Black Iron IPA (The Grand Canyon Brewing Co.)

Appearance - 13

Black Iron IPA pours hazy orange color.  The off white head pours thick, and remains for a while, leaving good lacing as you drink the beer.

Aroma - 7

The aroma of Black Iron IPA is a little boring.  There are some hints of orange peel that stand out against the mostly bland smell.  You can make out some slight sweetness form the malt,  and some, but not many, mild hops that you would typically want from an American style IPA.

Taste - 35

The taste was definitely better that the aroma.  The hints of orange hit the back of your tongue before any other flavors, but almost instantly after that, there is a rush of hops that covers up the orange.  You next taste the malt which is sweet for an IPA, but not bad.  Followed by another hint of hop as you swallow, leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste.  Its not a perfect IPA, but it is pretty good.

Drinkablility - 8

Black Iron IPA is very drinkable for a IPA.  It is refreshing, with the hint of orange and the mild hops, and would make a nice summer riverside evening beer.  It has a relatively high ABV (7.3%), so be careful as you drink.  It will sneak up on you

Hip-Hop - 8

It comes in a can, which means it is recycleable and drinkable on the river.  That always adds a few points in my book.  I have always had a fascination with trains and the West, and a beer that combines both of those is pretty cool in my book.

Total Score - 71

Website: Black Iron IPA (Grand Canyon Brewing Co.)

Shiner Prickly Pear Lager (Spotzl Brewery)

Note - I really have no idea what type of beer I should be comparing this to.  It is in a class of its own, so keep that in mind as you read this review.

Appearance - 14

Shiner's Prickly Pear Lager pours well and looks great.  It is a dark reddish brown color, yet crystal clear at the same time.  A short but thick off white head tops off the beer, and lingers for a while leaving some interesting, and good, lacing for a lager in my opinion.  I kinda like the looks of this.

Aroma - 7

I am not a huge fan of the aroma here.  It smells super sweet, not like a beer, but not at all like a cider.  Strange.  It not pungent, it doesn't stink, it just doesn't smell like beer.  When you dig beyond the sweetness, you do pick up a little bit of dried grass, that I think might be some type of hops, or maybe even part of the mash, but really...I am not sure.  Maybe this is what it would smell like if you brewed yourself a nice barrel of mixed berry Cool-Aid in the hay barn.

Taste - 40

After looking at the beer I was excited to try it, after smelling it, I was afraid.  When I did take a swig, the first thought that came to my mind was, "dam, this stuff is actually pretty good."  The beer was sweet at first, sorta...its hard to explain.  You taste is a hint of berry, some caramel, and prickly pear (if you have tasted prickly pear juice, then you know what I mean.)  But its not really sweet.  I guess they added enough hops to knock down the sweetness without really showing the hops.  Its good.

 

Drinkablility - 10

This may be one of the easiest drinking beers that I have ever had.  It goes down smooth...almost too easy.  its refreshing and not overwhelming, its light but flavorful.

 

Hip-Hop - 9

Pretty cool stuff.  This is the first beer I have had with prickly pear in it.  First I have ever heard of in fact.  Its pretty cool, pretty Texas if you are into that.  The only thing is that some people might think your drinking a girly drink when they smell it.  You will just have to re-assure them that its not, without letting them try it, because it is only available in this year's family reunion packs, so you most likely won't even have enough for yourself!

Total Score - 80

Website: Shiner (Spotzl Brewery)

Happy Camper IPA (Santa Fe Brewing Company)

Appearance - 13

The beer poured nice.  There was a good thick lingering head that leaves some, but not much, lacing.  The color is an amber honey and the beer is very clear, but kinda bland and boring.

Aroma - 12

Nice, but not perfect for an IPA.  The first tone I picked up on was some pine.  Like the smell of Ponderosa Pines in a high arid desert.  Hops were also very evident, as expected with an IPA.  I think they were actually just piney smelling hops, but floral scents where also there too.  Nice. But unlike many American India Pale Ales (especially from the Western US), the was more malt aroma than usual.  More like an English IPA.

Taste - 42

The taste of Happy Camper IPA was almost exactly like the aroma.  You definitely taste the piney hops and pick up on the floral tones.  But there are some more layers here.  You pick up on the malt more than most American IPAs.  There is also a slight lemon citrus taste that cleans up the finish.  It kind of knocks down overwhelming aftertaste that many India Pale Ales have.

