Liam Sullivan's Ideas and Reflections
Beer: Pandora
Brewer: Idle Hands Craft Ales
Source: 22 oz bottle
Rating: *** (7.7 of 10)
Comments: A classy beer which looks hazy with a bubbly thick head. The nose is fruity and yeasty, while the flavor is malty with a hoppy kick that tickles your tongue. The thick head persists but leaves no lacing.
Beer: Oak Aged Mocha Stout
Brewer: Peak Organic Brewing Company
Source: 22 0z. bottle
Rating: **** (8.7 of 10)
Comments: Is there such a thing as a dessert beer? This is it. The stout is a chocolate-brown with the sweet scents of vanilla and cocoa. The bittersweet chocolate comes through in the flavor with a roasted coffee finish. The dissipates quickly with no lacing. Yum!
Beer: Sgt. Pepper
Brewer: Cambridge Brewing Company
Source: 22 oz, bottle
Rating: **** (8.1 of 10)
Comments: Spicy and unique, this beer pours out golden with effervescence and a thin head. The scent is spicy & yeasty and the flavor is a peppercorn spice balanced with a caramel malt. I found it went well with a vegetable soup and quesadillas.
Beer: Big Man IPA
Brewer: Cambridge Brewing Company
Source: 22 oz. bottle
Rating: ** (6.2 of 10)
Comments: Not a big IPA fan, so take that into account. This beer poured out with no head and an ice tea brown color. There’s a sort of sweet, caramel malt aroma with hints of floral hops. The hops packed a bitter wallop up front followed by a clean finish. This seems like a real meat & potatoes kind of beer.
Beer: Wild at Heart
Brewer: Brewery Ommegang
Source: 750 ml. bottle
Rating: **** (8 of 10)
Comments: Popped the cork on another fancy beer that pours out with a rich amber hue and thick white head. I detected a whiff of tropical fruit and the taste is a tart fruitiness with a dry finish. Yu
Beer: My Antonia Pilsner
Brewer: Dogfish Head Brewery
Source: 22 oz bottle
Rating: *** (8.3 of 10)
Comments: This is a fancy, champagne of beers type of beer, that pours out in a golden haze with a thick lumpy head. The aroma is sweet and flowery, while the taste is a nice balance of hops, malt and fruity yeast. The empty glass features stratigraphic layers of lace with a lot of leftover foam. Yummy!
Beer: Transcendence American Farmhouse Ale
Brewer: Enlightenment Ales
Source: 22 oz.
Rating: * (5.1 of 10)
Comments:
Some people like hops. Some people like grapefruit. Some people do bitter. This beer is for them.
It is not, however, for me
Beer: Redux Belgian Style Blond Ale
Brewer: Backlash Beer Company
Source: 22 oz. bottle
Rating: *** (7 of 10)
Comments: This is a reformulation of Backlash’s Groundswell beer. It’s a golden/orange beer with a big bubbly head. The aroma is reminiscent of sweet green tea and the taste has subtle apple flavors with a sweet aftertaste. It’s pleasant and benign.
Beer: Chardonnay Barrel Fermented Saison
Brewer: Mystic Brewery
Source: 22 oz bottle
Rating: *** (7.2 of 10)
Comments: A limited edition farmhouse ale aged in wooden barrels once used for chardonnay from Chelsea, what could go wrong. The beer sparkles like champagne and has the smell of apples. The taste is crisp with a white wine / sparkling cider flavor. It leaves a lot of lace behind on the glass. If you want a fancy beer for a special occasion, this may be a good choice.
Beer :Heather Ale
Brewer: Cambridge Brewing Company
Source: 22 oz, bottle
Rating: *** (7.3 of 10)
Comments: This is a unique beer that channels ancient styles with herbal additions to the brewing process. The beer is a hazy, amber looking a bit thin at the bottom. The nose smells of flowers and honey with a hint of spice. The taste is an intriguing balance of spicy and sweet with a dry finish. This beer is a lovely tingle on the tongue and I’d like to try it again.
