Brewer's Art
Baltimore, MD
Sat. 2/21/09, 7:30pm
[open]
re-visit to this brewpub many years after the original visit
House Brews:
Ozzy
Resurrection (J)
Beacon Ale
Proletary (J)
Cerberus Tripel (B)
Petroleuse (B)
Cerberus Tripel:
Clear pale straw golod. Thin, quickly dissipating head. Aroma is faint but yeasty. Distinct apple flavor in the beer. Unlike any other tripel I've had before. Flavor is crisp although the beer is slightly flat to me. Also, the beer is served at just below room temperature - or at least much less chilled than I expected. [Hindsight note: possibly it was casked]. Fine body and mouthfeel. It's showing signs of being a chameleon and warming up to a far different beer than at first taste.
8.5
Resurrection:
Caramel color. Slight head. The taste has a spicy element and an earthy element. The body is excellent. There is some malt and hop presence, but I don't think of this beer as primarily malty or hoppy. Served close to room temperature. It is a complex, interesting beer. Not easily categorized. 8.6
Petroleuse:
Clear reddish-gold color. Very little head. Aroma is gently malty. Also served less chilled. Body is sweetly silky. Very nice mouthfeel. Flavor? Oddly lacking. I taste malts but little else so far. It's advertised as having "earthy hop characer[sic]". Haven't yet found that. 8.1
Proletary:
Dark, slightly reddish color. Smells like coffee. It has a strong malty taste with tones of coffee and chocolate. Body is good. It could use something to balance the strong malt presence. It's a good beer, but not great. Doesn't really change as it warms up. Well made, but it's a one-note beer. 8.2
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Lancaster Brewing, 11/29/08
Lancaster Brewing
Harrisburg, PA
Sat. 11/29/08, 3pm
House Brews:
Milk Stout
Celtic Rose
Litening Lager
Strawberry Wheat
Gold Star Pils
Hop Hog
Winter Warmer (J)
Amish Four Grain
Belgian Trippel (B)
Fest Beer
Belgian Trippel:
12% ABV. Filtered amber color. Thin but lasting head. Aroma hearty enough to smell halfway across the bar. Good flavor but the body is too thin for the style. It disappears down the throat without coating it. Yeast asserts itself much more in the aroma than in the taste. Taste is malt-dominant. It's not a bad beer, but it's really only a trippel in name. 8.2
Winter Warmer Ale:
Dark brown - a coppery color. Very little head. Nice balance of malt and hops in the taste. Body is very slightly on the thin side. While not as well made as Victory's 10 Years Alt, it has a lot of common characteristics. Nicely done! 8.5
Harrisburg, PA
Sat. 11/29/08, 3pm
House Brews:
Milk Stout
Celtic Rose
Litening Lager
Strawberry Wheat
Gold Star Pils
Hop Hog
Winter Warmer (J)
Amish Four Grain
Belgian Trippel (B)
Fest Beer
Belgian Trippel:
12% ABV. Filtered amber color. Thin but lasting head. Aroma hearty enough to smell halfway across the bar. Good flavor but the body is too thin for the style. It disappears down the throat without coating it. Yeast asserts itself much more in the aroma than in the taste. Taste is malt-dominant. It's not a bad beer, but it's really only a trippel in name. 8.2
Winter Warmer Ale:
Dark brown - a coppery color. Very little head. Nice balance of malt and hops in the taste. Body is very slightly on the thin side. While not as well made as Victory's 10 Years Alt, it has a lot of common characteristics. Nicely done! 8.5
Frankliln's, 11/10/08
Franklin's Brewery
Hyattsville, MD
Mon, 11/10/08, 6:15pm
House Brews:
Bombshell Blonde
Anarchy Ale (J)
Sierra Madre Pale Ale
Maple Porter (B)
Private IPA
Rubber Chicken Red
ESB
Nitro: ESB
Maple Porter:
