooklyn Lager, 7
Brooklyn Local 1, 10
Brooklyn Local 2, 8
Brooklyn Winter Ale, 6
Brooklynator Doppelbock, 5
Brown's IPA, 2
Budweiser American Ale, 3
Budweiser Shock Top Belgian White, 3
Butternuts Heinnieweisse Weissebier, 6
Butternuts Moo Thunder Stout, 4
Butternuts Porkslap Pale Ale, 4
Buzzards Bay Alt, 4
Buzzards Bay Black Lager, 5
Buzzards Bay Hefeweizen, 2
Buzzards Bay Pilsner, 6

Caldera IPA, 10
Caledonian Organic Great Scot Pale Ale, 4
Cambridge Amber, 8
Cambridge Arquebus, 3
Cambridge Benevolence, 4
Cambridge Big Man Ale, 9
Cambridge Bitchin' Bitter, 8
Cambridge Blunderbuss Barley Wine, 7
Cambridge CaCow! Chocolate Milk Stout, 10
Cambridge Charles River Porter, 8
Cambridge Espresso Stout, 9
Cambridge Half Wit Belgian Style Wheat, 7
Cambridge Hefe-weizen, 9
Cambridge Imperial Skibsol Danish Smoked Dark Lager Beer, 7
Cambridge Never Mind the Bollekes!, 5
Cambridge Regatta Golden, 7
Cambridge Sgt. Pepper, 2
Cambridge Spring IPA, 8
Cambridge Spring Training IPA, 6
Cambridge Tall Tale Pale Ale, 7
Cambridge Tripel, 6
Cambridge Tripel Threat, 7
Cambridge You Enjoy My Stout, 7
Cantillon Gueze 100% Lambic, 7
Cape Ann Fisherman’s Brew, 8
Cape Ann Fisherman's Bavarian Wheat, 5
Cape Ann Fisherman's Brew IPA, 7
Cape Ann Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout, 9
Cape Cod Hot Blonde, 7
Cape Cod IPA, 6
Capital Blonde Doppelbock, 6
Captain Lawrence Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA, 10
Captain Lawrence Liquid Gold, 7
Carling Black Label, 3
Carlsberg Brown (Malawi), 4
Cascade Sang Rouge, 8
Casco Bay Brown Ale, 4
Casco Bay Carrabassett Pale Ale, 5
Casco Bay Carrabassett Winter Ale, 4
Casco Bay Pale Ale, 7
Casco Bay Riptide Red Ale, 9
Casco Bay Summer Ale, 8
Castle Lager, 1
Castle Milk Stout, 6
Central City Red Racer IPA, 10
Central City Red Racer Pale Ale, 6
Cerveja Super Bock, 2
Cervesera del Montseny Lupulus, 7
Chang Beer, 3
Chelsea Checker Cab Blonde Ale, 8
Chelsea Hand Pumped Cask Ale, 6
Chibuku Shake Shake, 0
Chili Head Lager, 5
Chimay Grand Reserve (Blue), 7
Chimay Premiere (Red), 10
Chimay Triple, 9
Chimay Tripel - White, 7
Cisco Captain Swain's Extra Stout, 7
Cisco Gray Lady Hefeweizen, 6
Cisco Moor Porter, 6
Cisco Whales Tale Pale Ale, 3
Clipper City Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop3, 8
Clipper City Heavy Seas Red Sky at Night, 7
Clipper City Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning, 9
Clown Shoes Black I.P.A., 7
Colt 45 Malt Liquor, 2
Concord Junction Porter, 10
Concord North Woods Ale, 7
Concord Rapscallion Creation, 4
Coney Island Sword Swallower, 6
Coniston Bluebird Bitter, 8
Cooperstown Back Yard IPA, 5
Cooperstown Benchwarmer, 8
Cooperstown Nine Man Ale, 4
Cooperstown Old Slugger, 3
Cooperstown Pride of Milford Special Ale, 7
Cooperstown Strike Out Stout, 5
Corona Extra, 3
Cottrell Old Yankee Ale, 8
Craigmill Fraoch Heather Ale, 9

Davidson Brother's Dacker Authentic Adirondack Ale, 8
Davidson Brother's IPA, 5
Delirium Nocturnum, 7
Delirium Tremens, 8
Deschutes Armory Extra Pale Ale, 6
Deschutes Bachelor ESB, 8
Deschutes Bachelor ESB (Cask conditioned), 9
Deschutes Big Mountain Bock, 5
Deschutes Black Butte Porter, 10
Deschutes Cascade Ale, 8
Deschutes Cinder Cone Red Ale, 9
Deschutes Green Lake Organic Ale, 9
Deschutes Inversion IPA, 9
Deschutes Mirror Mirror, 8
Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, 10
Deschutes Miss Spelt, 7
Deschutes Obsidian Stout, 9
Deschutes Pilsner 005, 5
Deschutes Red Chair IPA, 10
Deschutes Streaking the Quad, 3
Deschutes Twilight Ale, 7
De Proef Reserve Signature Ale (w/ Tomme Arthur), 10
De Struise Black Albert, 9
Dick's Best Bitter, 6
Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager, 5
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, 9
Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA, 10
Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, 5
Dogfish Head ApriHop, 9
Dogfish Head Black & Blue, 4
Dogfish Head Burton Baton, 9
Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu, 6
Dogfish Head Chicory Stout, 7
Dogfish Head Festina Peche, 4
Dogfish Head Fort, 8
Dogfish Head Immort Ale, 9
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale, 8
Dogfish Head Midas Touch Golden Elixir, 8
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron, 10
Dogfish Head Pangaea, 7
Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale, 9
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre, 8
Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra, 5
Dogfish Head Red and White, 8
Dogfish Head Sah'tea, 9
Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale, 4
Dogfish Head Squall IPA, 6
Dogfish Head Theobroma, 9
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, 6
Dos Equis XX Amber, 5
Double Mountain The I.R.A., 9
Dubuisson Scaldis Triple (Bush Ambree), 7
Duchesse De Bourgogne, 10
Duck-Rabbit Porter, 8
Dundee Original Honey Brown Lager, 5
Duvel, 10

Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale, 6
Eel River Certified Organic Porter, 6
Eel River Climax Noel, 6
Element Brewing Dark Matter, 7
Endurance Glacier Gold, 6
Eugene City Tracktown IPA, 7

Federal Jack's Taint Town Pale Ale, 2
Fish Tale Organic India Pale Ale, 6
Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, 6
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter, 5
Flying Dog In-Heat Wheat, 2
Flying Dog Road Dog Scottish Porter, 7
Flying Horse Royal Lager, 5
Fort Collins Kidd Lager, 8
Fort Collins Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat, 4
Fort Collins Rocky Mountain IPA, 7
Fort Collins Z Lager, 5
Fosters Lager, 2
Founders Breakfast Stout, 10
Founders Centennial IPA, 6
Founders Cerise, 6
Founders Curmudgeon, 9
Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA, 6
Founders Dirty Bastard, 9
Founders Double Trouble, 8
Founders Reds Rye, 9
Franziskaner Hefe-weisse, 4
Freeport Black Gold Porter, 8
Fresh Catch Amber Ale, 2
Frosty Knuckle Ale, 6
Full Sail Amber Ale (USA), 9
Full Sail Chris's Summer D-Lite: Red, 6
Full Sail Chris's Summer D-Lite: Green, 7
Full Sail Grandsun of Spot, 6
Full Sail IPA, 7
Full Sail Keelhauler Brewmasters Reserve 2009, 5
Full Sail LTD Series - Bottling 03, 5
Full Sail Pale Ale, 10
Full Sail Rip Curl, 8
Full Sail Session Lager, 9
Fuller's ESB, 7
Fuller's London Porter, 8

Geary’s Autumn Ale, 9
Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale, 9
Geary's Imperial IPA, 6
Geary’s London Porter, 9
Geary’s Pale Ale, 9
Geary’s Summer Ale, 8
Geary’s Winter Ale, 6
George Killians Irish Red, 6
Genesee Cream Ale, 4
Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat, 6
Goose Island Honker's Ale, 7
Goose Island IPA, 8
Goose Island Matilda, 7
Goose Island Sofie, Score: 8
Gouden Carolous Noel, 5
Gouden Carolous Tripel, 10
Grado Plato Chocarrubica, 1
Grand Teton Pursuit of Hoppiness, 7
Great Divide Denver Pale Ale, 7
Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, 8
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, 9
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, 9
Great Divide St. Bridgets Porter (St. Brigids), 7
Green Flash Hop Head Red, 8
Green Flash West Coast IPA, 9
Gritty McDuffs 21 IPA, 5
Gritty McDuffs Best Bitter, 7
Gritty McDuffs Black Fly Stout, 6
Gritty McDuffs Christmas Ale, 8
Gritty McDuffs Halloween Ale, 9
Gritty McDuffs India Pale Ale, 9
Gritty McDuffs Lions Pride Brown Ale, 5
Gritty McDuffs Original Pub Style, 4
Gritty McDuffs Raspberry Wheat, 5
Gritty McDuff's Red Claws Ale, 4
Gritty McDuffs Scottish Ale, 7
Gritty McDuff's Sebago Light Ale, 2
Gritty McDuffs Vacationland Summer Ale, 8
Guinness Draught, 4
Guinness Extra Stout (North America), 3

Haffenreffer Private Stock, 4
Hair of the Dog Adam, 9
Hair of the Dog Blue Dot Double IPA, 8
Hair of the Dog Fred, 9
Hair of the Dog Ruth, 6
Hale's Ale Kolsch, 6
Hansa Pilsener, 3
Harp Lager, 2
Harpoon Ale, 5
Harpoon Belgian Pale Ale, 5
Harpoon Brown, 6
Harpoon Celtic, 5
Harpoon Hibernian Ale, 5
Harpoon Imperial IPA (Leviathan Series), 3
Harpoon IPA, 6
Harpoon Leviathan Saison Royale, 9
Harpoon Old Rusty's Red Rye Ale, 7
Harpoon Smoked Porter, 6
Harpoon Summer Beer, 3
Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen, 7
Harpoon UFO White, 3
Harpoon Winter Warmer, 3
Heartland Big Belgian Blonde Ale, 6
Heartland Buffalo Bock, 5
Heartland Cornhusker Lager, 2
Heartland Farmer Jons Oatmeal Stout, 7
Heartland Harvest Wheat, 3
Heartland Indian River Light, 3
Heartland Indiana Pale Ale, 5
Heartland Red Rooster Ale, 5
Heater Allen Pils, 8
He'Brew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah (13), 8
He'Brew Messiah Bold, 7
Heineken, 3
Henry Weinhards Blue Boar Pale Ale, 6
Henry Weinhards Private Reserve, 7
Het Anker Lucifer, 6
High & Mighty Home For The Holidays, 6
High & Mighty Two-Headed Beast, 4
Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale, 7
Hitachino Nest White Ale, 4
Hoegaarden Original White Ale, 6
Hofstetten Kubelbier, 9
Hook and Ladder Golden Ale, 3
Hook Norton Hooky Gold, 7
Hoppin Frog BORIS The Crusher, 9
Hoppin Frog Mean Manalishi, 10
Hopworks Anniversary Cream Ale, 8
Hopworks Crosstown Pale Ale, 9
Hopworks Deluxe Organic Ale, 10
Hopworks HUB Lager, 8
Hopworks IPA, 10
Hopworks Rise Up Red, 9
Hopworks Secret Alt, 8
Hopworks Survival "Seven Grain" Stout, 9
Hopworks Terry Porter, 7
Hopworks Totally Raddler, 3
Hopworks Velvet ESB, 10
Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel, 7

