Long Trail Coffee Stout

Long Trail Coffee Stout

When you pour this beer slowly as recommended "for the best experience," you get no bubbles, no head, no effervescence at all. First sip: coffee yes, stout yes. Seems pretty good. Certainly not a disaster. Sips 2-5: good, but here's the problem: this beer is neither very coffee-esque nor very stoutish either. Long Trail has done a good job brewing this, because I don't really taste the 8.0%abv, but to be honest, this is underwhelming.

No offense meant to Long Trail, but this seems like a "beer of convenience." Long Trail is in Vermont, the Vermont Coffee Company is in Vermont. If I were feeling snarky, I would say this beer is as average as Vermont itself. I mean Massachusetts has Bean Town, and Harvard and the Kennedys. Maine has rugged sea coasts and lobsters, and Vermont has...well. But I'm not in a snarky mood, so I will say this is a solid beer, but I would rather have a superior stout like Guinnness or Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout or a kick-ass coffee like Southern Tier's Jah-Va Imperial Stout or even pour some Kahlua in my coffee. I appreciated Long Trail's understated berry taste in their Black Beary Wheat, but I don't usually enjoy berry bears. But I love coffee, and this just didn't get me revved up or excited. Good but not great.

Long Trail Coffee Stout

Representation: .60
Accessibility: .90
Style: .60
Personal Preference: .60

Total: 2.7 Flags

Read our other Coffee Reviews
Read our other Stout Reviews

Left Hand 400 Lb. Monkey (Citizen Review)

Left Hand 400 Lb. Monkey:

"A well-balanced beer; hoppy, but with sweet counterpoints, decent, but I'm not rushing out to get it."



Representation: .5
Accessibility: .5
Style Points: .75
Personal Preference: .5

Total: 2.25 Flags

--Review by Citizen Jack Witzig

De Dolle Special Extra Export Stout

De Dolle's Special Extra Export Stout

Sticking my nose to the bottle, I could smell the initial toasty nature of this stout. While looking for a suitable glass I found the beer gushing out the top like a school project volcano. So in it went into a pilsner glass (my apologies to El Presidente!), but it gave me a chance to really (and I mean literally) stick my nose into the foamy head. Wow! Bitter. And now that I think of it, I've often had overflow issues with Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout and their Taddy Porter (two favorites). The head is palpable. You could probably make a sculpture from it. It has "stiff peaks" like you would get in homemade whipped cream.

Navigating past the suds, the taste is definitely bitter but very clean and tasty. It really hits you in the lower read of the tongue, almost getting underneath. There's more of an aftertaste than I normally want, but it is not an alcoholic aftertaste despite its 9%abv. It's a clear, clean, toasty taste that lingers on the palate. If this is the "export" stout, then buy me a ticket for an aeroplane and fly me to Belgium. I wants me the domestic recipe. The fact that I immediately compare it to Samuel Smith is a major plus in my book, and makes it a great beer for any fan of stouts and porters who want to kick it up a notch.

De Dolle Special Extra Export Stout

Representation: .9
Accessibility: .85
Style: .70
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total: 3.45 Flags

Kickin' Chickins

Hello Citizens,

Just letting you know that some personal friends of the FermentNation are playing at the Trocadero tonight in Philadelphia. Come see KICKIN' CHICKINS with El Presidente tonight. Doors open at 7:00 and the Poultry goes on around 9:00. See you there!

Sly Fox Hop Project (Citizen Review)

Sly Fox Hop Project:

"Sweet but not overly sweet. A

good mix between bitter and sweet

hoppy but not overwhelming -- a

steady, hoppy ale."

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .75

Style Points: 1.0

Personal Preference: .75

Total Score: 3.5 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen Cheryl Selah

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale:

Samuel Smith's Brewery delivers nothing short of amazing products. The highest quality ingredients and the pure love of brewing blend to make a truly superior product. Based on reputation alone, I would trust Sam Smiths and try whatever they put out. "Try Sam Smith's new Walrus Tinkle Ale," the bartender said, smiling. "Uh, ok. Pour me a pint," replied El Presidente.

But have no fear, the Nut Brown Ale seems to be made from more traditional ingredients. I can taste the roasty goodness in this malty ale. Brown ales are generally a little malty-sweet, and this is no exception. The opening sip introduces the malt, but it finishes just dry enough to leave you wanting more. Lightly hopped and probably made with mostly pale malts, the Nut Brown Ale doesn't have a ton of natural carbonation, and would probably be an unearthly delicious treat to try hand-pumped out of a cask.

Nut brown ales are not usually my favorite style because they aren't very daring. Deliciousness is not a question, but I like something with a little more zing. Look for brilliant scores in representation and accessibility and also look for a challenge in the Style category. Samuel Smith's is one of my favorite breweries, which is exactly why I'm holding to a pretty tough standard with this score.

