"A Bottle in Front of Me is Better than a Frontal Lobotomy"
Hot Stuff!!
Stille Nacht (aged)
Malheur 10 & 12
Cambridge Brewing Benevolence
Anchor Christmas Ale
Dupont Avec les Bon Voeux
Achel 8
St. Bernardus 12 & Triple
't Smirsje Kerst
Victory 12
Gouden Carolus Christmas
Cantilion Lou Pepe Franbozen
Allagash Odyssey
Allagash Curieux Oak Aged Triple (first batch)
Aventinus Eisbock
Oud Beersel Kriek
Southampton Double White (first batch)
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre
Southampton Triple
Oggies Frank
Pizza Port SPF 45 Saison
Podge Belgian Imperial Stout
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock
McKenzie Bavay
Nogne Saison
Alesmith Speedway Stout
###
H.C. Berger Snowman Ale*
Celis Grand Cru**
Celis White**
* Out of business at end of 2002...drag!
** Miller Brewing Company buy the distribution and production rights but keep the excellent Pierre Celis recipe, then they have financial troubles as a company and dump their best product (1/2001).
NOTES: Far more detailed reviews can be found across the internet, such as at ratebeer.com, beeradvocate.com, and www.realbeer.com. Also, entering most of these reviews began in 2002
while living in Denver, Colorado. Many of the draft selections were found at the Falling Rock Tap Room in Denver.
Dec. 26, 2003 Tasting - Photo from www.gregoryego.com
Abbaye de Rocs (Montignies-Sur-Roc, Belgium) - Belgian burgundy ale. Cloudy brown. Sweet malt aroma. Big rich sweet flavor; strong alcohol and malts. (2001-04)
Abbaye de Rocs Grand Cru - Big full body, sweet malts, copperish, soap aroma, big head, big malt body, a strong delicious Belgian masterpiece! (2003-04)
Brasserie des Rocs Triple Imperiale - "Dark Triple with enormous scale of flavors. This excellent and very elegant appetizer feels like it is made exclusively for kings and emperors" Lovely brew that's smooth with
hidden strength. Filled with sediment. (2004)
Abbaye de Floreffe Double - wonderful, strong Belgian. Yeah! (1996-01)
Abbaye du Val-Dieu (Aubel, BE) Blond - Since 1216. 6% Lovely, smooth, easy to drink and well balanced Belgian blond. (2000-05)
Abbaye du Val-Dieu Triple - Very tasty, amber, sweet (9%) with nice head. Delicious. (2002-04)
Abbey Brewing Co (Miami) 12 - big, lovely beer on tap at brewery in the line of lovely Belgian Trappists brews (2004)
Abita Brewing (LA) Turbodog - Nice dark porter-like brew consistently found around south Louisiana. (1989-04))
Achel 8, Belgian Trappist Ale - Heavenly aroma, light gold color, full bodied with wonderful balance of hops and tasty malt, some bitter notes. (2001-04)
Achel Achelse Kluis Brune Extra - Light brown, cloudy. Big body and spices. (2004-05)
Affligem (Opwijk, Belgium) Blond - Brewing fine beers since 1074. Effervescent, delicious sweet malt flavor with some fruity notes. (1995-2003)
Affligem Dubbel - Mud brown color. A full and distinctly flavored abbey ale brewed by the oldest abbey in Flanders (founded in 1074) that's been brewing since 1129. At 7% alcohol this is a dark and robust
brew best sipped lovingly slow! Bottle in 2004 seemed musty and possibly starting to break down in flavors. (1985-2004)
Affligem Noel - 9%, tasty sweet, nice spice balance. A bit different each year, but always good. (2000-04)
Affligem Triple - 8.5%, darn tasty Belgian brew, (2002-04)
Aktien St. Martin Dunkler Dopplebock (Kaufbeuren) - "Brewed from Aktien's old secret recipes since ancient times, this double bock is dark in color with a delicate malt flavor. Rich in body and a well rounded hop
composition, makes this a truly robust beer. Bock beer lovers will take delight in Aktien's contribution to the double Bock beer world." Since 1308, a fine brew! Dark brown; nice tan head. Malty alcohol aroma.
Malty, sweet, strong, thick, chocolate, a fine taste with some bitter, rich brown hue on the tongue..reasonably priced. (2002-04)
Aktien Steingadener Weisse Dunkel - Easy drinking dark weisse without too much body. (2003-04)
Allagash: (Portland, Maine) Curieux - Ale aged in oak Bourgon barrels - bottle 340 from Dec. 04' with 11% abv. Excellent balance and flavors; one of my top five at the 04' GABF. Found in the bottle in 05.'
Hazy golden, sweet malts and Belgian yeast aromas with subtle Kentucky sweet whiskey aroma and flavor, bubble gum, spices. Mostly a lovely and fun to drink brew. Unique and well balanced. Complex; tasty.
(2004-05)
Allagash: (Portland, Maine) Dubbel Reserve Belgian Style Ale (batch 30) - Wonderfully complex and flavorful dark amber brewed with seven malts. On tap in early 2004 at Falling Rock. (2002-04)
Allagash: Grand Cru - Batch #3 (2002) with 7.2% abv. in a 750 ml bottle. Spicy, golden color, slight malty flavor. Delicious! (2002-05)
Allagash: Special Reserve Ale - brewed in batches. Always very tasty (2003-05)
Allagash: White - Batch #3 made with Corriander and Curacao Orange Peel. Absolutely delicious! (2003) Batch #1 drunk in '04 was heavenly smooth and delicious. I had batch # 6 in 9/04 and it was great. Batch
#8 tried 1/05, and it was lovely. (2003-05)
Anchor: Christmas Ale - I've been drinking this delightful brew since at least 1982and always love it (well, the year 2000 was way too clover/woody flavored). It's worth storing a few bottles a few years to notice
the graceful aging process. The 2001 has a wonderful spice aroma as usual. The 2002 is wonderful. The 1997 tasted wonderful in 2003! You can get often get aged drafts at the Falling Rock. The 2003 was a little
rough, tough, spicy with an aggressive flavor when it came out, but has aged nicely for 2004. (1984-04)
Anchor: Liberty Ale - a standard. Beautiful brew. (1985-02)
Anchor: Old Foghorn - You'd better get a note from your mama to drink this one! (1985-02)
Anchor: Porter - not for the timid beer drinker! Very good with a strong flavor. (1985-02)
Anchor: Steam - A different style of brew. Decent, but not my preferred full body style. (1985-02)
Anchor Summer Beer - Some body and citrus notes.(2003-04)
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale - 6.9% tasty winter brew. (2003))
Anker (Mechelen, Belgium) Gouden Carolus Classic - A specialty strong ale (8.5%) is wonderful complex and tasty. (1983-1994)
Anker Gouden Carolus Noel - Rich brown; dark amber head. Caramel malt aroma. Lovely holiday beer with various spices and other lovely spice notes. The 10% abv is not too noticeable. (1996-04)
Anker Gouden Carolus Triple - 9%; spicy aroma. Cloudy copper/gold. Big carbonation; sweetish, strong, spicy. Mick says curacao. (1983-04)
Arcadia Brewing (MI) Imperial Stout - Dark black, brown head. Big chocolate and coffee flavors. Smooth but big. (2004)
Augustijn Ale - see van Steenberge
Aventinus - see Schneider
Avery (Boulder) Brewing Co.: Calypso Wheat Ale - Very light colored but packing nice tasty light hoppy flavor. Very nice. (2002)
Avery Ellie's Brown Ale: very tasty and smooth. (2002)
Avery Hog Heaven Barleywine - Help me Lord for I have sinned! (2000-01)
Avery India Pale Ale - Full bodied and very nice hop flavors. (2001-02)
Avery New World Porter - rich, full bodied, tasty (20033-05)
Avery The Reverend: Belgian-Style Quadrupel Ale - Delicious, not too strong or smoky, great finish and aroma. Botel cap was sealed in red wax (2000-01). Highly recommended during the cooler months.(2002)
Avery White Rascal, Belgian-style Wheat Ale, unfiltered, brewed with spices. Nice, light, refreshing, a great summer beer. Subtle banana flavor with coriander and Curacao orange peel. (2003-04)
Ayinger, Germany: Celebrator Doppelbock. Significant carbonation, sweet malty aroma with a dark bittersweet chocolate aftertaste. (1985-2003)
Ayinger, Germany: Ur-Weisse - dark amber un-filtered Bavarian wheat beer light in flavor. 96 points from World Beer Championship. (2003 )
Baltimore Brewing DeGroen's Weizen (MD) - Very tasty with banana and subtle spice flavors. (2003-04)
Bass Ale - always very good. (1980-02)
Bavik Wittekerke - 5% comes in a can - slight metallic aftertaste, spicy and fruity. (2003)
Beamish Stout - a nice smooth alternative stout.
