Category: Beer Reviews

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Iconic British Beers reviewed


I was expecting a certain flavor profile from these two standards and award winning beers from England but I was surprised by how they did not conform to my pre-conceived standards.

Worthington’s White Shield the older of the two. 1744 being it’s start date had a tinny apple aroma. It poured a pretty if standard orange color. Being a CAMRA award winner, according to the label, I expected something that I didn’t get. Maybe MolsonCoors has dumbed it down but it was light though it did have the musty British ale taste. It was also quite minerally as if the water was the star of the show and not the malt or yeast.

Old Tom was the tastier of the two. (My other beer taster enjoyed this as smoother and maltier). I agreed. It had an apple cider aroma and was smooth and a touch viscous. I got some anise notes in there as well. It was the more complex of the two with a touch of barrel agedness to it.

I would suggest grabbing the Old Tom’s first. It will challenge your opinion of British beer and make you yearn to taste it on cask i.e. real ale form.

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Berliner Weisse review – Heretic Tartuffe

I was inspired to review this style of beer by the Unity 2012 beer that Eagle Rock brewed for L.A. Beer Week this year. And because I have seen a mini-flurry of the style resurfacing at pubs and bars. So first up is Heretic Brewing and Tartuffe….

Here is the website description from Heretic, “A tartuffe (tar-TOOF) is a hypocrite who feigns religious virtue. Heretic’s Tartuffe is our take on a Berliner Weisse-style ale. Our head brewer has a thing for this beer style. He loves the tart, refreshing character that comes from using lots of wheat malt and a multi-day sour mash. Try it by itself or mit schuss, the traditional German addition of raspberry or woodruff syrup. Either way, enjoying life is a true virtue.”

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Prickly Pear Beer Review – Unity 2012


I helped “unwrap” prickly pears on the brew day and then I helped on bottling day as the finished beer filled up bottle after bottle so I am a bit biased about this year’s Unity beer from Eagle Rock Brewery.

And it lived up to it! You get a bright prickly pear flavor right off the bat. The beer then settles into some other exotic fruit notes before finishing with a real cereal grain end. And it is just tart enough and effervescent to really add another layer to a really low ABV beer. This one is under 4%. The only flavor that I didn’t get on the palate was the rye. Maybe it was working in other ways, but I did not pick up much spice but that is a minor quibble with a really strong Berliner Weisse.

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Prickly Pear Beer Review – “Nopal de Trigo”

Prickly Pear is the official ingredient for the 2012 L.A. Beer Week and as I find and taste these special edition beers, I will review them. Some are only Union Station Finale available and will get reviewed later but first out of the gate is Cismontane Brewing and “Nopal de Trigo” a hefeweizen brewed with hand-pressed prickly pear juice.

As the photo shows, this pours a ruby red grapefruit color. The aroma does not include the clove and banana that you normally associate with a German style hefe but what I do get is a clear aloe, green leaf type of smell which is not an aroma that I have picked up on a beer before. The taste veers away from that into more of a strawberry and banana world. It is very fruity with a little bit of bitterness lingering at the back end. This style of beer (and the Berliner Weisse one as well) showcase the pear.

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Beer Review – Longshot – Derf’s Secret Alt

One of the yearly traditions that I stay on the look-out for is the release of the Sam Adams Longshot winners. We end the month with a secret….

Derf’s Secret Alt
Created by Samuel Adams Employee Fred Hessler
“Fred wanted to go big or go home with his homebrew and decided to brew a kicked up Sticke Alt. This full-bodied ale has a big, malty character balanced by subtle orange and grapefruit notes from the hops. With a light amber color, this brew has a sweet finish.”

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Beer Review – Longshot – Five Crown Imperial Stout

One of the yearly traditions that I stay on the look-out for is the release of the Sam Adams Longshot winners. The second beer to be reviewed is an Imperial Stout….

Five Crown Imperial Stout
Created by Joe Formanek
“For the past 15 years, Joe has been brewing his Russian Imperial Stout. This malt-forward brew has a rich complexity, with roasty and chocolate notes, yet enough hop bitterness to balance out the sweetness. This satisfying winter brew is full-bodied with an enjoyable velvety smoothness.”