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale:

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: 1.0

Style: .80

Personal Preference: .9

Total Score: 3.7 Flags

Read a review of Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout
Read a review of Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout

Sinebrychoff Porter (Presidential Brief)

What: Sinebrychoff Porter 7.2% abv
Where: PJ's Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: August 13, 2009, 10:07PM
What-have-you: Sinebrychoff Porter @ 7.2 % Baltic is rich yet dry. Toasty as all get out with light to medium body and phantom finish. Drinkable? Oh yee!

Stoudt's Heifer-in-Wheat (Citizen Review)

Stoudt's Heifer-in-Wheat:

"An okay wheat beer; good body, but lacking in the character common to most unfiltered wheats."



Representation: .75
Accessibility: 1
Style Points: .75
Personal Preference: .5

Total: 3.0 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen Jack Witzig

Yards Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale

Yards Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale:

Brewed by Yards for Philadelphia's City Tavern, this golden golden golden ale is reportedly brewed in direct accordance with Thomas Jefferson's own recipe. This recipe includes ingredients which are very specific to Jefferson's home in Virginia. All of Yards' ales seem to have an "old-tyme" flavor to them, but this one really nails it.

Take your New-World revolutionary boots and kick the Old-World brewing tradition square in the bollocks. This ale starts out sweet and malty when it first hits your lips. Earthy flavors like grain and pine kick in. The finish is a little bitter and boozy. Not too much of either, but enough to remember that this ale is 8% abv -- a little bigger than Yards' traditional session beers.

This brew is awesome out of a bottle but even awesomer on tap. That's a rare treat if you can find it, so seek it out and be "wow"ed.

Side note: I remember having Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale a few years ago when it first came out. Wasn't that impressed at the time (I was more blown away by the George Washington Porter) but now that my tastes have matured a bit, I'm anxious to revisit the GWP and try the Poor Richard's Spruce Ale. Cheers.

Yards Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale:

Representation: .95

Accessibility: .90

Style: .90

Personal Preference: .925

Total Score: 3.675 Flags

Stone Thirteenth Anniversary Ale (Presidential Brief)

What: Stone Thirteenth Anniversary Ale 9.5abv
Where: PJ's Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: August 1, 2009, 11:38PM
What-have-you: "A lil' coffee, a lil' licorice and a lot dry. Some beer newbies loved it too cuz its sooo different."

Read a review of Stone's Levitation Ale

Samuel Adams Longshot Cranberry Wit

Samuel Adams Longshot Cranberry Wit:

Well aren't you a little tart? This unfiltered light ale is delightfully snappy and cran-tastic. With a light yet somehow hearty blend of cinnamon and coriander, the label's description likens this brew to a crisp autumn day in New England. Yes, I can see it now! The Longshot Cranberry Wit would be just right for a camping trip: Anytime of day, maybe best suited for breakfast. But the grains of paradise remind me of another Sam Adams' seasonal: the Summer Ale. And with a sharp cranberry flavor, I suppose this wit would work as a refreshing summertime brew as well.

The label also gives us another hint: "For brewery-fresh taste purchase before month notched." The magic month on my bottle was September. So if I buy it in August, I could drink it in September or October. Fall is in full bloom by then (at least in New England). Should I wait til September to buy more? Will I get max freshness? Will Sam Adams brew this batch again for purchase in the fall? Hmmm... Maybe I'll just enjoyit now as a summer thirst-quencher and keep one or two for the changing of the leaves. Perhaps I'll simply go camping a little early this year and enjoy the best of both worlds!

Representation: .90
Accessibility: .90
Style: .90
Personal Preference: .855

Total: 3.555 Flags

Read a review of Samuel Adams' Longshot Double IPA
Read a review of Samuel Adams' Summer Ale
Read a review of Samuel Adams' Longshot Grape Pale Ale
Read a review of Samuel Adams' Longshot Weizenbock

Otter Creek Imperial IPA (Citizen Review)

Otter Creek Imperial IPA:

"Too hoppy + sweet for

me"

Representation: .50

Accessibility: .25

Style Points: .50

Personal Preference: .10

Total Score: 1.35 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen Cheryl Selah

Citizen Review Cheryl Boulder Hazed + Infused

Boulder Hazed + Infused:

"Not a fan of hops

but this is a very

pleasant hoppy beer"

Representation: 1.0

Accessibility: .50

Style Points: 1.0

Personal Preference: .50

Total Score: 3.0 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen Cheryl Selah

Yards ESA (Citizen Review)

Yards ESA:

"Distinct taste across lines of beer. Like it or hate it, it is what it is. No sells outs."



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

Total: 3.0 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen Matt Kappa

Read a review of Yards ESA (in bottle)
Read a review of Yards ESA (cask)

Riverhorse Hop-alot-amus (Citizen Review)

Riverhorse Hop-alot-amus:

"This beer has good spice to it and nice malt balance. It reminds me of Arrogant Bastard."



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

Total: 4.0 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen George Mangini