Reissdorf Kolsch

Reissdorf Kolsch   4.8% ABV         Kolsch

Brauerei Heinrich Reissdorf Cologne, Germany

REISSDORF KÖLSCH is the beer speciality from Cologne with a tradition starting 1894. A Kölsch with a pleasant, full-bodied, and uniquely light and sweet taste in premium quality, that is brewed for the adepts who prefer something special.

A:  Pours a brilliant golden hue with a bright white head.

S:  Light bready grains, herbal hops, with delicate citrus notes.

T:  Thick soft malts, minty or piney hops, dry and crisp. 

M:  Light to medium body, crisp, clean, refreshing finish.

D:  SESSION BEER.  This is a great hot weather beer that you can enjoy all day and then enjoy it with dinner. 

Food Pairings:  The lightness of the flavor profile lends itself to lighter dishes, while you can still utilize the carbonation and crispness to cut through fat.  Great food beer as well as a session.

Dogfish Head Indian Brown

Dogfish Head Indian Brown  7.2%ABV   

Dogfish Head Brewing Co, Milton, Delaware

This is the original hybrid. A cross between a Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale and an American Brown, Indian Brown Ale is well-hopped and malty at the same time.

A:  Pours a dark brown, nearly black color with a robust tan head that leaves thick lacing.

S: Aromas of bittersweet chocolate, coffee and brown sugar with a hint of nuts.  This beer has a complex bouquet of aromas that finish with earthy and herbal hops.

T:  Rich malts up front followed by mild piney, earthy hops in the end.  Coffee and bitter chocolate.

M:  Medium- Light bodied with a rich and creamy texture and lively carbonation that feels soft rather than prickly.

Lost Abbey Avant Garde

Lost Abbey Avant Garde   7%ABV

Bier de Garde (Farmhouse)

A:  Pours a cloudy golden hue with a lofty, creamy, white head.

S:  Big doughy, bready and caramel malts dominate, accented with fruity yeasty elements (esters) of citrus & tropical fruits, and spicy yeast elements (phenols) of white pepper & grains of paradise.  Noble hops show as a dry hay, grassy, and herbal with just a hint of bitterness to balance the malt dominant aroma.

T:  Dry yeasty and fruity elements contrast in this beer with a

M:  Grainy, bready malts, are contrasted by hay/ grassy hops, and light citrus and tropical fruit elements.

D:  Very drinkable but altogether a fantastic food beer. 

Pairings:    Pair with Charcuterie, cheese, salads, poultry, fish, pork, and most importantly, pairs great with herbs, spices and vegetables.   

Upslope Belgian Wit

Upslope Belgian Wit  4.2%abv

Upslpope Brewing Co.  Boulder, CO

Belgian wit wit wheaty, grassy, and citrusy characteristics that makes this easy drinking and supremely pairable with light salads, fish and poultry.

A:  Pours a hazy golden straw color with a lofty white head the recedes slightly leaving a thick lacing.

S:  Light wheat malt, slight minerality, almost salty.  Herbal and grassy hops play a small background balancing act.

T:  Light Belgian Wheat beer, with delicate wheat malts, light Belgian clove and white pepper and a touch of brine.

M:  Very light and refreshing with big creamy carbonation.

D:  Very drinkable.

Stone Levitation Ale American Amber

Stone Levitation Ale American Amber ABV: 4.40%

A - Amber-brown in color with a toffee colored head.

S - Has a nice caramel malt aroma with some piney and grapefruity hop aromas.

T - Slight malt flavor that is immediately over powered by an intense hop spicyness.

M - Light bodied with a fair amount of carbonation.

O - A pretty good amber ale, but I think it is a little too hopped for the style.

Liefmans Goudenband

Liefmans Goudenband

Belgium Flemish Sour Brown aged in oak

Brouwerij Liefmans, Belgium

A:  Pours a cloudy brown color with one finger of almond colored head.

S:  Notable tartness up front followed by rich roasted and toasted malts, hints of chocolate, vanilla, oak, and cherries.  Minimal hops at best, the yeast, tartness and malt are the focus of this Flemish Sour Brown Ale.

T:  Pleasant tartness from beginning to end with a woody, vanilla tail.  Cherries and berry elements play nicely with rich malts with hints of nutty and dried fruit characteristics.

M:  Light to medium body with notable carbonation and a slightly dry, tart finish.

O:  Great introductory sour with lots of complexity.  This beer is both malty and tart and would easily pair with duck dishes, foie gras, as well as dishes you might consider accompanying with a berry sauce. 

Goose Island Sophie

Goose Island Sophie   6.5%ABV     

Belgium Farmhouse Ale (fermented with wild yeast and aged partially(20%) in white wine barrels with orange peels)

Goose Island Brewing Co. (Anheiser Busch) Chicago, Illinois                                   

A:  Pours a hazy straw color with a lofty almond head that settles to a moderate cap with nice lacing. 