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Beer Review – Longshot – A Dark Night in Munich

One of the yearly traditions that I stay on the look-out for is the release of the Sam Adams Longshot winners. And this year I will be reviewing all three and we start with….
A Dark Night in Munich
Created by Corey Martin
“Corey has been working on his Munich Dunkel for some time and the result is this amber, medium-bodied brew. With a nice malty backbone, this lager has roasty, slightly spicy notes and a traditional doughy character from the yeast. It is well worth the time he took to perfect it.”

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Review – Pretty Things November 22nd Mild

We have returned to Pretty Things and the other “mild” that is nowhere near the one reviewed earlier or the Eagle Rock mild for that matter.

Here is the review…..

…and here is what Pretty Things says about Once Upon a Time….
“X Ales: 1838 & 1945
Two versions of the same X (Mild) Ale brewed by the same London brewery 107 years apart.

Our new releases in March 2012! Two X Ales from the same London brewery, 107 years apart: these beers were brewed and sold as the “same beer”. But they weren’t the same beer at all! This side-by-side release allows you to taste history in a very direct, beat-you-about-the-head kind of way. The beers are whoppingly, fantastically different. There’s no way you would think they are connected by the same brewery, brand name and style. Isn’t history wonderful? Ron Pattinson once again provided recipes and brewday documents for these beers. The 1838 Mild (X Ale) is 7.4%, golden and very hoppy: if you tried our 1832 XXXX Mild ale, you could certainly see this as it’s little brother. The 1945 Mild (X Ale) is 2.8% and more of a mild-as-we-know-it. Dark, weak, grainy. It’s a fantastic way to get yourself into a World War II rationing frame of mind (Note; we recommend drinking this a bit warmer than the fridge). All in all, these beers drunk either alone or side by side demonstrate brewing history in action, and even more wonderfully, they reflect the massive changes that occurred in London between 1838 and 1945, the intimate relationship between working people and their beers, and the passion and creativity that brewers throughout the ages have applied to their craft. We are honored to re-brew these beers, and we give Ron our heartfelt thanks once again for making it possible. Prepare for some time traveling from the comfort of your pint-glass-accompanied armchair! Cheers!”

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Review – Eagle Rock Solidarity

From the past of mild we return to the future with Eagle Rock Brewery and Solidarity mild….

“‘Mild’ refers to an English-style beer that is malt-accented yet light bodied and low in alcohol. Depite it’s dark appearance Solidarity Black Mild is light bodied and refreshingly drinkable. A variety of roasted malts lend toasty, nutty flavors and complexity, with subtle notes of coffee, dark chocolate, and a hint of smoke. Pull up a seat and have another round with your best mates!”

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Review – Pretty Things February 22nd Mild

I admit it. The main reason that I wanted this beer is because that is my birthday. Not the year part, but the day.

Here is the review…..

…and here is what Pretty Things says about Once Upon a Time….
“X Ales: 1838 & 1945
Two versions of the same X (Mild) Ale brewed by the same London brewery 107 years apart.

Our new releases in March 2012! Two X Ales from the same London brewery, 107 years apart: these beers were brewed and sold as the “same beer”. But they weren’t the same beer at all! This side-by-side release allows you to taste history in a very direct, beat-you-about-the-head kind of way. The beers are whoppingly, fantastically different. There’s no way you would think they are connected by the same brewery, brand name and style. Isn’t history wonderful? Ron Pattinson once again provided recipes and brewday documents for these beers. The 1838 Mild (X Ale) is 7.4%, golden and very hoppy: if you tried our 1832 XXXX Mild ale, you could certainly see this as it’s little brother. The 1945 Mild (X Ale) is 2.8% and more of a mild-as-we-know-it. Dark, weak, grainy. It’s a fantastic way to get yourself into a World War II rationing frame of mind (Note; we recommend drinking this a bit warmer than the fridge). All in all, these beers drunk either alone or side by side demonstrate brewing history in action, and even more wonderfully, they reflect the massive changes that occurred in London between 1838 and 1945, the intimate relationship between working people and their beers, and the passion and creativity that brewers throughout the ages have applied to their craft. We are honored to re-brew these beers, and we give Ron our heartfelt thanks once again for making it possible. Prepare for some time traveling from the comfort of your pint-glass-accompanied armchair! Cheers!”