This was a pretty standard “old school” wine cooler in my opinion. I
actually liked it and I am not a wine cooler fan. Most wine coolers have some
crazy flavors, but this one didn’t. I don’t care for wine, but this was good.
It had a good balance of the fruity wine and the carbonated soda which made it
easy to drink.
Tom: 2
This is more of a wine cooler than a beer, but if you’re into that sort
of thing, this is probably not a bad choice. Ruby red with a stringent alcohol
aroma accented with citrus and berry. Tingling carbonation—it tastes like
someone spiked the punch. It may be decent on a hot day poured over ice.
Todd: 2.5
If it looks like a fruit punch, but smells like a wine, which is it? I
can’t tell exactly what this one is, but I can report that this light and fizzy
drink is not altogether awful. I detect flavors like berries and grapes
alongside the more astringent sulfites. I’ve had several kinds of these fruity
“malt beverages,” and most are horribly sugary and artificial-tasting. Sugary,
yes. Artificial, sort of, but I could down it and not make sour faces, and that
alone says something.
Dylan: 2
Surprise. I didn’t make one of those faces, either. As a sangria, it
doesn’t really work, but as a tasty, refreshing and fizzy beverage if you’re in
one of those moods, this ain’t half bad.
Berghoff
Traditional Bock (Monroe, WI)
Jabez: 3
This beer would best be described as your average dark beer on the
lighter side. It was a nice brownish color with the light sweet caramel aroma.
The odd characteristic of this beer was that its flavor began to diminish the
more I drank. Nothing flashy about this beer, it was average.
Tom: 3
The twist-off cap sets the tone for what to expect. Clear amber brown
with a quickly disappearing thin head. Rather unappealing grainy aroma with
hints of nuttiness. Watery and thin, yet still somehow bold, albeit
one-dimensional, malty flavor. Not a bad beer, but for my money, I’ll have an
Amber Bock.
Todd: 2.5
A traditional bock is, by nature, highly malted and this no-nonsense
beer certainly fits that description. At the same time, the malt presence here
seems to overload my taste buds at the expense of any other flavors. Pouring a
deep brown/amber, Berghoff’s bock initially has a simple, rich caramel taste
which permeates every subsequent sip. I sense no complexity, and this
one-dimensional brew just doesn’t cut it with me.
Dylan: 3
Color me underwhelmed. I’m not a big fan of the malty/caramelness of a
lot of bocks, but as the style goes, this one is balanced and pretty much what
I expected – a straight-up bock-style brew that for me, counts as average any
way you pour it.
Breckenridge Autumn
Ale (Denver, CO)
Jabez: 3.5
This beer had a good malty flavor, but it also had an odd after-taste
that I couldn’t figure out. The after-taste really took away from the other
qualities of the beer. Nothing flashy with this one, just an okay autumn ale.
Tom: 4
Deep, dark brown with a creamy, but thin beige head. Nutty, sweet,
toasted malt aroma and a nice, smooth, full body. The flavor is full, but very
mildly pronounced. Warm and tasty with a pleasant lingering after-taste. A very
balanced and drinkable fall offering.
Todd: 4
A nice and deep (almost black) opaque ale with a thick head, this one has
a spice hint at first, with an almost burnt chocolate/caramel follow-through.
It’s strong and malty, but the citrus-spice zing gives it an added dimension,
and a clean finish. Attractive and tasty, this Breckenridge’s Autumn Ale is
more than enjoyable, and an easygoing, yet still uniquely creative brew.
Dylan: 5
Complex notes that ring true of autumn are here, in this wonderful ale
from the consistently great Breckenridge Brewery. While toeing the line at
overdoing some of the flavors, this one step back just at the right time to
give a overall satisfying, rich experience.
GooseIslandBourbonCounty
Stout (Chicago, Ill.)
Jabez: 4.5
This is one of the darkest and thickest beers I have drank in recent
memory. It poured a brown head but it faded fast with not much carbonation. I
could taste a bunch of malt, coffee, chocolate, and the bourbon. This beer is
13% alcohol which surprised me. Most beers with high alcohol begin to take away
from the other flavors of the beer, but this did not. I’ll have to go and get
more of this.
Tom: 4.5
As my Dad used to say, “This’ll put hair on your chest.” A HUGE 13% ABV
beer. Thick and black with a solid cocoa head. Heavy, creamy mouthfeel with an
explosion of lingering flavor—chocolate, oak, smoke, bourbon, and who knows what
else, but still manages a sweetness. This one is a sipper that’s not for the
faint of heart.
Todd: 4.5
Ah, this one is a deep, charry black stout that pours from the bottle
like viscous oil. The scent recalls sweet cherry, aged oak, and of course the sting
of bourbon (this is aged in bourbon barrels, thus the residual flavoring).
First tasting reveals a heavy, potent alcohol presence (it is a goliath 13%
ABV, after all). This initial palate is followed by a smoky, rich maltiness
that is simply overpowering. No session beer here, as this one’s best for
sipping or sharing, unless you’re seeking a quick ticket to buzz-land. A
stunningly strong beer, and a uniquely memorable “extreme beer” experience.
Dylan: 4
Whew. Damn. What they said. I can’t really add much to this review. Time
to start a bonfire out back and throw some random stuff into it.
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