Deep chocolate color with auburn highlights. Head is faint. Roasty chocolate aroma mixed with the grassiness of hops. Roasted coffee and chocolate malts are well combined and nicely balanced with enough hops to notice but not enough to overwhelm. Body is perhaps a tiny bit on the thin side, but it has some of the viscosity the other porters I've tried recently have lacked. A pleasant and full mouthfeel. Flavors remain balanced all through the swallow and finish. The added sweetness of the maple in its name is evident at the tail of the finish and more as the beer warms. A nicely crafted beer. 8.5
Anarchy Ale:
Slight head that doesn't totally disappear. Unfiltered, coppery-orange color. There is a strong hop presence, but the malts are also there. There is quite a lot going on with this beer. Body is strong. There is an underlying citrus taste. My only criticism is that there is a slightly off taste in the end of the swallow. Overall, however, it is a tasty, interesting cross of an IPA and a pale ale. 8.6
Hyattsville, MD
Mon, 11/10/08, 6:15pm
House Brews:
Bombshell Blonde
Anarchy Ale (J)
Sierra Madre Pale Ale
Maple Porter (B)
Private IPA
Rubber Chicken Red
ESB
Nitro: ESB
Maple Porter:
Deep chocolate color with auburn highlights. Head is faint. Roasty chocolate aroma mixed with the grassiness of hops. Roasted coffee and chocolate malts are well combined and nicely balanced with enough hops to notice but not enough to overwhelm. Body is perhaps a tiny bit on the thin side, but it has some of the viscosity the other porters I've tried recently have lacked. A pleasant and full mouthfeel. Flavors remain balanced all through the swallow and finish. The added sweetness of the maple in its name is evident at the tail of the finish and more as the beer warms. A nicely crafted beer. 8.5
Anarchy Ale:
Slight head that doesn't totally disappear. Unfiltered, coppery-orange color. There is a strong hop presence, but the malts are also there. There is quite a lot going on with this beer. Body is strong. There is an underlying citrus taste. My only criticism is that there is a slightly off taste in the end of the swallow. Overall, however, it is a tasty, interesting cross of an IPA and a pale ale. 8.6
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Market Cross Pub, 11/9/08
Market Cross Pub
Carlisle, PA
Sun., 11/9/08, 3pm
[open]
House Brews:
MC Porter (B)
Ole Yeller IPA (J)
Market Cross Porter:
Not nitrous poured, but the head is foamy and fat. Sweet roasted malts and hops evident in the aroma. Flavor provides exactly that, although a bit more bitterness is present then expected. Malts and hops are well-balanced. Unfortunately, the body is severely watery and very thin in the mouth. With a little viscosity this could be a very good porter. Hops start to dominate as the beer warms, throwing it out of balance. Beer is very similar to Black Chip Porter at Main Street Station's 777 Brewery in Las Vegas. 8.1
Ole Yeller IPA:
Nitro poured - it took about 10 minutes for the foam to settle down enough to serve the beer. Nice copper color. Hop overload - needs more malt to balance the hops. The body is rather thin. Also, the beer doesn't warm up all that well. They tried to make a very assertive beer, but to do that well, you need more than just hops. 7.7
Carlisle, PA
Sun., 11/9/08, 3pm
[open]
House Brews:
MC Porter (B)
Ole Yeller IPA (J)
Market Cross Porter:
Not nitrous poured, but the head is foamy and fat. Sweet roasted malts and hops evident in the aroma. Flavor provides exactly that, although a bit more bitterness is present then expected. Malts and hops are well-balanced. Unfortunately, the body is severely watery and very thin in the mouth. With a little viscosity this could be a very good porter. Hops start to dominate as the beer warms, throwing it out of balance. Beer is very similar to Black Chip Porter at Main Street Station's 777 Brewery in Las Vegas. 8.1
Ole Yeller IPA:
Nitro poured - it took about 10 minutes for the foam to settle down enough to serve the beer. Nice copper color. Hop overload - needs more malt to balance the hops. The body is rather thin. Also, the beer doesn't warm up all that well. They tried to make a very assertive beer, but to do that well, you need more than just hops. 7.7
