Lancaster Strawberry Wheat (Citizen Review)

What: Lancaster Strawberry Wheat
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010
What-have-you: "The strawberry comes through, but where's the wheat?
Reminds me of: Ever seen the Kids in the Hall Girl Drink Drunk sketch?"

Representation .5

Accessibility .5

Style Points .5

Personal Preference .5

Total Score 2.0 Flags

Lancaster Strawberry Wheat

Reviewed by Citizen Jack W.

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter:

The first time I had this beer it was during Philly Beer Week and me and El Presidente were taking in some Great Lakes brews at Treno pizza and wine bar. I enjoyed it then, and I enjoy it now. The first couple of sniffs out of the bottle, do I sense a coffee smell?  There is some roastedness and toastedness here. This is interesting, too, because I just reviewed Fuller's London Porter, and I drank another Troegs Java Head Stout, so I have some good comparisons here. Not nearly as tasty as the London Porter, but I think it has more going for it that Java Head, keeping in mind that Java Head is a coffee beer and this is not. It's also Shark Week, and I am watching an interesting shark attack show. Hopefully, I am not too distracted to accurately describe my tasting. Pouring the beer into a glass, there is a little too much head. Why so bubbly? Sometimes I think porters and stouts are too flat coming out of a bottle, so maybe I shouldn't complain.

The head has a pleasant smell, and this porter is smooth and easy drinking, so accessibility scores will be high. I've stopped to eat two chicken wings (yours truly grilled them) and the beer still has a head with some nice lacing on the glass. So there is definitely something to this brew. Typically, I don't talk about beers in the same terms of food in terms of presentation, but being able to see a creamy tan head in the glass and lacing on the sides of the glass improve my opinion of this beer. Presentation does count as far as I am concerned. No real strong flavors to report on, but there is some definite lingering roastedness on my palate. I think it is smoother drinking than Java Head, which makes sense because Java Head is 7.5% abv and Edmund Fitzgerald is 5.8% abv, which I think is a plus. This is already a better choice for a session beer.

I have also had Great Lakes Commander Perry IPA, and this leads me to believe that Great Lakes is a pretty darn good brewery. It could have something to do with it being Shark Week, or the fact that I am eating some good home cooking and drinking beer on a Saturday, but I really like this. No exceptional flavors, but smooth, drinkable, and nice. I am also singing the Edmund Fitzgerald song by Gordon Lightfoot, too, so maybe my perspective is biased.

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter:

Representation: .85
Accessibility: .90
Style: .75
Personal preference: .9

Total: 3.4 Flags

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter (Citizen Review)

What: Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010
What-have-you: "Smooth, malt flavor.  Rather generic porter, like my description."


Representation: 1.0
Accessibility: 1.0
Style: .75
Personal Preference: .75


Total: 3.5 Flags

Reviewed by Citizen Carol

Smuttynose Gravitation Belgian Quad (Presidential Brief)

What: Smuttynose Gravitation Belgian Quad 12% abv
Where: The Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: August, 2010
What-have-you: "Smuttynose 'Gravitation' Quadruple Ale. At The Pour House. Biiiiiig beeeeeer.  Not the typical quad; creamier and oakier and vanilla-ier flavors prevail.  YUM."

Smuttynose Gravitation Belgian Quad

Victory Helios (Citizen Review)

What: Victory Helios 7.5% abv
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010
What-have-you: "Saisons are a favorite of mine for BBQ and summer meals in general.  Combined with the hoppy goodness of Victory, this one shouldn't be missed."

Representation: 1.0
Accessibility: 1.0
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: 1.0


Total: 4.0 Flags

Reviewed by: Citizen Jason

Oskar Blues Old Chub Scotch Ale

Oskar Blues Old Chub Scotch Ale:

This is a beast of a Scotch Ale with more than a mouthful of toasty malt smoothness. Old Chub is dense and big-bodied with a tremendously silky mouthfeel. This, of course, provided that the Chub is poured into a glass. Honestly, out of the can, the 8% malt milkshake is a little funky, so pouring is enthusiastically advised.

Once in the glass, the aroma doesn't pack much of a punch but put it to your lips and take a swig. Black and toasty without bitterness, this creamy Scotch Ale will completely satisfy your malt craving. Almost too smooth, at 8% one must be careful not to overindulge. I, would rate this beer pert near perfect but for that one Accessibility factor. Tough call because it isn't boozy in the slightest, but how many of these can one really drink?

Gotta be honest, it's smoother than another of my faves, Founders Dirty Bastard. Old Chub is less boozy and smoother with a richer body and color (Old Chub is black while Dirty Bastard is a deep reddish-brownish-blackish). Overall, it rocks as a Scotch Ale and as a beverage in general.

Oskar Blues is a serious contender for El Presidente's National Favorite Brewery Bestest Beer Maker of Beeraholic Beverages in the Whole Wide World Award.

Oskar Blues Old Chub Scotch Ale:

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .90

Style: .97

Personal Preference: .99

Total: 3.86 Flags

Russian River Consecration (Presidential Brief)

What: Russian River Consecration
Where: Location Unknown
When: Date Unknown, 2010
What-have-you: "Russian River 'Consecration.' Too tart at first sip, but the complexity begins to unfold. Currants, oak, red wine... Give it time, and it gives back."

