superspak (10160) reviewed Lumberjack Off from Brooks Brewing 6 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
12 ounce bottle into snifter; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours hazy very dark ruby red, light copper/brown color with a 1 finger dense and rocky light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing cling on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, brown bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, raisin, plum, prune, fig, date, pear, apricot, and red apple; with lighter notes of molasses, licorice, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, wood smoke, leather, tobacco, herbal, floral, grass, pepper, and yeast/toasted earthiness. A bit too fruity/yeasty aromas, but not overwhelming. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready/light roasted malts, fruity yeast, and light-moderate earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, toffee, brown bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, raisin, plum, prune, fig, date, pear, apricot, and red apple; with lighter notes of molasses, licorice, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, wood smoke, leather, tobacco, herbal, floral, grass, pepper, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery hops; and roasted bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, brown bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, dark fruit, molasses, licorice, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, wood smoke, leather, tobacco, herbal, floral, grass, pepper, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts, fruity yeast, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance; and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and fairly full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready, fairly sticky, and lightly chalky mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 9.2%. Overall this is an excellent wee heavy. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts, fruity yeast, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the ABV, with the mellowly bitter/drying finish. Awesome balance of rich English malts, fruity yeast, and earthy hops. Light residual sweetness with lingering dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and impressive spot on style example.
superspak (10160) reviewed Husky Stout from Brooks Brewing 7 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours opaque dark brown/black color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy light khaki head with solid retention, that reduces to a thin ring of lace. Minimal lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Good appearance. Aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toasted oats, nuts, and dark bread; with light notes of licorice, molasses, smoke, char, dark fruit, herbal, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. A bit too fruity/yeasty aromas. Nice aromas with good complexity and balance of dark/roast/bready malt and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with good strength. Taste of chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toasted oats, nuts, and dark bread; with light notes of licorice, molasses, smoke, char, dark fruit, herbal, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Light herbal/spicy hop, and roast/char bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toasted oats, nuts, dark bread, light smoke/char, herbal, pepper, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a great hop/roast bitter/sweet balance; and no cloying/acrid/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/roast bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and lightly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is good. A bit too thin. Zero warming alcohol for 6.4%. Overall this is a nice English oatmeal stout. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Nicely rich malt complexity; with mild fruity yeast presence and earthy hop balance. A nicely enjoyable offering, and good style example.
superspak (10160) reviewed Molly Blonde from Brooks Brewing 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours crystal clear medium golden amber color with a small fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin spotty lace cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of cracker, white bread dough, and toasted biscuit; with light notes of honey, lemon, pear, pepper, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with pale malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast notes; with solid strength. Taste of cracker, white bread dough, and toasted biscuit; with light notes of honey, lemon, pear, pepper, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of cracker, white bread dough, toasted biscuit, honey, pepper, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice robustness of pale malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance; and zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Fairly crisp/clean finishing. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.2%. Overall this is a very nice blonde ale. All around nice robustness of pale malt and light earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink; with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful for the low ABV. Very clean and nicely rich pale malts; with mild earthy hop balance, and restrained yeast presence. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.
superspak (10160) reviewed Palapa from Brooks Brewing 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours crystal clear nearly opaque dark brown color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big toasted coconut, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, vanilla, coffee, toffee, brown sugar, dark/brown bread, light herbal/grass, and roast/toasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/roast/bready malt and coconut notes; with great strength. Taste of big toasted coconut, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, vanilla, coffee, toffee, brown sugar, dark/brown bread, light herbal/grass, and roast/toasted earthiness. Light herbal/grassy hop and roasted bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of toasted coconut, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, vanilla, coffee, toffee, brown sugar, dark/brown bread, light herbal/grass, and roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt and coconut flavors; with a great roast/hop bitter/sweet balance; and zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/roast bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy, and slightly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 6%. Overall this is a delicious coconut porter! All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt and coconut flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mildly bitter finish. Nicely rich and well rounded porter malt complexity, with balanced authentic coconut flavors that are never overwhelming. Never overly roasty or bitter. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.
superspak (10160) reviewed Oubliette from Brooks Brewing 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
12 ounce bottle into snifter, no bottle dating. Pours opaque dark brown/black color with a 1 finger fairly dense khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, molasses, nuttiness, toasted oak, dark/brown bread, smoke, and charcoal; with lighter notes of vanilla, licorice, dark fruit, leather, tobacco, herbal, pepper, pine, and roast/toast/smokey earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/roast/black malts, oak staves, and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast notes; with great strength. Taste of big dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, molasses, nuttiness, toasted oak, dark/brown bread, smoke, and charcoal; with lighter notes of vanilla, licorice, dark fruit, leather, tobacco, herbal, pepper, pine, and roast/toast/smokey earthiness. Light-moderate roast/char and pine/herbal/spicy hop bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, molasses, nuttiness, toasted oak, dark/brown bread, smoke, charcoal, vanilla, light licorice/dark fruit, herbal, pepper, pine, and roast/toast/smokey earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/black malts, oak staves, and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; with a great roast/hop bitter/sweet balance; and zero acrid/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/char bitterness. Light-medium carbonation and fairly full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready, and fairly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 9.1%. Overall this is an awesome Russian imperial stout! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/black malts, oak staves, and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the big ABV, with the mellowly bitter/drying finish. Never overly bitter or charred. Very rich malt complexity; with nice oak stave presence, earthy hop balance, and restrained fruity yeast character. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.