Johansson's Dining Room, 11/9/08
Johansson's Dining Room
Westminster, MD
Sun., 11/9/08, 12:00pm
[open]
House Brews:
Honest Ale
Whistle Stop (Red Ale)
House Porter (B)
Hoodlehead IPA (J)
House Porter:
Deep opaque brown. No head, just a rim of foam around the edge of the glass. Chocolate and coffee malts apparent in the aroma - they are bitter smelling. Thankfully the flavor is more roasted than bitter. Flavor is good, body is weak and carbonation is nearly non-existant. The result is a pleasant coffee-like feeling in the mouth that vanishes as soon as you swallow. No evident hops to make a flavor linger. If they tweaked the body/carbonation, it'd make a huge difference. 7.9
Hoodlehead IPA:
No head. Not enough carbonation. Unfiltered, which is unusual for an IPA. The initial taste is a little weak, but the swallow had a nice combination of hops and malts. Body is good,, but not great. Warms up ok. 8.1
Westminster, MD
Sun., 11/9/08, 12:00pm
[open]
House Brews:
Honest Ale
Whistle Stop (Red Ale)
House Porter (B)
Hoodlehead IPA (J)
House Porter:
Deep opaque brown. No head, just a rim of foam around the edge of the glass. Chocolate and coffee malts apparent in the aroma - they are bitter smelling. Thankfully the flavor is more roasted than bitter. Flavor is good, body is weak and carbonation is nearly non-existant. The result is a pleasant coffee-like feeling in the mouth that vanishes as soon as you swallow. No evident hops to make a flavor linger. If they tweaked the body/carbonation, it'd make a huge difference. 7.9
Hoodlehead IPA:
No head. Not enough carbonation. Unfiltered, which is unusual for an IPA. The initial taste is a little weak, but the swallow had a nice combination of hops and malts. Body is good,, but not great. Warms up ok. 8.1
Mill Street Brewery, 9/5/08
Mill Street Brewery
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Fri. 9/5/08, 1:30pm
[open]
House Brews:
Tankhouse Ale
Stock Ale
Coffee Porter (B)
Organic Lager
Fruit Beer - Raspberry (P)
Mill St. Winter Bock
IPA
Scotch Ale (J)
Cask Conditioned IPA (P ordered, but they had cask issues)
Wit Beer
Cobblestone Stout
ESB
Mill St. Pilsner
With our friend Patti, who did not participate in ranking her beer. She initially ordered the cask conditioned IPA, but we were told, shortly after hearing what sounded like an explosion from the bar area, they had "cask issues" and that beer was unavailable at the moment.
Coffee Porter:
Deep brownish-black color. Thin head. Roasty malty aroma. Thinnish body. Complex malt tastes. Coffee is the strongest malt, followed closely by chocolate. Hops aren't really present - some would add a lot of depth. I like the depth of malts. As it warms, a few hops show up but they're meek. The finish is a malty astringent taste - rather different. It's not a perfect porter, but it ain't bad. 8.3
Scotch Ale:
A nice dark reddish-brown color. Minimal head. A nice, smooth body. The taste is very warming and pleasant. It's not a very complex beer, but it's a nice malty taste. There is a mild hint of hops. A bit more hop presence would give the beer more character but still be consistent with the style. It's enjoyable, however. Warms up well. 8.3
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Fri. 9/5/08, 1:30pm
[open]
House Brews:
Tankhouse Ale
Stock Ale
Coffee Porter (B)
Organic Lager
Fruit Beer - Raspberry (P)
Mill St. Winter Bock
IPA
Scotch Ale (J)
Cask Conditioned IPA (P ordered, but they had cask issues)
Wit Beer
Cobblestone Stout
ESB
Mill St. Pilsner
With our friend Patti, who did not participate in ranking her beer. She initially ordered the cask conditioned IPA, but we were told, shortly after hearing what sounded like an explosion from the bar area, they had "cask issues" and that beer was unavailable at the moment.