Bell's - see Kalamazoo
Benifontaine Castelain - see Castelain
Blue Moon Belgian White - hummm, kinda weak. (2001)
Boon (Lembeek, Belgium) Duivel Dark 8 - Not highly rated on ratebeer.com, etc., but a funky, OK brew. (2005)
Boon Faro Pertotale Ale - 100% spontaneously fermented ale aged for 2 years in oak casks, blended with top fermented wheat ale. Dry and hoppy in flavor with subtle hints of spice. (2004))
Boon (Lembeek, Belgium) Kriek - A standard for kriek brews brewed with traditional standards. Absolutely fantastic for this style - not too sour but made with real cherries. After hearing Mr. Frank Boon
speak on the history of the brewing process (Falling Rock, Oct. 2002) I'm hooked to not only the beer but the technique. Girls love it! (1986-2003)
Boon Lambic - Aged in oak barrels with a unique sweet-sour flavor. Very different. (1986-2002)
Boon Oude Geuze - Aged two years in oak barrels from a mix of lambics, this champagne of beers can last 20 or more years. Way out there! (2002-03)
Boon Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait - 8% Big wild, acidy sour, tasty yummy masterpiece. (2003)
van den Bossche (Herzele, Be) Triple - Golden orange color; fruity aroma. Fruity sourness with some intriguing other flavors. Very nice. (2004)
Bosteels (Buggenhout, Belgium) Pauwel Kwak - Another spectacular Belgian strong ale (8%). (1984-2002)
Bosteels (Buggenhout, Belgium) Tripel Karmeliet - 8%, Lovely beer with great balance, alcohol, sweet malt.. Bottle conditioned blond ale made with oats, barley, and wheat with spicy, fruity, and other flavors
(1995-04)
Breckenridge Brewery Christmas Ale (1997-04)- always wonderful, especially on tap at one of their restaurants in Denver or Breckenridge (or Anthony's Pizza on Evans). Can also be bought in some years with a
pop-top bottle. Ages nicely. (1994-04)
Breckenridge Brewery Hefe proper Ale - Easily one of their finest and a darn tasty unfiltered hefe-weizen. Surprisingly smooth and wonderful flavors. (2003-04)
Bridgeport Ebenezer Ale - very nice and hearty Christmas ale; consistently good and tasty. (1997-04)
Bridgeport IPA - very nice (2000-04).
Bridgeport Pintail Copper Ale - On first impression: Watery, industrial flavor with a chemical aftertaste and tiny malt flavor.(2003)
Bridgeport Stout - wonderfully smooth.
Brigand Belgian Ale - top fermented and fermented in the bottle from a brewery since 1798.
Bristol Laughing Lab Scottish - strong and tasty.
Bristol's (Colorado) Winter Warlock Oatmeal Stout - fine stuff. (2002)
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout - Brewery says: "Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is the winter seasonal ale produced by Brewmaster Garrett Oliver. This highly sought after brew attains its strength by using the first
runnings from two and a half mashes of grain. It is a classic Russian Imperial Stout, modeled on the beers made by British brewers for the Czar's Court in the Nineteenth Century. Black Chocolate is a wonderful
winter warmer and a stunning accompaniment to a chocolate dessert." Delicious! (2004)
Brooklyn Monster Ale - Big, rough, strong Barleywine style brewed in 2003 The company says: "Brooklyn Monster Ale our dead-of-winter seasonal, is an English style barleywine. Barleywines are beers fermented
to the strength of wines, usually around 10% alcohol by volume. The high alcohol produces intensely estery flavors, giving the beers a vinous, or sherry-like character. Deep mahogany in color, Monster is cellared for
three months, and unfiltered. Monster's aroma is redolent of sherry and hops. The palate is fruity and citrusy, and the finish is warming.". (2004)
Buckhead Block (formerly Atlanta Beer Garten) Hoodoo Voodoo Wheat - excellent unfiltered wheat with a banana aftertaste. Visited 5/01 and tried the full sampler, from the Swampwater black to the Zombie
Ale. Decent grouper po-boys and other goodies.
Bull and Bush: Man Beer (IPA) - award winning tasty brew. Great brewpub.
Bull and Bush: Imperial Brown (seasonal at brewery) - very powerful and tasty strong brown. Not too sweet or bitter but unique and delicious. (2003)
The Buckhead Block in Atlanta May, 2001, Logan and lil' Bentley with a sampler.
Cambridge Brewing Co. (MA) Bavay
Cantillon Fou'Foune - 2 year old lambic fermented in oak barrels along with apricots from a famed winery in Bourdeux. Very sour (mouth-puckering) with a nice hint of apricot. (2003-04)
Cantillon Grand Cru - Flat, OK. (2004)
Cantillon Iris - 100% pure barley malt. Bottle gushes brew out upon opening. Wild sour but very tasty. (2003-04)
Cantillon Lou Pepe Kriek 2000 - Ruby color, sour musty, fruity aroma; sour cherry tart taste very nice. (2004)
Cantillon Vigneronne - Absolutely spectacular Belgian sour. (2003)
Capital Brewery Amber (Stevens Point, WI) - nice with a bit of sweet maltiness.(2003)
Capital Brewery Autumnal Fire - Big sweet malt aroma, golden color, strong, nicely balanced. (2003-04)
Capital Brewery Bavarian Lager - Light and easy with some malt flavor. (2003)
Capital Brewery Brown Ale - So-so at best, weak in malt flavors, something off in the finish. (2004)
Capital Brewery Capital 1900 - Made from a year 1900 recipe. Not too much body; OK. (2003)
Caracole (Falmignoul, Belgium) Amber - Easy drinking, very tasty & interesting brew with some citrus and bread flavors, effervescent and different. Nice label with snail looking over candle! (2003-05)
Caracole Nostradamus - Wonderful Belgian "Special Brown Ale" with a fun label! 9.5% abv. Very tasty. (2003-04)
Caracole Saxo - 8% Belgian Blond ale. Cloudy yellow gold; nice white head. Malt and citrus aroma. Easy to drink with combines lemon citrus and wheat grains. (2002-05)
Caracole Troublette - Yellow wit beer with some citrus; easy to drink. (2001-04)
Castelain (Benifontaine, France) Blond Biere de Garde (Calais, France) - made for field workers originally, but as fine as a good Belgian Blond. (2003)
Castelain St. Amand French Country Ale - 5.9%; amber color, big head. Very nice; Bière de Garde style; Platinum Medal (94), World Beer Championships 2002). (2004)
Castle Eggenberg Urbock Dunkel Eisbock - Rich dark brown. Nice amber head. Complex, rich, dark, plums and currants at the start; rich sweet, full-bodied. Rich, tasty & fun. (2003-04)
Chimay Blue Grande Reserve - very rich and full bodied & especially in those aged or before 1992, delicious! (1981 - 2004)
Chimay Red - All the Chimay are spectacular. It's hard to go wrong with these, just have the right glass! (1980 - 2003)
Chimay White: Also called the Cinque Cent and cloudy and tasty. Reportedly more starch than in years past. Bring them on! (1982 - 2004)
Celis Dubbel - from Austin, nicely aged, some bubblegum, great balance, refreshing, mellow yet nice. Sweet malt, smooth. 1995-2004)
La Chouffe Biere de Mars - smooth, 8% abv., great in the big bottle; I also tried it on tap at the Falling Rock Tap House (6/2001)...mighty fine! (2001-03)
La Chouffe - Golden amber color; bubbles overflow from bottle - big white head. Tasty with nice malts and subtle spice. (2000-04)
Church Works (Pittsburgh) Pious Monk Dunkel - Tasty rich sweet roasted malt with a touch of smoke flavor. (2003-04)
Clay Pipe (VA) Backfin Pale Ale - Tasty, a little bitter. (2003-04)
Concord Brewers (MA) - Rapscallion Creation Dark Reserve - Dark brown color, strong smoothly sweet malts; tasty. (2003-04)
Conniston Brewing Bluebird bitter - named the 1998 Supreme Champion Beer of Britain, bottle conditioned - has loose particles at bottom! (1999)
Corsendonk Christmas Ale - 8.5% - dark ale refermented in bottle, spicy aroma with a faint scent of orange peel. Nice balance of sweet malt and tasty spices. (2003-04)
Craftsman Brewing Triple White Sage - tasted at the GABF around 2001 - excellent and unusual brew.
Dark Horse Brewing (Marshall, MI) Belgium Amber Ale (2004)
De Bie (Watou, Belgium) Helleketelbier - 7%; great amber ale with wonderful balance. (2003-04)
De Bie Zatte Bie Artisanal Belgian Brown Ale - 9%, smooth but strong brown ale; tasty. (2003)
Delerium Tremens - Belgian brew with little pink elephants on the glass! Excellent. (1990-2004)
Delerium Noel - Super holiday brew not too overwhelming in any area but delicious throughout. (1997-04)
De Ranke Pere Noel - (2004)
Dillon Dam Sweet George's Brown Ale - nice brown ale, good caramel malt sweetness. (2004)
Dogfish Head Brewery (Lewis, Delaware) Aprihop - Nothing wimpy with this fine fruity brew. Heavy hops makes this unique and delicious. (2003 at brewery; 2004)
Dogfish Head Brewery Au Courant - A golden ale of dark apricot color brewed with currants. Big body of sharp citrus and hops. (2004)
Dogfish Head Brewery Chicory Stout - Full flavored with a little chicory, organic Mexican coffee, & "Goodness beneath a bone white head." (2003-04)
Dogfish Head Brewery Immortal Ale - Help me Lord! 11% abv, but as they put it, "smooth, full-bodied ale reveals interwoven notes of maple, vanilla & oak."(2003)
Dogfish Head Brewery (Lewis, Delaware) Indian Brown Ale - Nicely hopped and easy to drink ale with caramelized brtown sugar, whole-leaf Liberty and Goldings hops, and a touch of java aftertaste. (2003)
Dogfish Head Brewery Midas Touch - way out there brew using a 2700 year old recipe with barley, honey, white muscat grapes and saffron. There's nothing like it anywhere! No hops but amazingly drinkable.
