Baranowski on Beer - My Favorites
When it comes to beer, I'm no expert, but I definitely consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. This page lists my favorite beers, sorted alphabetically by brewery. My other beer page has reviews of beers that didn't quite make the cut (That's not to say there aren't some really good beers on that page - it's just that they don't give me that special happy feeling that I get from my favorites). If you're looking for quality beer reviews - as opposed to what I'm doing here - I'd suggest beeradvocate.com or ratebeer.com (my two favorite beer sites). Note: The "ABV" in the first column stands for alcohol by volume, a standard measure of a beer's alcohol content. It's good to know, because if you're planning a tasting, you should know what you're getting into. As a reference, the ABV levels for several popular (but really bad) beers are listed below:
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Latest Reviews (8/5/05) |
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Beer
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Taste
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Verdict
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| Alesmith IPA 7.25% ABV (8/5/05) |
A trip to Cincinnati's Dilly Deli - one of the top 50 beer bars in the country, according to beeradvocate.com - afforded me the opportunity to try Alesmith IPA. It's the best IPA I've ever had. Like all India Pale Ales, it's strongly hopped, but the hops doesn't absolutely knock you down with hoppiness (as, for instance, some of Rogue's more over the top IPAs do). This medium-bodied IPA is surprisingly smooth and very flavorful. It's noticeably sweeter than other IPAs and it has an almost delicate finish, which really surprised me. | I didn't think it likely that any IPA would displace Stone IPA in my affections, but it's happened. Stone Brewing makes an awfully good IPA, but Alesmith's is unquestionably more refined. I'm told that Smuttynose IPA is something else, but until I'm able to sample it, Alesmith is king of the hill. |
| Bell's Amber Ale 5.5% ABV (10/18/03) |
Nutty aroma. Very hoppy with pronounced nutty flavor. Crisp with a medium body. Nice finish. | A very nice beer that I initially thought might be a touch strong for everyday drinking. It's almost too much for a regular beer, but it comes down just on the right side of the line. Nothing I'd recommend to Budweiser fans, but if you're looking for something a little bolder than Sam Adams and the like, you should give this a try. |
| Brooklyn East India Pale Ale 7.0% ABV (7/24/04) |
Very crisp, with an initial maltiness that I didn't expect. Nice citrus taste that was cut slightly with a touch of caramel. A smooth but full hop presence comes on in mid swallow and leads into finish that's clean and smooth. | Not as in your face as the IPAs from Rogue or Stone, but very nice when you want something with a little bite. A very nice utility infielder sort of beer, which is a pleasant surprise from an IPA. |
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale |
Full bodied, with a rich, roasted nut taste. Very nice mouthfeel and a smooth finish. Slight hints of caramel and brown sugar. | I've never tasted such rich & complex flavors in a beer this light. It makes for a really great beer - probably a little too different to be a true everyday beer, but something that would be very nice to have in the refrigerator on a regular basis. |
| Einbecker Ur-Bock Dunkel 6.5% ABV (4/9/05) |
An initial strong hit of well-rounded roasted malt is followed by a nice bite. The complexity of the malt then comes out, and is joined by a pleasant alcohol kick about the time it starts down the throat. The finish is somewhat bitter (reminiscent of an IPA, even), but there's a nice warm smoothness to it. |
With most of my favorite beers, I know right from the start. I wasn't sure how I felt after my first sip of Ur-Bock Dunkel, but by the time my glass was half empty, I knew I had another winner. |
| Fuller's ESB 5.9% ABV (8/5/05) |
Medium-bodied with a very nice balance of malt and hops. Pleasant hop bitterness at the back of the tongue and a smooth finish. | A solid all-around beer. I've had it in both the standard 12 oz. six-pack bottles and the larger pint size, and I thought that the pint bottle tasted better - though that could be because I sampled the pint in London, and the 12 oz. bottles had to be shipped from there to The Party Source (my primary beer supplier). |
| Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 11.0% ABV (5/8/05) |
Incredibly rich, with a wonderfully thick body. Notes of butter, licorice and (yes) bourbon predominate. |
My god, this is wonderful stuff! I love this beer, but it's definitely something to be slowly savored with (or even as) dessert. |
Goose Island Demolition |
Full bodied and very smooth, with a nice hop bite and a fairly strong alcohol presence. A slight sweetness that increases as it goes down along with a slight taste of citrus and lemongrass. A very impressive beer. | This might be my all-time favorite beer, but at $12.00 for a 4 pack - and 8% alcohol by volume (about 40% higher than a typical beer) - I'll have to content myself with saving it for special occasions. |
| Goose Island IPA 5.9% ABV (10/18/03) |
Very crisp with a slightly attenuated IPA bite that hits a little later than with many IPAs. Medium body that gets stronger toward the finish and ends nicely. | A really nice beer that could be my new favorite IPA, displacing the very good Stone IPA. |
| Goose Island Pils 5.0% ABV (8/13/03) |
Very crisp and malty. Good body and a clean finish that's not at all bitter. | I very much prefer ales to pilsners, probably because the cruddy mega-brewed domestic beers (particularly Budweiser, which I wouldn't give to my dog) have given pilsners a bad name. Goose Island's pilsner offering is really first rate and just the thing on a hot summer day. It's the best pilsner I've ever tasted, hands down, and a beer I'd like to keep in stock all summer. Sadly, it's been discontinued. |
| Goose Island Summertime 5.0% ABV (5/30/04) |
Very light and crisp, with a slightly sweet maltiness. Tastes of grass and citrus with just a hint of hops toward the end. Nice clean finish. |
Not terribly rich or complex, but that's not what it's going for. As a summer beer, it's just about perfect (and maybe half a notch above Bell's Oberon, my previous summer beer favorite). |
| Great Divide Hibernation Ale 8.1% ABV (11/28/04) |
Very full bodied with a nutty / earthy taste and just a little bite. | Maybe not so good with food, but all in all a super winter ale. |
| Great Lakes Christmas Ale 7.5% ABV (11/30/03) |
Take a very good ale and add just the right amount of cinnamon, ginger, and honey, and this is what you get. Nice full body with a very pleasant mouthfeel. The spices come out even more when the beer is allowed to warm up a little. | An excellent holiday ale, and something I hope to be buying more of this Christmas and for many Christmases to come. |
| Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale 6.5% ABV (1/23/04) |
Smooth and full-bodied, slightly sweet with just enough hoppy bite. Leaves a pleasant sweet taste on the finish with no lingering bitterness. | Another winner from Great Lakes Brewing (their Eliot Ness and Christmas Ale are also favorites of mine) |
| Great Lakes Eliot Ness Amber Lager 6.2% ABV (7/7/03) |
Slightly sweet, carmel, malty flavor with good carbonation. Much more complex and flavorful than a typical lager. Hints of honey. Smooth, with good mouthfeel and doesn't wimp out at the finish. | A really first-rate lager that did the nearly impossible -- displaced Sam Adams Lager as my everyday beer. |
| Great Lakes Moondog Ale 5.0% ABV (6/8/05) |
Very crisp, medium bodied, extremely well balanced and flavorful. Hops emerge toward the end, but don't overpower. Very mellow finish. | Not my favorite Great Lakes beer, but a just about perfect session beer - a reasonable ABV level, flavorful enough to drink alone but suitable with almost all types of food. I suppose I'd call this the finest example of a "boring but good" beer (a category into which I'd also place Sam Adams Boston Lager, another of my favorite beers). The only problem is that Moondog is a seasonable beer, available from May through August, so I'll have to lay in a good stock to hold me over. |
| Great Lakes Nosferatu 7.3% ABV (9/25/04) |
They just don't make bad beer at Great Lakes. Nosferatu is very hoppy and crisp, with hints of citrus, spice, and caramel. One of the hallmarks of Great Lakes is very well balanced beers, something that's evident here. |