Coffee Porter:
Deep brownish-black color. Thin head. Roasty malty aroma. Thinnish body. Complex malt tastes. Coffee is the strongest malt, followed closely by chocolate. Hops aren't really present - some would add a lot of depth. I like the depth of malts. As it warms, a few hops show up but they're meek. The finish is a malty astringent taste - rather different. It's not a perfect porter, but it ain't bad. 8.3
Scotch Ale:
A nice dark reddish-brown color. Minimal head. A nice, smooth body. The taste is very warming and pleasant. It's not a very complex beer, but it's a nice malty taste. There is a mild hint of hops. A bit more hop presence would give the beer more character but still be consistent with the style. It's enjoyable, however. Warms up well. 8.3
Market Street Brewing, 9/4/08
Market Street Brewing
Corning, NY
Thurs. 9/4/08, 12:30pm
[open]
Re-visit, 10 years later
House Brews:
Mad Bug Lager
Pot Belly Pale Ale
D'Artagnan Dark
Brisco Bridge Blackberry
Wrought Iron Red (B)
Seasonal: IPA (J)
Wrought Iron Red: Clear light russet color. Medium creamy head. Malts predominate the aroma. Body is good. Malts dominate the flavor also. Oddly, a bitter malt shows up instead of hops in the finish. Tastes a little burnt. I have doubts about chocolate malts in a "red" beer. 7.8
IPA: Color is almost orangey. Fairly substantial head when served. A slight coating remains. Initial taste is largely malt The hops show up in the swallow. It's not very hoppy for an IPA. Body is very slightly on the light side. Drinkable, but nothing special. 8.1
Corning, NY
Thurs. 9/4/08, 12:30pm
[open]
Re-visit, 10 years later
House Brews:
Mad Bug Lager
Pot Belly Pale Ale
D'Artagnan Dark
Brisco Bridge Blackberry
Wrought Iron Red (B)
Seasonal: IPA (J)
Wrought Iron Red: Clear light russet color. Medium creamy head. Malts predominate the aroma. Body is good. Malts dominate the flavor also. Oddly, a bitter malt shows up instead of hops in the finish. Tastes a little burnt. I have doubts about chocolate malts in a "red" beer. 7.8
IPA: Color is almost orangey. Fairly substantial head when served. A slight coating remains. Initial taste is largely malt The hops show up in the swallow. It's not very hoppy for an IPA. Body is very slightly on the light side. Drinkable, but nothing special. 8.1
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Vintage 50, 6/14/08
Vintage 50
Leesburg, VA
Saturday, 6/14/08, 12:30pm
[open]
House Brews:
Catoctin Kolsch
Hefe Weizen
Saison V-50 (B)
ESB
Biere de Garde (B)
Point of Rocks Pale Ale (J)
Porter
Casked Red Ale
Saison V-50: Straw gold colored with lasting head and substantial effervescence. Aroma is tangy and yeasty. The bubbles last into the mouth, feeling like a sparkling wine. Body is very slightly thin - probaly a good thing. With this amount of carbonation it could be hard to swallow if it were too chewy. The flavors are classic Belgian - tangy, yeasty, sweet, fruity, spicy - quite good. There's a touch more hops but the brewer's done an excellent job of making them fit right in. The hops do assert themselves more as the beer warms. It doesn't hurt the beer's character. 8.4
Point of Rocks Pale Ale: No head to speak of. Fairly light color - unfiltered. The malts show up in the initial taste. In the swallow, the hops make their appearance with a bang. A little more balance would be appreciated. Body is a tad thin. The beer has a lot of taste, and it is interesting, but it's a little out of kilter. 8.2
Biere de Garde: Middling gold color. Faint head. Muted aroma. Body too think, although I confess to being unfamiliar with the style. Flavor is sweet and rustic - it's very rough around the edges. A strong caramel-y presence in the taste. I'm not sure what this beer is trying to do, but I'm not convinced the beer knows either. 7.8
Leesburg, VA
Saturday, 6/14/08, 12:30pm
[open]
House Brews:
Catoctin Kolsch
Hefe Weizen
Saison V-50 (B)
ESB
Biere de Garde (B)
Point of Rocks Pale Ale (J)
Porter
Casked Red Ale