Smooth and tasty. (2003-04)
Dogfish Head Brewery Raison D'Etre - Big head and strong malt aroma. Brownish ale brewed with Belgian beet sugars, green raisins, "and a sense of purpose." Though not for everyone I found this unique and
happily walked away from their brewpub with a growler in 2003! (2000-04)
Dogfish Head Brewery Shelter Pale Ale - not as out there as their other brews, but a tasty pale ale with Willamette and Columbus hops. (2003)
Dogfish Head Brewery 60 Minute IPA - deliciously smooth and hoppy concotion. (2003-04)
Dogfish Head Brewery 90 Minute IPA - wow...feels like I ran into a hop truck! Extremely flavorful with hops galore! (2003)
Dogfish Head Brewery World Wide Stout 2002 - Big, port flavors, rich beyond 99.9% of beers, rich brown color; big alcohol malt aroma. (2004)
Dolle Brouwers (Esen-Diksmuide, Belgium) - Dulle Teve Tripel - big flavors, not too sweet but spicy. (2002-04)
Dolle Brouwers Oerbier - The "Mad Brothers" first brew is tasty and strong (8%). Big full body. Very nice! (1997-2004)
Dolle Brouwers Special Extra Export Stout - fine, creamy, well balanced, delicious stout. (2004-05)
Dolle Brouwers Stille Nacht - Very flavorful and wonderful Christmas brew. (2000-05)
Dolle Brouwers Stille Nacht 2000 on tap at Erasmus Dec. 2004 - spectacular balance. (2004)
Dubuisson Brewery (Hainaut, Belgium) Scaldis - A 12% "Belgian Special Ale" made with three different barley malts and hopped three times. Sweet and deceivingly delicious. Amber, smooth, warm, delicious!
(2004)
Dubuisson Scaldis Noel - The label says: "This is a sweet beer with a pleasant flavour of hops. Indeed, for Bush de Noel, the brewer uses a traditional process which consists in placing hops flowers in the vats where
the beer rests for four to six weeks by which time it will have reached full maturity, giving it a very distinctive taste." Semi-cloudy copper color. Flavorful, rich malty sweet aroma and taste; toffee and molasses
flavors. Carbonated, yet lovely warming sweet malt flavor; strong alcohol. Labeled Bush de Noel in Belgium. (2004))
Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux - 9.5% Spectacular big full body, lots of spice, tasty. Brewed for the holidays. (2003-04)
Dupont Moinette - Bottle conditioned, unfiltered Belgian Ale with lightish color and a surprisingly smooth and delicious flavor. (2003)
Dupont Saison - Wonderful artisan brew with full head, big fruity bouquet, some initial sweetness mixed with strong dry hop bitterness, citrus and spice notes. Excellent. (2003-05)
Duyck (Jenlain, France) Jenlain Biere de Noel - Lovely, 6.8%, nicely spiced and balanced holiday brew. (2005)
d' Ecaussinnes Ultra Amber Beer - Wonderfully tasty, a little sweet. Lovely beer w/ light spice. Top fermented brewer with hops, malt varieties & yeast. Nice aroma, sweet & fruity, melon, apricot, & nicely
balanced. (7%) (2003)
Van Eecke (Watou, Belgium) Het Kapittel Pater - Dark color. Smooth malts with some dark berry notes. Tasty. (2003-04)
Van Eecke (Watou, Belgium) Poperings Hommel Ale - A very flavorful, slightly bitter and hoppy ale. Good and tasty! 7.5% abv. (2002-04)
Einbecker (Einbeck, Germany) Mai-Ur-Bock - Interesting amber-orange color and equally interesting mix of malt & hop flavors. (2003-04)
Einbecker Schwarzbier - Clear, dark ruby brown; head disappears quickly. Smooth, tasty roasted malts, some notes of chocolate, old coffee. (2004)
Ellezelloise Quintine Amber - big wonderful creamy malt body with significant hop finish. (2004)
Ellezelloise Quintine Blond - Refermented in bottle with active yeast, this Belgian small brewery produces a full-bodied 8% abv. ale. Brewed in the French speaking hilly section of Belgium. Warm in color, slight
head, spicy and complex, yet bitter blond. Comes in a 11.2 fl. Oz. Bottle with stopper. (2002-03)
Elysian Brewing (Seattle) Cyclops Barley Wine Style - "Cyclops is nearly all pale malt, with some crystal and Munich for color, bittered with English Magnum and finished with Northwest Amarillo and Centennial
hops." Amber orange; beige head. Alcohol, citrus aroma. Big hops, alcohol, butterscotch. (2004)
Erdinger Pikantus Dunkler Weizenbock - German brewery since 1516 produces a fine dark wheat bock brew, cloudy and full flavored. (2003)
Erdinger Dunkleweiss - on tap at Falling Rock - nice, nothing special, easy to drink but a bit watery. (2004)
Eugene City Brewing Bach's Bock Dopplebock Beer - nice (2000)
Eugene City Brewing St. Nick's Dark Ale - tasty seasonal ale (2000)
Fantome: Automne - 8% Belgian Artisanal brew with very sourness and a strong hoppy aftertaste. Distinct & powerful. (2003-04)
Fantome: BBB Babillard Blond - 8%, big wild flavor, strange but nice. (2003)
Fantome: BBB Babillard BBBrr - 6% - Distinct spicy full bodied, subtle vanilla, big wild aroma. (2004)
Fantome: BBB Babillard Dark - 8%, bubblegum flavor, different, weird, intriguing and fun. (2003)
Fantome Ete - Refreshing, tart, citrus, fun (2004)
Fantome Hiver - Cloudy, dark amber. Aroma is incredible, with vanilla, chocolate & cantelope. Taste is lovely, not too big and spicy, but some sour citrus, spice, yeast, chocolate malt. (2004)
Fantome: La Goumande - 7%, wonderful sweet-tart aroma and smooth effervescent flavors. (2003)
Fantome: Strange Ghost - Wildly quirky with ginger and sour notes, somewhat spicy and fruity.(2003-04)
Fantome: Printemps - Big funky tasty body. No sourness, but grapefruit bitterness. (2003-04)
Fish Tale, WA, Old Woody, November, 2002 - 10% - Brewed in the style of English Old Ales and aged in oak wine casks for 6 months. Big strong red wine and wood flavor, wildy winey and strange. (2003)
Flying Dog Brewery: Old Scratch Amber - another winner in taste and price (1999 - 02)
Flying Dog Brewery Road Dog Scottish Porter - Fine, full bodied, nicely balanced, dark brown, small head, nice malt aroma, not too weird Scottish Porter. (2000 - 04)
Flying Dog Brewery: Snake Dog IPA - tasty with good hop flavors, a great brew. (1999-02)
Flying Fish Grand Cru Winter Reserve - Light golden color, very nice spice and sweet malt flavor with bitter hop tones. (2003-05)
Fosters - Canned beer with a horrific taste. Never again! (2001)
Full Sail: Amber - consistently good. (1995-02)
Full Sail Capsize - Tasty and significantly hopped double pilsner. (2003)
Full Sail IPA - nice. (2001)
Full Sail Rip Curl - moderate hops and flavor. (2004)
Full Sail Slip Knot Imperial IPA Reserve 2003 & 04 - Big hoppy flavorful beer. (2004-05)
Full Sail Wassail - very nice Christmas ale with good balance, spice and dark roasted malts. (2004)
Full Sail: Wreck the Halls - Wonderful holiday beer with quite a punch of malt and hops. (2002-03)
Fuller's ESB - usually very nice. (1990-02)
Fuller's London Pride - tasty British brew. (1990-02)
Fuller's Vintage Ale: Year 2000 - Sampled 12/01, this bottle conditioned and numbered ale was wonderful! (2001)
Galls (Barvaria) Weissbier - tiny batches of a magical brew from a one man brewery. (2003)
GABF Anniversery Ale - Oct. 2001 on tap at the Falling Rock Tap House - excellent! (2001)
Geants Gouyasse Ale - 6% alcohol, light color, spice - citrus aroma and taste. (2004)
Geuzestekerij 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze - This highly acclaimed blended lambic beer mixes 1, 2, and 3 year old lambics. Big wild sour aroma and big head. Golden color. Incredibly wild carbonation. Sour, tingly
flavors. Some lemony notes; refreshing. Highly regarded as a true geuze. (2003-04)
Girardin 1882 Gueuze - Semi-cloudy apricot color; white head. Sourish funky aroma. Complex, funky sour grapes, grapefruit, barnyard flavors. Fantastic for this style. (2004)
Golden City Centurion 1998 - Served 1/00 at the Falling Rock - wonderful! (2000)
Golden City Red - wonderful!
Goose Island (Chicago) Hex Nut Brown Ale - wonderful, easy (2000)
Goose Island oatmeal Stout - delicious, smooth, sweet (2000)
Bert Grant's (Yakima Brewing, WA) - Fresh Hop Ale - Perhaps not as hoppy as you'd think, but still a very tasty brew. (2002)
Bert Grant's (Yakima Brewing, WA) - IPA - Full bodied hoppy and bitter brew. Not for wimps. (2002)
Hair of the Dog (Portland, OR) Adam - Hearty Old-World Ale. 10% abv. Batch 58 - big, tough, tasty (2005)
Hair of the Dog (Portland, OR) Fred - 10% abv with 10 hops and rye malt and very strong taste.(2003)
Hair of the Dog Rose - Belgian Tripel Style ale, bottle conditioned and aged, and spectacular. Comes in regular and large bottles if you're lucky enough to find it. Batch 33 was super. Give me more! [Note: I had
a sour, bad bottle in 2004](2003-04)
Hair of the Dog Ruth - Mighty fine "All American Ale" they call it, but it has strong citrus notes, a full and elegant body. Cloudy golden color. Most excellent! (2003)
Hanssens (Dworp, Belgium) Oudbeitje Lambic - unique, sour, strawberry, out there but if you can dig it, delicious lambic! In 2003 I had one labeled Limited Edition Year 2000 Masters Collection, and it was
memorable. (2003)
Hanssens Mead the Gueuze - Interesting blend of 70% traditional gueuze & 30% lurgashall mead. While the mead adds sweetness there's a strong sour note hiding underneath. The last one I opened had the
cork pop and hit tall ceiling with big gushing afterwards! (2003-04)
Harp - from the UK or Canada, a very good brew. (1980-02)
Harvestoun, Scotland: Old Engine Oil - sweet chocolate with hop taste. Supurb! (2003)
Harvey & Son A. Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout (England) - based on an early 1800s English stout exported to Russia and the Baltic region. After an interesting history this 9% strong stout is available for
a high price. Our year 2000 batch (consumed 8-03) was headless, with a motor oil color, sweet smell, part sherry aroma and bitter/medicinal taste. Some sour wood and coffee after taste. Strong woody, liquid
smoke, syrupy and chalky bite. (2003)
H.C. Berger: Octoberfest - (11/01) very tasty. (2001)
H.C. Berger Red Banshee Ale from Ft. Collins, CO - somewhat strange taste (2001)
H.C. Berger Snowman Ale from Ft. Collins, CO is wonderful. I've added it as a replacement of my top ten to replace one of the Celis products. I'm not sure why I'm getting a "Snowman Ale" in June, but it sure
tastes smooth, flavorful, refreshing, and kinda like a weizen. It's not heavy like a Christmas Ale.(2001)
July 2004 - Tony's Pig Roast with good beer and Chris Black on the Pig!
