Official Shaggy Beer Review Thread

[Bottlecap]

its all over texas in bars and grocery stores. My little neighborhood corner store even carries it. it will be gone soon, so if you liked it that much, you'd better stock up

[Tex Pete]

Who hasn't gotten blasted off The Beast at least once in his life? It may have been at a frat party(if you were in a $#@!ty frat) or more likely at a HS party, but it's almost a right of passage to imbibe in a beer that costs less than most bottled waters...for a good reason.

Some beers are brewed with mountain spring water, Milwaukee's Best is brewed with partially treated wastewater. The Beast really has no redeeming qualities in my book, but I know a guy who makes plenty of money who lives on the stuff. To each his own, I guess. The last time I drank it, I ended up trying to pee in a TV set, and did end up peeing in the corner of a (former) friend's closet.

Since you didn't say anything about negative ratings, I'll give Milwaukee's Best 1

To call it "piss water" is a little too kind. I'd rather sniff White Out to alter my mood.

[AnotherUTFan]

Who hasn't gotten blasted off The Beast at least once in his life? It may have been at a frat party(if you were in a $#@!ty frat) or more likely at a HS party, but it's almost a right of passage to imbibe in a beer that costs less than most bottled waters...for a good reason.

Some beers are brewed with mountain spring water, Milwaukee's Best is brewed with partially treated wastewater. The Beast really has no redeeming qualities in my book, but I know a guy who makes plenty of money who lives on the stuff. To each his own, I guess. The last time I drank it, I ended up trying to pee in a TV set, and did end up peeing in the corner of a (former) friend's closet.

Since you didn't say anything about negative ratings, I'll give Milwaukee's Best 1

To call it "piss water" is a little too kind. I'd rather sniff White Out to alter my mood.

I too have sampled this beer and can fully endorse your review. It was complete and accurate.

[mdleast]

Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA



Yet another damn smooth beer from Firestone Walker. Great yet somewhat subdued citrus smell. The taste is a great balance of hoppy, piney, grapefruit bitterness. While it's 7.5% ABV, you don't really taste the alcohol going down but can soon feel it. I read a review that notes that this IPA is bordering on almost being a Double IPA. As I just recently had FW's Double Jack (see above in this thread), I would agree but put this just slightly behind that one. Therefore, as I gave the Double Jack a 4.5 hook ems, I suppose I have to give this one only 4 hook ems (though I would be tempted to go higher had I not just had the Double Jack).

[AnotherUTFan]

Haha. I'm halfway through the same beer right now as chance would have it. Solid review. Cheers!

[AnotherUTFan]

Ballast Point - 2012 Sea Monster Imperial Stout





I normally try to only review beers that I acquire through trading and that are available to most of you in Texas. This was outstanding and wanted to share.

Ballast Point makes a slightly different version of this beer for release every January. They released this years the other night and I stopped and picked up a few bottles and sampled a cask version of the 2011 version. I was at a tasting event in November where I tried every version since 2008, including a few that had been barrel aged. This years is better than all of them I think.

I've been mostly hophead and just started really getting into this style after I began beer trading and getting receiving some excellent Stouts from flyover country. I'm going to say that this Imperial Stout from Ballast Point would hold up very well against any other I've tried. It's a bold beer and smacks you in the face a little at first taste. I bit boozy and the coffee is very evident. At the same time, it's very soft and easy to drink once it's in your mouth. Once you swallow, it's gone. No lingering, bitter aftertaste. You immediately want another sip to replace what was lost.

At the end of the bottle I thought I may have finally had the beer to make me a full convert from the hoppy side to the dark side... that was until I opened my growler of Exponential Hoppiness and was reminded why I'm a hop-head. I am, however, going to go buy a case of the Sea Monster to last a while.