Ipswich Dark Ale, 9
Ipswich India Pale Ale, 7
Ipswich Oatmeal Stout, 10
Ipswich Original Ale, 10
Ipswich Summer Ale, 4
Ipswich Winter Ale, 3
Ithaca Flower Power IPA, 8

Jacks Pumpkin Spice Ale, 6
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere, 6
Jolly Pumpkin La Roja, 8
Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza, 7
Joseph James Red Fox, 6
Josh’s Homebrews Bia Kahawa Afrika, 8
Josh's Homebrews Crimes Against Humanity Bitter, 7
Josh’s Homebrews Hold-The-Lemon American Wheat, 6
Josh's Homebrews Hoppy Holidays! / Obama Beer!, 5
Josh's Homebrews It Must Be Wedding Saison, 8
Josh’s Homebrews Mr. Jack Ale'Lantern, 6
Josh's Homebrew's Naughty or Nice, 4
Josh's Homebrews Promised Land Porter, 7
Josh's Homebrews The-Waiting-Is-The-Hardest-Part Pale Ale, 5
Josh's Homebrews You're So Vain... You Probably Think This Stout is About You!, 1
Just Beer Moby D, 5

Karmeliet Tripel, 9
Kasteel Tripel, 9
Kelso Nut Brown Lager, 7
Kennebec River Magic Hole IPA, 5
Kennebec River Penobscot Porter, 6
Kennebec River Summer Ale, 7
Kilimanjaro Premium Lager, 1
King Cobra Premium Malt Liquor, 1
Kingfisher Premium Lager, 2
Kirin Ichiban, 2
Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale, 6
Kona Wailua Wheat, 1
Koshihikari Echigo Beer, 4
Kronenbourg 1664, 7
Kuche Kuche, 1

La Chouffe, 9
Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale, 8
Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, 9
Lagunitas Censored, 5
Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale, 6
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, 7
Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale, 4
Lagunitas IPA, 7
Lagunitas Pils, 8
Lagunitas Sirius Ale, 9
Lake Placid 46'er Pale Ale, 7
Lake Placid IPA (Frostbite Ale), 9
Lake Placid Ubu, 6
Lakefront Cream City Pale Ale, 7
Lakefront Fuel Cafe, 3
Laughing Dog Alpha Dog Imperial IPA, 8
Laurelwood Bottled Blonde, 4
Laurelwood Free Range Red (Organic), 8
Laurelwood Hooligan, 6
Laurelwood Hop Monkey IPA, 7
Laurelwood Mother Lode Golden Ale, 5
Laurelwood Organic Tree Hugger Porter, 7
Laurelwood Space Stout, 6
Laurelwood Workhorse IPA, 10
Leffe Blonde, 4
Left Hand Black Jack Porter, 4
Left Hand Milk Stout, 9
Legacy Hedonism Ale, 7
Legacy Midnight Wit, 7
Legacy Nor'easter, 7
Legend Brown Ale, 6
Legend Pale Ale, 6
Leinenkugels Oktoberfest, 4
Leinenkugel Summer Shandy, 1
Leinenkugels Sunset Wheat, 3
Les Trois Mouquetaires Imperial Weizen, 5
Liberal Cup Alewife Ale, 8
Liberal Cup Backhouse Bitter, 7
Liberal Cup Bug Lager, 6
Liberal Cup For Richer or Porter, 7
Liberal Cup Tarbox Cream Stout, 8
Lindeman's Framboise Lambic, 7
Lindemans Kriek Lambic, 8
Lion Stout, 6
Loco Pilsner, 6
Lompoc Centennial IPA, 8
Lompoc C-Note Imperial Pale Ale, 7
Lompoc Condor Pale Ale, 4
Lompoc Fool’s Golden Ale, 4
Lompoc LSD (Lompoc Strong Draft), 7
Lompoc Proletariat Red, 4
Lompoc Sockeye Cream Stout, 6
Long Trail Ale, 7
Long Trail Belgian White, 4
Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat, 7
Long Trail Brewmaster Series Coffee Stout, 8
Long Trail Double Bag, 8
Long Trail Hefeweizen, 5
Long Trail Hibernator, 5
Long Trail Hit the Trail Ale, 6
Long Trail India Pale Ale, 5
Long Trail Winter White, 8
Lost Abbey Lost & Found Abbey Ale, 7
Lost Abbey Carnevale, 5
Lucky Labrador Dog Day IPA, 8
Lucky Labrador Hawthornes Best Bitter, 7

