Fulton Brewing Company: Sweet Child of Vine

Sweet Child of Vine
Fulton Brewing Company
No known address
(contract brewing)
14B. American IPA

Aroma: (10/12)
Aroma is very piny and hoppy.  As description
from their website states, the glacier hops
do shine through.

Appearance: (3/3)
Copper color. Pours from the tap a small
head that quickly subsides, yet laces
glass fairly well.

Flavor: (14/20)
The flavor is hoppy of course, but there
is little, otherwise. Lots of hops upfront,
then lingers well; quite dry!

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Nice light body. Beer is pretty darn dry.
The typical general IPA feel here...

Overall Impression: (7/10)
The beer is very sessionable, although almost
too piny and one-dimensional. Piny flavor lingers
a long time even after the dryness.

TOTAL: 38/50

New Glarus Brewing Company: Cran-bic Ale

Cran-bic Ale
New Glarus Brewing Co.
2400 State Hwy 69
New Glarus, WI
20. Fruit Beer


Aroma: (11/12)
A definite tart and sour aroma! Possible oak
discernability, very pleasant.

Appearance: (3/3)
Brownish red with a nice head that does seem
to retreat rather quickly.  Head is a pinkish
hue and very bubbly and effervescent.

Flavor: (19/20)
Wow!  Extremely fantastic flavor.  Very nice
tart and sour kick! Not too sour and not too
sweet.  Cranberries add the perfect tartness
for this winner.

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Very effervescent, minute resemblence to 
champaigne. Body is light and is very 
refreshing.  Very clean and well made.  This
beer isn't very dry, which I would have expected.

Overall Impression: (10/10)
New Glarus comes out with another winner! 
Basically a cranberry sour with a fantastic
tartness to compliment.  A fantastic job
balancing these two characteristics.  This
is one for the sour and non-sourheads, alike.

TOTAL: 48/50

New Glarus Brewing Company: Belgian Red

Belgian Red
New Glarus Brewing Co.
2400 State Hwy 69
New Glarus, WI
20. Fruit Beer


Aroma: (11/12)
Beautiful tart cherry aroma. A large amount
of sweetness present, as well.

Appearance: (3/3)
Nice reddish - brown hue.  Pours a nice head;
these are highly carbonated!  Head does
dissipate rather quickly, but that is to be
expected.

Flavor: (19/20)
Cherries immediately upfront!  The cherry
flavor lingers and then the tartness and
sweetness kick in and doesn't really
fade.  Excellent!
 
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Highly carbonated and amount of bubbles
is definitely evident.  Body is light to 
medium.

Overall Impression: (10/10)
A cherry wonder of the world! This Belgian
Red is extremely well made and is the
best American made Kriek / Lambic I've had
and from reading further, I guess everybody
else thinks the same.

TOTAL: 48/50

Founders Brewing Company: Red's Rye IPA

Red's Rye IPA
Founders Brewing Co.
235 Grandville SW 
Grand Rapids, MI 
23. Specialty Beer

Aroma: (11/12)  

Huge citrusy / grapefruit aroma!  Smells

absolutely fantastic; I could smell this

beer all day long! 

Appearance: (3/3)  

Very much a copper hue.  Pours a nice

one finger head from the bottle.

Flavor: (19/20)     
Magnificent blast of hops accentuated

by the dry rye flavor; a great marriage!

This is just a super flavor that the rye

has added to this IPA.

Mouthfeel: (5/5)

Quite a nice body to this IPA, versus

other IPA's I've had lately (Surly Wet).

The hops hit the tongue first, then the

rye adds a nice complimentary kick

on the back end.

Overall Impression: (10/10)

Wow! Founders has hit it out of the park

with this beer! The rye gives this beer the

separation from all the IPA's I've had to

date! My favorite IPA so far, even over

Dog Fish Head.

TOTAL: 48/50

Founders Brewing Company: Porter

Porter  

Founders Brewing Co. 

235 Grandville SW 

Grand Rapids, MI

12B Robust Porter

 

Aroma: (11/12) 
Very nice roasted nose! I can tell this

beer is a strong porter.  Some chocolate

aromas as well.

 

Appearance: (3/3)  

Pours a very nice head.  Head is

fantastically brown.  Totally black /

motor oil-like.

 

Flavor: (18/20)

Some sweet roastedness.  Uncanny

resemblence to Bells Kalamazoo Stout.

Nice balance between roasted grains

and hops.  A truly great porter!

 

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Body is nice and thick. Creamy mouthfeel,

possible use of oatmeal...

 

Overall Impression: (9/10)
This is one of the best porters I've had.

Everything from aroma, flavor and mouthfeel

are good / well-done!  Another great beer

from this brewery!

 

TOTAL: 46/50