[AnotherUTFan]

Boulevard "Harvest Dance" Wheat Wine Style Ale


*

I was terrified to try this beer because it says right on the front of the label that it has two characteristics I don't really like in a beer, wheat and wine. I was imagining a syrupy, sweet beer trying to hide behind a bunch of wheat. What it is is a very good wheat beer that actually tastes closer to a pilsner. They did a very good job balancing this and the "wine" notes are just subtle enough to be noticeable, mostly in the upfront taste. Those flavors taste like they don't really belong in this wheat beer, but they somehow work. Personally, this is not a style of beer I would pursue as I'm not a fan of wheat beer or pilsners (other that the few exceptional ones I've found), but this is a great one if you're into those styles. Boulevard continues to impress me. They've got to be one of the top 10 brewers in the US as far as quality and range of selection go. Good job.

* I wanted to rate this a 3 1/2 based on my taste but knocked it up to as to not penalize a great beer for not being in a style I prefer, and this is a very well made beer.

Edit. I just had Mrs AUTF try this and she thought is was "very good". She doesn't like wheat beer either, so I was surprised. She thought the difference was that this is a little more malty than most wheat beers and agreed that it is closer to a pilsner.

[ghow]

Avery Majaraha


3 hookems.

Strong and sweet. If you are a fan of DIPA's you might like it. A little strong for my tastes. And by that I mean a little too sweet. Not much hops. Or should I say the sweet overpowers the hops by far. There is the chance that this bottle is old, but my vision is too blurry to be able to find it on the bottle. Actually get's worse as it warms up. I'm not going to hate on it too much though. I'm not into DIPA's very much. It's a once a year, share a bottle with a friend type beer.
Totally unrelated: I think Avery might be very overrated. I can't remember one beer of theirs that I thought "damn, I need to drink that $#@! more often". In their defense I can't remember a beer of their that I thought sucked.
Oh, and the Indian dude on the bottle is really freaking me out.

[PhatAtUT]

There is the chance that this bottle is old, but my vision is too blurry to be able to find it on the bottle.

look above the "AVERY" and just beneath the indian dude. there's your bottle date. im curious to know if you had an older bottle.

[AnotherUTFan]

Im actually a fan of the Majaraja. A solid 4 to 4 1/2 hook 'em beer. And I HATE sweet IPAs.

[Greenspointexas]

Jester King Das Wunderkind - im kinda throwed offa Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout, New Belgium Clutch and at the end of this one.

Simply put, its the best sour available in this state and the best beer Jester King has produced (but I havent tried Noble King or Mad Meg) to date. Light sour beer with great balance of tart and clove/bananas. Love it, and think it will do well over time.

4-4.5 hook ems. Dayum

[PhatAtUT]

Jester King Das Wunderkind - im kinda throwed offa Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout, New Belgium Clutch and at the end of this one.

Simply put, its the best sour available in this state and the best beer Jester King has produced (but I havent tried Noble King or Mad Meg) to date. Light sour beer with great balance of tart and clove/bananas. Love it, and think it will do well over time.

4-4.5 hook ems. Dayum

called D&Q around 5pm and they were already sold out. hopefully we get more in houston soon.

[ghow]

look above the "AVERY" and just beneath the indian dude. there's your bottle date. im curious to know if you had an older bottle.

Winter 11/12.

[4UT]

Avery Majaraha
If you are a fan of DIPA's you might like it. A little strong for my tastes. And by that I mean a little too sweet. Not much hops. Or should I say the sweet overpowers the hops by far

I'm a big fan of DIPAs, but this one doesn't do it for me.

[CO Horn]

If I were to rate the CO breweries, I would say

Great Divide
Oskar Blues
Odell
Avery
New Belgium
Lefthand

[Bottlecap]

Less Cellar'ing. More drinking.

Can anyone recommend a review?

[At Ease]

Avery Majaraha

Totally unrelated: I think Avery might be very overrated. I can't remember one beer of theirs that I thought "damn, I need to drink that $#@! more often". In their defense I can't remember a beer of their that I thought sucked.

Their Mephistopheles is one that I came away really impressed with.

[PhatAtUT]

Less Cellar'ing. More drinking.

Can anyone recommend a review?

red's rye pa

[HenryJames]

Less Cellar'ing. More drinking.