Mackeson XXX Stout, 7
Mad River Steelhead Extra Pale Ale, 7
Magic Hat #9, 4
Magic Hat Blind Faith, 7
Magic Hat Circus Boy, 5
Magic Hat Fat Angel, 6
Magic Hat Hi.P.A., 7
Magic Hat Hocus Pocus, 6
Magic Hat Irish Red Ale, 7
Magic Hat Jinx, 6
Magic Hat Lucky Kat, 5
Magic Hat Odd Notion American Pale Wheat, 6
Magic Hat Roxy Rolles, 8
Magic Hat Single Chair Ale, 7
Magic Hat Vinyl, 6
Magic Hat Y33, 3
Maine Beer Spring Peeper Ale, 9
Manchester Conspiracy Theory, 4
Manchester Emperor Norton's Peppermint Stout, 3
Marshall Wharf Tug Pale Ale, 3
Mash Tun Alberta Pale Ale, 2
Mayflower Golden Ale, 6
Mayflower IPA, 4
Mayflower Pale Ale, 7
Mayflower Porter, 7
Mayflower Summer Rye, 9
Mayflower Thanksgiving Ale, 3
McMenamins Concordia Pale Ale, 5
McMenamins Hammerhead Ale, 5
McMenamins India Pale Ale, 5
McMenamins Nebraska Bitter, 7
McMenamins Ruby, 2
McMenamins Terminator Stout, 8
McNeill's Extra Special Bitter, 6
McSorley's Irish Black Lager, 4
Meantime IPA, 8
Mendocino Black Hawk Stout, 4
Mendocino Blue Heron Pale Ale, 3
Mendocino Red Tail Ale, 5
Mendocino Saratoga Lager, 8
Michelob Pale Ale, 3
Mickey's, 1
Middle Ages Beast Bitter, 7
Middle Ages Kilt Tilter, 4
Middle Ages Wailing Wench, 8
Millstream Colony Oatmeal Stout, 6
Millstream John's Generations White Ale, 8
Mikkheler Beer Geek Breakfast, 10
Moat Mountain Hoffman Weiss, 8
Modelo Especial, 3
Molson XXX, 2
Montana Brewing Whitetail Wheat, 8
Mosi Lager, 1
Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial IPA, 6
Murphy's Irish Red Beer, 5
Murphy’s Irish Stout, 5

Narragansett Cranberry, 2
Narragansett Lager, 5
Nashoba Valley Bolt 117 Lager, 4
Nashoba Valley Heron Ale, 5
Nashoba Valley Oaktoberfest, 4
Nashoba Valley Wattaquadoc Wheat, 6
Negra Modelo, 6
Neumarkter Lammsbrau Organic Pilsner, 8
New Belgium Abbey Style Belgian Ale, 9
New Belgium Fat Tire, 8
New Century MoonShot Beer, 1
New England Sea Hag IPA, 9
New Holland Mad Hatter IPA, 7
Newcastle Brown Ale, 7
Newport Storm Chocolate Porter, 6
Newport Storm Gloria, 6
Newport Storm Henry, 6
Newport Storm Hurricane Amber Ale, 4
Newport Storm's Irish Red, 3
Newport Storm Regenschauer Oktoberfest, 6
Newport Storm Rhode Island Blueberry, 7
Ndovu, 1
Nile Special Lager, 1
Ninkasi Total Domination IPA, 7
Ninkasi Tricerahops Double IPA, 10
Nogne Special Holiday Ale, 7
North Coast ACME California IPA, 8
North Coast Blue Star, 8
North Coast Le Merle, 5
North Coast Old No. 38 Stout, 8
North Coast Old Plowshare Stout, 8
North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, 10
North Coast Old Stock Ale, 9
North Coast Pranqster, 7
North Coast Red Seal, 9
Northampton Black Cat Stout, 6
Northampton Maggies Wee Heavy, 8
Northampton Old Brown Dog, 6
Northampton Pale Ale, 8
Northampton Redheaded Stepchild, 6
Northampton Steamer, 7

Oak Pond Dooryard Ale, 5
Oak Pond Nut Brown Ale, 8
Oak Pond Oktoberfest, 6
Oak Pond Pale Ale, 4
Oak Pond Pilsner, 6
Oak Pond Somerset Lager, 7
Oak Pond White Fox Ale, 7
Offshore Hop Goddess, 6
Offshore India Pale Ale, 7
O'Hara's Irish Red, 5
O'Hara's Irish Stout, 8
Okocim Beer, 3
Old Dominion Dominion Ale, 8
Olde Burnside Dirty Penny, 9
Olde Burnside Ten Penny Ale, 6
Olde Burnside Ten Penny Ale Reserve, 9
Olde English 800, 1
Ommegang, 8
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout, 9
Ommegang Hennepin, 10
Ommegang Rare Vos, 7
Ommegang Three Philosophers, 8
Ommegang Witte, 6
Opa-Opa IPA, 6
Opa-Opa Steakhouse Red Rock, 7
Orlio Organic Black Lager, 5
Orlio Organic Common Ale, 6
Orval Trappist Ale, 9
Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, 10
Oskar Blues Gordon, 9
Oskar Blues GUBNA Imperial IPA, 5
Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils, 6
Oskar Blues Old Chub, 9
Oskar Blues Ten FIDY, 8
Otter Creek Copper Ale, 4
Otter Creek Helles Bock, 3
Otter Creek Otter San, 3
Otter Creek Pale Ale, 5
Otter Creek Raspberry Brown Winter Ale, 3
Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter, 5
Otter Creek White Sail, 4
Owen O'Leary's Black & Tan, 4
Owen O'Leary's Dave's Blueberry Ale, 4
Owen O'Leary's Golden Eagle Ale, 5
Owen O'Leary's I.P.A., 4
Owen O'Leary's Irish Sunsetter Red, 6
Owen O'Leary's Summertime Wheat, 3
Oxford Hefeweizen, 4