 

Drinkablility - 8

Happy Camper IPA is more "drinkable" than many other IPAs.  The slight hints of the malt and the limited amounts of citrus help the beer to drink easier, but it is still an IPA.  It also seems to have a little bit higher alcohol by volume than other IPAs, so be careful!

 

Hip-Hop - 10

Awesome!  Pure awesome.  The can really caught my eye (as has the style of much of Santa Fe Brewing's beers.)  The availability of cans makes it even better because of the ability to take the beer on the river and have easily recyclable containers.

Total Score - 85

Website: Happy Camper IPA (Santa Fe Brewing Co.)

White Water Wheat (Grand Canyon Brewing Company)

Appearance - 14

Grand Canyon White Water Wheat is yellowish honey color.  It is full of cloudy and opaque, like a wheat beer typically is.  It pours with a large thin white head, that has decent staying power.  Lacing is left in the glass as you drink, but not a lot.  Overall, I think this beer is very pretty and what I want from a American Style Wheat Beer.

Aroma - 8

The beer is pretty average in the aroma category.  Not a lot stands out, but nothing repulses you either.  There are hints of grass and hay, and a few very faint hops, but that is about it.

Taste - 35

White Water Wheat does not have a lot of flavor.  There is not much spice or added flavors that I pick up on.  Typical modern American Wheat beers tend to have a bunch of added spice and citrus, but this beer doesn't.  A lot of people may disagree with me, but I find that refreshing and good.  There is a hint of wheat as you drink the beer, followed by some very mild hops, but that is about it.  I like the taste, but it is not everything that is desired from an American Style Wheat beer.

Drinkablility - 8

White Water Wheat is very drinkable, especially compared to other American Style Wheat Beers.  Although I love hops, and this beer lacks that bitterness, most Wheat Beers don't want too many hops.  The mild flavors and tones of White Water Wheat make this beer very drinkable.

Hip-Hop - 7

Pretty cool beer, as anything from the Grand Canyon would be.  The availability of cans makes it even better because of the ability to take the beer on the river and have easily recyclable containers.

Total Score - 72

Website: White Water Wheat (Grand Canyon Brewing Company)

UFO Hefeweizen (Harpoon Brewery)

Appearance - 13

UFO Hefeweizen is a nice bright yellow color.  It is full of little floaties of yeast and cloudy from the wheat proteins, that seems to help the beer glow when you hold it up to the light.  It pours with a large white head, that fizzles out quickly.  Not much lacing is left in the glass as you drink, and a few points are lost for this.  But overall, I think this beer is very pretty and what I want from a hefeweizen.

Aroma - 12

There is a hint of lemon in the aroma, but not much other spice compared to other hefeweizens that I have had recently, and I like this about UFO.  The aroma is slightly sweet, but definitely not an over powering sweetness.  I don't pick up on much of the wheat for some reason, but I like it.

Taste - 47

The flavor of UFO is almost perfect for a hefeweizen, in my opinion.  The beer is not overly sweet or overly hoppy.  There is a hint of crisp lemon, just as in the aroma, but not too much to overpower the beer.  It is very clean tasting, without much spice.  You taste the beer slightly accented by the small amount of lemon, without all the spice that many hefeweizens are now adding.  There is no lingering or strong aftertaste, the beer finishes very clean.  I really like it.  UFO hefeweizen tastes like a hefeweizen should.

Drinkablility - 8

UFO is fairly drinkable; easier to drink than most other hefeweizens I have had recently.  It is a very refreshing summer beer, and the hint of lemon actually helps clean up the taste some adding to its drinkability.    Not perfect here, but very good.  A great beer to enjoy on a warm late Summer evening, but probably not something you would want to drink out on the river.

Hip-Hop - 7

There aren't many beer with a better name, so it scores high here.  I do think that the label could be a little better for a beer with such a great name.

Total Score - 87

Website: UFO Hefeweizen (Harpoon Brewery)

Glissade Golden Bock (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.)

Appearance - 12

Glissade Golden Bock has a pretty color that is somewhere between a honey and a golden amber.  It's color is what I want from a maibock or helles bock beer.  It pours smooth and leaves a rich head white head.  However, I thought the head dissipated a little quicker than I expected and did not leave great lacing. 

Aroma - 6

There is a smell of malt, like you would want, but the malt aroma seemed lighter than you would expect even from a maibock or helles bock beer.  The malt almost had the smell of a pilsner.  The hops were very floral for a bock, but similar to what is typical at Sierra Nevada.  I also pick up a hint of citrus, which I am not a fan of in this style of beer.  The aroma of Glissade Golden Bock is not bad, its just not what I want from a maibock beer.