Can anyone recommend a review?

I've found that Oberon doesn't taste as good aged as it does fresh.

[ghow]

Loko?

[mdleast]

Laughing Dog Alpha Imperial IPA



Brand new to Texas, I just picked this up this weekend in Austin (& hear Spec's Dallas is now getting the Laughing Dog beers). This is an 8.70% hop bomb.

Great hoppy, citrusy aroma. Was initially a little disappointed at first taste as there is not the citrus notes I smelled and it was actually very, very bitter with a lot of pepperiness to it. However, the more it warmed/I drank, this bitterness gave way to more of a balanced (yet über 120 IBU hoppy) taste. I like it. While a more citrusy/floral taste would have been more to my personal liking, this is a welcome addition to the Texas hophead beer selection. Also can't wait to try the other beers of theirs I picked up. 4 hook ems.

[Chewbacca]

Totally unrelated: I think Avery might be very overrated. I can't remember one beer of theirs that I thought "damn, I need to drink that $#@! more often". In their defense I can't remember a beer of their that I thought sucked.
Oh, and the Indian dude on the bottle is really freaking me out.

I completely agree. Avery is good, but but not great. There are usually better options available. I'm a big fan of O'Dells and the two are usually side by side at the store. It's a rare day that i pick the Avery.

[Chewbacca]

I'm a big fan of DIPAs, but this one doesn't do it for me.

I concur. Don't see what the fuss is all about and I LOVE DIPAS.

[Chewbacca]

If I were to rate the CO breweries, I would say

Great Divide
Oskar Blues
Odell
Avery
New Belgium
Lefthand

Great Divide #1? Really? Can't say I've ever had a beer of theirs that was really memorable.

My list would be

O'Dell
Oskar Blues (really want to try Deviant Dale's but have not seen in stores anywhere)
Avery
NB
Lefthand
GD

[PhatAtUT]

have you never had any of the yetis? or old ruffian barleywine? those are top notch beers.

[Chewbacca]

I typically drink IPAs, Pale Ales and lagers. Sometimes I mix in a wheat beer, but I'm not big on stouts. Can't stand barleywine.

[Bottlecap]

I completely agree. Avery is good, but but not great.

I love Avery. The Rumkin is $#@!in boss.

[PhatAtUT]

I typically drink IPAs, Pale Ales and lagers. Sometimes I mix in a wheat beer, but I'm not big on stouts. Can't stand barleywine.

well if youre judging IPAs, i agree odell makes the best in colorado.

[Chewbacca]

well if youre judging IPAs, i agree odell makes the best in colorado.

Myrcenary is the $#@!.

[TexHorn06]

FYI, Ballast Point will likely be available in Texas soon (next few months).

[AnotherUTFan]

Not a review, but a preview of reviews to come. Thanks to 2 very cool and generous shagsters, representing Dallas and Houston, I received all of this today.


Will be my 1st tastes of anything from Bells or Founders, the Chocolate from Boulevard has a great buzz, the Farmhouse versions of the Jester King stuff, too much to list. Some of these I've tried before and have since wanted to do a side-by-side with other stuff it reminded me of. The wife and I have kicked around hosting a bottle share night and getting some friends to come open their stash of rare stuff and share. Some of these will be held for that.

Thanks guys. This is fantastic.

[texashooch]

I think there is a fair chance that the Abrasive originated with me. If that's the case, I'm happy that it's making its way around. PM if you want to try any more of the midwest brews.

[FCHorn]

If I were to rate the CO breweries, I would say

Great Divide
Oskar Blues
Odell
Avery
New Belgium
Lefthand

If that encapsulates your CO beer drinking experience then...wow...great divide #1???? really now....

[CO Horn]

Great Divide #1? Really? Can't say I've ever had a beer of theirs that was really memorable.

My list would be

O'Dell
Oskar Blues (really want to try Deviant Dale's but have not seen in stores anywhere)
Avery
NB
Lefthand
GD

GD Titan IPA and Hercules are both good, but their Imperial Stouts are excellent.

in terms of Deviant, Oskar Blues is installing a new canning system and will releasing Deviant in tallboys in the next month or two.

