Many friends. Many beers.
We drink to make others feel less awkward around us.

• Berghoff Octoberfest
  by Brian on Oct 23.08 to beer
  
  

  Not going to lie, I’ve have this one for a while…
  i had one, wasn’t to impressed but mustered through 5
  to get drunk and save one for this review like 3-4 weeks
  later soooo yea… here it is… oh and by the way the
  reason it looks like this is because i used farley’s stupid ass template. bad idea.
  

  Brewery Hometown: Somewhere in Wisconsin

  Appearance: It’s a caramel brown with a reddish tint. when
  you pour it the head hardly stands, not to say that’s a
  bad thing but it just doesn’t show off or anything.

  Aroma: Malty caramel is pretty much all you can smell…
  alcohol is apparent after you stick your nose in and take
  a deep breathe. spices seem to lace the caramel but i don’t
  really know what spices just yet. slightly iron smelling
  but not huge.
  Taste: And there’s that metallic smell… brutal. once you
  get past the intense sip of iron, alcohol and bubbles and
  let it sit you get something else. This being the Malty
  Caramel that doesn’t taste like caramel at all, unless
  it’s burnt. its also kind of thin and doesn’t have as much
  substance as i normally like. i’m about half way through and
  the nasty taste has subsided and now is like someone spiked
  my miller lite with iron.

  Alcohol: 5.2%

  Drink one or all?: 1… if any…

  Cost: $8(6-pack)

  Overall: 9/20. it gets points for trying and including alcohol
  in the attempt. i did get a pretty solid pre-game off the
  first 5 but would not buy again. They also get points because
  i dont’ have a beer to call my own so their one step above me.
  just don’t get it, promise?

  [ 1 Comment ]

• October 24th 2008
  by Brian on Oct 23.08 to beer
  
  

  Sam Adam’s Octoberfest KEG. most of you punk’s that look at this website already know of this but its just a reminder that for my Birthday this is whats going on. Kyle is most likely the one who will be picking it up from DG and driving it down here to us at ISU. He is also leaving satuday so Farley you have no reason not to come for this. Just come or i will have to send TurtleFace after you.

  [ 1 Comment ]

• Budweiser American Ale
  by Brian on Oct 16.08 to beer
  
  

  Apprehensive would be the first thing i think about when approaching this beer. I mean honestly… Bud makes a dark ale? Regardless i could not resist to see what a company with what should be endless resources would put out for this type of beer.
  
  

  Brewery Hometown:  St.Louis

  Appearance: It puts on a good show in the glass at first. throwing down a darker nutty brown appearance that i would say has some red tones. the head starts out strong but doesn’t stay much more than just a lacing around the glass.

  Aroma: Real beer?! it smells malty and alcoholic! but the alcohol isn’t bad, its a sweet scent the smell is like a more subtle Pere Jacques.

  Taste: Its complicated… the malty scent is rolled right into that alcohol scent in the flavor with a bitter after taste. I was not expecting it to taste like a red beer but i would definitely say its red, if that was intentional or not i don’t know. very easy to take down but no real characteristics to it other than red and malty. the carbination is less than i would have expected from Bud but i think thats a good thing for a thicker beer like this. which it is indeed a real full-bodied beer (just not as full bodied as we sometimes like). Also as the beer goes by and stays with you it turns a little sweeter and a little more enjoyable.

  Alcohol: 5.1%

  Drink one or all?: depends how many you bought!

  Cost: $6 for a sixer

  Overall: 16/20 straight up economical. if you want something solid to get you started for the evening and your cash flow is limited this is a very good option. to be honest its growing on me as for what it is.

  [ Add a Comment ]

• Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale
  by Andy on Oct 07.08 to beer
  
  

  Ok, so its way too soon for winter…but the spicy, dark fun beers of the season run together a little :P I grabbed this bottle while waiting for the train in Evanston; Samuel Smith has a large line of great beers and this is one I’ve never seen before.
  

  Brewery Hometown: England

  Appearance: Sharp, clear, orange. Standard head with good lacing, off white. Bottle is fun and big. 550ml of waaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrm.

  Aroma: Lightly spicy, caramel, malts. Complex melody of spices delivers all-around hardy presence but with a pleasant sweet tail. I am really enjoying it.

  Taste: Woah! Strong. The alcohol content isn’t remarkably high but this has a strong initial kick, slightly bitter. Further sips show a sweeter side, but it can tend to be slightly watery (may be your thing if you like strict English ales). Definitely warming, that % is kicking in well :D

  Alcohol: 6.0%

  Drink one or all?: Came in a 550ml bottle…drank it all of course

  Cost: ~$3.50

  Overall: 16/20 A-ok, not spectacular

  [ 1 Comment ]

• Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest
  by Andy on Sep 28.08 to beer
  
  

  Oktoberfest, hell yes. Fall is my favorite time of the year. Ok, summer is pretty much tied with pop-punk sugarness and pool parties…but fall has the best beer. Here I am reviewing a Hacker-Pschorr, BY FAR my favorite easily accessible (aka buy in Jewel) brewery. Their Weisse (and even more their Weisse Dark) are absolutely killer. This time, its their limited Oktoberfest…
  

  Brewery Hometown: Munich

  Appearance: Dark, orange gold. Rich and clear, light head with little lacing.

  Aroma: Dark. Carmel, malty overtones. Amberlicious and full.

  Taste: Strong, full bodied flavor continuing to deliver hints of caramel. After taste is dry but sweet. A small swish in your mouth makes the sweet, malty flavor explode even more. Warming and wonderful. Pour heavy to take in the accompanying aroma for maximum effect. Fall. Is. Awesome. Generally fun to drink; fall-y, without completely humping a tree/pumpkin.

  Alcohol: 5.8%

  Drink one or all?: 2/3

  Cost: $14/12

  Overall: 17 A strong beer, but I would recommend their others (namely the Dark) to first-timers.

  [ 2 Comments ]

• Samuel Adams Octoberfest
  by Adam on Sep 10.08 to beer
  
  

  Finally beertastic is back and everyone is starting to post again!!!  Brian and I had the perfect beer atmosphere for this one.  It was a Monday night and football was on plus there was a nice cool breeze reminding us that fall is here.  Seemed perfect for the world’s most popular Oktoberfest beer (and its not even German!!!).

  Brewery Hometown: Boston, MA

  Appearance:  Dark amber color with a reddish tint.  The foam is light and there is a little bit of head that stays the whole time.

  Aroma: It was very malty with some sweet undertones and hints of caramel.  It had a little bit of a rustic smell that reminded us of iron.  Overall the smell was very inviting and had my mouth watering.

  Taste: The taste was complex and was initially a punch in the face.  The flavor was well balanced and tasted of roasted malts, caramel, and toffee.  This beer has a good combination of sweetness and bitterness and not too much of either.  It is a nice fall beer because its not too dark or too sweet but its a nice way to transition from the light summer beers to the dark winter ones.

  Alcohol: 5.4%
  

  Drink one or all: Could be all but depends on the mood.  You could easily get drunk off this beer because it is not too dark and goes down very smooth.

  Cost: $7-8/sixer

  Overall: 17/20 A very good Oktoberfest beer, definitely worth drinking. Brian gave it a 17.75/20

  [ Add a Comment ]