BeerCritic

Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale

lemasney — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:28:35 +0000

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 94, American Pale Ale, Lager glass, shaker
ABV, Volume & Calories: 6.1 % in 22fl oz. estimated at 300 C
Purchased at: OakTree in South Plainsfield, NJ for $7.49

Aroma: sweet, cascade hops, honey, anise. 9 out of 10.

Visuals: cloudy with fresh hop floaters, golden, bronze, strong, wispy white head, great lace. 5 out of 5.

Taste: so very deeply bitter, hoppy, fantastic, well crafted. 10 out of 10.

Palate: crisp, sandy, rough, electric, long, bitter, delicious finish. 5 out of 5.

Overall: Wow. Great Divide just doesn’t make a bad brew. The floating bittering hops do the job completely. I will most definitely seek this out again. It’s an absolute favorite, and very well crafted. 20 out of 20.

North Coast 25th Anniversary Ale (La Merle)

lemasney — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:29:30 +0000

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 89, Saison, tulip
ABV, Volume & Calories: 7.3 % in 16.9 fl oz. estimated at 200 C
Purchased at: Canal’s in Burlington, NJ (thanks for the ladder walk, Mike) for $7.12

Aroma: champagne, apple, soapy, licorice. 8 out of 10.

Visuals: slightly cloudy, golden, bright white, persistent head, thick, foamy lace, best lace ever. 5 out of 5.

Taste: apple, cherry, grape, chemical finish, a bit wet, medium craft. 7 out of 10.

Palate: foamy, surf, bubbly, highly carbonated, medium finish. 4 out of 5.

Overall: Visually appealing. Rather chemical finish, and a bit soapy. I would not seek it out again, though it was not bad. It seemed a bit more commercial than craft. 16 out of 20.

Triumph Goze

lemasney — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:58:00 +0000

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: not enough ratings (I’m #7) traditional ale, mug, pint, stein, yard
ABV, Volume & Calories: 5.1 % in 16 fl oz. estimated at 175 C
Purchased at: on tap at Triumph in Princeton for $5 with good friend Sean Piotrowski after his last day at Rider.

Aroma: fruity, banana, alluring. 9 out of 10.

Visuals: cloudy, dense, yellow, white persistent head, nice lacing. 5 out of 5.

Taste: sweet, banana, citrus, orange. 9 out of 10.

Palate: salty, granular, strong finish. 4 out of 5.

Overall: It was essentially a hefeweizen, but a very nice, slightly stylized rendition. Second only to their IPA, IMO. A very well crafted ale. 18 out of 20.

Legacy Hoptimus Prime DIPA

lemasney — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:46:23 +0000

ABV: 9%
RateBeer rating: 88
Calories: estimated at 400 C
Volume: 22 fl oz.
Glass: tulip, snifter
Purchased at: OakTree, South Plainsfield, NJ
Price: $5.99
Consumed at: home

Diamante: Transformed

Line 1:	hops
Line 2:	bitter strong
Line 3:	staying calling racing
Line 4:	mouth tongue eyes light
Line 5:	bubbling sticking lacing
Line 6:	golden brilliant
Line 7:	body

aroma 9 out of 10
visuals 4 out of 5
taste 9 out of 10
palate 4 out of 5
overall 17 out of 20

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock

lemasney — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:27:29 +0000

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 97, Dimpled Mug, Lager glass, Stein
ABV, Volume & Calories: 6.5 % in 16.9 fl oz. estimated at 170C
Purchased at: OakTree in South Plainsfield NJ for $4.99

Aroma: smoky, sausage, sour, spicy, roasted. 8 out of 10.

Visuals: pale, clouded, brown, troubled, wispy, white, nearly dissipating head, lightly laced. 4 out of 5.

Taste: smoky, well balanced, needs pairing, strong, spicy, pepperoni, little bitterness, slightly watery. 7 out of 10.

Palate: creamy, sticky, oily, medium sour finish, acetic. 3 out of 5.

Overall: Smoked sausage in a bottle. In desperate need of a strong food pairing. I’d have it again with a Polish or German meal. Might go well with Pizza. Not a favorite for me, but the style is one of my lesser picks. It’s down there with Lambics. Seems well crafted, but somewhat weaker than expected. 16 out of 20.

