Bear Republic Racer 5 India Pale Ale

Bear Republic Racer 5 India Pale Ale
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Healdsburg, California



Numeral deux in a trade with The J. Hinman One Man Drinkathon. Jay dishes out the goods and expects something chock full of moxie in return. Well...he gets it.

Imagine the smell of stinky hemp and citrus and you have this beer. For an IPA it's mild and pleasing. There are no untamed hops in here bubbling and blistering up your ton-gue and there certaintly aren't any high ABV dwarves tackling you behind the bushes and doing somesaults in your temples. But I do suggest that you eat something before drinking this and metal detecting all the live long day because goddamned if I ain't a little discombobulated here sipping and supping away. I'm not a smoke blower or a delver into IPA, APA or PAs in general but this is as close to good as you're getting with one of these strange little tit twisters. Danke ye Golden State.

-Wörtwurst

The Lost Abbey Judgment Day

The Lost Abbey Judgment Day
Port Brewing Company/The Lost Abbey
San Marcos, California



The first in a trade with Beer Molly & Co.. Well techincally it's the second offering but I've already reviewed Stone's Smoked Porter which was consumed in a hot bath with good results.

What a way to use my 48 oz Michelob mondo-goblet. And WOWIE ZOWIE there isn't much to compare this one to. An old ale, a Belgian and a hefe all wrapped in a dark plum skin with raisiny alcohol undercurrents. Hey, it's how my Bavarian Dark Ale was supposed to turn out but instead tastes like apple cider. Anyhow, the dark malt is what really carries this beer. Light cocoa, dark fruit, loose women, holy insinuations, good times. God bless you Mr. Darkwater.

-Wörtwurst

Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale

Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale
Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
Mendocino County, CA



The first in a gift package from Hedonist Beer Jive. Send Jay some free beer you horders and heathens!

I've seen some A. V. beers around at a premium cost per sixer and passed on them because of that. Still I wanted to try them and even though this isn't the coveted Oatmeal Stout, ambers always work for me. There's enough wildlife on this bottle to fill a zoo. The yeast seems wild also. It looks infected and changes this brilliant amber into something like a Strohs fire-brewed with a bag of caramel. Not sweet or blunt but just right. Mayhaps the best amber I've had.

-Wörtwurst

Bell's Big Porch Ale

Bell's Big Porch Ale
Bell's Brewery
Comstock, MI



My mammy will occasionally greet me when I visit with a six pack of craft beer. In the past I was surprised with Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Pete's Wicked Ale and most recently this offering from Michigan's own Bell's Brewery which is located near Kalamazoo.

The idea behind this big porch motiff is an actual place. Between Michigan's upper and lower peninisulas are obviously two Great Lakes. The eastern side of the Mackinac Bridge is Lake Huron and where Mackinac (said Mackinaw) Island is. On the island there is literally a Grand Hotel. It features among many bits of finery and extravagance the world's biggest porch, thus the name. The beer itself is a standard high-end amber with a smidge of citrus that almost approaches a minty or pine quality. It's smooth and very easy drinking and I wiould say perfect for the those laid-back, no cars on the island, horse-drawn carriage, dusty hot summer days but it's not exactly hot up there any time. But it hits the spot even here in my hovel of a room on a cool May day while I think of much bigger and better things than beer and summer.

-Wörtwurst

Beer at my stoop

Thanks to the Hinman Family of Fine Results for this brood of beer! Reviews to follow when possible.

Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
5919 Chicago Road
Warren, Michigan

I haven't been to many brewpubs/microbreweries or their ilk because I'm not exactly a social creature. But I was in the area and with a birthday coupon in hand for a free pint glass (which they were out of!) I figured it was worth the effort. I chose the table furthest away from civilization and ordered up some delicacies to the scoffs and rudimentary profferings of my naysayer non-beer drinking palskis:

Kuhnhenn B-Rad's Banana Stout
Fruit/Vegetable Beer
Beer Advocate Overall Score 85



This is a brilliant beer. I love stouts and the concept of banana in a darkie works well. It has a banana split feel to it while retaining the very stouty quality you'd expect. Heavy chocolate and mild banana taste which is pronounced enough to be very comlimentary though not overly prominent. I prefer it that way. Let the stout speak with different accents and not the other way around!

Kuhnhenn Creme Brulee Java Stout
American Stout
Beer Advocate Overall Score 84



Wow! Now that's a pisser baby! Syrup in the morning Dr. Frothingslosh. Coffee for your cake madam? Dessert all the way home said the little piggy who knows. If this brew was a bit thicker it could be used as an ice cream topper or an extra for your yuppie coffee. As a beer it is dense and determined to take you apart piece by piece until you're nothing but a cloud floating by in the sludgy motor oil sky. Choco, coffee and a syrupy feel that are overbearing from start to finish. This one is a labor of love to finish. A bit more of a novelty beer than a drinker.

Trader Wörtwurst

Beer Molly, you've got mail. Well, give it until about Wednesday or Thursday.

Lawson Creek Pale Ale

Lawson Creek Pale Ale
Lawson Creek Brewery
Cold Springs, MN



You don't care what I've been doing and I don't really care what you've been doing in my time away so let's keep it that way. That said, I owe BeerMolly some beer and will repay her soonly.

You probably like pale ales for their bitterness and lemony sprite goodness. I, however, like the lighter qualities and am no particular friend of the bitters. I'd rather drink a Miller than a HOP MONSTER DEVIL TONGUE SMASHER. This tastes like a carmelly amber with no distinct or high quality attributes other than drinkability. I won't go on about this other than it was $3.99 per sixer and drinks better than the typical macro and has pretty little caps that snap off like a twig with proper pressure and arc.

-Wörtwurst

Am-BEER Alert

I have your children. Please identify yourself!