Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Location: Draft at the brewery, 1/2/15
Aroma: The bourbon is probably the main cog of the aroma, with some dark malt notes
Appearance: It pours a fairly on-style brown-black color with a foamy light brown head on top
Flavor: The flavor also leans toward the bourbon side, vanilla, chocolate, and some bitterness
Palate: This one is fairly full bodied, with some ABV heat, the drinkability isn't high here
Overall Impression: I thought this was a pretty decent one, but it is a touch too boozy. The booze really keeps the rest of the flavors from shining through to the level that they could have in a really successful version of this beer. Solid enough, but doesn't approach the top of this style.
ben4321 (11632) reviewed Happy New Beer from Hi-Wire Brewing 11 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Location: Draft at the brewery, 1/2/15, Collaboration with Asheville Brewing
Aroma: The aroma is fairly heavy malty and sweet, the honey comes through as well
Appearance: It pours a dark red color, with a small head and some light lacework
Flavor: The flavor follows suit, with a fairly heavy sweetness, not much balance, hints of alcohol
Palate: The body is medium-plus, the texture is thick, creamy, and smooth, with a sticky finish
Overall Impression: I'm not sure why they have two different ABVs listed, but that's direct from Hi Wire not the fault of the person (may or may not be me) who added it to RB. Anyway, this is a malty and rather sweet amber/red ale. Needed some balance for my personal taste. I wouldn't want to drink a ton of these. If you like sweet beers, this may be more up your alley. I thought it was reasonably well made though, just lacking balance.
ben4321 (11632) reviewed English Bitter from Hi-Wire Brewing 11 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Location: Draft at the brewery, 1/2/15
Aroma: It has a mostly toffee aroma, with some light brown sugar, and spice notes
Appearance: It pours a murky orange color, with a small head, and some spotty lace
Flavor: The flavor has clean malts, toffee, a little roast, spice notes, and a light bitterness
Palate: It has a medium body, a clean mouthfeel, and a lightly dry finish
Overall Impression: I thought this was a pretty solid one. The flavor improves from the aroma's start, and adds a bit of balancing bitterness. Overall, a pretty solid beer.
ben4321 (11632) reviewed Bed of Nails Brown Ale from Hi-Wire Brewing 11 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5
Location: 12 oz bottle from Bruisin' Ales, 1/12/15
Aroma: The nose is fairly light, on the sweet side, some toffee, caramel, and a little chocolate
Appearance: It pours a lighter brownish color with a tan head and some drippy lacework
Flavor: The taste is on the sweet side for sure, fairly malty, with a minimal amount of bitterness
Palate: The body is light-medium, kind of sticky, a little thin, and with a fairly short duration
Overall Impression: This wasn't a favorite for me, it is just too sweet and lacks any semblance of balance. It isn't undrinkable or anything, but it is fairly forgettable.
ben4321 (11632) reviewed Hi-Pitch IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing 11 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Location: 12 oz bottle from Bruisin' Ales, 1/12/15
Aroma: The nose is lightly resiny, with some floral hops, sweet caramel, and a toasty malts
Appearance: A mostly clear orange color with a thick, frothy off-white/beige head and sticky lace
Flavor: The flavor is fairly malty/sweet, decent bitterness as well, but definitely sweet for the style
Palate: The body is medium, it has a pretty sticky mouthfeel, and a lightly dry finish
Overall Impression: I thought this was an alright, rather sweet IPA. Congrats to The Ohio State University, winning so convincingly as the 4th team in with a 3rd string QB in the 2nd round of the 1st college football playoff. Wow. As for the beer... This is decent, but I can't really give it a higher compliment than that.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Bottle. Wine, rum, and chocolate malt aroma. Dark brown with minimal head. Red wine and light chocolate malt flavor. Body on the lighter side. Don’t really get much from the rum or whiskey barrels - wine dominates.
ben4321 (11632) reviewed Prime Time Pale Ale from Hi-Wire Brewing 11 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Location: 12 oz bottle from Bruisin' Ales, 1/2/15
Aroma: The nose is light and hoppy, herbal notes, a little citrus, and some earth
Appearance: It pours a cloudy orange color with a frothy off-white head and spotty lace
Flavor: The taste is along the same lines, with a clean light bitterness and a light sweetness
Palate: Light-medium bodied, easy drinking, a hint thin, soft carbonation, and a light dry finish
Overall Impression: Well the stupid hotel fridge half froze this beer, so I only had about 8 ounces. Thanks hotel fridge. Really, thanks. Anyway, this is a pretty decent, clean APA. It isn't super sweet or super hoppy. Very balanced. A little thin, but otherwise pretty decent.
ben4321 (11632) reviewed Lager from Hi-Wire Brewing 11 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Location: 12 oz bottle from Bruisin' Ales, 1/2/15
Aroma: The nose is clean and malty, light lager malts, grains, and some grassy notes
Appearance: It pours a cloudy golden-orange color with a thin white head and spotty lace
Flavor: The flavor is rather clean with a light sweetness, grainy malts, and light grassy bitterness
Palate: The body is light-medium, clean lager mouthfeel, and an average-to-lively carbonation
Overall Impression: I thought this was a really enjoyable lager. Helps to clear up the stereotype of flavorless pale/watery beers that is all to common with this style. The nose is a little thin, but otherwise, I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. One of the best lagers I have tried recently.
Travlr (30174) reviewed Strongman Coffee Milk Stout from Hi-Wire Brewing 11 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
Draft at Urban Orchard. Clear maroon color, tan head. Aroma of cocoa and coffee grounds. Taste has a bit of unexpected peppery spice and subtle heat on a roasty background. Nice.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Draft at the source. Dark cloudy brown color. Nice vanilla and chocolate aroma. Taste is similar.