[AnotherUTFan]

Laughing Dog Alpha Imperial IPA



Brand new to Texas, I just picked this up this weekend in Austin (& hear Spec's Dallas is now getting the Laughing Dog beers). This is an 8.70% hop bomb.

Great hoppy, citrusy aroma. Was initially a little disappointed at first taste as there is not the citrus notes I smelled and it was actually very, very bitter with a lot of pepperiness to it. However, the more it warmed/I drank, this bitterness gave way to more of a balanced (yet über 120 IBU hoppy) taste. I like it. While a more citrusy/floral taste would have been more to my personal liking, this is a welcome addition to the Texas hophead beer selection. Also can't wait to try the other beers of theirs I picked up. 4 hook ems.

I had an engagement this evening that kept me from diving right into that package, but i couldn't wait to get home to crack a bottle. I finally go home around 10:30 and decided to try the same beer; AlphaDog. 1st beer I've ever had from Laughing Dog, or Idaho for that matter.




I could easily see some guys rating it even higher.

This is a very interesting beer and I can't think of anything I can compare it to. It's unique in that it's just gone as soon as you drink it. It has a bitterness up front, but none in the aftertaste. It's gone as soon as you swallow. There's a trace of bitterness left behind that you can squeeze out by pressing the back of your tongue against your throat. It has a bit of hoppiness that I wouldn't believe is the 120 mdleast said it is, nor would I believe it's 8.5% abv. This is way easy to drink and would a great introductory IPA for the guy in that old thread claiming to want to find a taste for IPA's. I am deducting a little that there's not a lot of complexity to this beer and adding a ton though for being this easily drinkable and having the characteristics that make a great IPA. Good job Idaho, well done. I'm excited to try the other Laughing Dog beer I have in there.

[AnotherUTFan]

So I decided to be a pig and follow that up with the "Abrasive Ale", a double IPA from Surly Brewing Co; the 1st canned craft beer I think I've ever tried.




This was actually sent to me by my old friend Brandon, owner of the D&Q Mini-Mart in Houston, through a fellow Shagster it turns out. BTW, Please buy your beer from Brandon if you're in Houston, he really is one of the good guys on this planet and I will plug his shop any chance I get. One of the best people I've ever crossed paths with.

I'm pretty sure Brandon sent me this particular beer because it was brewed in Minnesota, the state where he and I first met, worked, and hung out together.

This beer is a lot different than the AlphaDog and I'm not sure "Double IPA" is an apt description. This is a little to malty for that category. It's a little sweet and pushes my tolerance for sweet/syrupy in a beer, but doesn't cross the line. I would classify this beer more as a juiced up Pale Ale that a Double IPA. Think of a bigger, bolder version of the good old Sierra Nevada Pale Ale that's become a staple. There is plenty of hoppiness like a good DIPA, but it's more malty than Piney/Citrusy. Still a quite enjoyable beer. I like it. A lot.

Thank you Thang Nguyen, and our shaggy intermediary. I'm so gonna crush this can on my forehead.

[PhatAtUT]

as it turns out, brandon gave me a can of abrasive as well, I assume from the same batch. ive been fortunate to have tried several cans of abrasive from texashooch and I will say that fresh, it ranks in the top 3-4 DIPAs I've had. it's fantastic. unfortunately, the abrasive from Brandon was about 6-7 weeks old ( at least the can given to me was) and a great DIPA can lose a lot in that relatively short period of time. the fresh cans I drank on two different occasions straight from Minnesota were much better than the slightly older can I got from Brandon.

