BELL'S THIRD COAST BEER
(Comstock, MI)
Todd Zachritz - 4.0
This cloudy golden ale pours with some sediment, but the crisp lagery aroma is appealing enough. Taste is full, hinting at grains (barley, wheat), and there’s just enough of a hop bite to make this a formidable entry in the session ale category. Quite good.
Jabez Martinez – 4.0
When I poured this beer it reminded me of one of my favorite Bell’s beer -- Winter White. The cloudy yellow appearance is similar, but this has a bitter flavor to it. The grain and yeast flavors are a little more prevalent, but it’s pretty good.
Jaqulyn Woolsey – 3.0
As it poured, this beer had no head whatsoever. It's super thin and light, and doesn't have much flavor. It seems that most of the taste comes from the smell of the beer. I'd say this beer is drinkable, and forgettable.
BECK'S DARK
(Bremen, Germany)
Todd Zachritz – 2.0
This dark ruby lager pours with a thick head of off-white carbonation. Lace is pleasant if unremarkable. Aroma is sweet and malty, and it tastes much like a regular Beck's -- slightly skunky, but with a roasted burnt malt taste. Not very interesting or worthy, and not one I'd recommend.
Jabez Martinez – 2.0
This was labeled a dark beer but it reminded me more of a Coke when I poured it. I am not a big Beck’s fan, and this did not sway my stance. It was very dry, with little flavor and not much to it. The carbonation was ok, but I’d consider this and average to poor beer.
Jaqulyn Woolsey – 3.5
I'm definitely weirded out by the dark green-bottle beer. It's very dark on pour almost like a cola, and I picked up on the skunky notes right away. I don't mind skunky beers from time to time, and enjoy the occasional Stella, but the dark malts in this beer are just not for me.
GOOSE ISLAND - HONKER'S ALE
(Chicago, IL)
Todd Zachritz - 4.0
This clean and attractive amber ale is a nicely toasty English-style bitter, with a well-integrated and balanced aroma of mellow malts and lively hops. The taste is a clean marriage of roasted malts and citrusy hops. Always a pleasure.
Jabez Martinez – 4.0
Honker’s Ale is a hazy copper-colored beer. It had that English hop smell, and was a little bitter, but with that English nutty flavor. I have yet to try a bad Goose Island product and this one didn’t disappoint.
Jaqulyn Woolsey – 3.5
I like that this beer doesn't punch you in the face with hops. It's bitter but not too bitter; it drinks smooth with a bit of an aftertaste. It's not overpowering and I like that about it ... it's definitely a good winter beer!
FOUNDERS - BREAKFAST STOUT
(Grand Rapids, MI)
Todd Zachritz - 5.0
This acclaimed and exquisite brew dares to combine coffee, chocolate, and oatmeal into a sleek, pitch-black stout. The aroma is very coffee-like, and the flavors echo that, with some heavy-duty chocolate presence as well. Absolutely a sublime taste experience, and a deliciously world-class beer.
Jabez Martinez – 4.0
I could smell the coffee aroma in this beer the minute I poured it. It is a dark, almost black beer. I would consider this a light imperial stout. I could detect some chocolate flavors, but the coffee flavor overpowered it. I really enjoyed this one.
Jaqulyn Woolsey – 2.0
This beer poured a very dark almost burgundy color. It's very heavy on the coffee with a tiny hint of oatmeal, and also very chocolaty. I'm guessing the oatmeal is meant to be more of a filler. I don't typically enjoy dark beers, but can see how this one would earn high marks if you like this style of beer.