S:  Smells of Belgian yeast, bright citrus, white pepper, and a light funk with hints of white wine barrels. 

T:  Tastes of light malts, Belgian yeast, bright citrus tartness and a mild wild yeast funk.

M:  Med-light in body with bright carbonation and a prickly texture.  Finish is tart and refreshingly dry. 

O:  Great beer for sparkling wine drinkers.  This beer is both great by itself but stunning with food.  Think- cheese plates, loves fresh and lightly cooked vegetables, awesome with summer salads, chicken, fish, and dishes accompanied by citrus, earthy elements.  

Trabanco Dry Cider

Trabanco Dry Cider  4.2%abv

Complex, tart, European apple cider with a frizante characteristic

A:  Clear, slight golden hue, minimal head.  Frizante

S:  Hints of apples, forest floor, subtle tropical  qualities.

T:  Dry apple, tart, minerals and earthy elements round out the flavor profile.

M:  Light, dry and frizante

D: Very drinkable yet nuanced and complex.  Great with salads and rustic cheeses. 

Old Speckled Hen

Old Speckled Hen, English Pale Ale,5.2%ABV  Morland Brewery, England

Classic English mild, light herbal hops, toasted caramel malts with a creamy texture.

A: Pours a clear copper color with a moderate head.  Nitro Old Speckled Head has a persistent head while the bottled Old Speckled Hen head will dissipate rather noticeably.

S:  Smells of caramel malts, light hints of honey, mild herbal (noble) hops.

T: Smooth toasted and caramel malts, herbal and earthy noble hops, mild fruit and distinct English Ale yeast.

M:  Mediuium to light body with light/creamy carbonation that finishes moderately dry

D:  Very drinkable but also a great offering beside pub fare.

Crooked Stave St. Bretta Belgian Wit with Valencia Oranges

Crooked Stave St. Bretta  Belgian Wit with Valencia Oranges     5.5%abv

Crooked Stave Brewing Co.  Denver, CO

Citrusy specialty Belgian wit brewed with seasonal citrus.  This beer has a noticeable element of tartness and hint of rustic complexity.

A:  Pours a hazy golden yellow color with a lofty off-white head.

S:  Aromas of funky wt hay and citrus meld together with wheat and pale grain breadiness.

T:  Pale grains followed by bright, tart citrus and bready and spicy sweetness rounding out with blood orange citrus elements.

M:  Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a mildly creamy texture.

D:  Very drinkable but also great with cheese, light nuanced rustic food and light nuanced cakes and creamy desserts.

Left Hand-Milk Stout (Nitro)

Left Hand-Milk Stout (Nitro) (Longmont, CO) 6.0%ABV:

Rich, creamy, milk stout served on nitro for a uniquely creamy head.  This beer has lactose so be caustious of anyone that may be lactose intolerant. 

A - Pours almost black with a thick head about 2 fingers in width; nice, sticky lacing.

S - Hints of dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and molasses.

T – Practically no bitterness to this beer, but a strong flavor of smooth malts with coffee and dark chocolate in the finish.

M - Surprisingly light-bodied due to it containing lactose (milk sugar) and being on the nitro pour; one of the most easy drinking opaque beers I’ve found.

O - Overall this is an approachable milk stout. Great for pairing with duck, chicken and waffles, chicken schnitzel, pig ears, and oysters. Tends to calm spice and enhance sweetness. This beer does contain lactose, takes a few extra minutes to pour, and Left Hand was the first brewery to sell a nitrogenated bottled beer. (Like a can with a widget in it, but in a bottle, so much harder to accomplish).

Strong roasted malt and coffee flavors build the foundation of this classic cream stout. The addition of milk sugar mellows the intense roastiness and gives this beer the most incredible creamy mouth feel.

Dogfish Head American Beauty

Dogfish Head American Beauty     American IPA   9%ABV

Dogfish Head Brewing Co, Milton, Delaware

Rich, malty and hoppy specialty Imperial IPA brewed with Granola to honor the Grateful Dead.  This beer was brewed with almonds so there may be concerns for people with nut allergies.

A:  Pours a brilliantly clear golden amber with a lofty white head that leaves intricate lacing on the sides of the glass.

S:  Smells of citrus, honey, granola, big caramel malts, grass, and herbal elements along with notable piney hops.

T:  Lots of malt to balance the prominent yet modest American hops.  Taste follows the aromas very closely.

M:  Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a creamy texture that finishes with a noticeable sweet and slightly boozy finish.

D:  Drinkable yet notably high in alcohol.  

