Plain Bavarian rye lacks resolve. First reaction to tart, phenol-infested, sourdough-breaded German was it tastes like conflicted Weiss Beer, though not as foamy, yellow-fruited, or wine-y, nor as flavorful. Wispy plum-wined cinnamon apple midst coarsened by astringent rye finish, sealing its unfortunate fate.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
SCHAEFER LIGHT LAGER
Lighter whitish pale version of traditional American macrobrew is void of flavor, making it less offensive than bourgeois crap marketed on television. Fizzy hop-maize washout depletes faintest sour acridity.
(DUBUISSON) SCALDIS NOEL BELGIAN SPECIAL ALE
Pronounced fruited wine spicing and steep raisin-prune-cherry upwelling differentiate Noel’s 8 .5-ounce winter ale from Scaldis Clovis (both brewed by Bush: 2008). Candi-sugared Belgian yeast stead invites cognac, brandy, cordial liqueur, sweet whiskey and medicinal cherry illusions to enrich maple-sapped chocolate-caramel malt efficiency. High-voltage alcohol whir well suited for holiday consumption.
(DUBUISSON) SCALDIS CLOVIS (BUSH AMBREE TRIPEL)
Sugar-spiced musty-wafted yellow-hued Belgian strong ale gains vinous grape sourness above clove-nutmeg-coriander seasoning and creamy caramel malting. Fizzy carbolic bubbling reminiscent of sparkling wine or champagne. Fine for after dinner holiday sipping.
(DUBUISSON) SCALDIS BELGIAN SPECIAL ALE
Buttery mocha-malted cherry brandy sweetness provides fine initiation for intriguing ruddish-browned alcohol-fueled ale. Mild cognac easement saturates orange blossom-honeyed apricot, peach, pear and tangerine fruiting. Nutty vanilla illusions envelop spice-hopped butterscotch-caramel finish.
(SAXER) THREE FINGER JACK STOUT
Strong mocha-malt aroma and black hue not indicative of soft-toned hand crafted winner. Up-front chocolate flow and sticky caramel malt sweetness imbibe subtle yeast-candied finish lacking bold bitter bite of most stouts. In a word, smooove. Brewery defunct: 2005.
(SAXER) THREE FINGER JACK ROASTED RED
Delicately rustic barley roast insistence and mellow wheat-toasted malt flow integrate satisfying spice nut finish that’s closer to a soft-toned brown ale in comparison. Brewery defunct: 2005.
(SAXER) THREE FINGER JACK HEFEDUNKEL
Pleasant German-styled half-wheat spikes smoked wheat malt assertion with cherry-soured chocolate wisp. Similar to a fruited stout, but way too watery. Brewery defunct: 2005.
(SAXER) THREE FINGER JACK AMBER LAGER
Intimate russet-hued, heavy Brussels-laced, spry fizz-hopped lager encounters murky fruitiness. Faint barley roast lingers through citric hop finish of mass appeal offering. Brewery defunct: 2005.
SAXER PILSNER
A bold change of pace. Classic well-hopped bohemian-styled golden lager (listed as a pilsner) gathers rich dark chocolate malting reminiscent of a porter. Funky, but not displaced, grassy-hopped fruit-soured bitterness gains luster when given time to breathe. Brewery defunct: 2005.
SAXER LEMON LAGER
Horrid cabbage-sewage sniff off-putting for impossibly whitish yellow-hued clear bottled ‘malternative’ lightweight. Honeyed lemon tartness reveals hard-candied sugared cider scheme (thankfully superceding putrid waft), settling to fizzy lime soda delicateness with grassy hop backing. Brewery defunct: 2005.
SAXER JACK FROST WINTER DOPPELBOCK
No-headed amber-hued medium-bodied Bavarian double bock opens with aromatic spiced-hop bittering, subtly sweet malt whiskey palate, and casual honey-soured wheat sway. Yet despite black cherry meander, sinister orange tang, and fine rose’ finish, lack of fully-fruited assertion decreases value. Brewery defunct: 2005.