Pabst Blue Ribbon, 4
Pacifico, 3
Palm Amber, 6
Pannepot - Old Fisherman's Ale (2007 Version), 9
Paper City Batch 108, 8
Paper City Blonde Hop Monster, 8
Paper City Fogbuster Coffee House Ale, 8
Paper City One Eared Monkey, 2
Paper City PC Blue, 2
Paper City Riley's Mother's Milk Stout, 9
Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale, 8
Peak Organic IPA, 7
Peak Organic Nut Brown Ale, 3
Pearl Street Canal Street Stout, 9
Pearl Street Lake Effect Pale Ale, 7
Pearl Street Trainwreck, 4
Pennichuck Bagpipers Scottish Ale, 5
Pennichuck Black Lager, 8
Pennichuck Engine No. 5 Firehouse Red Ale, 6
Pennichuck Halligan RyePA, 7
Pennichuck The Big O Octoberfest Lager, 6
Penobscot Bay Half Moon Stout, 7
Penobscot Bay Old Factory Whistle Scottish Ale, 9
Penobscot Bay Whig Street Blonde Ale, 8
Petes Wicked Strawberry Blonde, 5
Picaroon's Best Bitter, 6
Picaroon's Man's Best Friend, 4
Pinkus-Mueller Organic Ur Pils, 8
Piraat Ale, 7
Port Brewing High Tide Fresh Hop IPA, 7
Port Brewing Shark Attack Double Red Ale, 6
Port Brewing Wipeout IPA, 8
Portsmouth ALTernator, 9
Portsmouth Bottle Rocket IPA, 8
Portsmouth Dirty Blonde Ale, 7
Portsmouth Oatmeal Stout, 8
Portsmouth Smoky Dunkelweizen, 5
Pretty Things American Darling, 7
Pretty Things Baby Tree, 8
Pretty Things February 27th, 1832 Mild Ale, 7
Pretty Things Jack D'or, 9
Pretty Things Saint Botolph's Town, 6
Primus, 1
Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen, 5

RedBones Chester Street Amber, 7
Redhook Blonde Ale, 4
Redhook CopperHook Spring Ale, 4
Redhook Double Black Stout (with Coffee), 9
Redhook ESB, 7
Redhook Long Hammer IPA, 3
Redhook Sunrye, 5
Ridgeway Seriously Bad Elf, 6
Ringwood Old Thumper (USA), 6
Riverhorse Tripel Horse, 6
RJ Rocker Patriot Ale, 3
Rock Art Magnumus Ete Tomahawkus ESB^2, 8
Rock Art Vermonster, 8
Rock Bottom American Dream IPA, 7
Rock Bottom Improper Hopper IPA, 5
Rock Bottom Lumpy Dog Light Lager, 1
Rock Bottom Mad Cow Milk Stout, 6
Rock Bottom Munich Gold, 4
Rock Bottom North Star Amber Ale, 2
Rock Bottom Off-Kilter Scotch Ale, 5
Rock Bottom Pumpkin Ale, 6
Rodenbach Classic, 8
Rogue American Amber, 6
Rogue Brutal Bitter, 5
Rogue Captain Sig's Deadliest Ale, 6
Rogue Chipotle Ale, 2
Rogue Chocolate Stout, 8
Rogue Dead Guy Ale, 9
Rogue Mocha Porter, 7
Rogue Morimoto Soba, 7
Rogue Santa's Private Reserve Ale, 9
Rogue Shakespeare Stout, 7
Rogue Somer Orange Honey Ale, 2
Rogue Yellow Snow IPA, 8
Roots Burghead Heather Ale, 6
Roots EXXXcalibur Imperial Stout, 9
Roots Island Red, 7
Roots Pale Ale, 7
Roots Pond Turtle Pale Ale, 8
Roots Woody Organic IPA, 8
Run of the Mill Bug Zapper Super Lager, 7
Run of the Mill State Budget Red Ale, 5
Russian River Blind Pig IPA, 9
Russian River Pliny the Elder, 10

