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

Long Trail Coffee Stout (Citizen Review)

Long Trail Coffee Stout:

"I have not yet found a Long Trail brew I've liked...until today. Long Trail's Coffee Stout is heavy and dark, not watery like some of their other selections. Sweet, but not too much so and with a slightly bitter aftertaste, which suits its coffee roots. And bravo to the stones it takes to bring a stout out in 85 Degree weather."

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

Total: 3.5 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen Jack Witzig


Read a review of Flying Fish's Imperial Espresso Porter
Read a review of Atwater Block's Vanilla Java Porter

Stone Cali-Belgique (Citizen Review)

Stone Cali-Belgique:

"Now that's an IPA. Challenging yet rewarding, with prominent hops kept from being too sharp, and with a sweet Belgian smoothness. 'I love Cali in the Summertime' ."

Representation: .75

Accessibility: .75

Style Points: 1.0

Personal Preference: .75

Total Score: 3.25 Flags

--Reviewed by Citizen Jack Witzig

Read a review of Stone Levitation

Samuel Adams Longshot Double IPA

Sam Adams Longshot Double IPA:

This home-grown recipe from Mike McDole of California has a pretty serious hoppy kick. With 7 varieties of American hops addes, this blend has a very definite grapefruit juice thing going on. Extremely floral and pleasantly bitter, this Longshot has a lot going for it. The body is a solid medium with a decent malt base. I'm figuring there's some wheat in there somewhere too, since this light-colored IPA is cloudy and tongue-teasing.

I can't help but compare this brew to some others I've had: Longshot Double IPA reminds me a little bit of Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA (only not quite as rich) and Victory Hop Wallop (only ot quite as bitter). All three have an alcohol content of about 9% and all three are capable of satisfying a hop-head's desires. Sam Adams Longshot Double IPA is definitely worth a try.

Citizens, let me know if you might have more colorful descriptions or more accurate comparisons. Keep in mind that I've placed this particular beer in some pretty rare company so let me know what you think.

Representation: .95
Accessibility: .89
Style: .925
Personal Preference: .90

Total: 3.665 Flags

Flying Fish Exit 11 (Presidential Brief)

What: Flying Fish Exit 11
Where: PJ's Pour House (Westmont, NJ)
When: July 15, 2009, 10:02PM
What-have-you: Flying fish exit 11 is da bom-diggity. Wheaty and smooth yet a bit tart to quench the thirst. Lotsa hops but not to be confused with an IPA. Freakin' awesome!

From the Flying Fish website: "Exit 11 is an American-style wheat beer brewed with English ale yeast and three Pacific Northwest hops, Columbus, Palisade and Amarillo. It is brewed with 50% Belgian pale malt and 50% white wheat, and is an ideal summer thirst quencher, with its bouquet of tangerines and apricots." (http://www.exitseries.com/exits/exit11.php)

Read a review of Flying Fish Farmhouse Summer Ale
Read a review of Flying Fish Imperial Espresso Porter

Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat

Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat Beer. This review begins with an admission of guilt. Being an amateur cartoonist, I could not help but pick up a six pack of Long Trail's Blackbeary Wheat due to its funny and well-done label art depicting a cartoon bear (in glasses) on the verge of being pumelled by his wife with a rolling pin as he steals a blackberry (blackbeary) pie. I am guilty of being wooed by beer artwork, but I vow never to judge a beer by its cover. A long sniff into the bottle and a first swig reveal a pretty recognizable but timid taste of blackberry. Swigs 2 through 6 and you can taste the blackberry only as a finish. Pay attention as you swallow, you can taste it right there on the back of your tongue. What this beer scores low in style, it makes up for in accessibility. Its a fruit flavored beer I don't feel pressured to float an actual piece of fruit in, and I welcome a second and third bottle. On the neck label, Long Trail writes that the beer is "finished with a hint of Blackberries in the kettle," and that is what you get, a hint. Not too much, just enough, which makes this drinkable, and a novel summer beer to take to parties or just to admire and laugh at the label. Kitschy? Maybe, but smooth, not overpowering, and good enough to go back for more.

Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat

Representation: .8
Accessibility: .9
Style: .7
Personal Preference:.8

Total: 3.2 Flags