Category: Seasonal and Misc.

Founder’s Brewing – Blushing Monk Review

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

Blushing MonkAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Founders Brewing Co.
Style: (Imperial?) Fruit Beer
ABV: 9.2%
Cost: $6.75 (10oz)
Glassware: Snifter, Pint
Temp: 50°F
Availability: Limited
Purchased@: Bulls Head Pub

Quick Take: This is a solid fruit beer that keeps the sweet from becoming overwhelming, a testament to Founder’s skilled brewers. I can’t say it is a big departure from Rubaeus, a beer I appreciate more than desire, but Blushing Monk improves on the best qualities of its little sister. I enjoyed the 10oz pour I had and don’t regret the bottle I bought, but there are better Founder’s offering.

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Tröegs Brewing – Nugget Nectar (2015) Review

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

Nugget NectarAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Tröegs Brewing
Style: Imperial Amber/Red
ABV: 7.5%
Cost: $4 (12oz)
Glassware: Pint
Temp: 45°F
Availability: January in PA
Purchased@: The Fridge

Quick Take: Nugget Nectar has always been a solid beer over the years and one that I’ve enjoyed whether from frequent growler fills or bottles. A great drinker that is a highlight of the Amber style, but not a hugely complex beer for featuring hops. Nugget Nectar is the beer to bridge the gap between a malty Amber ale and a citrusy IPA, making it an option for the IPA curious to start their journey to full hop head. Balanced and highly drinkable.

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Element Brewing – Altoberfest Review

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

Element - Altoberfest 2All You Need to Know

Brewery: Element Brewing
Style: Alt Oktoberfest
ABV: 8.35%
Cost: $11.49 (24oz)
Glassware: Pint or Mug
Temp: 45°F (280.35 Kelvin)
Availability: Fall
Purchased@: Westbrook Maine Bottle Shop

Quick Take: I’m not the biggest Alt fan, but do like a quality Oktoberfest, and this beer pulls in both directions (as you’d imagine). This is one for Alt fans close to the brewery or that have easy access to Element beers. For me, it’s not worth going out of my way to score one, but if I happen to be in Element’s neighborhood with a hankering for beer, I might pick it up.

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DBR Beer Year in Review (Part 1 – The Beers)

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

dbr 3Ah 2014, a year of much stuff, many things, and plenty of beer. It is the year that I transitioned from a purely video beer blog to a Web site featuring beer and brewery reviews, taking on a major commitment to the beverage that I love. This commitment will continue into the new year with plans for more brewery and event reports/reviews, plenty of thoughts on brews both new and aged, and a few new features I hope to get off the ground.

But now is the time to reflect on the beers of drinking past, and to that end I’ve compiled the list of my favorite beers of 2014. These are beers that not only impressed me with their quality over all other beers I had last year, but are the ones that I will be looking forward to in 2015 as well.

Continue reading “DBR Beer Year in Review (Part 1 – The Beers)” →

Bell’s Brewery – Venus Review

Posted on by Drews Brews Reviews

VenusAll You Need to Know

Brewery: Bell’s Brewery
Style: Blonde
ABV: 7.5%
Cost: $3 (12oz)
Glassware: Pint
Temp: 45°F
Availability: Limited
Purchased@: Hunger-N-Thirst

Quick Take: Venus tries to take the concept of the blonde and turn it into something you’ve never experienced before. In that regard, it’s successful. In making it a beer I want to drink again, it fails miserably. There is an audience for it, but I can’t say for certain who it is. All I know is that if this is what peace tastes like, I’ll take war every time.

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