[clear lake horn]

It's the beer that made Milwaukee famous. And they are back to brewing the original 1960's formula:

[AnotherUTFan]

as it turns out, brandon gave me a can of abrasive as well, I assume from the same batch. ive been fortunate to have tried several cans of abrasive from texashooch and I will say that fresh, it ranks in the top 3-4 DIPAs I've had. it's fantastic. unfortunately, the abrasive from Brandon was about 6-7 weeks old ( at least the can given to me was) and a great DIPA can lose a lot in that relatively short period of time. the fresh cans I drank on two different occasions straight from Minnesota were much better than the slightly older can I got from Brandon.

Funny that IPAs were originally created so they could be stored / shipped for long periods of time and are now one of the beers that are better the fresher you can get them.

[Chewbacca]

in terms of Deviant, Oskar Blues is installing a new canning system and will releasing Deviant in tallboys in the next month or two.

Nice. I'll have to keep an eye out.

[AnotherUTFan]

Tonight was the night that I got my 1st taste of the highly acclaimed Western Michigan beers.


I had all three of these beers tonight and found them to be the hardest of any to try and rate. These beers are way different than any other beers I've tasted and caused me to pause and consider regions and how that may effect beer.

San Diego is both my hometown and where I've lived most of my life. I did live a considerable amount of my life in Texas and several (nearly 5) years in the Upper-Midwest (Twin-Cities).

As i 1st tasted these Western Michigan beers I thought they were heavy, flat, and boozy. Then I considered that it is 60 out this evening; meaning the heater came on and I'm sitting here nearly sweating. How would these beers taste if I were back in Minnesota in February when the thermometer hadn't seen the warm side of 0 in 3 months and how would that effect my appreciation for these beers?

The San Diego / Cali beers have a liveliness to them that reflects the active, outdoor oriented lifestyle. These beers reflect the Upper-Midwest winter lifestyle which, while no less active, is different. Think tuna fishing vs ice fishing. Dune buggy racing vs snow snowmobiling. Downhill skiing vs cross county skiing.

Fresh fish tacos or sushi vs chicken soup or pot roast

It hit me, as a rocker, in terms of bands. Black Sabbath vs Iron Maiden. Where Sabbath is dark and heavy, Maiden is a little more uptempo and lively; both being equally great bands.

These beers strike me, as my inter-Minnesotan, as great wintertime beer, but I couldn't see myself enjoying them while fishing on lake Minnetonka in late July.

Please take my reviews below through this light; and consider this prism as you sample any other stouts that i've reviewed in the past.

[AnotherUTFan]

1st up was Founders Imperial Stout


per my inner-Minnesotan (3 1/2 per my SD hophead)

Poured thick black with no head. Very thick and syrupy in texture. Smelled very roasty upfront. Extremely full flavored. Attacked and surrounded my mouth like nothing I've experienced; not in a bad way. Way too much anise/liquorish in the finish/aftertaste. A lot of coffee / burnt coffee flavors that dominated. Definitely a slow sipper compared to an easy drinker. I couldn't see myself enjoying more than one of these little 12 oz'ers (and whats up with the little bottles??) at a time. Very dark & gloomy compared to some of the more lively stouts I've been trying lately.

[AnotherUTFan]

Followed up by the Founders KSB stout


1/2 per my inner-Minnesotan (4 per my SD hophead)

Equally black pour with still no head. Lighter smell, a little more vanilla and less coffee. Taste lighter as well. More chocolate that coffee with a hint of vanilla. Low carbonation. Very boozy. Very thick & silky mouth feel. Continued to taste better as I got toward the end of the glass.

[AnotherUTFan]

Followed the two Founders beers with on from Bells: their Expedition Stout.


per my inner-Minnesotan (nearly as high per my SD-Hophead; say 4 3/4)

This was a little closer to what I expect in a stout. Dark pour. Rich, thick head. Roasty smell. Full, balanced flavor. A ton of body and has a lot going on. More kick / life than the two Founders beers. My only knock is that it is a little acrid in the finish / aftertaste.

[AnotherUTFan]

OK. I've been drinking a lot of beer but have been pretty busy and haven't added any reviews. Of the 20+ beers i received from Texas acouple weeks ago, I'm going to review the ones that stood out. I still have 6 or 8 bottles to go through as well.

