Category: Beer Reviews

Reviews of Beers – (Surprise!)

Avery Brewing Co – Fortuna Review

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

FortunaAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Avery Brewing Co.
Style: Wild Ale
ABV: 8.1%
My Cost: $16 (12oz)
Glassware: Tulip, Flute
Temp: 45°F
Availability: One Off
Purchased@: Friendly Greek

Quick Take: Fortuna isn’t the best sour I’ve had, but it’s pretty refreshing and rises above the gimmicky inspiration. It has a salivating saltiness that makes you want to go back as your thirst is never quite satisfied. Cost is a concern and I can’t see me getting this over a kriek or standard sour, but great change of pace beer and absolutely worth it where cost is not a concern.

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Toppling Goliath – Pseudosue Review

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

PseudosueAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.
Style: Pale Ale
ABV: 5.8%
My Cost: Via Trade
Actual Cost: Not a lot
Glassware: Pint, Tulip
Temp: 45°F
Availability: All the time
Purchased@: Trades-ville

Quick Take: For a malty pale that drinks like an IPA, this is one of the best. It’s more substantial than Zombie Dust but the malt body doesn’t overrun the delicate Citra hopping. A confident celebration of the Citra hop, and an example of what an expert brewer can do with a no frills approach that relies on technique rather than adjuncts and gimmicks.

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Tired Hands Brewing – Guillemot Nebula (Batch 2)

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

GuillemotAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Tired Hands Brewing
Style: Dark Saison
ABV: 8.5%
My Cost: Nothing
Actual Cost: $15 (I’m told)
Glassware: Tulip
Temp: 50°F
Availability: Infrequently
Purchased@: Tired Hands
Released: April 2015
Drank: May 2015

Quick Take: One of the better, more complex beers I’ve had in quite some time. You need to have some adventure in you as the flavor profile could be considered challenging, but that’s nothing new for this brewery. While this is more a successful novelty than pinnacle of their efforts, Guillemot contains the spirit of the brewery in a 500ml bottle.

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Prairie Artisan Ales – Funky Gold Amarillo Review

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

Prairie - Funky GoldAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Prairie Artisan
Style: Wild Ale
ABV: 7.5%
Cost: $10 (500ml)
Glassware: Tulip
Temp: 45ºF
Availability: Limited
Purchased@: Nope – Bottle Share

Quick Take: Funky Gold is a mildly complex summer sour drinker that is worth keeping around for when the mood strikes. I could see returning to it when I want a refreshing sour hit without the acidic bite. The gassiness  and mid-range ABV keeps this  from being a sessionable beer along the lines of a Gose, but a single bottle over an evening seems about right.

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Caldera Brewing – Mogli Review

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

Mogli 2All You Need to Know

Brewery: Caldera Brewing
Style: Imperial Porter
ABV: 8.5%
Cost: $18.99 (bomber)
Glassware: Pint, Teku
Temp: 50-55°F
Availability: Varies
Purchased@: Craft Shack

Quick Take: Mogli is a beer for people that love to huff chocolate, but like their beer flavors mellow and drinkable. While I like my chocolate beers rich and full of velvet Elvis, plenty will appreciate the porter first mentality that keeps the traditional elements from being crushed under a choco-lanche. For me, the spectacular nose didn’t quite follow through to the taste, but this is a beer that does its namesake proud.

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