Decent 2009 cellar-reserved bottle-conditioned ‘strong wheat beer’ with pleasant citric acidity and surprising mocha tenacity bides time as loud 8% alcohol luster gets heard. Creamy caramel-cocoa-chocolate malts ride above peppery clove-spiced fig-sugared vanilla sweetness and bruised orange-banana tartness. Molasses-like Sugar Daddy keepsake forges doppelbock-like character over musty yeast-creased candi-sugared Belgian ale peculiarity.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: GRAND TETON BREW. CO., VICTOR, ID.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BOSTON BREW. CO., BOSTON, MA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ERIE BREW. CO, ERIE, PA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Simply too light and arid for prestigious doppelbock class. Smoked chocolate malting reminiscent of black ale styling fades into quiet raisin-plum-fig spell to earthen dry-hopped barley-toasted bottom.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ABITA BREW. CO., ABITA SPRINGS, LA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Drab sunset-hued Mardi Gras fave fails to impress from its washed-out pale amber hue to its ridiculously inappropriate mildness. Astringent honey-soured caramel malting, musty orange-banana-cherry trickle, phenol spicing, and caraway seeding make for ineffectual Maibock or Helles bock traits.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: AASS BREWERY, DRAMMEN, NORWAY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Sumptuous soft-fruited dry bock with perky hop subtlety, tangy orange peel blitz, and chewy caramel-molasses tether gains barleywine luster scurrying to sweet barley-roasted raisin-almond finish. Creamy mocha malt midst smoothed out by frisky carbonation and herbaceous recess.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ANCHOR BREW. CO., SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Early woodsy cedar chip illusion fails to supplement oncoming toffee-like vanilla-backed theme of ruby-cola-hued springtime ‘07 release. Barren prune-fig segue and astringent pecan-walnut toasting coarsen tannic red grape wisp, negating baker’s chocolate, powdered cocoa souring, and anise trace.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ANHEUSER-BUSCH, HOUSTON, TX.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Houston Bud factory promotes this coppery amber bock disappointment. Phenol hop nose, lurking malt souring, and cardboard texture displace off-dry nuttiness and muted prune decline.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: AUGSBURGER BREW. CO., ST. PAUL, MN.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Honeyed Bavarian-styled bock leads with delicate aromatic malt sweetness and soothing caramel mouthfeel before settling into piquant hop crispness. By mildly creamy soft-bodied finish, maple sappiness and unspecific fruitiness emerge.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: AUGUST SCHELL BREW. CO., NEW ULM, MN.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Facile fizzy pilsner needs better distinction as sour malt astringency, dull honey midriff, and palest caramel splurge fail to ignite listless acidic finish.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: HILL COUNTRY BREWING, AUSTIN, TX.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Brownish maroon bock sprawls coffee mouthfeel across deep chocolate resonance and roasted hop dryness but meager pine tinge concealed.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BAMBERGER MAHR'S BRAU, BAMBERG, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Indistinct spice-hopped wheat-backed translucent amber lightweight closer to weak dirty-grained pilsner, lacking expected wintry floral accents and firm bock strength. Earthy rye constraint, sugarplum vestige, and gooey malt souring lack resolution.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BAMBERGER MAHR'S BRAU, BAMBERG, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Frothy-headed heavily carbonated bock with lavish Brussels lace, buttery prune soothe, and zesty hop effervescence hanging in the wheat-dried balance. Just a tad less busy, bold, and filling than most German bocks while in need of more pronounced adjuncts at port-like finish to put it over the top.