Ommegang Rare VOS Belgian Pale Ale

Ommegang Rare VOS  Belgian Pale Ale 6.5% ABV  750ml

Belgian Amber with caramely malts with slight fruity  (citrus) and spicey (clove, nutmeg) elements

A: This beer pours a slightly hazy burnt orange hue with a thick rocky white head.  The head recedes ever so slowly leaving behind moderate lacing.

S:  Bready malts, belgian yeast (banana, clove) with subtle spice (anise, clove, and nutmeg) and floral notes.  There is a little sweetness detected that smells of dried dark fruits (fig/raisin).

T:  Bready malt flavors mingle with lemon zest, peppery spice and belgian yeast.  There is a presence of light and floral earthy notes with hops playing a backseat role in this beer.  Hops appear as grassy, herbal and spicy.

M:  Medium bodied with moderate carbonation (bottle conditioned).  Rather smooth and creamy 

D: Very drinkable and should work well with lots of food.  

Lost Abbey Carnivale Belgian Farmhouse

Lost Abbey Carnivale  Belgian Farmhouse    6.5%abv

Lost Abbey Brewing Co, San Marcos, CA

Complex yet drinkable Belgian farmhouse with citrus, tropical and slight rustic elements

A:  Pours a slightly hazy rich golden hue with a lively, rocky head that leaves a beautiful lacing on the glass as the head recedes.

S:  Aromas of raw grains, subtle sweetness, and delicate citrus notes leading into some real rustic smells like wet hay, with a dry, mild funk from (brettanomyces)

T:  Starts with a light tartness and notable citrus elements supported by a pale malt backbone.  There is a mild funk, subtle stone fruit elements and a moderate (phenolic) clove and white pepper element

M:  Light- med in body, with lively yet subdued carbonation and a notably dry finish .

D:  Very drinkable by itself, yet incredible with rustic European fare.  Think roasted fowl, herbs and green vegetables with Farmhouse beers. 

Great Divide Fresh Hopped IPA

Great Divide Fresh Hopped Pale Ale 6.1% ABV

A: Pours a rich golden amber color with a lofty eggshell white head that leaves beautiful lacing.


S: Complex aromas of wet earth, citrus, lemon balm, mango, grapefruit, grass and sweet malts.


T: Sweet malts and toasted crust, floral hops, mild pine and lively citrus.


M: Clean and slightly creamy, medium bodied with firm carbonation.


D:  Very drinkable and great with food as well.  


Upslope Pumpkin Ale

Upslope Pumpkin Ale  7.3%ABV

A: Pours a clear rich dark amber color with minimal head.
S: Smells like caramel and toffee malts and subtle hops, but blended well with aromas of autumn spices: nutmeg, cinnamon, blade mace, clove, ginger.  Beer first, pumpkin pie second.
T: Toasted malts blend with moderate nuanced hops and a beautiful fall spice bouquet. 
M:  Medium bodied with a creamy texture and moderate carbonation.
D: Very drinkable but so well suited to fall dishes.

Trumer Pils

Trumer Pils  4.8%ABV

Trumer Brauerei, Berkeley, CA

A:  Pours a clear golden straw color with a lofty white head. 

S:  Aromas of mild citrus hops blend with golden malts and grain.

T:  Mildly sweet malts are shine with a bright carbonation and balanced with delicate hop bitterness and a clean finish.

M:  Light bodied with bright carbonation and a crisp, refreshing finish.

O:  Great easy drinking beer that works quite well with delicate dishes or snacks.

Ska Modus Hoperandi IPA

Ska Modus Hoperandi, 6.8%ABV American IPA

A - Deep bronzed color with a good sized, smooth, creamy, tight, ivory head. Decent head retention leaving a great layer of lacing.

S - Sweet citrus hop aroma leads along with some pine and a sweet sappy resin followed by a fair amount of sweet caramel malt.

T - Starts with a prickly grassy and pine hop flavor. That gives way to a sweet citrus and caramel/toffee malt flavor. Fairly sweet with touches of bitterness. This bitterness gets stronger on the finish.

M - Light to medium body. Plenty of carbonation and prickly and zesty mouthfeel.

D - Easy to drink beer. Not too sweet nor too bitter. Pretty refreshing and I finished the can no problem.

Lost Abbey Red Barn Farmhouse Ale

Lost Abbey Red Barn (Belgian Farmhouse/Saison 6.7% ABV)

Lost Abbey Brewery, San Marcos, CA    

Beer Advocate: A-

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden orange with a lofty head.

S:  Grassy hops, citrus(lemon, orange), wheat, spice (ginger, corriander) slight funk

T:  Grainy, biscuity malts, Delicate fruits (apple, pear) Spices(clove, ginger), Belgian yeast, lemon, orange, and subtle yet bitter hops finish.

M: Light-Med body, light carbonation with a smooth, dry finish.

D: Real drinkable and at 6.7%ABV this also serves as a great food beer.