Stone Brewing Co. Total Tap Tower Takeover Tour at ALEWIFE

I was so looking forward to this event when i heard of it about three weeks earlier. Imagine 40 taps of ultra-rare, exclusive, collaboration brews ready for you to enjoy for as long as they last that night...Wow! Greg Koch of the before mentioned Stone Brewing Co., was on hand also to celebrate in his handywork.

I got there roughly 10 minutes after the doors opened to VIP's and the line was already fairly long, but not a big deal...got to talk to a few guys while in line about what we were looking forward to trying first. For me it was the Vertical Epic Ales, specifically the 07.07.07 aged in red wine barrels, some of the Double Dry Hopped brews also.


Once in I found a place near the middle of this gorgeous new gastropub/bar, to camp out and mingle with some of the people I already knew, as well as maybe meet some new friends. I got the 07.07.07 that I talked about and believe me it was true to it's name "Epic". A nice nose that completely speaks of a red wine grape through and through...a light dryness and a lingering tartness flow throughout the 4oz. sample. This was the first taste tonight and made a re-diculous impression of how the night would flow.

While tasting the first beer Mr. Greg Koch came over and started talking about beer and what-not. He was a really down to earth and friendly guy that was completely approachable. He gave me and a couple of new friends some suggestions on what he would try from the list. I gladly went with his ideas of the collaborations, bourbon aged, and the verticals throughout the remainder of the evening.

All in all it was a very satisfying night, with some great people, sharing great beers from an original in the Craft Beer industry. I am so glad I was able to be at this once in a lifetime event, and I hope there would be similar events in the future.


I had a total of 11 of these rare brews while I was there and enjoyed all of them...Specifically the Vertical 07.07.07 Red-Wine, DDH IPA, DDH Ruination, 9th Anniversary Ale and the Smoked Porter with Chipotle were the stand outs for me, although having the chance to try any of these was a treat.

Here are the beers I tried:

1. 07.07.07 Vertical Epic Ale aged in Red Wine Barrels
2. Imperial Russian Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels(2008)
3. 9th Anniversary Ale
4. DDH 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA(Double Dry)
5. Old Guardian Barley Wine aged in Bourbon Barrels(2006)
6. Smoked Porter with Chipotle Peppers
7. Imperial Russin Stout 10th Anniversary GKOs Mad Man Mix
8. 21st Amendment/Firestone Walker/Stone El Camino (Un)Real  Black Ale
9. Ballast Point/Kelsey McNair/Stone San Diego County Session Ale
10. DDH Stone IPA
11. DDH Ruination IPA

Evolution Craft Brewing Co. - Jacques Au Lantern Review

Brewery: Evolution Craft Brewing Co.

Type: Seasonal/Fall Amber Ale with Pumpkin

ABV: 6.3%

Sight: Out of the growler it pours a gorgeous clear deep pumpkin orange with a tint of brown resinating throughout. The head comes out full and almost pure white, an inch or so thick, that after lessening leaves a foamy film on the surface.

Aroma: This is a real treat, pumpkin, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg are definitely there...The unique thing is that they don't overpower anything. They are full and rich but don't hide the caramel malt body that is the beers base. Mild alcohol is there to tingle the nose on the inhale.

Taste: Clean, and crisp with a mild dryness being the first thing that hits ya. The malt is mellow and is a nice surface to bounce the spices off of leading to the sweet and light tart near the end. The middle is where it comes alive...ginger, cinnamon,and the main part, pumpkin are all represented in the correct strengths keeping it an all around above-average amber, but a great seasonal pumpkin beer, with it's originality.

Overall: Love it, can't say it enough. Just a great all around beer. It could be the balance between malt and hops along with the yeast strain that make this so good. Or, it could be the great combination of the traditional "Pumpkin" spices of nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon, along with some not so traditional spices of mace. ginger, and allspice that make it a original. Or maybe it is as simple as making it with an "Amber" base instead of the more fuller bodied based pumpkin beers out there. All I know is that it is an original. Mouthfeel is light-to-medium with a nice tart aftertaste in the finish.

