Brooklyn Oktoberfest

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Märzen
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: A

Comments:  Pours a clear copper color, nice 2 finger off white head, great lacing.  Aroma is sweet caramel malt, some spice.   Taste is sweet bread & caramel malt, some spice & a nut taste at the end.  An excellent Märzen!

Alpha King Pale Ale

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 6.5%
Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Pale Ale
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Dark copper color with an off white 1 finger, great lacing.  Aroma: citrus & pine hops.  Taste:  Starts of with a great  grapefruit - citrus hop flavor and ends with  nice smooth malt flavor.  Well  balanced.

Brooklyn Pennant Ale '55

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: English Pale Ale
2011 Rating: B & I
2010 Rating: N/A

 Comments:  Pours a copper color with a 2 finger off white head, no lacing.    Aroma: toasted malt & a little caramel.  Taste: Strong bread & toasted malt flavor. I also tasted caramel.  Taste ends with a slight hop bitterness.  I loved this beer - Mike did not like it at all.  Pennant Ale is an above average English Pale Ale!

Great Lakes Oktoberfest

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 6.5%
Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Märzen
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: A

Comments:  Copper color with a 1 finger off white head, nice lacing.  As with most Märzen beers, you could smell the malt.  Taste: caramel malts offset by  a slight hop bitterness -start to finish - well balanced.  When I drank this GL Oktoberfest I had just finished a Sam Adams Octoberfest, so the comparison was fresh.  The  Sammy is sweeter -more pure malt & caramel.  This year I rank the GL Oktoberfest one short hair below the Sam Adams.

Belgo Belgium Style India Pale Ale

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 7%
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Belgium IPA
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear golden color with a fantastic 3 finger white head (after an aggressive pour), nice lacing.   Smells like a Belgium brew - Belgium yeast, spice, fruit, and hops.  Taste is a nice blend of hop bitterness and Belgium spice & fruit taste.

Ranger IPA

Reviewed: Re-rate of June review
ABV: 6.5%
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: India Pale Ale (IPA)
September 2011 Rating: A+
June 2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: A

Comments:  Re-rate from June 2011.  In June, I gave this beer an A rating, what was I thinking… Ranger IPA is definitely an A+.   Clear golden color,  2 finger white head - great lacing.  Strong hop aroma.  Great hop flavor start-middle-end.  It doesn't get any better than Ranger IPA!!!

Augustinerbräu Maximator

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 7.5%
Brewery: Augustiner-Bräu Wagner KG
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Doppelbock
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  This brewery has been in business since 1328 AD - impressive.  (They specify AD on the label, so you do not mistakenly think they have been in business since 1328 BC - you have to love the Germans!)
Pours a clear reddish brown color with a 1 finger tan head. Aroma is sweet malt, caramel & fruit.  This beer is rich & sweet - drink it warm to taste all of it's flavors.  Sweet malt molasses or caramel, fruit & alcohol taste.  Probably should have rated this bier higher, but I just wasn't in a "doppelbock mood".

Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier

Reviewed: August 2011

ABV: 6.3%
Brewery: Hofbräuhaus
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Märzen Oktoberfest
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: B

Comments:  This is the real stuff - imported from Munich, not brewed in Newport. Clear golden color, 2 inch white head, decent lacing.   Aroma: not much- maybe malt.  Taste: similar to the HB Lager - smoother - with  a hint of malt & spice.

Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale

Reviewed: August 2011

ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Brown Ale
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Dark brown color, great 2 finger off white head, nice lacing.  Roasted malt aroma.  Taste: roasted malt, nut, spice and a slight hint of coffee.  A solid brown ale.

Spaten Premium Lager

Reviewed: August 2011

ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Lager
2011 Rating: B-
2010 Rating: B
Comments:  Light golden color, 1 finger white head.  Not much aroma.   Taste:  hops & grain - smooth.   A decent lager.

Spaten Oktoberfest Bier

Reviewed: August 2011

ABV: 5.9%
Brewery: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Märzen Oktoberfest
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: C+

Comments:  This is a decent Märzen.  Copper / amber color, nice white head.  Smells of malt & caramel.  Taste: sweet malt, yeast & caramel, with a slight dry hop finish.  Smooth -easy to drink.  Slightly better than the Warsteiner Oktoberfest.

Franziskaner Weissbier

Reviewed: August 2011

ABV: 5%
Brewery: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Hefeweizen
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: A

Comments:  Pours a cloudy yellow / orange color with a foamy 2+ finger white head.  The aroma is wheat, banana, clove & spice. The taste is sweet wheat ,malt, fruit (banana & clove) and spice. EXCELLENT!  Add this beer to your "Must Try" list.

