Spoetzl Brewery - Shiner "Smokehouse" Helles Review

Type: Helles

ABV: 4.9%

Sight: Golden yellow with plenty of small bubbles of carbination rising to the surface from the bottom. The white head was lacey thin on the surface.

Aroma: Wow...smell lives up to it's name. Smokey wood-chip pop on top of a decent malt backbone.

Taste: malt on top of wood chips is the easiest way to describe it. Very unique to me. The smoke flavor is almost, I repeat almost overpowering. There isn't a big finish either meaning not really an aftertaste.

Overall: Unfortunately, not really impressed. It seems like they did this as a gimmick, instead of for the quality in taste. The smokey wood taste doesn't really add much to this brew. Could taste close to thier "Bock" without that smoked-woodiness. Mouthfeel though is light and if you enjoy the unique taste, it could be an okay session beer.


Score: 7.0/10

Shiner Smokehouse Helles

21st Amendment - Brew free or Die IPA Review

Type: India pale Ale

ABV: 7%

IBU: 70

Sight: Translucent dark-yellow with an overall golden tone. The head pours thick, white, and soapy...dissipating to a fluffy film on the surface.

Aroma: A strong citrus hop front. The malt holds up and supports the hoppiness and keeps it coming til the next inhale.

Taste: Nice malty front with a citrusy bite melded within that malt. It has a creaminess that feels smooth against the walls of my mouth.

Overall: Expected alot and was basically fulfilled. The IBU's are a little misleading to me. They are muted more than expected due to the hyper-maltiness. The mouthfeel is medium with a very light aftertaste on the tongue

Score: 8.6/10



                                                                                                          21st Amendment Brew Free Or Die

21st Amendment - Hell or High Watermelon Review

Type: Wheat

ABV: 4.9%

Sight: Nice straw yellow with a creamy fingers-thick head that evaporates to a thin lacey film on the surface.

Aroma: Grains and yeast cover the pleasantly moderate watermelon esters. Very inviting...

Taste: Mellow wheat front that is overpowered by a sweet watermelon. Malt follows from berhind and the melon comes back to reignite the sweetness. It has light to no aftertaste.

Overall: great idea of the watermelon infused wheat ale. Not to much fruit taste to make this weird or disgusting. It is a good balance between the wheat malt and melon juice. Definitely a sessionable brew with it's low ABV. Perfect for a summer day at the beach, especially because of the 12oz. can packaging.

Score: 9.0/10 


21st Amendment - Hell Or High Watermelon

Type: Helles


ABV: 5.7%

Sight: Straw yellow with a ever so slight tinge of orange to make it different. The head pours ultra thin and is gone instantly.

Aroma: Grainy and yeasty with no significant sweetness to speak of. Very mild to even a deep breath.

Taste: Almost the opposite of the nose...sweet malt comes through strong. A light citrus note hits also. The finish is clean and leaves a very light tingle to the back of the tongue.

Overall: Very refreshing and clean. A definite session brew. The mouthfeel is light. There is no aftertaste of any signifigance. Light alcohol content is another big plus to drink a few of these during a hot summer day.

Score: 7.9/ 10




                                                                                                                         Fordham Brewery

Heavy Seas Brewery - Peg Leg Imperial Stout Review

Type: Imperial Stout

ABV: 8%

Sight: Obviously it's dark...Black with a light brown foamy head.

Aroma: Heavy dark chocolate with anice coffee peaks. Very little or no alcohol in the nose...Very enticing.

Taste: Creamy chocolate and coffee intermingle nicely with an underlying molasses. There is a slight tingle of alcohol in the back of the throat, which leaves quickly.

Overall: Very smooth on the tongue, giving the mouthfeel a surprising light to medium body. The deep dark malts are strengthened just right with coffee touches. The finish is also light and leaves little evidence of just having a stout. Heavy Seas keeps the goodness coming.

Score: 8.3/10


Heavy Seas - Peg Leg Imperial Stout

Gordon Biersch - Blonde Bock

Type: Bock

ABV: 7%

Sight: Clear orange with golden touches at the base. There was a very thin head of white that completely disappears at the surface.

Aroma: Grassy, earthy notes pop first with a little malt and a touch of lemony citrus.

Taste: Wheat and a nice sweetness from citrus(mostly lemon or even light orange). The citrus holds well through til the end. The middle brings in a unrecognizable spice that brings a nice distinction from other bocks I've had. The finish rebounds with a balancing maltness that brings the brew back to the front.

Overall: A very surprising beer to me...Sweeter and a little spicier than I was expecting. This is more of a Helles than a "Blonde" bock as the name indicates. The mouthfeel is soft and light, and despite the 7% ABV, this is definitely a sessionable beer. I've had a few "GB's" at beerfest's, and thought of the samples as good, but not superb...This beer gave me a new outlook on them and will be seeking out more styles of "GB".

Gordon Biersch Brewery


Score: 8.2/10