Safari Lager, 2
Sagres, 6
Saint Somewhere Lectio Divina, 6
Saison Dupont, 8
Samuel Adams Black Lager, 9
Samuel Adams Blackberry Wit, 3
Samuel Adams Boston Ale, 7
Samuel Adams Boston Lager, 9
Samuel Adams Brick Red, 5
Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat, 4
Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock, 3
Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic, 1
Samuel Adams Cream Stout, 8
Samuel Adams Double Bock, 8
Samuel Adams Dunkel Weiss, 7
Samuel Adams Hefeweizen, 5
Samuel Adams Holiday Porter, 8
Samuel Adams Honey Porter, 2
Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner, 6
Samuel Adams Imperial Stout, 2
Samuel Adams Irish Red Ale, 6
Samuel Adams Light, 5
Samuel Adams LongShot Grape Pale Ale, 3
Samuel Adams LongShot Weizenbock, 9
Samuel Adam's Noble Pils, 7
Samuel Adams Octoberfest, 4
Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale, 5
Samuel Adams Pale Ale, 4
Samuel Adams Scotch Ale, 7
Samuel Adams Summer Ale, 7
Samuel Adams Triple Bock, 1
Samuel Adams White Ale, 4
Samuel Adams Winter Lager, 6
Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout, 5
Samuel Smiths Oatmeal Stout, 10
Samuel Smiths Old Brewery Pale Ale, 4
Samuel Smiths Organic Raspberry Fruit Beer, 3
Samuel Smiths Organically Produced Ale, 8
Samuel Smiths Taddy Porter, 8
San Miguel Dark Lager, 4
Sapporo Premium Draft, 3
Saranac Adirondack Amber, 4
Saranac Black and Tan, 5
Saranac IPA, 4
Saranac Pale Ale, 5
Saranac Pumpkin Ale, 4
Schlitz, 5
Sea Dog Blue Paw Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale, 3
Sea Dog Riverdriver Hazelnut Porter, 3
Sebago Barrel-aged Lake Trout Stout, 8
Sebago Fryes Leap IPA, 7
Sebago Full Throttle Double IPA, 9
Sebago Hefeweizen, 3
Sebago Lake Trout Stout, 9
Sebago Local Harvest Ale, 6
Sebago Runabout Red Ale, 5
Sebago Slick Nick Winter Ale, 5
Serengeti Premium Lager, 1
Sheepscot Valley Bold Coast Pemaquid Ale, 6
Sheepscot Valley Boothbay Special Bitter, 2
Sheepscot Valley Sheepscot River Pale Ale, 8
Sherwood Forest Archers Ale, 5
Sherwood Forest Sheriffs IPA, 8
Shipyard Light, 3
Shipyard Brewer's Choice Special Ale 2008 (Brown Ale), 7
Shipyard Brewer's Choice Special Ale 2009 (Royal IPA), 8
Shipyard Blue Fin Stout, 7
Shipyard Brown Ale, 3
Shipyard Chamberlain Pale Ale, 6
Shipyard Export Ale, 9
Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale, 8
Shipyard Prelude Ale, 9
Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series Barley Wine Style Ale, 7
Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series Imperial Porter, 8
Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series XXXX IPA, 8
Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale, 8
Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin, 8
Shipyard Summer Ale, 3
Shipyard Tremont Ale, 8
Shipyard Tremont IPA, 4
Shipyard Wheat Ale, 5
Sierra Nevada 12th Release Harvest, 6
Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale, 7
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, 9
Sierra Nevada Brown Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Early Spring Beer, 7
Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock, 5
Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Kellerweiss Hefeweizen, 7
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, 8
Sierra Nevada Porter, 9
Sierra Nevada Stout, 8
Sierra Nevada Summerfest, 7
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA, 8
Singha, 4
Sixpoint Brownstone Ale, 7
Sixpoint Righteous Ale, 8
Sixpoint Sweet Action, 10
Sly Fox Pikeland Pils, 8
Smithwicks Ale, 4
Smuttynose Big A IPA, 10
Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale, 5
Smuttynose IPA “Finest Kind”, 6
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog, 6
Smuttynose Portsmouth Lager, 6
Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, 6
Smuttynose Robust Porter, 10
Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale, 9
Smuttynose Summer Weizen Ale, 6
Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale, 6
Smuttynose Winter Ale, 7
Snapperfish IPA, 4
Southampton Double White Ale, 9
Southampton ESB, 10
Southampton IPA, 4
Southern Tier Back Burner, 7
Southern Tier Big Red, 7
Southern Tier Cuvee Series 2 (Oak Aged Series), 6
Southern Tier Harvest Ale, 7
Southern Tier IPA, 8
Southern Tier Jahva, 6
Southern Tier Phin & Matts Extraordinary Ale, 6
Southern Tier Porter, 8
Southern Tier Raspberry Porter, 5
Southern Tier Raspberry Wheat Beer, 3
Spanish Peaks Black Dog Ale, 5
Spanish Peaks Crystal Weiss, 4
Speakeasy Prohibition Ale, 9
Sprecher Black Bavarian, 8
St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, 9
St. Bernardus Abt 12, 10
St. Bernardus Witbier, 10
St. Feuillien Tripel, 9
St. George Summer Ale, 6
St. Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor, 3
St. John Brewers Virgin Islands Pale Ale, 2
St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition, 9
St. Pauli Girl Lager, 3
St. Pauli Girl Special Dark, 3
Steel Reserve 211, 5
Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, 8
Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale, 9
Stone Double Bastard Ale, 9
Stone India Pale Ale, 9
Stone Leviathan, 6
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard, 9
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2006, 8
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2008, 7
Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2009, 7
Stone Pale Ale, 9
Stone Ruination IPA, 8
Stone Russian Imperial Stout 2006, 9
Stone Russian Imperial Stout 2009, 8
Stone Smoked Porter, 8
Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, 9
Stone 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale, 8
Stone 08.08.08 Vertical Epic Ale, 6
Stone Cat IPA, 7
Stone Coast 840 IPA, 8
Stone Coast Knuckleball Bock, 6
Stone Coast Sunsplash Golden Ale, 2
Stoudts American Pale Ale, 9
Stoudts Double IPA, 8
Stoudts Fat Dog, 8
Stoudts Gold Lager, 8
Stoudts Scarlet Lady ESB, 6
Strangford Lough Legbiter, 6
Strangford Lough St. Patrick's Best, 5
Sunday River Alt, 3
Sunday River Black Bear Porter, 6
Sunday River IPA, 5
Switchback Pale Ale, 7