Great Lakes is my favorite brewery, but until now they didn't have a really hop-dominant beer in their lineup. It may have taken them a while to come out with something for hopheads like me, but Nosferatu was well worth the wait. |
| Harpoon Winter Warmer Ale 5.5% ABV (4/9/05) |
Most reviewers mentioned nutmeg and cinnamon notes (as does Harpoon) and while I picked up on this, what I noticed most of all was a strong initial smell of banana followed by a distinct banana taste throughout that makes this a very interesting winter ale. Nicely balanced with a smooth mouthfeel and a slightly crisp edge. The sweetness lingers slightly at the finish. | A different taste profile from any winter ale I've ever had. Just a little too different and not quite full bodied enough to make it my absolute favorite winter brew (that spot still goes to Great Lakes Christmas Ale) but this is definitely an ale I plan on keeping around from November to March. |
| O'Fallon Pumpkin Ale 5.5% ABV (10/31/04) |
Starts off fairly nondescript, with a slightly light but well balanced flavor. The pumpkin and spices slowly assert themselves toward the end, resulting in a lingering and very pleasant aftertaste. | O'Fallon's is hands down the best pumpkin ale I've ever tasted (and I'm something of a pumpkin ale fan, at least from late September through October). The flavors come through nicely without being overpowering - something regrettably uncommon among the ranks of flavored beers. |
| Pendle Witches Brew 5.1% ABV (4/9/05) |
Starts out almost watery but develops nicely, with a slightly sweet maltiness. A good amount of carbonation (more than I expected) carries it through crisply, with a strawberry-tinged sweetness in mid taste leading up to a pleasantly dry and somewhat hoppy finish. | After my first taste, I knew I had an above-average beer on my hands. The second and third swallows lead me to realize that it was well above average. It's not a gimmicky beer, and it doesn't blow you away. Drinking Witches Brew reminded me that laid-back beers can also be very good beers. |
| Pete's Wicked Ale 5.5% ABV (12/13/03) |
Smooth and medium-bodied with a somewhat weak finish. Nice roasted caramel taste. | A very solid beer and something I plan on putting in regular rotation. Not quite at the level of my favorite everyday beer (Great Lakes Brewing's Eliot Ness Amber) but very, very nice. Would be a good transitional beer for those poor unfortunate souls who know only Coors Light, Budweiser, and the like. |
| Ringwood Old Thumper Ale 5.9% ABV (7/15/03) |
Prominent hop taste with a hint of orange. Nice mouthfeel, strong finish with just the right amount of bitterness. | This beer reminds me a great deal of Samuel Adams lager (just about my favorite "everyday" beer), although I think it might be just a bit better. The bottle I sampled was nearly four months past its "best served by" date, and so I expect it to be even better when fresh (or at least fresher). |
| Rogue American Amber Ale 5.1% ABV (8/5/05) |
A full-bodied sweetish amber ale with a slightly hop heavy balance that becomes more pronounced throughout and lasts into the finish. | A true beer for all seasons. Complex enough to have alone, but not so aggressive that it can't be enjoyed with food; full-bodied enough for drinking in the colder months, but with a clean and refreshing aspect that makes it just fine on a hot, muggy day. |
| Rogue Imperial Pale Ale 9.2% ABV (5/30/04) |
Lightly carbonated and absolutely overflowing with hops. Fairly prominent citrus flavor (as seems to be fairly common in IPAs). Pleasantly dry finish. Tasty and very smooth. |
It's got that characteristic IPA bite (and then some) but features a smoothness that makes it stand out from the pack. I may have to do a back-to-back tasting with Stone's IPA to figure out which one I like more. |
| Rogue Shakespeare Stout 6.0% ABV (4/9/05) |
Incredibly smooth and creamy with a great, full-bodied deep-roasted taste with some dark chocolate toward the end. Just enough hop bite to perfectly even out the flavor. Finishes like a dream, fading out elegantl and leaving you wanting more. | Those whose only experience of stout is Guinness, will definitely note the family resemblance, but Shakespeare Stout makes Guinness (a beer I've deepy appreciated for years) seem crude and somehow unfinished by comparison.