Heather Ale Brewery (Scotland) Alba Scots Pine Ale - This special 7.5% abv. brew based on a Viking recipe with sprigs of spruce and pine collected in 1998. It's a "triple" style brewing process.
Heather Ale Brewery Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale - Introduced by Welsh Druids in the 9th Century for Celtic Autumn festivals. Rich black ale with roasted grain and other unique flavors. (2003-05)
Heather Ale Brewery Fraoch Heather Ale - Heather flowers and Scottish malt result in a flavorful, dark, ale with a recipe from 2000 b.c. Amber color; flowery/light herb aroma. Medium body with notes of
cinnamon, ginger, fruit, hops. (2003-05)
Heather Ale Brewery Grozet Gooseberry & Wheat Ale - Subtle fruit and spice flavors in a tasty wheat ale based on a 16th century recipe. (2003)
Heather Ale Brewery Kelpie - Seaweed Ale - "ales were made from local malted barley which was grown on fields fertilized with seaweed." Almost black, small head. Relatively light body with notes of coffee
and chocolate. (2004)
Heavenly Daze Rye Beer - Crisp, effervescent after taste (2001)
Heaveweight: Lunacy - 7.7% - sweet and spicy, a golden color ale. Delicious! (2003-04)
Heaveweight: Two Druids Gruit Ale - brewed with herbs and spices, intense sourness, no hops, unique and tasty. Bizarre. (2004)
Der Hirschbrau Hefeweisse - uh...I forgot! (2003)
Het Anker Golden Carolus Grand Cru - wonderfully balanced tasty Belgian brew. (2004)
Het Anker Golden Carolus Triple - cane sugar sweet, strong, very yummy (1985-2003)
Het Anker Golden Carolus Noel - sweet, malty, nice spice, a little fruity. (2004)
High Point (N.J.) Ramstein Classic Wheat Beer - Sour wheat nose; brown with big head and particles swimming about. Tasty wheat with slight sourness; nice mellow malts; refreshing. (2004)
der Hirsch: Doppel-Hirsch Barvarian Doppelbock (Southofen, Germany) - with a ceramic top, quite tasty. (2003)
Hoepfner Goldkopfle - Since 1798. 5.5 % (2003-05)
Hoegaarden Witbier - Popular, available across the globe, yet one of my favorite smooth, easy to drink, cloudy white beers with a slight banana, spice and soap taste. The classic wit. (1987-05)
Hofmark Pils - Nice refreshing pils; brewery since 1590. (2004))
Huyghe Duinen Tripel - Amber; big head. Nice strong tasty Belgian with some raison and spice flavors. (2003-04)
Innis & Gunn (Edinburgh) Oak Aged Beer - New in 2004, in a engraved clear glass bottle, interesting brew aged 77 days. (2004)
Jackson Backyard Brewer Crusty McLeod's Strong Scottish Ale - 9% - Master Colorado brewer Scott Jackson's lovely creation. (2005)
J.W. Lees Harvest Ale - [see Greengate]
Karg (Barvaria) Weissbier - complex, flavorful and very good (2002)
Kalamazoo Brewing Bell's Porter - smooth, easy, coffee flavor at end (2000-04)
Kalamazoo Brewing Bell's Sparkling Ale - Company says: "Sparkling Ale is an American Triple, fermented with both Trappist and Belgian yeast. The result is a golden, malty ale, high in alcohol with a fruity nose, a
rich ester profile and tart finish." Big carbonation, hops & spice. (2004)
Kalamazoo Special Double Cream Stout - Very dark with nice head. Smooth, big, rich malts, with chocolate flavors; citrus undertones. (2004))
Karmeliet - see Bosteels
King & Barnes (Harsham, England) Christmas Ale - very tasty bottle conditioned ale, strong, tasty, ages well (e.g. a 1998 tasted wonderful in 2003). Smooth and easy with a full, delicious flavor. Medium spice,
thick syrupy caramel malt with bitter finish. (2002-03)
Kiuchi (Ibaragi, Japan) Hitachino Nest - 2004 New Year Celebration Ale is the description on this 9% spicy orange peel, sweet, strong brew. Bitter ginger or other spice notes. Aromatic, long lasting head. (2003)
Kiuchi Hitachino Nest White Ale - a refreshing white without much banana flavor yet very yummy! (2002)
Klaster Dark Beer 4% - rich, very sweet caramel sweet brown ale. Okay. (2004)
Klosterbrauere Neuzelle Golden Abbot Lager - pale lager, full and rich, wonderful malty flavor. (2003)
de Koninck (Antwerp) - Classic 5% Belgian brew to judge others by. (1993-1990)
Konig Ludwig Schlossbrauerrei (Kaltenberg, bavaria, Germany) Royal Bavarian Hefe-Weizen - affordable delicious hefeweizen. Light and cloudy with slight banana aroma and flavor. Sweet aftertaste.
Carbonated and fizzy, citrus finish. (2003)
Korma Blonde Ale (Belgian) - strong (5.6 alc.) but smooth and yummy ale! (2002)
Kostritzer Schwarzbier - Dark brown. Rich roast malt aroma. Rich dark roast, mild flavor, nice. (2004)
Kwak - Copper color, big head when properly served in a quarter yard. A wonderfully flavorful and strong Belgian ale, interesting spice notes in the finish. Brewed since 1791 (1981-2004)
La Binchoise Brune - 8.2%, strong sweet malt, dark brown color with bubblegum flavor. (2003)
La Binchoise Reserve Speciale - 9%, amber color, nice balance of body sweetness, malt and alcohol, significant carbonation, delicious. (2003-04)
La Choulette (France) Ambree - 8%, Artisanale French ale from "small, charming farmhouse brewery that dates back to 1885....spicy, aromatic and heady brews, known for an entrancing bouquet." (2002-04))
La Choulette Blonde Biere de Garde - 7.5% - French farmhouse brewery dating back to 1885. Very tasty. (2004)
Laguntias (Petaluma, CA) Brown Shugga Ale - 9.9% baby! Big full body, sweet, a bit wild with strength, hoppy bitterness and delicious flavor. Uses brown sugar in a crazy manner! (2003-04)
Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee) Cattail Ale - Fun label; OK beer. (2004)
Lakefront Brewery Cream City Pale Ale - Orange amber, small head. Tasty, nice hops, light malt and citrus notes. (2002-04)
Lakefront Brewing Eastside Dark - Tasty, noticeably carbonated, malty sweet. "Eastside Dark The rich, coffee-like aroma and flavor ot this find Dark Bavarian style lager beer is derived from a precise blending of
three different specialty barley malts, chocolate, black patent, and Munich malt." (2002-04)
Lakefront Brewery Holiday Spice Lager Beer - spicy with oranges and herbs yet sweet with honey. (2002-03)
Lakefront Brewing Kolsch - Dusty gold; big head; bread aroma. Crisp, mild malt and hops. (2004)
Lakefront Brewing Pumpkin Lager - has spices, smooth spicy aroma, no nasty flavors (2001-02)
Lakefront Brewing Riverwest Stein Beer - Dark amber; caramel malt aroma. Really smooth, balanced, all malt amber lager. (2004)
Lakefront Brewing White - Golden color; minimal head. Subtle spice and flavors. OK. (2004)
De Landtsheer (Buggenhout, Belgium) 12 - Rich brown, cloudy colors; amber head. Rich malt and chocolate aromas. Tastes like a malted chocolate drink. Excellent. (2003-04)
De Landtsheer (Buggenhout, Belgium) Malheur Black Chocolate ("Brut Noir" in Europe) - Brown color; spice and mocha malt aroma. Very nice and smoothly rich flavors of chocolate/mocha malt. (2004)
Lagunitas Brown Shugga - In 2004 I've had this on tap at the FR and in the bottle. With 9.9% abv this "Sweet Release" packs quite a punch. Rich dark brown with amber head; lovely aroma of brown sugar,
caramel, sweet malts, alcohol. Delicious blend of dark caramel malts, rich malts, hops, molasses, plum, big alcohol. (2003-04)
La Trappe Double - brace yourself. Mighty fine. (1997-2002)
Lebatt Porter (Montreal) - a rare Canadian dark, slightly sweet (1990)
Leffe - since 1240 popular throughout Europe, tasty blonde ale. (2004)
Left Hand (Longmont, CO) - Black Jack Porter - mighty fine. (1998-2001)
Left Hand Festival Ale - Made for the 20th anniversary of the GABF in 2001 with collaboration from the Assn. Of Homebrewers and Tabernash Brewery. Tasted in 2004: Cloudy gold color and nice head and
hoppy aroma. Smooth, full-bodied with creamy, pleasant slightly spicy hop aftertaste.
