superspak (10160) reviewed Raven Skies from River's Edge Brewing Company 6 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9
16 ounce prowler into snifter, filled on 2/10/2019. Pours opaque dark brown/black color with a 1 finger dense and rocky tan head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, molasses, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, and dark bread/crust; with lighter notes of licorice, raisin, prune, fig, cherry, date, smoke, charcoal, wood, leather, tobacco, herbal, grass, pepper, pine, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/black/roast/bready malts and light-moderate earthy hops/fruity yeast notes; bit great strength. Taste of huge dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, molasses, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, and dark bread/crust; with lighter notes of licorice, raisin, prune, fig, cherry, date, smoke, charcoal, wood, leather, tobacco, herbal, grass, pepper, pine, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate pine, herbal, woody, grassy, peppery hops; and roast/charred bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, molasses, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, and dark bread/crust, licorice, dark fruit, smoke, charcoal, wood, leather, tobacco, herbal, grass, pepper, pine, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/black/roast/bready malts and light-moderate earthy hops/fruity yeast flavors; with an awesome roast/hop bitter/sweet balance; and no cloying, acrid, astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/char bitterness. Medium carbonation and fairly full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready, and fairly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal warming alcohol for 9.1%. Overall this is an amazing Russian imperial stout! All around incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/black/roast/bready malts and light-moderate earthy hops/fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to drink with the modestly bitter/drying finish. Not overly bitter/charred on hops/malts. Extremely rich/well rounded imperial stout malt complexity, balancing earthy hops, and restrained fruity English yeast flavors. A highly amazing offering, and top tier style example.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
16 ounce prowler into tulip glass, filled on 2/10/2019. Pours slightly hazy medium orange amber color with a 1 finger dense and rocky cream colored head with awesome retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, melon, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, caramel, toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and dark/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, melon, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, caramel, toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, melon, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, caramel, toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and dark/bready malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitterness balance, and no lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy/sticky, and fairly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 7%. Overall this is an excellent IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mellowly bitter/resinous/drying finish, not aggressive. Awesome classic Chinook/Centennial profile. Very juicy, vibrant, and fairly dank/earthy hops; with a great dark/bready malt backbone. Light residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on classic tasting Midwest style example.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
22 ounce bottle into chalice, bottled on 8/30/2018. Pours slightly hazy dark ruby red, light copper/brown color with a small fairly dense and fluffy light khaki head with solid retention, that reduces to a minimal spotty lace cap that lingers. Minimal lacing and some clinging bubbles on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Good appearance. Aromas of big raisin, plum, prune, fig, cherry, date, peach, pear, apricot, red apple, melon, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, toasted oak, biscuit, and brown bread; with lighter notes of coconut, peppercorn, clove, nuttiness, chocolate, licorice, molasses, herbal, grass, and yeast/toast/oaky earthiness. Slight booze in the aromas as it warms, but not overwhelming. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/earthy/spicy yeast, candi sugar, dark/bready/light roast malt, bourbon barrels, and light earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of huge raisin, plum, prune, fig, cherry, date, peach, pear, apricot, red apple, melon, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, toasted oak, biscuit, and brown bread; with lighter notes of coconut, peppercorn, clove, nuttiness, chocolate, licorice, molasses, herbal, grass, and yeast/toast/oaky earthiness. Mild herbal, floral, grassy, roast bitterness; and yeast, bourbon, oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of dark fruits, peach, pear, apricot, red apple, melon, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, toasted oak, biscuit, brown bread, coconut, peppercorn, clove, nuttiness, chocolate, licorice, molasses, herbal, grass, and yeast/toast/oaky earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/earthy/spicy yeast, candi sugar, dark/bready/light roast malt, bourbon barrels, and light earthy hop flavors; with a solid malt/sugar/bitterness, and yeast/bourbon/oak spiciness balance; with no cloying sweetness after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness and yeast/bourbon/oak spiciness. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready/grainy, and lightly sticky/sticky/tannic mouthfeel that is fantastic. Mildly increasing warmth of 9.9%, with minimal barrel booze lingering after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic barrel aged Belgian dubbel style. All around outstanding omplexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/earthy/spicy yeast, candi sugar, dark/bready/light roast malt, bourbon barrels, and light earthy hop flavors; dangerously smooth and easy to sip on for the big ABV; with the mildly bitter/spicy/tannic/drying finish. Amazing balanced rich malts, Belgian yeast, candi sugar, and bourbon barrel presence/integration. Not overly boozy/tannic on barrels, despite being in the barrels for 20 months. Not overly sweet/heavy from lingering dryness; well attenuated for the ABV. A highly enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected. A definite improvement over the base beer.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