Taj Mahal Premium Lager, 3
Tecate, 1
Terminal Gravity IPA, 7
Terrapin Rye Pale Ale, 7
The Bruery Orchard White, 7
The Bruery Saison Rue, 9
The People's Pint Pied pIPA, 4
The Shed National IPA, 8
The Shed Mountain Ale, 7
The Tap American Pale Ale, 7
The Tap Ascension, 8
The Tap Bock, 7
The Tap Chocolate Porter, 8
The Tap Dopplebock, 4
The Tap GestAlt, 5
The Tap Haverale Cream Ale, 6
The Tap Hewitt Brown, 6
The Tap Irish Stout, 7
The Tap Leatherlips IPA, 9
The Tap Nut Brown, 7
The Tap Smoked Pils , 8
The Tap Whittier White, 7
Thirsty Dog Old Leghumper, 6
Thirsty Dog Siberian Night, 10
Thomas Hooker Blonde Ale, 7
Thomas Hooker Hop Meadow IPA, 9
Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock, 10
Tiger Beer, 2
Tommyknocker Alpine Glacier Lager, 3
Trade Route Ginger Pale Ale, 4
Trappistes Rochefort 10, 8
Trinity Belgian Gold, 6
Trinity Belgian Wit, 4
Trinity Brown Ale, 6
Trinity ESB, 7
Trinity Hefe Weizen, 5
Trinity Imperial IPA, 6
Trinity Larkens Irish Stout, 7
Trinity Rhode Island IPA, 8
Trinity Russian Imperial Stout, 9
Trinity Schwarzbier, 5
Trinity Special Kolsch, 8
Trinity The Kolsch, 6
Troegs Hopback Amber Ale, 8
Troegs Java Head Stout, 8
Troegs Pale Ale, 6
Troubadour Obscura, 6
Trout River Rainbow Red Ale, 5
Trumer Pils, 6
Tsingtao, 2
Tuckerman 6288 Stout, 7
Tuckerman Pale Ale, 8
Tusker Lager, 2
Two Brothers Domaine DuPage French Style Country Ale, 7
Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA, 6
Two Brothers The Bitter End, 7

Uganda Breweries Pilsner Lager, 1
Uinta Angler's Pale Ale, 8
Uncle Jim's Homebrews Amber Ale, 4
Uncle Jim's Homebrews Cream Ale, 6
Uncle Jim's Homebrews Oatmeal Stout, 6
Uncle Jim's Homebrews Red, 8
Uncle Jim's Homebrews "SB", 6
Unibroue Chambly Noire, 5
Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, 9
Unibroue Maudite, 8
Union Station Belgian Tripel, 4
Union Station Summer Blonde, 4
Union Station Golden Spike Ale, 6
Union Station Trip Hop, 5
Union Station Half Day IPA, 5
Union Station River Otter Ale, 3
Union Station Barleywine, 4

Val-Dieu Grand Cru, 10
Van Steenberge Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Red Ale, 5
Vermont Pub and Brewery Forbidden Fruit, 5
Vermont Pub and Brewery Dogbite Bitter, 7
Vermont Pub and Brewery Vermont Smoked Porter, 8
Victory 12, 4
Victory Bags Packed Porter, 7
Victory Baltic Thunder, 9
Victory Braumeister Harvest Pils, 6
Victory Festbier, 6
Victory Golden Monkey, 9
Victory HopDevil, 9
Victory Moonglow Weizenbock, 4
Victory Prima Pils, 8
Victory Storm King Imperial Stout, 10
Victory V Lager, 6
Victory Whirlwind Witbier, 4
Victory Wild Devil, 7
Victory Yakima Twilight, 8

Wachusett Blueberry, 5
Wachusett Green Monsta, 7
Wachusett IPA, 5
Wachusett Octoberfest Ale, 3
Wachusett Summer Breeze, 4
Wachusett Winter Ale, 7
Watch City 38 Schilling Scottish Ale, 6
Watch City Biking Bob's Bohemian Pilsner, 4
Watch City Bombed Blondeshelle Belgian Strong Ale, 5
Watch City Dubbel Belgian Ale, 6
Watch City Hops Explosion IPA, 9
Watch City Kingpin Imperial Stout, 7
Watch City Moody Street Stout, 7
Watch City Pie Eyed Pumpkin Ale, 6
Watch City Shillelagh Irish Red Ale, 5
Watch City Titan Brown Ale, 9
Watch City Totem Pale Ale, 8
Watch City Uber-Okto-Lager, 6
Watch City Wheat IPA, 7
Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier, 8
Westmalle Trappist Tripel, 10
Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot, 8
Weyerbacher Hops Infusion, 7
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumkin Ale, 7
Weyerbacher Insanity, 6
Weyerbacher Merry Monks' Ale, 7
Weyerbacher Winter Ale, 4
Widmer Brothers Drop Top Amber Ale, 8
Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen, 9
Widmer Brothers Snow Plow, 7
Widmer Brothers W06 NW Red Ale, 8
Wild Goose IPA, 5
Windhoek Lager, 3
Wolaver's Farmhouse Ale, 8
Wolavers India Pale Ale, 7
Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout, 4
Wolaver’s Will Stevens' Pumpkin Ale, 5
Woodstock Inn Pemi Pale Ale, 6
Woodstock Inn Pigs Ear Brown Ale, 5
Wynchwood Fiddler's Elbow, 5

Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale, 7
Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, 7
Young's Oatmeal Stout, 9
Yuengling Traditional Lager, 8

Z Street Mocha Java Stout, 8

Friday, July 16, 2010

The Ratings Are Coming! The Ratings Are Coming!