Saison V-50: Straw gold colored with lasting head and substantial effervescence. Aroma is tangy and yeasty. The bubbles last into the mouth, feeling like a sparkling wine. Body is very slightly thin - probaly a good thing. With this amount of carbonation it could be hard to swallow if it were too chewy. The flavors are classic Belgian - tangy, yeasty, sweet, fruity, spicy - quite good. There's a touch more hops but the brewer's done an excellent job of making them fit right in. The hops do assert themselves more as the beer warms. It doesn't hurt the beer's character. 8.4
Point of Rocks Pale Ale: No head to speak of. Fairly light color - unfiltered. The malts show up in the initial taste. In the swallow, the hops make their appearance with a bang. A little more balance would be appreciated. Body is a tad thin. The beer has a lot of taste, and it is interesting, but it's a little out of kilter. 8.2
Biere de Garde: Middling gold color. Faint head. Muted aroma. Body too think, although I confess to being unfamiliar with the style. Flavor is sweet and rustic - it's very rough around the edges. A strong caramel-y presence in the taste. I'm not sure what this beer is trying to do, but I'm not convinced the beer knows either. 7.8
Appalachian Brewing, 6/7/08
Appalachian Brewing
Gettysburg, PA
Saturday 06/07/08, 12:30pm
House Brews:
Peregrine Pilsner
Water Gap Wheat
Mountain Lager
Dom Blonde Kolsch
Purist Pale Ale (B)
Jolly Scot Scottish Ale
Hoppy Trails IPA
Susquehanna Stout
Hinterland Hefe Weizen
Broad Street Barley Wine
Cask Conditioned ESB
Major Hops Olde Ale (J)
Anniversary Mai Bock
Purist Pale Ale: Medium gold, hazy color. Almost no head. Aroma has faint strength but is decently balanced between hoppy and malty aroma. Taste delivers the same - hops are dominant, as appropriate for a pale ale, but the malts aren't being walked all over. The finish is a pleasant hop tingle but the aftertaste is faintly metallic, which spoils it a bit. Body is good for the style. It's not bad for a hophead-in-training beer. 8.2
Major Hops Olde Ale: No head to speak of. Fairly light copper color. Initial swallow is mostly malt with some hop. Hops show up more strongly in the swallow. It's a pleasant, simple, drinkable beer. Body might be a very tad on the light side. It's not a particularly notable beer, but it meets its' mark. Warms up pleasantly. 8.4
Gettysburg, PA
Saturday 06/07/08, 12:30pm
House Brews:
Peregrine Pilsner
Water Gap Wheat
Mountain Lager
Dom Blonde Kolsch
Purist Pale Ale (B)
Jolly Scot Scottish Ale
Hoppy Trails IPA
Susquehanna Stout
Hinterland Hefe Weizen
Broad Street Barley Wine
Cask Conditioned ESB
Major Hops Olde Ale (J)
Anniversary Mai Bock
Purist Pale Ale: Medium gold, hazy color. Almost no head. Aroma has faint strength but is decently balanced between hoppy and malty aroma. Taste delivers the same - hops are dominant, as appropriate for a pale ale, but the malts aren't being walked all over. The finish is a pleasant hop tingle but the aftertaste is faintly metallic, which spoils it a bit. Body is good for the style. It's not bad for a hophead-in-training beer. 8.2
Major Hops Olde Ale: No head to speak of. Fairly light copper color. Initial swallow is mostly malt with some hop. Hops show up more strongly in the swallow. It's a pleasant, simple, drinkable beer. Body might be a very tad on the light side. It's not a particularly notable beer, but it meets its' mark. Warms up pleasantly. 8.4
Rock Bottom Brewery, 5/10/08
Rock Bottom Brewery
Bethesda, MD
Saturday, 5/10/08, 1:30pm
(re-visit)
House Brews:
Lumpy Dog Light Lager
Rock Creek Pale Ale
Raccoon Red ESB
Brown Bear Brown (B)
Stillwater Stout (J)
Seasonal: Kolsch
Brown Bear Brown Ale: Medium brown with a definite auburn glow. Minimal head. Faint aroma of mostly malts. Body is thin. Pretty decent balance between the malts and hops, although it's definitely of the "Part A, malts, then part B, hops" train of thought. Other than being in the same glass, they've not been formally introduced. The beer has good flavor and is refreshing but it's surprisingly uncomplex for a medal winner, particularly for Scottish-style. I do find it more Scottish style than brown ale, so the name is confusing. As the beer warms, the malts and hops meet and mingle, improving the rating a bit. 7.9