Bob Klein, author of "The Beer Lover's Rating Guide" calls Rogue's Shakespeare Stout "an American treasure" that, "may well be my favorite bottled beer of all time". High praise, but after my first sip, I was hard pressed to disagree. Unquestionably the best stout I've ever had - by a large margin - and probably one of my five all-time favorite beers. If only I could get it in something other than 1 pint 6 oz. bottles, I'd be laying in a good stock of it. |
| Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale 5.6% ABV (11/28/04) |
A hearty, full-bodied brew with strong notes of roasted nut and chocolate. Just underneath that is a hint of orange that makes its presence known in mid taste. There's also the slightest taste of other spices - ginger and cinnamon according to the label, and I think that I can just pick them out (but I couldn't have without being told what to taste for). | It doesn't displace Great Lakes Brewing's Christmas Ale as my favorite winter beer, and it's a little too heavy to be all that good with food (though it would probably go great with Christmas cookies or as a dessert beer served with a big piece of pumpkin pie) but Old Fezziwig is definitely something I’d love to drink more of. Unfortunately, I believe it only comes as part of a 12 beer Sam Adams winter sampler pack. That normally wouldn't be all that bad, but 4 of the 12 beers in that pack are Cranberry Lambic and Sam Adams Light (which I've never tried, but object to on principle), and Old Fezziwig isn't quite good enough to justify that. |
| Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout 5.0% ABV (2/9/04) |
Very well balanced, with a surprising malty crispness. Tastes of roasted nut and dark chocolate predominate. A very clean finish with no lingering aftertaste. | Almost certainly the best oatmeal stout I've ever had. Enough body to make it very inviting as a standalone beer, but not so overpowering that it can't be served with a variety of foods. A first-rate beer. |
| San Miguel Dark 5.0% ABV (1/30/05) |
A creamy-rich malt dominated taste that's full, warm, and very flavorful. Great balance and a smooth, slightly sweet finish. | I never would have guessed that one of my all-time favorite beers would be a malt-dominated (I'm much more of a hophead) brew made in, of all places, the Philippines. After I had my first sip, I called friends to tell them - it's that good. |
| St. Bernardus Abt 12 10.0% ABV (5/8/05) |
Starts out sweet and a little light, but about halfway through the body and the sweetness increase noticeably, with a pleasant molasses-tinged alcohol presence. Smooth throughout, with a finish that leaves a nice warm feeling. | I've never had a Belgian ale before, but if this is representative of the type, I can understand why so many serious beer geeks love Belgians. A bit much to have with most foods, but nice with some cheese and would probably make for a pretty good after dinner beer. |
| Stone
India Pale Ale (IPA) 6.9% ABV (7/7/03) |
Pours a beautiful golden orange. Hint of sweet maltiness. Slightly bitter, but nice combination with sweetness and a hint of citrus. Very crisp with a strong finish. | This is a very nice beer, and one I plan on putting in regular rotation. Not for those who refuse to believe that bitterness can be an asset (which it definitely can, in a well-balanced and high-quality beer). |
| Stone Ruination IPA 7.7% ABV (5/8/04) |
At first I thought I had gotten a bad bottle, because it seemed entirely too bland for an IPA. Then, about mid-swallow, the hops announced themselves by more or less beating the crap out of my tongue (but in a good way). I think I detected some fruit / citrus notes underneath all the hops, and I was surprised by the fairly mellow finish (comparatively speaking). | Plenty of beers have strong flavor components, but many of those go too far, resulting in a beer that, while it may be a conversation piece, isn't the sort of thing a sane person would choose to drink on a regular basis. Ruination IPA manages to avoid this pitfall; I've never had such an aggressive beer that was so drinkable. |
| Three Floyd's Alpha King Pale Ale 7.35% ABV (8/5/05) |
A orangy, hoppy flavor with good taste of hop oils. There's no mistaking the hop dominance of this beer, but there's a reasonably good malt presence as well. Finish is smooth and mellow (maybe a touch too mellow). | This is supposedly an American Pale Ale (APA) but it's really too aggressive to fit that profile. But it's not quite as pungent as, and more well-rounded than, a typical India Pale Ale (IPA). Regardles of how you categorize it, Alpha King is a beer any true hop-lover will really appreciate. |
| Unibroue Don De Dieu 9.0% ABV (8/5/05) |
The characteristic unibroue full-bodiedness and strong, pleasant carbonation. Spicy and well balanced with a dryish middle and an even drier finish. | Another unique and very tasty beer from Unibroue. |
| Unibroue La Fin Du Monde 9.0% ABV (5/8/05) |
An interesting taste profile - starts off very effervescent, with a well balanced clove and spice flavor that hits the top of the mouth at just about the same time the warmth of the alcohol kicks in. The finish is light and sweet. | An outstanding beer. It has the initial taste of a nice summer ale and then all sorts of other good things start happening around mid swallow. I'd make this my regular summer beer in a heartbeat were it not for the high alcohol content. |
| Full bodied with a sweetish and spicy beginning. Slightly fizzy on the roof of the mouth in mid-taste, but a good fizziness - not the nasty artificial carbonation that you get in Bud Light and it's ilk. Pleasant finish that leaves behind an alcohol warmth. | Maybe not the sort of thing you'd want after mowing the lawn, but aside from that this is a beer that you can drink with great pleasure, alone or with food, just about any time of year. |