Keep it up EVO! Another great effort.

Score: 9.3/10

Great Divide Brewing Co. - Rumble IPA Review

Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Co.

Type: Oak-aged IPA

ABV: 7.1%

Sight: Dark-roasted marshmellow to a medium oak in color is a very attractive start. The head comes out unfulfilled at first, but the remaining carbonation redeems it nicely from bottom to top, leaving a half-fingers thick bubbly off-white head.

Aroma: A great citrusy-hop pop in the front that doesn't overpower, but let's you know it's there. A slightly roasted maltiness also comes through with a little tingle to the nose.

Taste: Toasted caramel covers a very nice hop presence. The body stays even as it goes from the caramel to the finish that has a nice bitter-sour bite with a hint of dry.. The middle is mellow with the hints of hop citrus and oak tones intermingling throughout.

Overall: A very good brew, where the oak adds a nice component of toastiness of caramel as a contrast to the citrusy hoppiness. They work off each other very well and add to the complexity of the beer. Light to medium body leads to a nice finish that holds the tongue with a little sour pinch.

Score: 9.0/10

Great Divide Brewing Co. - Samuri Rice Ale Review

Brewery: Great Divide Brewery Co.

Type: Unfiltered Rice Ale

ABV: 5.1%

Sight; It pours slightly cloudy, but still very clear golden-yellow with darker hues throughout. There is a fingers thick fluffy white head that quits quickly, leaving an ultra thin film on the surface.

Aroma: Malt fronts this sweet smelling brew. It is lead into a slight hop earthiness that doesn't take over at all. A little citrus of lemon or lime that keeps it a tad off-balance...in a good way.

Taste: Biscuitiness and a great light malt begin what is a fairly simple brew. A light sour that the rice brings keeps this beer different, and original from those macros we dislike. The finish brings a hint of hops along with a tad dryness.

Overall: Not bad. Sweet and light in taste, with a decent balance that leads to a mild aftertaste. Definitely worth a try if your looking for a beer with a light mouthfeel, as well as the potential of being sessionable. The other good thing for this beer is that you could keep it in the fridge to give to a person who isn't used to drinking craft beer without shocking them too much or someone you might want to start changing over to the good side of drinking beer.

Score: 7.5/10

Schmaltz Brewing Co. - Coney Island Craft Lagers - Freaktoberfest Review

Brewery: Schmaltz Brewing Co. Brooklyn, NY

Type: Seasonal/Octoberfest

ABV: 6.66%

Sight: A really cool translucent deep dark-red pours out of the bottle making for a really cool blood-like effect. The head pours about an inch thick of a bubbly cherry-red that adds to the effect of the name of the brew.

Aroma: Nice sweet light malt with a tad bit of alcohol tingling the nose. Some of those 6 different hops do make an appearance, though they are very subtle.

Taste: Mmmm...A very appealing sweetness represents the body of this seasonal. Those six different malts do create a nice backbone to support the six different hops that try to, but don't overpower the balance. It finishes crisp, with a little dry bitterness that adds to the uniquesness of this brew.

Overall: I completely enjoyed this "Freaky" combo of 6 different malt and hop varieties. Pleasant and completely refreshing. Mouthfeel comes across medium with a little aftertaste that isn't offensive.

Score: 8.6/10

Southern Tier Brewing Co. - Pumking Ale Review

Type: Seasonal/Pumpkin

ABV: 9%

Sight: This brew pours a pretty, transparent orange with some slight bubbling from the bottom. The head comes out slowly, and i needed to be deliberate to create the thin bubbly-white head i got.

Aroma: Let's see...Nutmeg, vanilla, pumpkin and a little cinnamon come through well, while the malt is abbreviated and inconsistant through the inhale. I get a hint of floral near the finish of the second inhale.