Left Hand - Jackman's Pale Ale - smooth and easy American pale ale (2002)
Left Hand - Milk Stout - smooth and easy yet fully flavorful stout. (2003)
Left Hand - Sawtooth Ale - a great beer often at great prices (1997?-02)
Left Hand - Warrior IPA - mighty tasty! (2001)
Leinenkugel's Creamy Dark Lager - smooth and creamy, not a big body but not wimpy, one of their best. (2003-04)
Leinenkugel's Original - Light, minimal flavors. (1997-04)
Liefman's (Oudenaarde, Belgium) Frambozen Bier - Almost syrupy Belgian beer fermented with raspberries, but drinkable and tasty if shared. (2002-04)
Liefman's Gluhkriek - Had a 1997 in Sept. 2004. Flat, big fruit taste. Served cold though bottle says you can serve warm. Tasty. (2004)
Liefman's Goudenband - 8%; big bottle. Sour fruit aroma. Wonderful semi-sour Belgian beauty somewhere between a gueuze and pear Riesling. Some apple and Flemish red flavors. (2004)
Liefmans Kriekbier - Dark cherry red, sour cherry aroma. Not as sour as the aroma, but a nice balance of sweet, fruit & sour. (2004)
Liefmans Oud Bruin - 5%, brown ale, fun balance of carbonation, big sweet strong sour brown malt flavors. (2004)
Lindemans - Framboise - Belgian lambic fermented with wild yeast. Aged in oak with real raspberries added for a secondary fermentation. Comes in 750ML bottles. (1980 - 03)
Lindemans - Kriek - way different, perhaps an acquired taste, or just a taste for a sourish carbonated not-beer beverage, that to some is way yummy! (1980-03)
Lindemans Peche Lambic - Big peach aroma and taste amongst big carbonation; darn tasty, yet quite sweet. (2000-04)
Lobkowicz Prince Blonde Bock Beer (Czech) - kinda like Pilsner Urquel (2001)
Lost Coast Brewing (Eureka, CA) Winterbraun Holiday Ale - Full bodied, a tad sweet, and very tasty (2002)
Lucifer - heavily carbonated Belgian brew with a full-bodied, strong flavor. Very nice. (1990-02)
MacCashin's (New Zealand) Malt Mac Winter Ale - Smoky character, cascade hops, toasted malt, dark copper hued, full bodied. Very tasty with smoky-bacon flavors. (2003)
MacTarnahan's MacFrost Winter Ale (OR) - 6% - a nice tasty Christmas Beer, fairly easy to drink, some chalk notes in the 2004...maybe best aged a year. (2003-04)
Magic Hat (VT) Fat Angel Ale - Golden amber color with nice balance of sweet malt and bitter hops. (2003)
Magic Hat (VT) Blind Faith - An India Pale Ale style. Golden amber; hop and malt aroma. Small head. Medium body and hops with some sweetness and citrus flavors. (2004-05)
Magic Hat Humble Patience - Dark color; rich malt aroma. Labeled an Irish style red ale. Big rich roasted malt flavor. (2004)
Magic Hat #9 - not quite pale ale, with apricot. (2004)
Mahr's Weisse Bock - tasty dark bock with some sour wheat notes; tasty and refreshing. (2004)
Malheur - see Landtsheer
Malt Shovel Brewery (Australia) James Squire Best Ale - Limited release. 6.8% wonderful malt aroma, strong, flavorful. Crystal wheat, malted barley, and floral hoppy notes. Quite tasty. (2003-04)
McEwan's (Scotland) Edinburgh Ale - way strong flavorings (1980-98)
McEwan's (Scotland) India Pale Ale (1995-01))
Middle Ages Brewing Co. Beast Bitter - wonderfully flavorful and refreshing with plentiful hops (2000)
Moorhorse's (England) Pendle Witches Brew: real Lancaster ale - smooth, 5.1% by vol, amber, easy drink (2001)
Moortgat Duvel (Puurs) - All around excellent brew worthy of a king. Lots of bubbles, white head, a not fully noticeable 8.5% abv. doesn't take away from the fully delicious and at times citrusy brew.(1980 -
2004)
Mort Subite Gueuze - 7.2%, lovely wild sour taste. (1982-04)
Musketiers: Troubador Blond - Yellow orange; white head. Citrus aroma. Refreshing citrus, spice, & flower hops. Very tasty Belgian.(2003-04)
Narragansett Bock Beer - in the 1980's you could get this fine brew for around $6 a case. Today it's way more. (1979-89)
New Amsterdam IPA - "Top-fermented and dry-hopped, this I.P.A is brewed with Centennial hops, Cascade hops, Two-row Roasted Barley malt and Special Roasted malt." Copper orange; small head. Subtle
citrus aroma. Not too hoppy or flavorful but not bad. (2004 )
New Belgium (Ft. Collins, CO) Abbey - Another fine Belgian style with hints of spice. Sometimes found on tap at the FR. (1999-03)
New Belgium 1554 Brussels Style Black Ale - Easy and smooth black brew with a full dark malt flavor. (2001-03)
New Belgium Abbey Grand Cru - Enough to make one proud to live in Colorado. Way tasty! (2000-03)
New Belgium Biere de Mars - An absolute winner. Smooth, full bodied yet easy to drink with some distinct flavor of lemon verbena. (2000-05)
New Belgium Fat Tire - certainly a classic flagship brew from a brewery which consistently produces excellent brews, most more tasty than Fat Tire.
New Belgium La Folie - Wood aged sour beer in a big bottle with a wonderful and distinct sour, though strong and full-bodied flavor. Absolutely fantastic! Bottle #2853 from 2002. (2003) Tasted again 2/04 is
delicioous as ever.
New Belgium Frambozen (Raspberry Brown Ale) - A wonderful brew that has lost some of it's sour uniqueness over the years, but is still quite tasty (1998-03)
New Belgium Tansatlantic Kriek - A collaboration with Frank Boon of Belgium. Brilliant aroma of sour cherries. Nice level of tartness. Very tasty though a tad sweet and light. (2003-04)
New Belgium Trippel - Full bodied golden Belgian style with Saaz hops. A triple fermentation process with Belgian yeast and some live yeast in the bottle makes this quite special. (1997-04).
Newcastle: Brown Ale - very common and tasty, caramel sweet and full-bodied. (1970s - present).
New Glarus Belgian Raspberry Tart - Nicely balanced heavy fruit, tartness and sweet alcohol beer. (1997-2003)
New Glarus Belgian Red - Wow! Out of this world award winning brew with whole Montmorency Cherries. Excellent!!! (1999-03)
New Glarus Brewing Triple - Part of their "unplugged" series has a wonderful aroma, candy sweet flavor, subtle spices. (2003-04)
Niagara Falls Brewing: Apple Ale (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada) - wonderful cider-like aroma, OK taste. (2000)
Nogne (Grimstad, Norway) - Dark brown, amber, creamy head. Smooth, vanilla, sweet roasted malts, easy and tasty. (2005)
North Coast Brewing: Pranqster Ale - Formerly on my top 10 list above, a Belgian style "follows in this tradition using a mixed culture of antique yeast strains that results in a floral nose, a full fruity flavor and
a clean finish. It's a deceptive 6.9% alcohol and should be enjoyed with a full head." http://ncoast-brewing.com/BEER/pranqster.html North Coast in Ft. Bragg, CA, is a wonderful brewery with great food, fresh
oysters, a block or so from the Pacific ocean, and some wonderful beers. Everything they make is great but this may be my favorite (though their Anniversary Ale was wonderful). On tap at the Falling Rock Tap
House in Denver 6/01.