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace



1/2.

1st beer I've ever had from this brewer and it was a real nice one. My 1st thought was that this is a big boy beer. It was very full flavored, full mouth feel, and very balanced. I kept thinking that it tasted great for no particular reason. Just a lot of flavors blended together very nicely. Wouldn't mind another at all.

[AnotherUTFan]

Ranger Creek Mesquite Smoked Porter



(maybe +1/2)

This is a beer that could only come from Texas.

I had a few Ranger Creek beers this last go around and, to be honest, most of them were good, but fairly unremarkable. This one however, stands out.

When they say smoked porter, they mean it. Opened the bottle and you could smell the smoke. Big, bold, and aggressive. Once you get past the smoke you find the nearly as aggressive coffee flavors. Well done. I cannot think of another beer I've ever tried that compares to this. I could imagine getting another one of these to drink with my next BBQ.

[AnotherUTFan]

Jester King Das Wunderkind




Outstanding!

I've been reluctant to review any of the JK beers I've tried (Black Metal, Witchmaker, Thrash Metal, and a few others) because I've been a little disappointed based on the hype. So I wasn't expecting much when I opened this and even commented to my wife that I was hoping JK would finally show me something.

And show me they did. This is a fantastic sour saison and I very much enjoyed every sip. Very mellow, flavorful and sour without being too tart. Would read again. If you find one of these on a shelf somewhere, I'd recommend grabbing every single one.

BTW, I'm not through with Jester King. I have procured bottles of Black Metal, Farmhouse Black Metal, and a few bottles of other beers that I like a lot that the BM reminds me of. My theory is that the label and packaging is the cause of my disappointment in the BM. You've got an aggressive bottle, name, & label and then get a mellow beer. Some of the beers that it reminds me of that I like come with mellow labels to match. I'm going to gather some friends for a blind tasting and see how it goes. I'll update the results.

[alincoln]

Interesting takes on the Michigan beers. I'm not a big fan of the Founders Imperial either but the KBS is the standard in the style imo. It really should be laid down for a while to mellow. Same with the expedition. It's not really fair to evaluate those beers if they were released this year. The acrid aspect of the finish on the Exposition will almost completely disappear given time.

You really need to get your hands on the Founders Red's Rye, Bells Two-Hearted and the Bells HopSlam. Those beers easily compete with the West Coast IPAs.

[AnotherUTFan]

Lastly

Alpine's Exponential Hoppiness




That's right, 6 hook 'ems.

I had this on draft when it was released and grabbed 6 bottles. 2 of which I saved for myself. I had Pliny the Younger on draft at 3 different places when it was released soon after. Finally cracked one of my to bottles of EH Wednesday night and declare this the single best beer I've ever tasted. It's better that the PtY in every single way, including alcohol content (11% vs 10.5) and by a longshot. This is also the best version of EH I've tried, better than their last few batches. last years PtY I thought was better than the EH.

This is what water tastes like in heaven. Mellony, Piney, citrusy, just a lot of rich, hoppy flavors that all blend into a sweet nectar with no bitterness. No way would you guess that there is 11% abv in this. If you have the means, I highly recommend it. I'm going to be sad when I finish my lone remaining bottle.

I'm reviewing this regionally available beer because, a) It's the best beer on the planet and b) I know of at least a couple of shagsters who happened to procure a bottle of this years EH and I'm hoping they will chime in and either confirm or deny my assertion.

[AnotherUTFan]

Interesting takes on the Michigan beers. I'm not a big fan of the Founders Imperial either but the KBS is the standard in the style imo. It really should be laid down for a while to mellow. Same with the expedition. It's not really fair to evaluate those beers if they were released this year. The acrid aspect of the finish on the Exposition will almost completely disappear given time.

You really need to get your hands on the Founders Red's Rye, Bells Two-Hearted and the Bells HopSlam. Those beers easily compete with the West Coast IPAs.

I think I have a bead on these, at least the two from Bells. Really looking forward to trying them. I've heard nothing but good things.