Taste: Roasted pumpkin comes through as almost creamed-corn. Tingles of alcohol that warm the throat follow with a combination of pie spice to bring it all together. The end is a basically bland and uneventful, which is welcome, but unfortunate.

Overall: It's ashame, I was soooo looking forward to this brew since I heard of it and was expecting very good things due to past STBC beers I've had and the praise for the beer itself. The mouthfeel was fine, clean light, without any significant aftertaste, but that wasn't the problem with this beer. The "roasting of the pumpking actually turned the flavor of this beer to what reminded me of creamed-corn...Not joking! I was so overwhelmed with the corn taste that is suggest they rename it "Creamed-Cornking" for next year.

Score: 6.5/10

Weihenstephaner - Festbier Review

Type: Oktoberfest/Marzen


ABV: 5.8%

Sight: Clearly bright golden-yellow with a significant amount of carbination bubbling from the bottom. A fluffy pure-white head that hangs well before leaving a very thin film on the surface.

Aroma: Ultra-floral notes hit on minor inhale. On second good breath comes a lemon sweetness, and a very mellow malt.

Taste: The flavors remind me of an american pilsner or light lager more than an Oktoberfest type beer. Easy to go down with a balance that is good, but also not good because of no seperation of flavors. A mild malt begins with a tingle of alcohol and more lightness in hop flavors of lemony-citrus and sourness.

Overall: Not blown away...but it is close to the style in that it is light and refreshing and can be drank in abundance without fear of getting wasted or having a hangover the next day. Mouthfeel is medium, and when finished there is a little sour that pinches the corners of the mouth.

Score: 7/10

Warsteiner - Oktoberfest Review

Type: Oktoberfest

ABV: 5.9%

Sight: It pours a clear golden yellow with a hint of orange. The head fills to about a half-inch in a fluffy white.

Aroma: Sweet malt and hop combo come through nicely with maybe a hint of yeast in there also.


Taste: Nice sweet malt to begin with a hop floral essence from behind. The hops are there but so mildly represented that even the biggest hop-hater would still enjoy this Marzen.


Overall: Mellow and malt dominant. A perfect representation of the style. The mouthfeel is light, with little or no aftertaste to speak of. There is a nice balance between the malt and hops that keep this Oktoberfest at the top of the Marzen heap.


Score: 8.8/10

Heavy Seas Brewing - Great Pumpkin Imperial Ale Review

Type: Seasonal/Imperial Ale

ABV: 8%

Sight: This brew pours a deep translucent Orange over brown in color with an abundant frothy-white head near a half-inch in height. After the head calms, it leaves a beaten egg-white latter on the surface.

Aroma: Nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon rock the front as you should expect with this type of beer. On a second inhale I pull some roasted malt, and an ever-so subtle hint of pumpkin.

Taste: Creaminess in the form of the spices easily go down with a bit of the alcohol warmness following close behind. Malt tries to keep things balanced, but unfortunately the combo of spice and alcohol are a tad overpowering.

Overall: Definitely a good pumpkin brew, but I actually could have used more of the pumpkin in there to maybe mellow out the warmness and tingle of the alcohol. The mouthfeel is right-on, being light to medium and creamy, while the only aftertaste is the warming feeling in the back of the throat.

Score: 7.9/10


Heavy Seas - Great Pumpkin Imperial Ale

So Far, So Good, So Let's Drink More...A review of the Reviews

      I've been drinking beer for a long time and have been into craft beer since the early 2000's. But, it wasn't until a suggestion from the wife that I thought of expressing my enjoyment to others via a blog.
      I started in the beginning of March of this year, with my first review being Sierra Nevada - Bigfoot Ale Barley Wine. Since then I have reviewed an additional 129 brews of all types, some great, some good, and a few that weren't that good.
      I have had fun doing the reviews, as I hope those of you who have looked at them appreciated the content. I plan on continuing, with the future plans of a more elaborate and polished site towards the beginning of the year.
      So hang in there for the duration, and don't forget to comment on the reviews if you feel compelled to do so. I do try to reply to the comments as soon as I can.
      With this post I am going to break down how I grade the beer I review. I am also going to give some stats on the reviews so far.