Magic Hat Wacko (Citizen Review)

What: Magic Hat Wacko 4.5% abv
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010
What-have-you: "Light, citrusy, and refreshing."

Representation: .75
Accessibility: .75
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: .75

Total: 3.25 Flags

Visit Magic Hat's website for more info

Reviewed by Citizen Bob T.

Fuller's London Porter

Fuller's London Porter:

Smell: Fascinating.  This beer smells like an empty Guinness glass at first whiff, which is a great start, because many a great night begins with an empty Guinness glass!  Pouring it into a glass now. This beer has nice carbonation and coming out of the bottle it has a surprisingly thick and creamy head.  It stays in the glass. It has staying power. The head is thick enough to leave a foam mustache, which is nice.  Got Fuller's?

Mouthfeel: I recently reviewed Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, and on the label, they used the word "viscous."  Well, Fuller's London Porter has it beat in that category. Fuller's promised a beer that is "Rich, Dark and Complex," and they are as good as their word. It stays in your mouth but not as an aftertaste, more of a lingering feeling (like deja vu).  Tastes more like Guinness than other Irish stouts like Beamish and Murphy's.  I had the opportunity to sample O'Hara's Irish Stout on draught at Jose Pistola's in Philadelphia, and it is the closest thing to Guinness I have had.  But this makes an interesting comparison, too.  Sure, it's a porter and not a stout, and its British and not Irish but this tastes good, smells good, has a real "pub" feeling to it.

Scoring: This beer scores  high in representation (this is a very solid porter), and accessibility is good for dark beer drinkers and pretty good for your average beer drinker as well.  It is not overly roasted or smoky flavor.  Like I said, its kind of like Guinness, so if you don't like Guinness you probably won't aprove of this beer, but if you like Guinness, you should try this out.  Style points won't be high as this isn't bold or daring, but  personal preference points will be high. A cool looking bottle never hurts either and it drank well out of the bottle and after pouring it into a pint glass.

Fuller's London Porter:

Representation: .95

Accessibility: .80

Style: .75

Personal Preference: .95

Total: 3.45

Harpoon IPA (Citizen Review)

What: Harpoon IPA 5.9% abv
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010
What-have-you: "Very accessible as an IPA, but may not hold up for IPA lovers.  Fruity pear aroma and strong hops that fades to a pleasant bitter aftertaste."

Representation: .70
Accessibility: 1.0
Style: .50
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total: 3.2 Flags

Reviewed by Citizen Cheryl S.

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale:

I don't have to say much about this beer but when I get started I don't think I'll be able to shut up...

Straight from the mouth of the Oskar Blues folks: "A Huge Voluminously Hopped Mutha of a Pale Ale". That gives you an idea of what to expect but it doesn't prepare you for the perfection of this serious Rocky Mountain Pale Ale.

Many moons ago I took a hiatus from canned beer. I discovered the delights of imported and American craft brews and dark bottles soon became the order of the day. Of course tailgating often involves drinking like you're in a video game, so the occasional warping into Crappy Beer World became unavoidable. Dale's Pale Ale shatters the system by delivering a hoppy, malty, smooth and delicious Pale Ale in can format.

Dale's is smooth enough to drink right from the can. Some brews taste a bit mealy when they're glugged right from the metal to your mouth: The air gets in there and foam makes you belch out obscenities before you even get to enjoy the swallow. But not Dale's Pale Ale. Pour it into a glass and you have an even smoother experience. The malty flavors open up and the hops mellow out but the Ale remains Pale and the finish stays dry. I'm almost getting a toasty sweetness that isn't sweet... toasted coconut? No, I'm not crazy.

Hops balance the malt and at 65 ibus, it weighs in a little hoppier than Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. 6.5% abv is just enough to get you going in the right direction while remaining sessionable enough to rock the can all night long. Can I give you some comparisons? How about Sierra Nevada Pale Ale ... Victory Hop Devil... It's kinda the perfect beer.

Aside from being the most flavorful pale ale ever, Dale's Pale Ale is infinitely drinkable. Oh, and portable! Yeah, the can thing is pretty cool. Fits nicely into coolers and fridges.

By the way, find Dale's on tap whenever you can. It's just as wonderful no matter how it's served. So expect a perfect score from El Presidente: Pale, stylish, drinkable, and awesome.

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale:

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: 1.0

Style: 1.0

Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score: 4.0

Terrapin Rye Squared (Presidential Brief)

What: Terrapin Rye Squared
Where: The Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: August 3, 2010
What-have-you: "Terrapin 'rye squared'. Malty and rich with a rye-ish pungent twist. Sweet in an earthy way, sticky with an edge."

Otter Creek Solstice (Citizen Review)

What: Otter Creek Solstice 4% abv
Where: Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 17, 2010
What-have-you: "Utterly approachable in its mild hoppiness.  Refreshing, but unmemorable.  Pretty good.  Reminds me of: hops, but drowned."


Representation: .5
Accessibility: 1.0
Style: .5
Personal Preference: .25

Total: 2.25 Flags

Reviewed by Citizen Jack W.