Worst Beers of 2011

Brewers make better beer when customers demand it. So in the interest of constructive criticism, I present the five worst beers I had the pleasure of reviewing last year. You can see my top beers of 2011 here, but here are the most offensive brews I encountered in '11.

Palma Louca Pale Pilsner
Cervejaria Kaiser
German Pilsener | 4.50% ABV

1.95/5
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I hope nobody is seriously calling this mess a German pilsner. I don't usually walk away from a beer, but I left nearly half of this at the bar. This tasted like well water with lemon cookie ground up and mixed in. Yes, the body was watery. No, it wasn't refreshing or pleasant. Steer clear.


Lvivske 1715
Lvivska Pivovarnya (BBH)
Euro Pale Lager | 4.00% ABV

2.17/5
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I dont think is headed anywhere but the drain. It smells like a very light lager with a soft pale malt aroma, but the flavor is dominated by a sweet white grape juice taste. What the hell happened here? The Ukraine can have this one back.

I mean, if you're really into grape juice, this is your beer. If you're looking for a decent lawnmower lager, run.


Riserva
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
American Wild Ale | 11.40% ABV

2.28/5
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

2010 Batch. I went to Abe's Cold Beer looking for a sour and this seemed like a good option. However upon opening, it was clear this beer wasn't going to stand up to previous reviews. There was a strongly acidic earthy garden tang. Not quite of rotting produce or horseblanket, but very unpleasant. The raspberry element was quite good and nicely balanced against the level of the funk. The sour character needs work, or at least a lot more time. I didn't bother to finish the bottle. It's not the pleasant, zesty flavors and aromas you'd expect in a framboise or lambic sour ale.


Alexander Keith's Nova Scotia Style Pale Ale
Alexander Keith's
American Pale Ale (APA) | 5.40% ABV

2.5/5
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

I have to assume this beer is no way shape or form represents the pale ales of Nova Scotia. Otherwise, it implies the island has never heard of hops. For a cheap amber ale, the beer isn't bad - with only a hint of macro character. There's a basic caramel malt and bread crust taste and maybe, just maybe the slightest touch of earthy hops.


Terrapin So Fresh & So Green Green
Terrapin Beer Company
American IPA | 6.60% ABV

2.63/5
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Had a pint at Liberty St. Tavern and didn't bother finishing the glass. It wasn't very hoppy and there was a strong, vaguely cheesy off flavor. Has this been sitting out too long, maybe with an infection run a muck? There was a little smooth ester character and a touch of grapefruit, but not much. Watch out for this landmine.

The Problem With Big Beer

Over the weekend I tried and discussed a number of big (8%+ abv) beers. It's been a growing trend for a while to brew massive beers and sometimes age them in bourbon or some other sort of barrel. There are some fine world class big beers, like Westvleteren 12 and Russian River's Pliny the Younger, but I take issue with a lot of these brews because whether or not they taste good, they're often too damn thick to actually enjoy. Finish a bomber of some and sure, you'll be drunk, but you'll also feel like you just finished a turkey dinner.

From my homebrewing experience, I know that the more ingredients you throw at a beer and the more sugar you leave in (this sweetens and thickens), the easier it is to make a tasty beer. Drinkability be damned. Who needs a sessionable beer when beer geeks respond to sludge? Twenty-one of BeerAdvocate's top 25 beers are at least 8% abv, after all. Yeah there are some great beers on that list, most just wouldn't make it into my person top 25 brews.

Ranting aside, there's a right way and wrong way to make strong beers. Here's a recent barleywine I thought nailed the style, and a couple local Pennsylvania ales that succumbed to the trend toward being unnecessarily thick and strong.

Landmark Barleywine
Landmark Beer Company
English Barleywine | 9.00% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4

On-tap at Clarks Ale House in Syracuse for $6/pint. The light is a little low in here, but it appears a clear orange-red with with a short off-white head leaving lacing. For 9&, as the bartender tells me, this is a very drinkable barleywine - I like that. So many strong beer are too thick and sweet to really enjoy beyond a small pour. The aroma has a sweet caramel candy apple character.The flavor and feel are very smooth with chocolate biscuit and cookie malt undertones behind bittersweet orange peel hops. I'm reminded of a Terry's Chocolate Orange for the delicate mix of hops and mild grains. After some time to ponder the beer, I'm also finding toffee, grapefruit, and dried cherry notes. This is my favorite Landmark beer I've had, a real winner. Cheers to Kiernan!


Hop'solutely
Allentown Brew Works
American Double / Imperial IPA | 11.50% ABV

B / 3.65
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | drink: 3.5

Split a 750ml bottle with friends at the Steelgaarden. Like most 11%+ IPAs, there's a lot of malty sweetness that takes away from the hops and makes it thicker than it needs to be. It drinks a bit like DFH 90 Minute in relation to the sticky sweetness. The hops are still pretty tasty with the chinook and centennial hops standing out at first with bitter grapefruit and pine, smooth flowery hops kick in and the finish is a mix of light caramel and citrus rind.


Blasphemy
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Quadrupel (Quad) | 11.80% ABV

C+ / 3.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | drink: 3.5

Picked up a single in a mixed case from the brewery.

Whoa, put this one back, it ain't ready yet. I'm not saying it's a bad beer, but it feels like it needs some time. The nose has some great vanilla and oak notes, but they're overwhelmed by alcohol there and in the flavor. There's a background sweetness in the taste, but again the booze prevails. I recommend this beer because it seems like there's some great stuff going on, but let it sit for at least 6 months before consuming.