16 ounce prowler into pint glass, filled on 2/10/2019. Pours slightly hazy deep ruby red, light copper/brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big caramel, brown sugar, toffee, brown bread/crust, and toasted biscuit; with lighter notes of chocolate, roasted nuts, raisin, plum, pear, red apple, herbal, floral, wood, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great complexity of dark/bready/light roasted malts, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, toffee, brown bread/crust, and toasted biscuit; with lighter notes of chocolate, roasted nuts, raisin, plum, pear, red apple, herbal, floral, wood, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Mild herbal, floral, woody, grassy, spicy, roasted bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, brown bread/crust, toasted biscuit, chocolate, roasted nuts, dark fruit, herbal, floral, wood, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic complexity and robustness of of dark/bready/light roasted malts, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/roast bitterness. Light-medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and lightly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is fantastic. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 3.5%. Overall this is an incredible English dark mild! All around fantastic dark/bready/light roasted malts, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and pretty refreshing to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Amazingly clean and nicely rich English malt complexity for the ABV; with restrained fruity yeast and earthy English hops against sweetness. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing spot on style example. Definitely one of the best I've ever had.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
16 ounce prowler into tulip glass, filled on 2/10/2019. Pours fairly crystal clear medium orange/amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, mint, peppercorn, pine, honey, caramel, toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and dark/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, mint, peppercorn, pine, honey, caramel, toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, mint, peppercorn, pine, honey, caramel, toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and dark/bready malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitterness balance, and no lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/sticky, and fairly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 7.6%. Overall this is an awesome IPA! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV, with the modestely bitter/resinous/drying finish; not aggressive. Feels like Columbus, Centennial, Cascade, Amarillo, Citra, Simcoe. Very juicy, vibrant, and fairly dank/earthy hops; with a great balancing dark/bready malt backbone. Mild residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on Midwest style example.
superspak (10160) reviewed Kölsch from River's Edge Brewing Company 6 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
16 ounce prowler into pint glass, filled on 2/10/2019. Pours slightly hazy medium golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big lemon, pear, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, toasted biscuit, wood, pepper, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance of pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast notes; with great strength. Taste of big lemon, pear, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, toasted biscuit, wood, pepper, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, pear, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, toasted biscuit, wood, pepper, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome robustness, and balance pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no lingering hop astringency after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Very clean lagering, not overly fruity/yeasty. Moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness and carbonation. Medium-plus carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth and moderately bready/grainy/sticky balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 5.6%. Overall this is an awesome kolsch! All around great robustness, and balance pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/drying finish, not aggressive. Very clean pils/wheat malt showcase, with great earthy noble hop presence/balance for the style; and restrained fruity yeast character. Minimal residual sweetness from crisp dryness. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on style example all around.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
22 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled on 11/22/2018. Pours hazy nearly opaque dark ruby red/brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of raisin, plum, prune, cherry, fig, date, peach, pear, melon, apricot, red apple, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, toasted oak, and brown bread; with light notes of licorice, molasses, leather, tobacco, herbal, floral, grass, pepper, and yeast/toast/oaky earthiness. Touch of increasing booze in the aromas as it warms; a bit too fruity/yeasty, but not overwhelming. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity yeast, dark/bready malts, bourbon barrels, and light earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of big raisin, plum, prune, cherry, fig, date, peach, pear, melon, apricot, red apple, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, toasted oak, and brown bread; with light notes of licorice, molasses, leather, tobacco, herbal, floral, grass, pepper, and yeast/toast/oaky earthiness. Mild herbal, floral, grassy, peppery hop bitterness; and bourbon/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of dark fruit, peach, pear, melon, apricot, red apple, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, toasted oak, brown bread, light licorice/molasses, leather, tobacco, herbal, floral, grass, pepper, and yeast/toast/oaky earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity yeast, dark/bready malts, bourbon barrels, and light earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitterness and bourbon/oak spiciness balance; with no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness and bourbon/oak/alcohol spiciness after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and fairly full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready, and lightly slick/sticky/tannic mouthfeel that is great. Lightly increasing warmth of 13.5%, with minimal lingering barrel booze after the finish. Overall this is an excellent barrel aged English barleywine. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity yeast, dark/bready malts, bourbon barrels, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the huge ABV, with the mildy bitter/tannic/drying finish. Awesome balance of rich malts and fruity yeast complexity; with great bourbon barrel presence/integration, and mild earthy hop presence against sweetness. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example as expected.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 9/5/2018. Pours fairly hazy very dark ruby red/brown color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to as thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, toasted oak, butternut squash, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, spicy rye, and brown bread; with lighter notes of molasses, licorice, cocoa, raisin, plum, fig, date, apricot, red apple, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Slight booze in the aromas as it warms, but not overwhelming. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/bready/rye malts, sugar, fruit, spices, fruity yeast, and bourbon barrel notes; with great strength. Taste of huge caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, toasted oak, butternut squash, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, spicy rye, and brown bread; with lighter notes of molasses, licorice, cocoa, raisin, plum, fig, date, apricot, red apple, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate herbal, floral, grassy, spice bitterness; rye, bourbon, oak tannin spiciness; and slight fruit tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, coconut, toasted oak, butternut squash, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, spicy rye, brown bread, molasses, licorice, cocoa, dark fruit, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/rye malts, sugar, fruit, spices, fruity yeast, and bourbon barrel flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and no cloying flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-plus carbonation and medium-full body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/silky/bready, fairly sticky/tannic, and lightly tangy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Mild increasing warmth of 10.3%, with no barrel booze lingering after the finish. Overall this is an awesome fruit/spiced English rye strong ale. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/rye malts, sugar, fruit, spices, fruity yeast, and bourbon barrel flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to drink for the big ABV, with the mellowly bitter/spicy/tannic/drying finish. Awesome balance of rich malts, sugar, fruits, spices, yeast, and bourbon barrel presence/integration. Not overwhelming on any aspect. A really enjoyable offering, and impressive style example as expected.
deyholla (22727) reviewed St. Augustine from River's Edge Brewing Company 7 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Bottle. Pours a near clear amber brown with a tan head that dissipates to the edges. Aroma has cranberry and rye with some sweet brown sugar coming through and a touch of bread backing. Flavor has spicy rye, bread and brown sugar with a bit of light tart fruits underlying.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
22 ounce bottle into snifter, 2018 vintage bottling. Pours opaque dark brown/black color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, spicy rye, nuts, vanilla, bourbon, toasted oak, and dark/brown bread; with lighter notes of smoke, char, molasses, raisin, prune, fig, date, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/roast/bready/rye malt, molasses; light-moderate earthy hops, bourbon barrels; and mild fruity yeast notes; with great strength. Taste of huge milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, spicy rye, nuts, vanilla, bourbon, toasted oak, and dark/brown bread; with lighter notes of smoke, char, molasses, raisin, prune, fig, date, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate roast/char and herbal/spicy hop bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, spicy rye, nuts, vanilla, bourbon, toasted oak, dark/brown bread, light smoke/char, molasses, dark fruit, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready/rye malt, molasses; light-moderate earthy hops, bourbon barrels; and mild fruity yeast flavors; with an awesome roast/hop bitter/sweet, and rye/oak spiciness balance; with no acrid/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/char bitterness and rye/bourbon/oak spiciness. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready, and fairly sticky/chalky/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is fantastic. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 6.7%. Overall this is a fantastic export stout! All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready/rye malt, molasses; light-moderate earthy hops, bourbon barrels; and mild fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mellowly bitter/spicy/tannic/drying finish. Very rich for the ABV. Great well rounded rich English malt complexity with added molasses; balancing English hops, barrel presence/integration, and mild fruity yeast notes. Identical to the base beer; with nice added barrel complexities. A bit more bitter/drying. Not a ton of barrel, but adequate. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing style example as expected.