LAGUNITAS - The Hairy Eyeball Ale Review

Type: (Seasonal)Strong American Ale

ABV: 8.8%

Color: Very dark auburn brown with nice red bleeding through.

Aroma: Toasted malt sweetness with spice of orange zest. Darker fruits are there also...Plum, maybe raisins are subtle but noticeable.

Taste: Mild malt sweetness with spice and light hoppiness. Some thickness in the sip, possibly from those dark fruits involved. Alcohol is easily tasted...not scare me away strong but definitely there.

Overall: Nice and the sweet maltiness is strong, but not too overpowering. The finish is tame and uneventful...nothing really unique to seperate it from other strong ales. Not bad but not really good either.

Score: 7.5/10

Samuel Adams - Seasonal - NOBLE PILS Review

Type: Seasonal Pilsener

ABV: 5.2%

Color: Transparent bright yellow with a light white head...some light clinging to the glass.

Aroma: Fresh hops and clean citrus dominate. I don't mind. It is nice...some lime or lemon with subtle floral notes.

Taste: Dry and mildly hoppy. Mellow body with some citrus hints. I think lime. Light malt sweets hit in the end.

Overall: Nice seasonal that is good enough to be an all year brew. The citrus is the uniqueness is the citrus...possibly from the hops. It has drinkability that can lead to enjoying this in over-moderation. Boston Beer has done it again.

Score: 8.0/10

OLIVER ALES - "MY MONKEYS GOT WOOD" Review

Type: Porter

ABV: 8.5%

Color: Mahogany brown with touches of red with an antique white head

Aroma: Nice sweet malt with touches of caramel.

Taste: Some nice spice to start, then the malt hits nicely...Some smokey essence, then it comes alive with, dare i say coconut. A little citrus in there also.

Overall: Completely impressed. I know Oliver ales well, as a regular at The Wharf rat in Fells Point. This was up to par. Nice even sweetness with some mild bitterness. The most important part is(if i'm right) the cocnut essence...Surprisingly good. Top Notch.

Score:9.0/10

MAGIC HAT - SUMMER SEASONAL - "WACKO" Review

Type: Seasonal...SUMMER

ABV: 4.5%

Color: Transparent light cherry red with a light white head

Aroma: Mild sweetness with a plentiful hoppy nose. Light spice also(maybe corriander or clove).

Taste: Muted at first with bland sweetness. Barely bitterat all. Uneventful finish.

Overall: Completely disappointed with this offering from Magic Hat...I like #9, Blind Faith, and Circus Boy alot and loved the spring seasonal "Vinyl". Knowing what they came up with before i was expecting another home run. But it was a strike out. Very muted and almost untasteful. Sorry Magic Hat, but you have became the lowest score so far.

Score: 5.5/10

PYRAMID BREWERY - THUNDERHEAD IPA Review

Type: India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.7%

Color: Golden-Yellow with a hint of orange when kissed with light

Aroma: Orange zest with a clean grassy hop presence. Some vague sweetness.

Taste: Crisp bitterness up front that holds onto your tongue til the next sip. The subtle citrus is nice...not too much, just right. A little malt closes it out

Overall: I like it alot. Refreshing. The bitterness is there and isn't over the top, just hits a little then hangs on. The citrusy sweetness is a nice compliment to the bitterness. The flavors are balanced perfectly...The bitterness is evened out with the light malt by the orange accents.

Score: 8.3/10

Quick Review THE ABBEY BURGER BISTRO - Baltimore, Md.

ABBEY BURGER BISTRO

Arrived at the bistro for the first time on a Sunday early afternoon and was pleasantly surprised at what we found. A cool two story bar/restaurant down a very small alley/road off of East Cross Street. If your familiar with the area...it is at the end of the alley next to Ryleighs Oyster Pub on E. Cross St. Getting off the subject...Inside we found the first of 2 levels in an old redbricked walled townhome. Nice faux hardwood floors, a classic fairly long wooded bar, high bar tables along with regular tables(didn't get upstairs), some LCD's and Reggae playing on the sound system(a little out of place). Exposed brick throughout. Bathrooms are small, but clean(odd thing is the sinks are shared in the small hallway).

The menu was small but still with plenty of options: salads, apps, small kids menu, specialty spiked shakes, and of course burgers. The burger menu had many house specialties: "Peanut Butter Burger", "Lamb burger", "Ostrich Burger", "Gunpowder Bison Burger", "Shroomburger", "Fried Green Tomato Burger" for the vegitarians and a "Baltimore Burger" with crab-dip topping it...plus a "Build Your Own Burger" checklist with 7 different meats, and more than 50 toppings. The Hand-made potato chips are awesome(worth the trip alone). They will cook your meat to any temp., and when you say "Rare" you get "Rare"! I had the Ostrich Burger, and totally enjoyed it. Juicy, cooked to temp, and the toppings were a good combo(blue cheese, onion ring, LTM, on soft butter roll. Wife reluctantly had the Peanut Butter Burger(rare) and it was also very good, bacon, PB and Beef...can't go wrong with that.

Now to the beer...They have a 14 rotating taps with anything from Guiness, Ommegang(Ny), Pyramid(Ca), Evolution(DE), Southern Tier(Ny) Duvel, Lagunitas(Ca) to Dogfish Head(De). The Bar guy said they switch them out regularly so there could be new brews on tap every time you go. They say they have over 300 bottles from all over the world. I didn't see 300 in the menu...about 50, but there was some unique and differents ones on there...Brewers Art - Resurrection, Westmalle Tripel, Skull Splitter, Blithering Idiot, and more.

I had the Sierre Nevada 30th Anniversary Special Ale - "Fritz and Ken's Ale"(Review below), Then had fresh tapped "Red Sky At Night" from Heavy Seas. Knew it and love it.

Overall I liked the place and will be heading down there regularly. Friendly atmosphere, comfortable surroundings, Great burgers, Great beer. What else could a Man want?


Score: 8.5/10

SIERRA NEVADA'S 30th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL - "Fritz & Ken's Ale Review

Type: Stout

ABV: 9.5%

Color: Black with beautiful amber hues..especially at the bottom of the glass. Nice thin maple brown head that clings to the glass nicely as it dwindles down.

Aroma: Nice sweet and malty. The malt is roasted enough to not make the nose overpowering.

Taste: Light Bitterness with nice balanced sweetness from the malt. The finish was mellow and unlasting...It just leaves you wanting more.

Overall: Not being a big stout fan, I could dink this one in barrels. The chilled out dry bitterness mellows out the malt sweetness very well. Not to sweet, just sweet enough.

Overall: 8.7/10