Rogue Dead Guy Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Wedding Beer #4

Last of the beers that Mandy's brother bought for us.

I used to drink a decent amount of this a few years ago. Its still enjoyable.

Goose Island Honker's Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Not bad, not great. I wouldn't turn it down, but I wouldn't buy it myself.

Sam Adams Rustic Saison

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Compared to the other beers at the intern event for work (e.g., Bud Light, Corona Light, etc.), this was stellar.

I don't think I'd go out of my way to get this, but it was pretty good for being included in the summer mix pack.

Avery - Karma

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Well this was disappointing. The malts come through in the taste more than the yeast does. In fact, I probably wouldn't have guessed it was supposed to be a belgian pale ale had the bottle not said it. Its inoffensive though. So at least its got that going for it. Definitely not getting this again.

Port City - Monumental IPA

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Well, I'm a little disappointed in this after the porter, which I thought was phenomenal. Of course, this was a single, so who knows how long it may have been sitting on the shelf. I'll give it another try out at a bar sometime, but I won't be picking up a six pack unless I know how long its been sitting there.

It was more malty/caramely than bitter.

New Holland - Golden Cap

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

My nose is a little stuffed up, so this might be a little skewed, but Colette from the other night was a lot more interesting.

Souther Tier - Hop Sun

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I basically chugged this when I got home late from work before grilling pizzas. Not the best chugging beer. It was pretty tasty though.

Bells Oberon Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The last beer left from the wedding. Does this mean the honeymoon period is over?

An inoffensive wheat ale. A little on the sweet side, but I think it goes down really easy. A really good brew for the summer.

Great Divide - Colette

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Oooh. I like this. Its really carbonated, but it works well with the style. Lemony and earthy, in a good way. I'd buy it again, especially considering its not $10 for 22oz (this was $2 for a single). Infinitely better than the Heavy Seas Red Sky at Night (maybe the only other saison I've had that's available in a six pack).

Great Lakes - Lake Erie Monster

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This was just okay. Middle of the road bitter, not super bitter. Just didn't do it for me.

The label is really great though.

Laughing Dog - The Dogfather (Bourbon Barrel Aged)

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Not bad. Pretty sweet. Pretty bitter. Lots of coffee in the taste. Maybe a slight oak or woody flavor. No vanilla from the bourbon, just really sweet.

This actually isn't that bad. I think I'd probably like it aged a little so its not as bitter.

Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Not bad, not great. The Great Lakes porter is much better.

Mandy sorta liked this.

JW Lees Harvest Ale (Port Cask) (2007)

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Well, its not the most visually appealing beer. There were lots of clumps of yeast/sediment.

Its really sweet, Mandy would not like this beer.

Tastes of caramel, with a weird aftertaste that's reminiscent of tobacco or a burnt piece of meat. Its pretty interesting & good.

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I had this last year on draft and I remembered liking it a whole lot.

It holds up well.

The thing that strikes me is that the base beer retains a lot of the flavor and isn't dominated by the barrel aging. Hints of chocolate and coffee with a slight bitterness to it. The smell takes more from the barrel aging than the taste.

This is really good. Would recommend.

I like it better than the Heresy just because of the chocolate that comes through.

Victory Headwaters Pale Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I think I'm in love.

Nice level of bitterness. Slight grassy hop flavor. Finishes pretty clean.

Weyerbacher Old Heathen

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Bought so that I could have a comparison point to Heresy.

Its not great, but its not terrible either. Heresy is a great improvement over this. I wouldn't buy it again.

Harpoon Oak Aged Dunkel

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The packaging on these 100 barrel series beers always gets me. I need to remember that they're typically subtle beers that don't wow me.

This one was okay. I wouldn't buy it again (won't have that problem). I didn't really get too much "oaked" flavor from it. Maybe because it was close to the best by date?

Schneider Weisse Original

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Smells more interesting than it tastes.

Heavy Seas Black Cannon

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This beer met expectations. I'd drink it again. I think I like it better than the cans of Back in Black that I had.

Urthel Samaranth

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Woops. Probably should have been opened earlier than 915 at night.

The 11% abv is pretty prevalent. It took me about 2 hours to finish this (after two other beers). It was pretty good though. Pretty sweet, really boozy and tasted of the typical dark fruit from belgian dark ales.

Baladin Nora

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Ooo. This is interesting. In a good way. It has an interesting spice mix. It almost tastes like a church (if you're catholic, or ex-catholic, think of that thing the priest swings around with incense during some of the holidays).

The finish is fairly sweet and has a taste of honey.

All that said, I don't think I'd get it again, but I'd definitely recommend it as beer that's really drinkable and pretty unique.

Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The last of a sixer.

It has an.. interesting taste now. Maybe slightly nutty? Bready? I like it. It went well with my corned beef sandwich.

I'd buy another six pack next year.

Westmalle Trappist Dubbel

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Served cold the carbonation completely overwhelms the taste. Still pretty malty. [Lets the beer sit for 20 minutes] Ahh. Much better. Only slightly sweet. A hint of raisin or dark fruit. The carbonation also settled down. Really enjoyable.

Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barleywine 2011

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This is infinitely better as it warms up.

I'm not sure it works though. Its pretty bitter, slightly malty and there is a strong belgian character to it. There is a lingering warmth & sweetness that I don't really find appealing.

Maybe it would do better being aged a bit, but I won't pick up another to find out.

Stone/Green Flash/Port Highway 78 Scotch Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I kinda liked this. Not overly sweet or thick. Really malty. Surprisingly not hoppy (given the Stone & Green Flash participation).

Based on the tasting notes, I like this a lot better than the Founders Dirty Bastard.

New Belgium Fat Tire

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Wedding Beer #3 from Mandy's brother

Great Divide - Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Previously reviewed here.


Not as sweet as I remembered. A strong bitter chocolate taste. Still delicious.

There's a hint of heat in the aftertaste.

Good times.

Sierra Nevada - California Common

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Well, I guess I'm not the biggest fan of this style. Its an ale, but it tastes like a lager. So... I guess its got that going for it.

Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Wedding beer #2

The only other Deschutes beer I've had is their porter. I drank enormous amounts of it from the hotel bar in Colorado while there for work in December.

This was pretty tasty. Mostly malty. I think it actually reminds me of Rogue's Dead Guy Ale (which I haven't had in a long time, but will drink soon as Mandy's brother also bought us a bottle of it).

Dogfish Head - Hellhound on My Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I like it a lot better than the disaster of that was the Mikkeller lemon IPA.

There's a mellow lemon flavor to it. Its not ridiculously bitter (which I thought it would be from the description on the bottle).

Eh, I'd save my money and pass if I saw it again.