superspak (10160) reviewed Baba Yaga from Brooks Brewing 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy golden amber/light orange color with a 1 finger dense and rocky off white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of grapefruit, tangerine, peach, apricot, melon, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, wood, pepper, pine, light caramel, toasted biscuit, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and bready malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of grapefruit, tangerine, peach, apricot, melon, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, wood, pepper, pine, light caramel, toasted biscuit, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, peach, apricot, melon, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, wood, pepper, pine, light caramel, toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and bready malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance, and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy/sticky, and fairly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol for 7.1%. Overall this is a nice IPA. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink; with the modestly bitter/drying finish, never overly aggressive. Pretty old school stuff, might be a mix of English/C hops. A little too dank, earthy, and resinous than I'd prefer; but well balanced. A nicely enjoyable offering.
superspak (10160) reviewed Peanut Buddy Porter from Brooks Brewing 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours crystal clear nearly opaque dark brown color with a 1 finger dense khaki head with good 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 big peanut butter, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, and toasted brown bread; with light notes of coffee, vanilla, herbal, grass, and roast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of PB, dark/roast/bready malt, and light earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big peanut butter, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, and toasted brown bread; with light notes of coffee, vanilla, herbal, grass, and roast/toasted earthiness. Mild herbal/grassy hop and roast bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of peanut butter, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toasted brown bread, light coffee/vanilla, and roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of PB, dark/roast/bready malt, and light earthy hop flavors; with a nice roast/hop bitter/sweet balance; and zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Slightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/roast bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and slightly sticky/chalky PB mouthfeel that is nice. A tad thin, but not watery. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.4% Overall this is an excellent flavored American porter. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of PB, dark/roast/bready malt, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful and nicely rich for the modest ABV. Perfectly balanced PB and well rounded porter malt complexity; with solid earthy hop balance. A very enjoyable offering, and great style example.
superspak (10160) reviewed Ex-Girlfriend Amber from Brooks Brewing 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy golden orange/amber color with a 1 finger fairly dense and rocky off white head with good 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 lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, red apple, light pepper, caramel, bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, light honey/nuttiness, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/earthy hops, fruity yeast, and dark/bready malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, red apple, light pepper, caramel, bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, light honey/nuttiness, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light herbal, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, red apple, light pepper, caramel, bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, honey, nuttiness, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, fruity yeast, and dark/bready malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance, and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, fairly crisp, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.2%. Overall this is a very good American amber ale style. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, fruity yeast, and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and refreshing to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Well balanced between all flavors, with just enough bitter balance. A very enjoyable offering. Pretty unique, but well made for the style.
superspak (10160) reviewed Das Scheuerleinerweizen from Brooks Brewing 8 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
12 ounce bottle into weizen glass; no bottle dating, but was just released this week. Pours fairly hazy medium golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of lemon, banana, bubblegum, clove, peppercorn, pear, apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, pale malt, and light earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of lemon, banana, bubblegum, clove, peppercorn, pear, apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Very mild herbal/grassy bitterness, yeast spiciness, and wheat tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, banana, bubblegum, clove, peppercorn, pear, apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, pale malt, and light earthy hop flavors; with a nice malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and zero cloying astringent flavors. Fairly clean finishing. Lightly increasing dryness from bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy, and slightly sticky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.4%. Overall this is a very nice hefeweizen. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, pale malt, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth, clean, and refreshing to drink. Very flavorful for the ABV. Well rounded German yeast complexity and balanced wheat/pils malts; with mild noble hop bitter balance. Not quite as banana heavy as I expected, but there is definitely enough. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example.
Ibrew2or3 (10834) reviewed White Trash IPA from Brooks Brewing 9 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Poured up on tap at the brewery where it exhibits a clear gold body that supports an off white head. The aroma offers up malt sweetened and softened Brett as well as thin clouds of peach, pineapple and grapefruit. The taste is similar with lots of soft Brett notes as well as pineapple, peach and grapefruit like hoppiness. This has mild hop bitterness but maintains a refreshing quality thanks to the Brett. Solid.