König Ludwig Weissbier

Reviewed: August 2011

ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: König Ludwig International GmbH & Co. KG
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Hefeweizen
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: C+

Comments:  I had this beer @ the Germania Octoberfest.  Pours a cloudy yellow color with a fluffy white head.  The guy pouring the draft was not happy - large head makes for a slow pour.  Aroma & taste is malt, spice, banana & clove.  There are better Hefeweizens, but this one is not bad.

Jever Pilsener

Reviewed: August 2011ABV: 4.9%
Brewery: Friesisches Brauhaus zu Jever GmbH & Co KG
Country: Germany
Beer Type: German Pilsener
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: C+

Comments:  Clear straw yellow color, white head.  Not much aroma.  Smooth, light crisp dry hop taste, easy to drink. A solid Pilsener.

Reissdorf Kölsch

Reviewed: August 2011

ABV: 4.8%
Brewery: Brauerei Heinrich Reissdorf
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Kölsch
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: B+

Comments:  Clear golden yellow color, with a great white head.    Taste is crisp, light, refreshing with a slight hint of fruit - great summertime beer.

Warsteiner Premium Oktoberfest

Reviewed: August 2011

ABV: 5.9%
Brewery: Warsteiner Brauerei
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Märzen Oktoberfest
2011 Rating: B-
2010 Rating: B

Comments:  Pours a nice amber color with a 2 finger white head.   Mild malt aroma.  Taste is sweet malt with a dry finish.   Like all Warsteiner beers that I have had, smooth & easy to drink.

Hoptober Golden Ale

Reviewed: August 2011
ABV: 6.0%
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Ale
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: A

Comments:  Clear golden color with a two finger head. A nice hop & slight citrus aroma.  A blend of 5 hops and 4 malts.  Very well balanced a bitter hop start, gives way to sweet malt & a slight bitter finish.  If your not an IPA fan, try this beer - a great blend of hops & malts - excellent!

Duvel Green

Reviewed: August 2011ABV: 6.8%
Brewery: Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV
Country: Belgium
Beer Type: Belgium Ale
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Golden yellow color with 1 finger white head, nice lacing.  Spice, fruit & citrus aroma.  Slightly sweet, fruit and citrus taste.  Light, crisp and refreshing - Easy to drink!  You can't beat the "devil".

Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA

Reviewed: August 2011
ABV: 5.3%
Brewery: Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.
Country: Scotland
Beer Type: English India Pale Ale (IPA)
2011 Rating: A + I
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a deep gold/orange  color with a small white head, nice lacing.  In my opinion, not a lot of aroma…but Pat thinks it smells like "dirty sneakers".  The taste starts off with sweet malt and caramel, followed with a slight bitter citrus hops finish.  Well balance, a different taste for an IPA- Unique!

Mt. Carmel Amber Ale

Reviewed: August 2011ABV: 6%
Brewery: Mt. Carmel Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Amber Ale
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Poured a caramel amber color, 1 finger off white foamy head, nice lacing.   Smelled of sweet malts & caramel.  Sweet malt & caramel taste, with a little spice.  Smooth & easy to drink, but not remarkable…just another nice Amber Ale

Budweiser

Reviewed: August 2011ABV: 5.0%
Brewery: InBev-Anheuser Busch
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Lager
2011 Rating: D
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  As JC Loveland used to say… "Jimmy no matter where you are in the USA… a Bud tastes like a Bud!"  When it came to beer, JC never wavered - he was a Bud man.  Maybe this beer doesn't deserve a D rating, but how can you give "King of Beers" an "F"

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Reviewed: August 2011
ABV: 5.3%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Märzen
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: B

Comments:  Dark amber / copper color with a 2 finger white head. Smell & taste is of sweet malted barley , toffee & caramel . A good Märzen style beer.  My first Oktoberfest beer of the season!

Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen

Reviewed: August 2011ABV: 5.35%
Brewery: Brauerei Tucher Brau
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Hefeweizen
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a cloudy gold color with as 2 finger fluffy white head.  The aroma is wheat, spice, clove & citrus.  Taste is sweet wheat, spice clove & lemon.  I did not taste any banana. 

Rocky Mountain IPA

Reviewed: August 2011
ABV: 6.2%
Brewery: Fort Collins Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: American IPA
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a copper color with a nice 2 finger white head, excellent lacing.  Great floral hop / pine aroma.  Taste starts off with a nice hop bitterness that is offset by a nice malt sweetness.  This is a nice, well balanced IPA.  Easy to drink.

Leinenkugals Sunset Wheat

Reviewed: August 2011
ABV: 4.9%
Brewery: Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Wheat Ale
2011 Rating:  B
2010 Rating:  N/A
2009 Rating: C

Comments:  Pours a cloudy golden orange color, with a nice 1 finger white head & good lacing.  Aroma & Taste - wheat & orange  (no need to add an orange slice).  Smooth & easy to drink on a hot summer day!