      I break down the review this way:

Sight - 15 points

How does it pour?
Color of body.
Head size, retentention and color.
Overall feel for the attractiveness of it.

Aroma - 15 points

Initial inhale strength...what pops?
Essence of the smell
Second, deep inhale...what else comes through, if anything?

Taste - 40 points

Most important part of the review.
What flavors come through?
Are the flavors comparable to the nose?
Is there a balance of the flavors?


Overall - 30 points

How does it make you feel?
Mouthfee & Aftertaste?
Would you drink it again?
Any other thoughts or comments.

Add together the points and divide by 10 to get the final score.

Stats as of now:

A. Most reviewed type of beer -  India Pale Ale 28 of 130 or 21.5%
B. Highest rated beers:
     1. Evolution Craft Brewing - Lot #3 IPA        - 9.4
     1. Abita Brewing Co. - Jackamo IPA             -  9.4
     2. The Brewers Art - Resurrection Ale          -  9.2
     2. Stone Brewing - Oaked Arrogant Bastard   - 9.2
     3. Lagunitas Brewing Co. - Hop Stoopid Ale  - 9.1
C. Lowest rated beer:
     130. Starr Hill Brewery - Dark Star Stout          - 5.0
     129. RJ Rockers - Son Of A Peach Hefeweizen - 5.7

Thanks and Happy Drinking

Riverhorse Brewing Co. - Hop Hazard APA Review

Type: Unfiltered American Pale Ale

ABV: 6.5%

Sight: A cloudy burnt-sienna brown that pours full of a creamy white head that goes an inch or so tall before fading down to a nice filmy cap on the surface of the brew.

Aroma: Sweetness from malt along with ,ore sweetness from the hoppiness. Orange, Lemon-zest, and  grapefruit are the top dog when it comes to overall tone of the smell. I get no alcohol tingle in the inhales, which to me is good.

Taste: In the first drink I get a dry-malt, then someof the tremendous hop citruiness fights through. Orange and maybe lime and not lemon, along with a bit of tart, which could be that grapefruit...surprises, because I don't think I have actually gotten a grapefruit taste from a beer before.

Overall: Decent balance between the malt and hop, with the hop winning out overall, due to the dryness all the way through. The mouthfeel is medium with a slightly tart aftertaste that stays on the sides of the tongue.

Score: 8.1/10


                                                                                                                    Riverhorse Brewery

Spaten - Oktoberfest Review

Type: Marzen/Oktoberfest

ABV: 5.9%

Sight: A nice roasted marshmellow brown overcoming the golden undertones. This brew pours with a thick fluffy white head about an inch or so tall.

Aroma: mellow roasted malt that has a hint of earthiness fighting through. Sweetness is there in the nose but not overwhelming.

Taste: A nice toasty malt front with a great sweetness that is the main component and keeps every other taste in check...a tad sourness, some mild earthiness from a subtle hop presence near the end.

Overall: A great example of the style coming from the land of where it was born. Spaten is one of the better original marzens out there. The mouthfeel is light, and still has a creamy tongue coating component to it that I like. I love this time of year, because it brings out the best of what the German brewers have to offer.

Score: 8/10


Spaten Oktoberfest

Otter Creek Brewing - Oktoberfest Review

Type: Oktoberfest

ABV: 4.5%

Sight: Transparent orange with a hint of gold towards the bottom. White and less than a half-inch thick is how the creamy head pours...a thin film completely closes the surface of the beer.

Aroma: Hop overwhelms the malt a tad with an earthy grassy front. Some mild alcohol spice brings on the sweet malt body at the end.

Taste: Light biscuity malt starts the beer out, then light hints of dryness and a generous amount of hop essence. Grass and pine parts keep the body working towards it's end where there is a good tartness that bites the back of the jaw.