Here is a roundup of the new beers I have sampled in the past couple of months. Some overdue complete updated ratings to follow.

Blue Hills Wampatuk Wheat, Score: 7

Caledonian Organic Great Scot Pale Ale, Score: 4

Cape Ann Fisherman's Bavarian Wheat, Score: 5

Cape Cod Hot Blonde, Score: 7

Clown Shoes Black I.P.A., Score: 7

Dubuisson Scaldis Triple (Bush Ambree), Score: 7

Fuller's ESB, Score: 7

Goose Island IPA, Score: 8

Goose Island Sofie, Score: 8

Grand Teton Pursuit of Hoppiness, Score: 7

Kirin Ichiban, Score: 2

Koshihikari Echigo Beer, Score: 4

Les Trois Mouquetaires Imperial Weizen, Score: 5

Manchester Conspiracy Theory, Score: 4

Manchester Emperor Norton's Peppermint Stout, Score: 3

Mayflower Golden Ale, Score: 6

New Belgium Abbey Style Belgian Ale, Score: 9

New England Sea Hag IPA, Score: 9

Paper City Fogbuster Coffee House Ale, Score: 8

Penobscot Half Moon Stout, Score: 7

Piraat Ale, Score: 7

Rogue Somer Orange Honey Ale, Score: 2

Shipyard Wheat Ale, Score: 5

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Malt liquor madness

Sipping at the other end of the spectrum
By Josh Smith June 30, 2010
http://thephoenix.com/Providence/food/104596-malt-liquor-madness/

Malt liquor is alternately derided as preying on our nation's poor, as a cheap way for frat boys to get drunk, and as just terrible beer. Certainly, all of these are true. However, malt liquor may also be a cheap and very fun source of entertainment this summer. I know this doesn't sound right coming from someone who advocates good beer, but bear with me.

A beer tasting party is something that I've been wanting to try but knew my friends weren't ready for. Now don't get me wrong, they've been good sports about my craft beer fetish by going to brewpubs most weekends and trying countless new styles of beer. But that doesn't mean they've always liked it.

While a tasting party of Double IPAs or Flemish Sours wouldn't go over well with this crowd, a simpler style of beer actually might. And it doesn't get any simpler than malt liquor! With this in mind, "Malt Liquor Madness" was born.

For those unfamiliar, malt liquor is a lager brewed specifically to produce higher alcohol levels at a low cost. Typically dry and light in color, malt liquors are far more sweet than bitter. The inclusion of adjuncts such as corn, sugar, and rice, as well as fusel alcohol, allow malt liquors to weigh in anywhere from 5.5 to 9% alcohol by volume! Between the high ABV and the fact that most come in 40-ounce bottles, malt liquor is not something to be taken lightly.

For our tournament I set up a bracket with eight malt liquors facing off in the first round, with the two highest scoring entries advancing to a head-to-head final matchup. Scorecards allowed everyone to take notes on each of the five categories on which beer is rated (appearance, aroma, taste, mouth feel, and overall impression) and then give each entry a score ranging from 5 to 1.

At only $2 for a 40-ounce bottle, hosting the entire event was quite inexpensive. Two-ounce pours left enough for all 10 participants to sample during the first round and, if necessary, the finals. More importantly, small pours moderated our alcohol intake from these behemoths. While we were ready for the tournament, I was not prepared for the results.

Shockingly, STEEL RESERVE 211 (HIGH GRAVITY) finished dead last. This was actually my favorite beer of the night for its aroma of light malt and faint hops. All the more impressive considering that the beer was served close to freezing. In retrospect, it was probably done in by its seeding as the first beer served of the night, and therefore the first malt liquor many of my friends ever tasted. Live and learn.

Coming in at #7 was MICKEY'S, a very watery beer. Equally light-bodied and bland was finalist #6, KING COBRA PREMIUM MALT LIQUOR. Another surprise came in the form of two of the pre-tournament favorites settling into the middle of the pack. COLT 45 MALT LIQUOR is a classic that I wanted to like, but found overly sweet and creamy. HAFFENREFFER PRIVATE STOCK boasts of its "imported taste" and was the hoppiest beer of the night. This balance made Private Stock my second favorite.

Which brings us to the Top 3. OLDE ENGLISH 800 had a very unpleasant raw taste of corn and water. ST. IDES HIGH GRAVITY MALT LIQUOR was fairly well-constructed but dominated by alcohol at a whopping 8.2% ABV.

So the winner of Malt Liquor Madness, in a landslide, was . . .MOLSON XXX?! What a shocker — I always dismissed this beer as something guzzled by crazed Montreal Canadien fans. At 7.3% ABV, there is no escaping the husky alcohol and grainy flavor. It's worth noting that this was the only contender coming in a 25-ounce can and not a 40-ounce bottle, though I don't think it made any difference.

To be absolutely clear, I in no way endorse this beer, or any malt liquor. But in small quantities, it did make for a very entertaining barbecue, and proved that my friends were not yet ready for a proper beer tasting party. Maybe next summer.