Stillwater Stout: Nitro poured head - a trace remains after the nitrogen wears off. Nice dark color. Malts show up in the initial taste. Not much happens in the swallow. There is a little bit of coffee in the taste, but I missed the chocolate malts for the most part. When I swallow, I want to know where the rest of the beer went. It's drinkable, but not very interesting. Body is a bit thin, but not horrible. 7.7
Bethesda, MD
Saturday, 5/10/08, 1:30pm
(re-visit)
House Brews:
Lumpy Dog Light Lager
Rock Creek Pale Ale
Raccoon Red ESB
Brown Bear Brown (B)
Stillwater Stout (J)
Seasonal: Kolsch
Brown Bear Brown Ale: Medium brown with a definite auburn glow. Minimal head. Faint aroma of mostly malts. Body is thin. Pretty decent balance between the malts and hops, although it's definitely of the "Part A, malts, then part B, hops" train of thought. Other than being in the same glass, they've not been formally introduced. The beer has good flavor and is refreshing but it's surprisingly uncomplex for a medal winner, particularly for Scottish-style. I do find it more Scottish style than brown ale, so the name is confusing. As the beer warms, the malts and hops meet and mingle, improving the rating a bit. 7.9
Stillwater Stout: Nitro poured head - a trace remains after the nitrogen wears off. Nice dark color. Malts show up in the initial taste. Not much happens in the swallow. There is a little bit of coffee in the taste, but I missed the chocolate malts for the most part. When I swallow, I want to know where the rest of the beer went. It's drinkable, but not very interesting. Body is a bit thin, but not horrible. 7.7
Foothills Brewing, 4/30/08
Foothills Brewing
Winston-Salem, NC
Wednesday, 4/30/08, 7pm
House Brews:
Salem Gold
Pilot Mountain Pale Ale
Torch Pilsner
Total Eclipse Stout (B)
Rainbow Trout ESB
Hoppyum IPA (J)
Hurricane Hefeweisen
Seeing Double IPA
Stout: Opaque, nearly black. Thin head, not a nitrous pour. Aroma is very malty at a distance but up close there are clearly hops present. Body is ever-so-slightly thin, but there are a lot of things going on in the flavors. Malts and hops are precisely balanced. It isn't one then the other - they are married in aroma, taste and finish. Hops take a slight lead in the finish as the beer warms but they are still happily married to the malts. Very nicely done! 8.7
Hoppyum IPA: A slightly cloudy and light orangey copper color. Becky says it smells like cat pee. This is a very well-balanced beer. There are both hops and malt throughout the taste. They say the IBU is 75, but it doesn't taste quite that hoppy. Good body for the style. The beer stays balanced as it warms up. Nice! 8.6
Winston-Salem, NC
Wednesday, 4/30/08, 7pm
House Brews:
Salem Gold
Pilot Mountain Pale Ale
Torch Pilsner
Total Eclipse Stout (B)
Rainbow Trout ESB
Hoppyum IPA (J)
Hurricane Hefeweisen
Seeing Double IPA
Stout: Opaque, nearly black. Thin head, not a nitrous pour. Aroma is very malty at a distance but up close there are clearly hops present. Body is ever-so-slightly thin, but there are a lot of things going on in the flavors. Malts and hops are precisely balanced. It isn't one then the other - they are married in aroma, taste and finish. Hops take a slight lead in the finish as the beer warms but they are still happily married to the malts. Very nicely done! 8.7
Hoppyum IPA: A slightly cloudy and light orangey copper color. Becky says it smells like cat pee. This is a very well-balanced beer. There are both hops and malt throughout the taste. They say the IBU is 75, but it doesn't taste quite that hoppy. Good body for the style. The beer stays balanced as it warms up. Nice! 8.6
Smoky Mountain Brewing, 4/30/08
Smoky Mountain Brewing
Pigeon Forge, TN
Wed. 4/30/08, 1:30pm
Restaurant is a sibling to Calhoun's, reviewed the previous day.