Overall: Not bad at all...I enjoy the hoppiness that comes through in earthy tones, and leaves that sour tart taste that lingers for a good 5 minutes after the last sip. The mouthfeel is light as is the carbination that helps the aftertaste hold on for a good while.

Score: 7.8/10



Otter Creek - Oktoberfest

DogFish Head Brewery - Bitches Brew Review

Type: "A dark beer that's a fusion of three threads imperial stout and one thread honey"

ABV: 9%

IBU: 38

Sight: There are no if's,an's, or but's about it...This is a very boldly dark beer, chocolate black in body with a half-fingers thin, foamy light brown sugar colored head. Theat head wanes fast to leave a spotty film in the center, and in a ring around the glass.

Aroma: On the initial inhale I get alcohol, chocolate, roasted malt and licorice. Second and deeper breath give a more complex nose of fig, prunes, and plum, but also some earthiness of tree-bark or unsweetened cocoa nibs.

Taste: With the presentation of a stout youd not expect sweetness as abundant as you get with this beer. Cherry, candied sugar, and that added honey are welcoming in the initial sip, then alcohol and a light bitter follow nicely. Near the end you get more of those sweeter noted from plum, and possible raisin. It finishes fairly clean with a continued tang on the sides of the mouth.

Overall: Well, as said in the tasting notes, I was completely turned 180 degrees from what I expected. Mouthfeel is fizzy and light to medium. You will get a tingle from the front to back. It is balanced well, but could possibly use a creamy element to make it as "Historic" as the album for which it's named. It is a fine beer though, don't get me wrong, and a fitting tribute to the man, the ledgend...Miles Davis

Score: 8.6/10

Stillwater Artisanal Ales - Of Love & Regret Review

Type: Belgian Saison Ale

ABV: 7.2%

Sight: This brew pours with a very animated bubbly white head that nearly goes over the top of the glass. Opaque burnt orange-brown is what the body displays.

Aroma: Starts off with a heaping helping of wheat that is refreshing and sweet. Lemon zest, and yeast follow boldly, and on the second inhale I get more citrus, this time its orange that tingles the back of the nose.

Taste: It comes across a sweet tingly orange from the beginning that leads into a tremendous, wheaty body. The tingle continues through as the yeast pops and takes it to the end that is slightly creamy.

Overall: From the first inhale you can tell this is gonna be a great saison. The wheat is strong but still not overpowering as one might think. The Belgian yeast is the key component that holds it all together and keeps the balance. Mouthfeel is medium with a hint of creaminess that lingers on the sides of the tongue.

Score: 8.9/10 

Stillwater Artisanal Ales

Birra Moretti - Lager Review

Type: Lager

ABV: 4.6%

Sight: Clear and golden wheat in color this beer has plenty of bubbly carbination rising from the bottom. The pour leaves a thin, and active white head about a half fingers length.

Aroma: Light malt essence up front with a pop of earthy pine, possibly a sour note from dill on second take. Biscuitiness of yeast would round it for me.

Taste: Refreshing and light is the character. A slightly sweet malt backbone that is enhanced with a sour yeastiness and mellow hoppy bite. Mouthfeel is light and doesn't leave any bad aftertaste to speak of.

Overall: I got exactly what I expected from this beer. A slightly sweet lager with a light body that goes down easy. The sour that comes in around mid-point is what makes this brew unique from the other "lighter" lager or pilsners from Europe. If you drink it be careful, it wouldn't be hard to forget how many you have had. Good job Moretti, looking forward to getting my hands on La Rossa.

Score: 8/10

Birra Moretti - Lager

Stone Brewing Company - "Oaked" Arrogant Bastard Ale Review

Type: American Strong Ale

ABV: 7.2%

Sight: This is one of the most beautifully colored beers I have had the pleasure of trying. It is a Deep translucent mahogany brown with hints of red & black hitting it depending on which way it is held. The whipped-head poured full and mocha in color about an inch thick.