North Coast Brewing: Old Stock Ale - A full-bodied and tasty sweet and strong ale. (1999-03)
North Coast Brewing: Red Seal Ale - A gold medal winner at the GABF (2000) and elsewhere; on their website they call it a "full-bodied, copper-red Pale Ale. Red Seal Ale is generously hopped in the traditional
manner for a long, spicy finish." http://ncoast-brewing.com/BEER/redseal.html I bought a 6-pack from Union Liquors in Denver and found it very different, better over a few days as my tastes adjusted to this
unique wonder. A distinct flavor that sometimes I get a craving for! (2000-02)
North Coast Brewing: Scrimshaw - Pilsner style beer; easy to drink, light yet tasty & refreshing. (2002)
North Coast Brewing: Wintertime Ale - The 2003 recipe is not the same as years past and not quite as tasty or full bodied. (2003)
Oasis: Extra Special Bitter Ale - Full flavored and tasty. (1999 - 2003)
O'Hanlon's Wheat Beer - A British wheat beer with a nice citrus flavor, clean, crisp, and refreshing. (2004)
Oberdorfer [see Sailer])
Odell's: 90 Schilling - always a popular choice for good reason - Good beer. (1998-2002)
Odell's: Easy Street Wheat - nice and light for a hot day (2001-02)
Odell's: Isolation Ale - Nicely balanced, sweet, strong, full flavored, Christmas without spices or fruit. Yummy finish. (1998-03)
Oggy's (Del Mar, CA) - "15" - Most excellent beer with 15 hops and strong alcohol. Briefly on tap at the Falling Rock. (2003)
O'Hanlon's (Devon, England) Original Rye Beer (2004)
Old Dominion (VA) Pale Ale - tasty, nice hops. (2004)
Old Dominion (VA) Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale - Whole flower Mt. Hoods & Cascade hops and a deep body; very tasty & hoppy. (1997-2003)
Oldenberg: Holy Grail Nut Brown Ale (Ft. Mitchell, KY) - mighty fine; super cool label! (2001)
Ommegang: Rare Vos - Belgian style, great price...humm, should this be on my top ten list. Super brew! (2001-03)
Ommegang: Hennepin - Belgian style farmhouse ale - 7.5% crisp, sweet, yummy, rich, full-bodied, light in color and strong! (2002-04)
Ommegang Three Philosophers - 9.8%. Red-brown color; orange-tan head. Big wild flavors. Bottle conditioned quadrupel ale with cherry-lambic added. Clove, oatmeal, chocolate & sour cherry flavors. (2004)
Ommegang Witte - released in 2004, a rather light, semi citrus, tasty brew. (2004-05)
Orkney Brewery (Sandwick, Orkney, Scotland) Dark Island (2004)
Orkney SkullSpliter Ale - very tasty, strong, fun Scottish ale (8.5%). Give me more! (2003)
Orval (Belgium) - Brewed by the Trappist monks, you simply can't go wrong! A classic. (1984-2002)
Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale - very tasty and hoppy. Lyons, CO brew. (2002-05)
Oksar Blues Gordon - Very big IPA - 9.2% abv. Brewed for Gordon Knight (2004-05)
Oud Beersel (Beersel, Belgium) Oude Geuze Veille - Rich, tangy, sour Belgian beauty! (2000-04)
Oud Beersel Oude Kriek Veille - Beautiful pink in color with pinkish bubbles, intense aroma and wonderful tart cherry flavor. (2003-04)
Oxford Brewing (Baltimore, MD) - Ale fermented with real raspberries. Very nice flavor; not too sweet and minimal tartness, but very tasty. (2003-04)
Palisade Brewery Red Truck IPA - Nice balance of grapefruit hops and malts. (2004)
Palm (Steenhuffel, Belgium) - Nice pale ale back in the 1980s, bottom fermented, tasty! (1984-1989)
Palmer Lake - SP Belgian Ale (Tripel), Batch #1, 10% - big alcohol, sweet bubble gum aroma and head; heavy carbonation, malt, spice. Big body, big bitterness, sharp citrus like. 2004)
Paper City (Holyoke, MA) Blond Hop Monster - "A big blonde beer with an unreasonable amount of hops." It's written right on the bottle and it's true, but tasty! Significant complexity and uniqueness. Sweet
fruit plus grapefruit. (2003-05)
Paulaner: Pils - very good! (1990-00)
Paulaner: Hefe Weizen - super line of beers. Excellent hefe weizen. Cloudy, good to judge others by. (1980-02)
Paulaner: Octoberfest - always very good with tasty hop flavor. (1980-02)
Petrus Aged Pale Ale - lovely sour brown ale...very drinkable and refreshing. Subtle sour cherry or wood notes. (2004)
Petrus Old Brown Ale - 5.5%, mighty fine. (2004)
Petrus Triple Ale - 7.5% Cloudy, yellow gold color. Deliciously sweet and tasty, strong and smooth. Big strength, spicy with prickly pear cactus notes. Little bottles. (2002-04)
Petrus: Winterbeer (Bavikhove, BE) - 7%, at 8.4 ounces this is way too small for such a wonderful brew. Very tasty holiday beer with great balance of sweet dark rich malts, sour and spice, hops and alcohol.
(1998-05)
Phantom Canyon: Hefe-weizen - cloudy, magical mixture. Only available at their fine brewpub in Colorado Springs. I detected a difference from their 2003 batch vs. previous years with less banana and less
delicious distinctiveness, and have removed it from my top 10. It's still good. When there, try their gouda beer soup...one of the best I've tried. Great regular menu and atmosphere. (1997-03)
Pietra (Corsica) Amber beer - 6 %; musty, honey, bread smell; copper color. A little bottle "brewed with a blend of selected malts, hops, chestnuts and without any chemical additives or preservatives."
Interesting. (2004)
Dunkeslbuhl, Germany - 1993
Pilsner Urquell - a wonderful Czech product. In the old days they'd sell it in 4-packs with cork lined bottle caps and no two bottles with the same amount of beer. Over the years they've remained a standard for
great imports. (1980-02)
Pinkus Hefe-Weizen - Unfiltered, organic wheat ale. Smooth, easy to drink with light, fruity, excellent balance, subtle banana. (1997-04)
Pizza Port: Hop 15 - Amazingly powerful brew. 10.5% with a flavor like a barleywine and enhanced hops. 15 different hops added in 15 minute intervals during the brew. (2004)
Pizza Port Brewing (Solano Beach, CA) Hop-15 - Fifteen hops added each 15 minutes during the brewing process to celebrate their 15th anniversary. Super hops and flavor. (2003-04)
Portland Brewing Bobby Dazzler Old London Style Holiday Ale - Their 2000/01 brew was on my top ten but I didn't see it return to the Denver area for 2001/02. Drag! Excellent holiday beer with tasty spices
and hops yet smooth and very satisfying. Yum!!! (2000-01)
Primator: Blonde Bock Beer - Yellow gold & clear with white head. Sweet malt and grass aroma. It's 7%, refreshing, sweet, smooth, very drinkable, almost like a triple. A touch of fruitiness, alcohol strength,
and sweet malts blended very nicely. (2003-04)
Proef Reinaert Wild Ale - 9%, Triple fermentaed using 2 yeast strains. Big and wild, distinct, a touch sour, with some horse blanket, sweet strong malts, a little bitterness, and spice. Very tasty. (2004)
Proef Reinaert Felmish Amber Ale - 7%, very nice Belgian amber; lovely body and sweet malt balance. (2004)
Proef (Lochristi, BE) Van der Vern Grand Cru - Part of the Bottleworks Imagination Series. 9.8% Flemish Ale. Spicy, sweet aroma. Darkish copper, fresh, sweet malt, big alcohol. (2004)
Pyramid: Apricot - yeah, apricoty, but darn yummy on a warm day! (1995-01)
Pyramid: Snow Cap - great. (1999-01)
R & B Brewong (Vancouver) Auld Nick Winter Ale - 6.5% craft brewery strong, dark ale. Smooth and tasty. (2004 )
De Ranke (Wevelgem, Belgian) Kriek - Big bottle wrapped in paper with a cork. Sour cherries added in this delightful 7% brew. Almost no sweetness in this refreshing sour, fruity beer. Most excellent for this
style. (2004)
De Ranke Pere Noel - Nice holiday beer. At 7% it's not a monster, but tasty with some caramel and spices. (2004-05)
De Ranke XX Bitter - On the label it says, "The Hoppiest Beer of Belgium." It is hoppy, but with some biting, somewhat rancid flavors. 6% abv, unfiltered, rough stuff! (2003)
Redfish: (Boulder, CO) Angry Monk Ale - a very nice and tasty Belgian style ale (2002)
Red Hook: ESB - decent. (1998-03)
Real Ale Brewing (Blanco, TX) Sisyphus 2003 - Barleywine Style Ale - 10.7%. Amber red; sweet malt aroma. Rich malt, caramel, touch of sour fruit, hoppy...nice! Drunk 9/04. (2004)
De Regenboog (Brugge) t'Smisje: BBBourgondier - 12% Muddy brown; small brown head. Full-bodied, dark, noticeably hoppy, maple, toffee, spice & wood notes, very tasty and relatively rare.(2003-04)
De Regenboog (Brugge) t'Smisje Calva Reserva - Dark copper color, flat, no head, strong sweet aroma and taste. Powerful, like a barleywine. (2004)
De Regenboog (Brugge) Vuuve - delicious Belgian white with 60% barley malt, 40% wheat malt, hops, coriander and fresh organic orange peel...delicious! (2002 - 03)
De Regenboog Wostyntje - "Ale brewed with spice...a dark blond ale brew with 90% barley malt, 10% munich malt, 2 sorts of hops, dark candy sugar and mustard seeds." (2004)
Relyea Brewing Co (Syracuse, NY) Publican's Choice Jordan Ale, Old Style Brown Ale - good. (2000)
Ridgeway Brewing (Oxfordshire) Santa's Butt Winter Porter - Dark brown; small head. Rich dark malt and chocolate aroma. Dark roasted malt and chocolate flavors. (2004)
Ridley's (Chelmsford, Essex) Witchfinder Porter - Smoky and strong, rich, dark malts. Yummy! (2004)
Riva Brewery Lucifer - Golden ale (2000-04)
Rochefort 8 (Belgium) A Trappist monk brew with wonderful complexity, fruity, and a bitter end. (2000-04)
Rochefort 10 - 11.3% Dark muddy brown. Dark tan head. Sweet malt aroma. Ummm...complex dark chocolate almost milkshake flavors, candy sugar, big alcohol matched nicely with strong caramel malts,
mocha, raisons, earth. Rich, big lasting mouthfeel. Good for aging. (2000-04)
Rockies Brewing Co. Hazed and Infused - very tasty dry hopped ale. Unfiltered with crystal malts help create a delicious brew. (2002-04))