Southampton Triple Abbey Style Ale

lemasney — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:13:53 +0000

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 86, Abbel Tripel, Trappist or tulip
ABV, Volume & Calories: 8 % in 22 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: OakTree for $?

Aroma: faint, banana, fruit, apple. 8 out of 10.

Visuals: clear at first, golden color, brilliant, wispy white head, no lace. 3 out of 5.

Taste: banana, apple, peach, chemicals, soap, average craft. 7 out of 10.

Palate: round, juicy, quick finish. 3 out of 5.

Overall: A lot like mass produced fruit juice. Not bad, but even hoegaarden is better. I would not seek it out again, it was not very well crafted, and was a fairly poor example of the style. 16 out of 20.

3 Fonteinen Oude Gueze

lemasney — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:51:56 +0000

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 99, Lambic - Gueuze, flute, tumbler
ABV, Volume & Calories: 6% in 12.7 fl oz. estimated at 150 C
Purchased at: OakTree in South Plainsfield, NJ for $7.99

Aroma: strong, sour, sharp, and bitter. 8 out of 10.

Visuals: foggy, bronze, cloudy, golden, wispy white head, present. 4 out of 5.

Taste: mostly sour, strong, well crafted. 8 out of 10.

Palate: puckering, silt, silky, longer finish. 4 out of 5.

Overall: Very mindful of other lambics, and it’s done well, but it is definitely not a preferred style for me. I would not seek it out again, but it was very well crafted, and highly respectable. 17 out of 20.

Smuttynose Barleywine Style Ale 2007

lemasney — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:34:27 +0000

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 91, barleywine, snifter
ABV, Volume & Calories: 10% in 22 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: for $4.99

Aroma: sweet, nice, inviting, maple. 9 out of 10.

Visuals: deep but clear opacity, ruby color, limited clarity, tan, persistent head, intricate lace. 5 out of 5.

Taste: heavy malt, roasted, bitter, nicely crafted. 9 out of 10.

Palate: coating, drying, buzzing, long, strong finish. 5 out of 5.

Overall: Lighter and crisper than Old Ruffian. I’d have it again in an instant. Nicely priced, and great flavors. Get it. Well crafted. 18 out of 20.

Captain Lawrence Smoke from the Oak, batch 2 (Wine Barrel)

lemasney — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:19:45 +0000

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 98, Porter, English Pint, Stem Glass
ABV, Volume & Calories: 6.4% in 25.4 fl oz. estimated at 340C
Purchased at: OakTree Buy Rite in South Plainsfield, NJ for $14.99 (special thanks to Jay for this back store grab.)

Aroma: wine, oak, age, extraordinary, overwhelming, pungent. 10 out of 10.

Visuals: fully opaque, black, thin wispy tan head, strong lacing. 5 out of 5.

Taste: grapes, oak, electric, sauerkraut, wet, burnt, pine, cherry, beautifully crafted. 9 out of 10.

Palate: surf, mercury, long, strong, bitter, sour. 5 out of 5.

Overall: Reminds me of the smell of a house burning. I wouldn’t seek it out again - smoked is not my favorite style, though I’m glad I had a chance to sample it. It’s extremely well crafted, and in my palate, it’s extremely close to wine. 17 out of 20.

Great Divide Titan IPA

lemasney — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:23:50 +0000

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 96, IPA, Shaker, Tulip
ABV, Volume & Calories: 6.8% in 12 fl oz. estimated at 170C
Purchased at: OakTree Buy Rite, South Plainsfield, NJ for $2.49

Aroma: nice, enticing, spicy, grapefruit, burning. 8 out of 10.

Visuals: clear, copper, white head, very persistent, intricate lace. 5 out of 5.

Taste: flour, grapefruit, classic IPA, balanced, bitterness, nicely crafted. 9 out of 10.

Palate: drying, bitter, crisp, coating, long finish, strong finish, sandy. 4 out of 5.

Overall: Reminds me of many other IPAs, but a high quality example with an exemplar in the visual area. I’d have it again in a minute. It seems like a regular go-to pick. Very well crafted. 18 out of 20.