House Brews:
Same list as Calhoun's, plus:
Seasonal IPA
ESB (J)
Tuckaleechee Porter (B)
Tuckaleechee Porter: Deep brown, no head. Malts dominate the aroma. Not surprisingly, they also make up a bulk of the flavor. Some carbonation would add a lot to this beer. It's very flat, but the flavor is very good - not allowed to shine on the palate though. With some effervescence it'd be a much higher score. Throw in a few handfuls of hops in the finish and it'd win medals. As is... meh. 7.8
ESB: Minimal head. No aroma. There is carbonation. Some malt taste. Hops - there are hops in this beer? This beer is like the ethics class I have to take at work periodically - boring as hell. On second thought, the ethics class has a point. I don't have to drink this again. 7.4
Pigeon Forge, TN
Wed. 4/30/08, 1:30pm
Restaurant is a sibling to Calhoun's, reviewed the previous day.
House Brews:
Same list as Calhoun's, plus:
Seasonal IPA
ESB (J)
Tuckaleechee Porter (B)
Tuckaleechee Porter: Deep brown, no head. Malts dominate the aroma. Not surprisingly, they also make up a bulk of the flavor. Some carbonation would add a lot to this beer. It's very flat, but the flavor is very good - not allowed to shine on the palate though. With some effervescence it'd be a much higher score. Throw in a few handfuls of hops in the finish and it'd win medals. As is... meh. 7.8
ESB: Minimal head. No aroma. There is carbonation. Some malt taste. Hops - there are hops in this beer? This beer is like the ethics class I have to take at work periodically - boring as hell. On second thought, the ethics class has a point. I don't have to drink this again. 7.4
Calhoun's, 4/29/08
Calhoun's
Knoxville, TN
Tuesday, 4/29/08, 6:45pm
Met up with our friend Scott, who lives in Knoxville. He did not choose to drink a beer this evening. The restaurant is well known for barbecue ribs.
House Brews:
Cherokee Red Ale
Thunder Road Pilsner
Appalachian Pale Ale (J)
Velas Helles
Mountain Light
Black Bear Ale
Tuckaleechee Porter (out)
Brown Trout Stout (B)
Brown Trout Stout:
Decidedly nitrous poured - the head is still forming as it arrives at the table. Opaque nearly-black color. Cocoa brown foamy head. Cocoa smelling also. Taste is eerily reminiscent of the malted milk balls I had this afternoon. I taste cocoa, chocolate and coffee flavors in the beer. They must have been out of caramel. The body is substantial - very welcome. Medium-strength hops appear as the beer warms up. This is a pretty nicely put together stout. 8.5
Appalachia Pale Ale: No head. Slightly hoppy aroma. Color is appropriate for a pale ale. Taste is malty. Some hops show up in the finish. The body is good. It's not a badly made beer, but it's ordinary. It's a generic pale ale tending towards the malty side. It gets more bland as it warms up. 8.1
Knoxville, TN
Tuesday, 4/29/08, 6:45pm
Met up with our friend Scott, who lives in Knoxville. He did not choose to drink a beer this evening. The restaurant is well known for barbecue ribs.
House Brews:
Cherokee Red Ale
Thunder Road Pilsner
Appalachian Pale Ale (J)
Velas Helles
Mountain Light
Black Bear Ale
Tuckaleechee Porter (out)
Brown Trout Stout (B)
Brown Trout Stout:
Decidedly nitrous poured - the head is still forming as it arrives at the table. Opaque nearly-black color. Cocoa brown foamy head. Cocoa smelling also. Taste is eerily reminiscent of the malted milk balls I had this afternoon. I taste cocoa, chocolate and coffee flavors in the beer. They must have been out of caramel. The body is substantial - very welcome. Medium-strength hops appear as the beer warms up. This is a pretty nicely put together stout. 8.5
Appalachia Pale Ale: No head. Slightly hoppy aroma. Color is appropriate for a pale ale. Taste is malty. Some hops show up in the finish. The body is good. It's not a badly made beer, but it's ordinary. It's a generic pale ale tending towards the malty side. It gets more bland as it warms up. 8.1
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