Rockies Killer Penguin - a winter specialty brew a tad bolder than their Igloo Ale. Very tasty in 03, less so in 04'. (2003)
Rockies Brewing Co. Mojo IPA - Pale amber; thick white head. Nice mix of hops with citrus. (2004)
Franz Josef Sailer (Marktoberdorf, Germany) Oberdorfer Weiss - Dark Bavarian wheat beer in pop-top bottle; nice. (2004)
Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic - When it first came out it had more cranberry flavor and some distinctiveness. This batch seems lacking in both, though not a bad beer, it's little different from the lightest
flavored of any fruity brews. (2002)
Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale - Whoa! Large amounts of specialty malts, cinnamon, ginger and orange give this holiday ale a way powerful taste. Close to a barleywine or Christmas beer in flavor; very tasty and
powerful. (2001- 02)
Sam Adams Winter Lager -inconsistent in the past but often is a smooth drinkable winter ale. (1999-04)
Saint Arnold Christmas Ale - Absolutely wonderful. Full bodied, tasty, with only malt, hops, yeast, and water. (2001)
Samuel Smith: India Ale - a top fermented in stone Yorkshire squares smooth and tasty English ale with flavor (1990 - 2002)
Samuel Smith: Nut Brown - a classic, tasty, clear bottle British beauty!(1984 - 2000)
Samuel Smith: Taddy Porter - another classic. Relatively light in hops and body compared to many American styles, but tasty. (1983-2005)
Samuel Smith: Winter Welcome Ale - 6% relatively light for an Xmas ale but a delicious winter warmer it is. (1984-03)
Saxer: Jack Frost Winter Dopplebock - made in 30-barrel batches, 8% by vol., "style developed by Barvarian monks in the 18th century" - German (2001) Caramnich malt - rich & malty, "smooth finish and
lingering sweetness" - cold conditioned for 2 months (2001)
Scaldis [See Dubuisson]
Schlenkerla Smokebeer Marzen - similar to the Urbock - Strong BBQ aroma, very dark brown, smokey and highly drinkable. (2003-04)
Schlenkerla Smokebeer Urbock- since 1516, a classic German Rauchbier, wonderful and smokey. (2003)
Schlenkerla Spezial Rauchbier - More expensive than the others. Big, earthy, musky, rough, smoke (MS BBQ) flavors. Wild and lovely. Very well done; distinct and intense. (2004)
Schloss [see Castle]
Schneider Aventinus - Very unusual dark, sour, and flavorably unique masterpiece. (2001-04)
Schneider Aventinus 1999 - 1999 Wheat Doppelbock - Very nicely aged for 2004. Smooth, minimal wild or sour stuff but lovely. Excellent brew. (2004)
Schneider Aventinus Weizen Eisbock - Dark, strong; some winey and sour tastes. (2003-04)
Schneider Weiss Georg Schneider's Weisen Edel-Weisse - unique, strange, very nice and easy to drink. Gives your mouth a wild trip! Very nice. (2002-04)
Shenanfoah (Alexandria, VA) Stony Man Stout - Smooth, tasty, not too bitter or strong. (2003)
Shiner (TX) Hefeweizen - made with wheat, honey, orange and lemon peel, very effervescent with a metallic aftertaste (2003)
The Shipyard (ME) Fuggles IPA - Single hop IPA has a unique hoppy flavor. (2003)
Sierra Blanc (Carrizozo, New Mexico) Pilsner - wonderfully refreshing taste (3-02)
Sierra Blanc Pale Ale - decent, tasty, hearty. (3-02)
Sierra Blanc Nut Brown Beer - very tasty brown. Smooth and not too strong in flavors. (3-02)
Sierra Nevada: Celebration Ale - A very tasty and strong Christmas ale with variations each year. A classic worth aging. (1990 - 2004)
Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale - seasonally on tap at the Falling Rock; way tasty and extra hoppy brew. Excellent! (2001-02)
Sierra Nevada: Pale Ale - consistently over the years a wonderful brew. (1990-2002)
Sierra Nevada: Pale Bock - a strong and tasty malt liquor (2001)
Sierra Nevada: Summerfest - bottom fermented refreshing ale (2001)
Brasserie Silenrieux: Sara Buckwheat Ale - organically grown and processed buckwheat ale, 5% abv; honey sweet, significant carbonation, delicious. (2003-05)
Brasserie Silenrieux: Joseph Spelt Ale - 5% organically grown and processed, delicious brew, great balance. (2004)
Silly (Belgium) Scotch - Wonderfully tasty & potent (8%) brew. Enjoy a sweet burnt sugar initial taste with a bitter after taste. (1997-04)
Sinebrychoff (Finland) Porter - Wonderful brew with no burnt after flavors and good strength. (2003-05)
Ska Brewing Co. (Durango) "Pinstripe Red Ale" - tasty effervescent ale with nice hops (2003)
Ska Brewing Co. True Blonde Dubbel - Rockabilly sexy type label with a thick yellow plastic wax that keeps things preserved but is a challenge to get open! Golden - yellow color. Made with Belgian yeast, candy
sugar, and Colorado wild flower honey. 8%. Sweet aroma, big bold spice and sweet malt taste. More of a golden ale than dubbel. Should age well. (2004)
Slaghmuylder: Witkap Pater, Dubbel Pater Levend Bier Biere Vivante - 7%, brown color, sweet and strong with a hemp flavor. (2003)
Portsmouth Lager - Sweet malt, somewhat soapy, OK. (2003-04)
Smuttynose (NH) Old Brown Dog Ale - Nutty, caramel, rich aroma and flavor. (2004-05)
Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale - interesting with some hoppy flavors. Okay. (2003-04)
Smuttynose Weizenheimer Ale - Nice & refreshing. (2003)
Snake River - Pale Ale - Good, has won awards (2001)
Southampton Old Herb - bottle 229 of 500; special! Very rich and complex in color, aroma, flavors, tastes. Mixes of caramel, richer malts, significant power & strength! (2004)
Spaten - Octoberfest - great brew from a great brewery. (1990 - 2004)
Spaten Optimator - Dark, reddish brown, minimal head. Earthy aroma. Smooth, big malt beer. Some sweet and bitter notes. A classic! (1980-05)
Sprecher (Glendale, WI) Mai Bock - Nice full body, malty, dark amber color. Delicious and refreshing with a noticeable hop flavor. (2003)
Sprecher Black Bavarian Style Lager - Easy, very tasty black beer. (2003-05)
Sprecher Abbey Triple - Big carbonation, sweet caramel malt; good balance of tasty flavors; apricot notes. (2004-05)
Sprecher IPA - Ruby brown, nice hop aroma. Flavorful balance of hops and malts. (2004)
St. Bernardus: ABT 12 - on tap at Falling Rock - strong, full bodied with nice balance, dark and delicious! (2004-05)
St. Bernardus (Watou, Belgium): Biere Blanch Witbier - 5.5% - Wonderful balance of smooth white beer flavors with some sour, spice, soap and banana notes. (2003-05)
St. Bernardus: Pater 6 - Rich brown color; big head. Rich sweet malts, subtle dark fruit. (2004)
St. Bernardus: Prior 8 - A most excellent brew...more please! Perfect balance of sweetness, hops, alcohol and malt flavors. (2000-05)
St. Bernardus: Tripel - Delicious and full flavored 7.5% Abbey ale. Hint of bubble gum flavor. Significant carbonation. Easy to drink. Yum Yum! (1997-05)
Steingadener Dunkel Weisse - smooth without too much body or head but refreshing. (2003-04)
van Steenberge (Ertvelde, Belgium) Augustijn - Specialty abbey amber with some sweetness (8% abv). Subtle bubblegum, slight banana & spicy nice. Just wonderful! (1998-2005)
van Steenberge Double Bornem - Dark brown, big head. Sweet malt, chocolate and sour cherry aroma. Big malt, hops, spice, citrus and alcohol flavors. (2000-05)
van Steenberge Bornem Triple - Nice fruity aroma. Very smooth and drinkable with balance of tropical fruits, malt & alcohol (9%). Seemingly not a big body compared to some tripels, but tasty with subtle
candy cane, banana, apples, pear, spice & grass. Very nice. (2001-06)
van Steenberge Bruegel Amber Ale - 5.2% - Dutch barley & German hops. Cloudy amber; long lasting head. Sweet malt aroma. A little malt, spice and citrus; nice. (2004)
van Steenberge Ertveldes Wit - 5% Crisp carbonation, fruity with subtle banana, soap and spice flavors. (2003-04)
van Steenberge Leute Bokbier 7.5% - sparkling and sweet with a caramel nut flavor tasty. (2003-05)
van Steenberge Piraat - At 10.5% alc. by volume you'd better get a permission note from your mammy for this delicious, light looking, sweet, well hopped, and strong tasting treat. Yeah! (2000-06)
van Steenberge Gulden Draak - Full bodied and strong (10.5%) tasty, dark red amber ale. Some spice in the aroma and after taste. Help me Lord! (2000-06)
Steenbrugge Tripel - wonderful aroma of sweet intrigue. Full bodied, lovely balance. Strong, close to bubblegum - more vanilla cream soda flavor. (2004)
St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel - Heavenly elixie...wonderful body and balance. A world class big, tasty brew. (2002-07)
St. Feuillien Triple Abbey Ale - Wonderfully tasty, nicely spiced triple with a smooth clean taste. (2001-07)
Stone Brewing Co. (San Marcos, CA) - Arrogant Bastard - you're not worthy
Stone Brewing Co. - Double Bastard
Stone Brewing Co. - IPA
Stone Brewing Co. - Levitation
Stone Brewing Co. - Oaked Arrogant Bastard
Stone Brewing Co. - Old Guardian
Stone Brewing Co. - Ruination
Stone Brewing Co. - Smoked Porter
Stone Brewing Co. - Verical Epic 03', 04', 05', 06'
Stone City Brewing (Solon, IA) John's Grocery Generation White Ale - Very tasty white-style with nice sour notes. (2003)
Stoney Creek (Detroit, MI) Red Ale - Tasty with significant caramel malt flavors. (2003)
Tabernash: Golden - light, refreshing hop taste (2001)
Tabernash: Octoberfest - very tasty! (2001)
Tabernash: Weiss - a very good beer, especially on tap. It used to be less filtered and even better years ago. ( 1998? - 2005)
TBMike's Trappist of the Tropics from July 12, 2003. (2004)
Thomas Hardy (Dorset, England) - I've been drinking this numbered, little bottle specialty since the early 1980s. Delicious but very sweet, full-bodied and powerful. Ages well (e.g. In 2003 I drank a bottle of 1993