Taste - 43

The flavor is complex yet subtle. After the disappointment of the aroma, I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of Glissade Golden Bock.  The slightly sweet malt flavor is what you want from a maibock beer, with slight hints of honey and some toastiness.  There are also some great earthy and floral hops that add just enough bitterness, more than most bocks, to knock some sweetness away from the beer.  They also seem to help Glissade finish very clean.  A littler less sweet and a few more hops than most bocks, the taste of this beer fits nicely in the maibock or helles bock category.

Drinkablility - 7

Glissade Golden Bock is pretty drinkable.  The clean finish is very nice and makes the beer very drinkable.  It may be a little hoppier than most bocks, but hey, that's a maibock in my opinion.  The aroma does actually detract some from the drinkability of this beer though, in my opinion.  But overall, very drinkable.

Hip-Hop - 7

Above average in the cool factor here.  It is available in, and should be enjoyed, in the Winter.  And most of all, there is a cool picture of a goat overlooking valley on the label.

Total Score -75

Website: Glissade Golden Bock (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.)

Old Brewery Pale Ale (Samuel Smith's Old Brewery)

Appearance - 14

Old Brewery Pale Ale pours a reddish brown copper color, with a hint of cloudiness.  It is an English Pale Ale, which typically are a little darker than American Pale Ale's.  It is  very pretty beer.  It is unfortunate that you can't tell from the picture, but Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale comes with a great thick and creamy head.  The head leaves a decent lacing of a few rings.

Aroma - 14

The aroma of Old Brewery Pale Ale is very...British countryside.  The aroma is a pleasant blend of a complex bunch of aromas.  You first notice the floral tones, and then some fruitiness.  There are definite grassy tones with a nice amount of earthy hops.  There is even a slight toastiness to the smell.  It is nice, and deep, but not overwhelming.

Taste - 46

The malt of Old Brewery Pale Ale definitely stands out, which is to be expected with an English Pale Ale.  Caramel and a hint of toffee are present.  English hops are present and bring some floral and bitterness that you want in a Pale Ale.  The bitterness is not overwhelming and the beer finishes with a slightly sweet.  The complexity of the aroma was equaled in the depth of the taste, yet nothing was overpowering.  Making it a very balanced and flavorful Pale Ale.  This is one of the better English Pale Ales I have had.

Drinkablility - 7

Old Brewery Pale Ale is above average in drinkability.  There is a filling feeling as you drink the beer, which is nice and slows you down, but also just makes it a little less drinkable for the typical American beer drinker (not that you want to English Pale Ales to poor down like water though.)  The sweet aftertaste also detracts some from the drinkability, however this beer is in no way harsh and drinks very smooth.

Hip-Hop - 10

This a cool beer. The brewery was established in 1758, and is still independently owned today.  The water for this beer is still drawn from the exact same well as the first beer brewed at the Old Brewery.  Samuel Smith's Old Brewery also still sticks with the tradition of delivering the beer locally, five days a week, with a small team of Shire Horses.  I love history and tradition!

Total Score - 91

Website: Old Brewery Pale Ale (Samuel Smith's Old Brewery)

Shiner Bock (Spoetzl Brewery)

 

Appearance - 10

Shiner Bock is a copper brown hued brew.  It is clear, and when held to the light almost glows ruby brown color.  I think it is a pretty beer.  But, the head is weak.  Shiner has a thin off-white colored head that dissipates quickly.  It leaves behind some lacing as you drink, but the lacing doesn't last long and isn't very strong.  Shiner loses some points for the low quality head, but otherwise it is what a bock should be.

Aroma - 8

There isn't much here, but what is here is nice.  The aroma is slightly sweet, with malts and muted caramel.  That's about all there is to it.  It is about average in this category.

Taste - 34

Shiner Bock is slightly sweet and slightly malty, like a traditional bock should be.  There are not any noticeable hops as you drink, which is again something you want in a traditional bock beer.  However Shiner Bock does not provide the richness and toastiness that you want from your bocks.  It also has a bit more carbonation than traditional bock beers.  The aftertaste is good.  It is slightly sweet, but not overpowering.  Overall, Shiner Bock is nice, tastes good, and I like it, but does not provide all of what you want in a Bock beer.

