Lucky U IPA

Reviewed: October 2011
ABV: 6.2%
Brewery: Breckenridge Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: American IPA
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a copper color with a 1 finger white head, nice lacing.  Nice pine hop aroma.  Nice grapefruit / pine hop taste with a sweet malt background.  The stronger hop taste moved this beer one step above the Cold-Hop, in my opinion.

Cold Hop British-Style Ale

Reviewed: October 2011
ABV: 6.3%
Brewery: Boulder Beer
Country: USA
Beer Type: English IPA
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: N/A


Comments:  Pours a beautiful golden amber color, with a 1 finger white head, no lacing.  Slight hop aroma.  Taste starts with a nice grapefruit hop bitterness and ends with a piney malt finish.  Mild compared to American "hop bomb"  IPAs.  I great IPA if you do not want an overwhelming hop taste.  I prefer hop bombs.

Fireman's # 4 Ale

Reviewed: October 2011
ABV: 5.1%
Brewery: Real Ale Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Blonde Ale
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pale straw yellow color with a 1 finger white head.  A citrus - lemon aroma.  Taste is biscuit malt and citrus, with a slight bitter hop finish.  Well balanced. Better than Shiner Bock.

Shiner Bock Beer

Reviewed: October 2011 (previously reviewed in March)
ABV: 4.4%
Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Bock
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: B

Comments:  Amber brown color, one finger off white head that disappeared quickly, no lacing. Not much aroma- maybe some caramel malt.  Smooth sweet malt taste, with a little hop at the end.  Easy to drink. When you're in TEXAS, you must drink Shiner & I had  PLENTY during our 5 nights in Austin.  :)

Shock Top Belgium White

Reviewed: October 2011
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Shock Top Brewing Co. (Anheuser-Busch / In-Bev)
Country: USA
Beer Type: Witbier
2011 Rating: C
2010 Rating: C+

Comments:  Cloudy (unfiltered) orange color.   Two finger white head.  Wheat, orange & lemon aroma.  Taste is spice, lemon / orange & wheat.  Smooth & easy to drink.   An average Belgium Witbier.  A nice alternative if you cannot order a  Hoegaarden.

Festbier

Reviewed: October 2011
ABV: 5.6%
Brewery: Victory Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Märzen
2011 Rating: B & I
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours an amber color with a 1 finger tan head that disappears QUICKLY - no lacing.  Slight malt aroma.  Taste is  bread malt & caramel, with a slight hop finish.  Smooth!  If you like a malt bier, try this one.

Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat

Reviewed: October 2011
ABV: 5.2%
Brewery: Shock Top Brewing Co. (Anheuser-Busch / In-Bev)
Country: USA
Beer Type: Pumpkin Ale
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a hazy orange color with a small white head that disappears immediately.  Spice & cinnamon aroma.  Nutmeg, cinnamon & pumpkin taste, with a slight bitter aftertaste. Not bad… but  I'd rather have a pumpkin pie in a bottle. :)

Post Road Pumpkin Ale

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Pumpkin Ale
2011 Rating:  C+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Orange amber color, with a 1 finger head, no lacing. The aroma is pumpkin and spice.  Spice / cinnamon, pumpkin & bread malt taste.  Smooth - easy to drink, the pumpkin taste is not overpowering.  I'd rather have a pumpkin pie in a bottle.

Pumking

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 8.6%
Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Pumpkin Ale
2011 Rating: A+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Orange (pumpkin) color with a small head, no lacing.  Aroma is pumpkin pie and nutmeg.  Taste is smooth sweet pumpkin  nutmeg with a vanilla cream finish!          Pumpkin Pie in a bottle!

Schlafly Oktoberfest Beer

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 5.1%
Brewery: The St. Louis Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Märzen
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours an amber / copper color with a 1 finger tan head that disappears quickly - no lacing.  Like most Märzen, this beer has a sweet caramel malt aroma.  Starts with a sweet malt taste followed by a nice hop bitterness.  Very balanced.  Not overly sweet.  Easy to knock down a 6-er.

Hudepohl Oktoberfest Bier

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: N/A
Brewery: Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Märzen
2011 Rating: C
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours an amber color with a 1 finger tan head that disappears QUICKLY - no lacing.  Aroma is sweet malt.  Taste starts with sweet caramel malt & ends with a weird sour (hop?) taste.  Skip this bier and order a Hudepohl Amber Lager.

Goose Island Harvest Ale

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 5.7%
Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co,
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: A

Comments:  Color of autumn leaves (copper), two finger creamy head, good lacing. Great hop aroma.  Taste: toasty malt & caramel with a bitter hop finish. 

Erdinger Oktoberfest Weissbräu

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 5.7
Brewery: Erdinger Weissbräu
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Weissbier
2011 Rating: B + I
2010 Rating: N/A
2009 Rating: B

Comments:  This is not what you would expect of an Octoberfest beer. This is an Oktoberfest Hefeweisen.  Pours a cloudy golden yellow color with a fluffy white 2 finger head.  Swirl the bottle and grab the sediment from the bottom.  Aroma is spice, clove and banana.  A little more caramel wheat taste and less banana & spice compared to the Erdinger Hefeweisen.  Definitely a switch from the normal Märzen style Oktoberfest bier.

St. Pauli Girl Special Dark

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 4.8%
Brewery: St. Pauli Brauerei
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Munich Dunkel Lager
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: B+

Comments:  Pours a dark brown color with a small of white head. Not much aroma.  Slightly sweet roasted malt taste.  A good bier, but Warsteiner Dunkel is better.

Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu AG
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Märzen
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: B+

Comments:  I am convinced that my rating of a beer is influenced by the atmosphere of the  location where I am drinking the beer.  Last year I drank this bier @ Mecklenburg Gardens & it was excellent.  This year I'm drinking a stein at home & it's just another Oktoberfest Bier.  Amber color with a foamy 2" head.   Smells of malted barley, caramel & toffee.  Tastes smooth & drinkable - sweet malt taste with a slight hop finish!  My rating is probably too harsh - Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu AG has been brewing bier since 1634!

Kostritzer Schwarzbier

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 4.8%
Brewery: Köstritzer Schwarzbierbrauerei GmbH & Co.
Country: Germany
Beer Type: Rauchbier (smoked beer)
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Very dark, almost black color, with a 2 finger tan head.  Roasted malt, chocolate & coffee aroma.  Taste is smooth & creamy -hints of chocolate & coffee. 

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 5.4%
Brewery: Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla
Country: Bamburg, Germany
Beer Type: Rauchbier (smoked beer)
2011 Rating: I & A+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark brown color with a 2 finger creamy white head, with a smokey (smoked bacon) aroma.  Taste: liquid smoked bacon!  EXCELLENT - all you need are some fried eggs - over easy :)

Leinenkugel"s Oktoberfest

Reviewed: September 2011
ABV: 5.1%
Brewery: Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Märzen
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: C+

Comments:  Beautiful amber / orange color with a 2 finger tan head, great lacing.  Aroma is biscuit / bread & caramel malts.  Taste is just like the aroma; biscuit / bread & caramel malts.  Enjoyed this beer during  our last  visit in 2011 to the Cabana.  Nice view, nice atmosphere, nice BEER!

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".