beer and it was spectacular, or as the label states, "...brisk as a volcano, piquant, yet without a twang, luminous as an autumn sunset."(1982-06)
Three Floyds Brewing Co.: Robert the Bruce Scottish Style Ale - smooth, not too sweet or overpowering Scottish ale (2000-07)
Theilier (Bavay, France) La Bavaisienne - 7% A Biere de Garde from France's oldest working brewery. A very tasty malty, hoppy, amber ale with a caramel taste. (2004-05)
Tilburg's (Holland) Dutch Brown Ale - flavorful yet easy and smooth; nice. (2003-04)
Timmerman's (Itterbeek, Belgium) Kriek - Some of their batches still use real cherries and are worth tasting. (1997-2006)
Timmerman's Peche - Uses peach juice for an interesting effect. (2001)
Tommyknocker: Butthead Bock - wonderful, powerful mixture. Visit them in Idaho Springs, CO and try their seasonals. (1999-07)
Tommyknocker: Glacier Lager - light and refreshing, but some subtle metallic aftertaste. (2002-04)
Tommyknocker: Maple Nut Brown Ale - nice head, dark brown caramel color, sweet malt aroma and taste. Smooth and easy to drink. Quite tasty. (2002-07)
Tommyknocker: Ornery Amber - nice and tasty lager. (2002)
Tommyknocker: Pick Axe Pale Ale - flavorful English pale ale with mild hops and effervescent flavors. (2001-06)
Tommyknocker: Tundraberry - You'll have to enjoy the fruity brews because this one is sweeter than most fruities, but darn tasty! (1999-06)
t'Smisje [see Regenboog]
Twisted Pine: Amber - nice. (1999-03)
Two Brothers (IL) Brown Fox - A "session ale" with tasty English hops and eight malts. Smooth and easy. (2003)
Two Brothers Domaine DuPage - A French style country ale, deep amber color with a toasty, sweet caramel start, and clean hop finish. Lovely. (2004)
Two Brothers (IL) Ebel's Weiss - A nice light unfiltered hefe with a subtle touch of vanilla and banana. Refreshing and fruity with a big wild flavor. Tingly and drinkable. (2003-06)
Two Brothers Heavy-Handed IPA - Tasty, smooth and thoroughly enjoyable hoppy flavors. (2004)
Two Brothers Northwind Imperial Stout - Big, rich, dark roasted malts; biter (2005-07)
Two Brothers (IL) The Bitter End Pale Ale - Tasty, big hoppy aroma, good beer. (2003-05)
Unibroue (Chambly, Canada) 11 - Smooth, strong (11%) lovely brew. "Launched to celebrate Unibroue's 11th Anniversary, 11 has a rich aroma reminiscent of ripe fruit and fig, and is accompanied by a delicate
spicy after note. The taste is complex and its body more than generous. This unique strong beer is warm and intriguing whilst remaining smooth and delicate. With its 11% Alcohol, "11" is the highest alcohol content
beer in Quebec. Produced in limited quantity and sold for a very minimal price for its quality, only about 6000 cases of this special brew will be sold."(2004-06)
Unibroue Don De Dieu - 9%, Smooth, easy, honey notes, subtle soap; wonderful triple-like brew. Darn tasty. (2003-07)
Unibroue Fringante - 10% abv. Cloudy yellow-gold; fruity aroma. Incredibly smooth, refreshing blonde. Alcohol is not so strong tasting. Great balance and some citrus & spice. Lovely! (2004-06)
Unibroue Maudite - great Canadian brew; label has little canoe with with fur trappers flying through Hell! Sweet and strong. (1997-07)
Unibroue Trois Pistoles - dark beer, big alcohol, nice and tasty. (2004-07)
Upper Canada: Maple Brown Ale - the Canadian maple syrup and kiln roasted malt give a smooth, slightly sweet flavor; 5.3% alcohol by volume, from Toronto, Canada (2000)
Van Den Bossche, Pater Lieven Tripel - 8% - sweet, smooth, a touch of spice. (2003-05)
Van Den Bossche Pater Kerst - Dark brown, malty aroma, small head. Both rich and malty with some fruit components. Lovely. (2004-06)
Van Honsebrouck (Ingelmunster, Belgium) Kasteel Bier - Big full-bodied, heavy carbonation, dark Belgium with 11% abv. (2001-04)
Val-Dieu Blond - Clear, yellow gold. 6% abv, initially brewed long ago by monks. A fine blond with nice head & citrus notes. Refreshing, crisp and smooth. (1997-05)
Val-Dieu Winter (2006)
Vapeur Saison de Pipaix 1995 - 6%, Bottle conditioned, brewed according to 1785 original recipe using pale & Munich malts, Hallertauer hops, ginger, pepper, sweet orange, coriande, curacao. This bottle was
flat, gone bad. (2004-06)
Vapeur Cochonne Ale - Super labels with happy, sexy pigs! Bottle conditioned, unpasteurized, with roaster chicory, coriander, sweet orange peels and hallertauer hops. 9% alcohol. (2003-06)
Vapeur En Folie Ale - 8%, from 1994 drank in 2004, sour with some tasty spice notes, slight oxidation but still had some carbonation, interesting, (2004-06)
Verhaeghe (Vichte, Belgium) Vichtenaar - Belgian top fermented reddish brown ale, a blend of 8 and 18 months old beers following the careful maturation in oak casks. 6.2%. Sweet and sour yet nicely balanced.
Very fizzy and foamy with a dissolving head. Tart. Yum. (2003-06)
Vervifontaine (Jalhay, Belgium) Blond - Wonderful spice - banana aroma, cloudy gold, big head. Sweet malt, candy sugar & banana flavor, with some subtle spices. Quite tasty. Smooth, strong (8%), wonderful
light colored Belgian bottle-conditioned beauty. Tastes like a strong white with subtle flavors of bubblegum, orange, licorice and banana. There's a story about an enchanting woman on the label to boot!
(2002-06)
Vervifontaine Red - a dark, strong (8%) bottle conditioned brew with hints of spice, licorice and orange. (2002-04)
2004 Goodies
Victory (PA) Golden Monkey - Heavenly balance of sweet malt and alcohol; wonderful drinkability Belgian triple style ale with subtle spices. Smooth yet big body with spice notes. Highly recommended.
(2003-07)
Victory Grand Cru - 9% - from the label: "So simple in its creation, so magnificent in its maturity, this wonderful ale begins with Nature's most humbel offerings, water, malted grains, and hops. Our soulful
yeast breathes life and depth into each brew." Apricot/copper color. Significantly strong, sweet malts/candycane, bitter, wild & tasty. Interesting aroma of alcohol, clove spice, pears. (2003-07)
Victory Lager - All malt, light, crisp, easy to drink. (2004)
Victory Storm King Stout - Smoky, coffee aroma. Black with little head. Big, rich dark roasted malts. Slighty smoky flavor. Very smooth yet full bodied; tasty and easy to enjoy. Recommended. (2003-05)
Victory Weizen Bock - Very complex mix of wheat and a full malty, strong bock. Tasty like Aventinus. (2003-07)
Victory 12 - 12% Big wonderfully sweet malt; great balance. Yummy sweet and strong. (2003-06)
Warsteiner - nice, with a distinct northern European aftertaste. Good value and readily available stateside. (1990-01)
Watou [see Eecke]
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier - From 1040 A.D., considered the oldest brewery in the world. Fine beer! (1990-05)
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel - Yum. I'll need another bottle for a fully subjective review!!(2003)
Weltenburger Kloster: Asam-Bock - From the oldest Monastery brewery in the world (since 1050). Rich, dark mahogany color, big head, robust, sweet musty malt aroma. Fine tasting full bodied, rich sweet
dark, smoky, malt dunkler doppelbock. (2002-04)
Westmalle Dubbel (Belgium) - Rich, cloudy toffee brown color; nicely retained frothy amber head. Delicious dark roasted malt flavor. Sweet with a lovely aftertaste. It can grow on you over the years of tasting.
(2000-04)
Westmalle Tripel - 9.5%, Even more heavenly with a long bitter after taste! (1980-2005)
Westvleteren 6 - 5.8%, hoppy, spicy, full bodied, rich, cloudy blond color. Subtle bubblegum nose with a pepper and sweet malt balance. Scrumptious, tangy, some grapefruit end. (2003-04)
Westvleteren 8% - Trappist brew. Dark brown, cloudy, semi-smoke aroma, huge long-lasting head. Sweet, malty, nicely balanced, lovely, hops and malts in the aroma; fruity. (2003-04)
Westvleteren 12 - the best, pretty yummy, sweet and strong. (2001-05)
Weyerbacher (PA) Old Heathen - tasty sweet strong beer, dark in color, powerful aroma. (2004 )
Weyerbacher Merry Monks - Belgian style golden ale. Light gold color, sweet hop aroma, and a flavor that includes some citrus tartness and grapefruit bitterness. Strong, tasty. (2003-04)
Weyerbacher Winter Ale (2003-04)
Widmir Hefe Weizen - OK. (2000-05)
Widmir Winternacht - fine hoppy holiday brew. Easy to drink and quite enjoyable. (2003-05)
Wild Goose (MD) Amber Ale - The bottle says English style; it's OK. (2003-04)
Wild Goose IPA - Yellow gold; small head. Strong hop aroma; creamy smooth with crispy, strong hop flavor. (2003-04)
Wild Goose Classic Porter - 4.8%, (2003
Wild Goose Oatmeal Stout - Brown-Black with nice head. Big dark roasted malt and cocoa flavors. Tasty. (2004-05)
Xingu Black Beer (Brasil) - very nice black beer though a tad sweet.(2003)
Yards (Philadelphia) Extra Special Ale - Very smooth and tasty. (2004)
Yards Love Stout - Very easy to drink, smooth, tasty, nicely balanced, bottle conditioned dark, roasted English Stout. (2004-05)
Yards Brewing Company (PA) - Saison - very tasty, nice spice notes, refreshing, recommend. (2003)
Yellowstone Valley Brewing: Huckle-weizen. A huckleberry ale with a sweet taste. Different than your average raspberry wheat. (2003)
Yellowstone Valley Brewing: Renegade Red Ale - full bodied and tasty with a spicy aroma. (2003)
Young's: Oatmeal Stout - very nice; brewery alive since 1831 (2001)
Young's: Old Nick Barley Wine Style Ale - certainly not the strongest barleywine, but it'll put hair on yer chest.(1998-2005)