nimbleprop (16838) reviewed Pipe Organ Pale Ale from Church Brew Works 13 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
On cask at the brewpub. Now here’s a beer. From the cask it took several minutes to settle into a transparent orange with a very thick, creamy white head. The cask my beer was poured from had been dry hopped with Amarillo pellets. As a result a wonderful nose was detectable from 3 feet away. Floral, honey, citrus, white grape, malt, yeast, lemon candy. Flavor was a little weaker than I would have liked, sweet, light bitterness, bread, honey, lemon. Very creamy in the mouth, but not major lasting bitterness. A session beer done right.
nimbleprop (16838) reviewed Saazquatch from Church Brew Works 13 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 3 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4.5
On tap at the brewpub. Comes in a pint glass looking like pineapple juice; almost opaque bright yellow with zero head. Nose is mild, light pepper, light yeast, light hops. Was supposed to be the 2nd hoppiest beer on the menu with 35IBUs. Flavor was bland, wet white bread, light yeast, fake lemon. Watery finish. Not a good start.
nimbleprop (16838) reviewed Thunderhop IPA from Church Brew Works 13 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
12oz bottle I picked up at the brewery pours a clear, deep orange with a thin, creamy white head. Nose is nice but mild, malty, crackers, lemons, orange peel, a little light pine. Flavor is similar, balanced, sweet, crackers, biscuit, orange, lemon, a little grapefruit. Medium bodied, dry, zesty finish. No real hint of the heavy alcohol. Very well balanced for an IPA.
nimbleprop (16838) reviewed Thortons ESB from Church Brew Works 13 years ago
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 2 | Overall - 4.5
20oz cask pour at Piper Pub in Pittsburgh. Pours a totally clear, light prange with a thin, creamy white head. Nose was malty, wet bread, a little yeast, some light citrus. Flavor takes a turn for the worse, there’s a weird, peanut like flavor, some stale bread, no bitterness at all. Weak, watery finish. Not good.
cheap (9607) reviewed Inaugural Ale from Church Brew Works 13 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Unique effort for the PGH RB? Craft brew week 2012. Hazy and darker muddy brown fun appearance. Mild aroma of slag, yum. First taste is mild, behaved and well behaved. Has a slight tart thing in there that could not be identified by anybody but the seasoned of tasters. NICE! Good fine co2 in there. Very easy and relaxing. I can appreciate a beer like this in a session. Good overall beer drinken experience.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6
Sampled on draft at D’s in Monroeville this beer poured a very dark brown color with a small creamy tan head that left good lacing. The aroma was dryish and gritty with floral and light piney hops. The flavor was dryish piney and floral hops with a gritty presence (like eating hop pellets) and a faint malty base. None of the roastiness that is typical for the style. The finish was long and dryish with lingering pine and floral hops. Medium body but fairly smooth. Decent.
Frothingslosh (19444) reviewed Cornelius Ale from Church Brew Works 14 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
I tend not to be a huge fan of this style but this was solidly done. +++ Sampled on draft at the brewpub this beer poured a very dark brown color with a large soapy tan head that lingered and left incredible lacing. The aroma was faintly woody and malty with hints of cherry and spice. The flavor was semi-sweet and malty with light toffee, wood and roasty malty and a vague sour fruitiness. The finish was long, woody and malty. Solid.
Frothingslosh (19444) reviewed Rauchbier from Church Brew Works 14 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
I am really touchy about smoke in beers but this one was very well done - prominent smoke but not one dimensional. +++ Sampled on draft at the brewpub this beer poured a very dark brown color with a medium sized foamy tan head that left a touch of lacing. The aroma was bacon bits, a hint of nut, wood, more bacon, pepper and a touch of raisin. The flavor was woody and smoky with some bacon, some toasty malts, nut and a hint of bread. Sweeter than I would have expected but it really worked. The finish was long with wood and bacon lingering. Medium body. Well done.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Sampled on draft at the brewpub this beer poured a black color with a small foamy brown head that left a touch of lacing. The aroma was fairly strong mint and moderate chocolate - almost like an Andes Candy although there a roasty malt undertone and it was a touch medicinal. The flavor was bitter and a touch harsh, sour and off with light mint, a touch of cocoa and a light medicinal presence. The finish was long with mint, roasty malts and cocoa. Medium body. Very odd. There were a few nice things going on but somehow it failed to mesh. Bonus points for creativity though.
cheap (9607) reviewed Rauchbier from Church Brew Works 14 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Had this at the 2011 Pittsburgh Ratebeer Christmas Eve Eve Tasting. OK, this beer has been brought back into production by Lithy and he did a good job. IMHO the first version of this, 2003, was not too good. I normally do not like smoke beers but this was a special treat. Appearance is not black like other smoked beers that I find acceptable, more of brownish thing here. Dull and smokey on the aroma, no doubt this is a smoke beer. Oh my, what a smokey impact on the buds. However, it seems to have nice balance, no ill bacon or anything like that. Most smokeys are way over the top but this is behaved and a gentleman. Friendly, and easy! Does have a decent amount of CO2 and this helps me enjoy it. BIG THANKS LITHY! Finally a smoked beer I can appreciate. I’m gonna say its up there with east end heritage porter and Ofallons smoked porter, my two most liked smoke beers.