1,300 Beers Reviewed. 41,272 To Go

In all honesty, there are far more than 41,272 beers left. That number is just based off of the current total in the BeerAdvocate.com database. I know there's no hope in coming close to sampling them all, but the fun's in trying.

Here's number 1300.

Cold Hop British-Style Ale
Boulder Beer Co.
English India Pale Ale

B+ / 4
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5
rDev: +3.7%

Picked up a 12 oz. single at Liberty St. Tavern. Pours a clear gold-orange into my glass with a short, white head.

Mmmm, English IPA. The aroma is a little plain, but not necessarily off with more earthy grapefruit. Definite English grains in the flavor, for that dry, biscuity undertone and with grassy, herbal, floral and somewhat citrus hops dominating. Crisper than your average EIPA, there's certainly an American influence here, and while it fits into the style, it stands out. Worth a try if you dig the style and want something different.

It's Cyclo-Cross Time

Beer Reviews: Beer Gone Bad - Probably

Some beers are born bad, others become bad from mishandling and infection. Last night I opened a bottle of Tilted Kilt and found a beer that could have been either. On one hand I'd found the same fowl elements in a similar beer once, McEwen's Scotch Ale. Then again, I'd be surprised if anyone truly wanted to make a beer this nasty.

Tilted Kilt Scottish Ale
Stone Cellar Brewery
Scottish Ale

D- / 1.9
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | drink: 1.5

Picked up a single at the Party Source in Syracuse, NY. How this beer got there, I have no idea. Poured into a pint glass, it's a slightly hazy dark amber with a tall off-white head that slowly fades.

Something is wrong here, this beer smells like feet. There are caramel malt elements to the aroma, but if it smells like one thing, it's feet. Sweaty, caramel-covered feet.

The taste? Guess what - more feet, but with sour lemon, indicating there's probably something rotten here. If I find another bottle I'll try it again and re-review, but as this stands, nearly everything has gone wrong.

Beer Reviews: More Good, More Bad, De Proef Reserve Signature Ale, and Shiner Spezial Leicht

Let's start on the bad foot, then hop to the good.

Shiner Spezial Leicht
Spoetzl Brewery
American Macro Lager

D / 2.2
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | drink: 2

Picked up a single bottle from the Central Market in Dallas. Appears pale, clear yelow with a white head and lacing.

"Brewed for that light, happy flavor."

Yeah, about that. There's nothing happy about this beer except the ensuing buzz if you can manage to slug this fast enough. The Shiner brand is a respectable line of beers, but this beer is nothing more than a upscale Coors Light. For an macro light beer, its disturbingly on-style for a brewery that should know better. The aroma has a dusty element along with very plain grains and sourdough. The flavor follows up with a hint of corn (DMS) and light fruitiness that's quickly burried under acrid, dry yeast character finish that's a drop of lemon with a lot of wet grain husk. No bueno. Avoid this one. Not even close to on par with the craft light beer. File this away with the frat house-party crap.


Something completely different:

De Proef Reserve Signature Ale
De Proefbrouwerij
Belgian Strong Pale Ale

A- / 4.1
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

Picked up a big bottle at New Beer in the Bowery. Pours a hazy dark amber in my tulip.

The aroma is grassy with apricots and perfume. The flavor beings with white pepper, wet farmhouse, and sweet apple (like in pie) and then finishes with a bitter lemon rind note that lasts and lasts with an earth element. Overall there's a little funk, a little fruit, and then a big hoppy finish. Damn this is good.

Beer Reviews: Taking the good with the very bad

Life has good days and bad days just like it has good beers and awful crap in a can. Here are a couple recent tastings that showcase the duality of beer.

Union Jack IPA
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
American IPA

A- / 4.2
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

The immediate grapefruit and pineapple fruit flavors leave few doubts about the American origin of this brew, but the spicy finish gives a nod to the British past of the style. The malts are fairly light with just a hint of dry biscuit barley under the citrus. The appearance is a deep gold-orange with a tall white head a thick lacing. The body is also as light as any pale ale, making this almost too drinkable for the 7.5% strength. Overall this IPA is rich in flavor with strong bitterness, while still maintaining drinkability. I'd say this is the best IPA I've had in some time. It doesn't hit you over the head with hops yet is complex and interesting.

UPDATE: Union Jack IPA just won the gold for American IPA at the GABF (Great American Beer Festival).

Labatt Ice
Labatt Brewing Co.
American Macro Lager

D+ / 2.35
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | drink: 2

Poured from a black can. Surprisingly for a macro, this one keeps a short head leaves lacing.

Yeah, this beer could be worse, but it still isn't any treat to drink. The aroma is fowl with dusty-smelling malts and acrid lager character. The flavor actually tastes decent at first, with the big, sweet bready malts of an export lager, but then a big sour milk and citrus tang comes through to ruin it all. What a waste of water.