Drinkablility - 9

Shiner Bock is very drinkable.  The things that detract from the true "bock" flavors, the lack or richness and toastiness, actually add to this beers drinkability.  Maybe this is because Shiner Bock is brewed in Texas and made to drink in the hot son.  The higher carbonation adds to the refreshing nature of Shiner Bock.  The only slight deduction is from the slightly too sweet aftertaste which seems to get stronger as you drink.

Hip-Hop - 8

Shiner Bock is cool.  It is a great beer to take while you are enjoying a Memorial Day in the sun.  It is not hard to find, it is pretty much everywhere.  It is available in glass and cans (which are easily recycled) in case you want to take it with you to enjoy on the river.

Total Score - 69

Website: Shiner Bock (Spoetzl Brewery)

Fix 1864 Spezial (Lion Brewery)

Appearance - 7

It pours a pretty, but boring yellow gold color.  Very clear brew, Fix 1864 Spezial has no opaqueness to it.  Much like any American Style Lager.  The head is thin, dissipates quickly, and leaves almost no lacing.  Pretty boring and common in appearance.

Aroma - 7

Again, much like the look, this beer is pretty typical in the aroma section.  There is a hint of sweetness when you fist nose the beer, but other than that it is pretty bland, even for a lager.  Nothing special, but nothing terrible.  Just a little less than average.

Taste - 25

I thought the taste of Fix 1864 Spezial was average for this style of beer.  Nothing great, but nothing terrible. Just right in the middle.  Similar to many lagers, the flavor was decent while cold, but as the glass and beer warmed a bit, the flavor went downhill.  There were no flavors that really stood out.  I was able to make out a hint of corn and some grassy hop flavors, but not much.  There really was no aftertaste.  What you first put in your mouth is what you get.  Just a middle of the road Lager.

Drinablility - 7

There wasn't much to this beer, and there really wasn't much to drink it either.  Drinking was pretty easy, no strong aftertaste, no pungent odor to clog you nose.  But it wasn't great either.  Nothing I would rush out to get.  So the drinkability was a little above average.

Hip-Hop - 5

Well they pretend to be cool by claiming to be a Greek Lager (and I guess it is a Greek recipe.)  However, the beer is brewed here in America, and tastes like any other American Lager.  It is still would look a little better walking around with this than a Budwiser or something, so...average in the Hip-Hop category.

Total Score - 51

Website: Fix 1864 Spezial (Lion Brewery)

Noble King Hoppy Farmhouse Ale (Jester King Craft Brewery)

Appearance - 15

Noble King has an amazing pour.  One of the most beautiful pours that I can remember seeing.  I give it the full 15 points here.  It is a wonderful orangeish-golden hue that instantly catches your eye.  There are little yeast floaties that can be seen in the beer, and are expected for beers in this style.  Noble King also has a great head that seems to build on thick and linger forever.  It leaves great lace as you drink the beer (if you can put it down to notice.)  This is what a Saison / Farmhouse beer should look like.

Aroma - 13

Again, this beer excels in the aroma category, but not quite to the extent that it did in appearance.  There is a good initial pop or hops in the nose that should be expected. The florals were very notable, and you cen even smell the yeast.  Nice aroma.

Taste - 46

Great taste, but not perfect (but almost.)  The only real downfalls for me were that the beer became a little too earthy as it warmed up, and there could have been a bit more hops.  It is very refreshing, like a farmhouse should be, and your initial taste if full of some light and refreshing hops.  As you drink, the earthy tones in the taste become more evident.  These are desired, and at first are wonderful and not too strong.  But as your glass warms, and in turn the beer in side, this earthiness becomes a little more evident.  Don't let that worry you though, overall the taste is excellent.

Drinkablility - 9

The beer is well balanced.  It looks, smells, and tastes like it should (and it is good.) It is light and refreshing.  Noble King also has a lower alcohol by volume that other American Saison / Farmhouse brews, which to me only helps with the drinkability and makes it more of a true Sasion / Farmhouse beer.  The only slight downfall is when it warms after a while.

Hip-Hop - 9

Noble King Hoppy Farmhouse Ale is cool.  It is from a smaller brewery just outside Austin, Texas.  It is organic, and they brew it the way they should.  It would be cooler if they sold in in a little bit smaller bottles.  Oh, and I am not a huge fan of "fantasy" like most of the Jester King labels.

Total Score - 92

Website: Noble King Hoppy Farmhouse Ale (Jester King Craft Brewery)