Aroma: Caramel comes forth strong up front with cream and a touch of oak beeming through also. On a further inhale,  after a swirl I get a little spice, along with a mild hop.

Taste: Creaminess, some alcohol heat and roasted caramel are the frontrunners here. The oak is in the middle and is awesome. It adds a completely new and aggressive dimension to the original. Sweetness of plum, or prunes are there for me also. In the end it actually fades nicely leaving only that mild fruit-sour tingle to the tongue.

Overall: The oak-aging makes the original Arrogant Bastard, while good, great. A new dimension opens up in the palate. More creaminess is created also in the medium body of this addictive brew. Balance from front to back won't leave you wishing you had more of this and less of that. A complete well-rounded brew.

Score: 9.2/10

                                                                                                    Stone - Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

Oliver Ales - Pratt St. Ale House - Nitrogen-poured 3 Spires Review

                                         The 3 Spires of coventry, which the brew was named



Type: English Golden Ale

ABV: 5%

Sight: Crystal clear golden-orange body with no carbonation or head to speak of...It's not the beer it must have been a bad poor from the brewery. Never fear, I charge on with the review.

Aroma: Very light in the nose. I get some light hop of pine and grass. The light malt scent is of a caramel sweetness. Again these smells are very light and unpronounced.

Taste: Very clean and nicely sweet. To me it's like a mild tea with a very earthy hop character. The front is mellow and the malt comes through sweet with a light sour bite. At the finish, the hops hold strong and become the whole of it all. Earthiness of pine, very mild citrus, and a tad dryness are it.

Overall: I've had this great beer a few times prior and got the positive from the nitro-pour...even getting this growler with no carbonation didn't really take the flavors and smoothness away. The only complaint i guess would be the tingles that come with the rest of the pour. I can actually give it a good score with the missing components, but would have given it an even higher score if poured to it's appropriate perfection.

Score: 8.5/10

Pratt Street Ale House

Goose Island Brewery - Honker's Ale Review

Type: ESB/English Style Bitter

ABV: 4.2%

Sight: Transparent light-amber yellow with a creamy bright-white head that dissipates quickly from it's original fingers thickness, to a surface covering film on top.

Aroma; Hop pine and orange, almost tangerine, that are very frisky on the nose. Malt comes around, but is very subtle and basically comes through only on a deeper inhale.  It is a very welcoming smell that makes you want to drink of it ASAP.

Taste: Earthy pine and nut, give way to a yeasty-dryness that cuts those earthy tones down. The second sip gives more of the first, but with an element of citrus...i would go as far as to say a certain type because it is muted, but it is there. The finish is mellow, and leaves that citrus tang on the edges of the tongue.

Overall: Nice with an extra-light body, which sorta surprised me...Figuring most ESB's are a little more light to medium in mouthfeel. Alcohol taste is very distant if there at all. The dryness actually overtakes this brew after getting to the middle of the glass. I like that element though, some won't.


Goose Island - Honkers Ale

Score: 8/10

Victory Brewing Co. - Festbier Review

Brewery: Victory - Festbier

Type: Octoberfest

ABV: 5.6%

Sight: Clear deep-dark amber-brown with a light red hue. A nice white head pours from the bottle, leaving a fingers-thick fluffy cap that dissloves into a very thin film on the surface.

Aroma: Lightly roasted malts are in the foreground with a tingle of alcohol and a touch hop earthiness in the background.

Taste: Dryness and the malt come forward well. The middle gets a little chalky and a bit more dryer. Following to the end comes a inubtrusive sour pinch on the corners of the tongue. The finish is mild and brings more maltiness that tries to cover that sour.

Overall: Not a bad representation of the style. Light mouthfeel malty and a light sweetness. It could be enjoyed as a session beer if you don't mind a little sour holding on to the edges of your tongue.

Score: 8.3/10