Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy very dark brown color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice thick soapy lacing clings on the glass with some light streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big hazelnuts, vanilla, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, coffee, cream, and toasted dark/brown bread; with light notes of dark fruit, smoke, char, herbal, grass, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/roast/bready malt, vanilla, hazelnut, coffee, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big hazelnuts, vanilla, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, coffee, cream, and toasted dark/brown bread; with light notes of dark fruit, smoke, char, herbal, grass, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Light herbal/grassy hop, and roast/char/coffee bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of hazelnuts, vanilla, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, coffee, cream, toasted dark/brown bread, light smoke/char, herbal, grass, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, vanilla, hazelnut, coffee, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a nice roast/hop bitter/sweet balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/roast bitterness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/silky/grainy, and lightly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5%. Overall this is an excellent flavored English porter. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, vanilla, hazelnut, coffee, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful for the ABV, despite the lighter body. Great balance between nicely rich malts, coffee, and flavorings; with solid earthy hop presence against sweetness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.
superspak (10160) reviewed Barrel-Aged VJ Black from Atwater Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
12 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled in 10/2018. Pours opaque dark brown/black color with a small fairly dense and fluffy khaki head with solid retention, that reduces to a thin spotty lace cap that lingers. Minimal spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Good appearance. Aromas of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, vanilla, cream, marshmallow, fudge, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, bourbon, toasted oak, nuts, and dark bread; with lighter notes of molasses, licorice, raisin, prune, fig, date, smoke, char, leather, tobacco, herbal, and yeast/roast/toast/oaky earthiness. Slight booze in the aromas as it warms, but not overwhelming. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/roast/bready malt, vanilla, coffee, bourbon barrels, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, vanilla, cream, marshmallow, fudge, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, bourbon, toasted oak, nuts, and dark bread; with lighter notes of molasses, licorice, raisin, prune, fig, date, smoke, char, leather, tobacco, herbal, and yeast/roast/toast/oaky earthiness. Mild herbal, roast, char bitterness; and bourbon/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, dark roasted coffee, vanilla, cream, marshmallow, fudge, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, bourbon, toasted oak, nuts, dark bread, light molasses/dark fruit, smoke, char, leather, tobacco, herbal, and yeast/roast/toast/oaky earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, vanilla, coffee, bourbon barrels, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a great roast/hop bitter/sweet and bourbon/oak spiciness balance; with no cloying, acrid, astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering hop/char bitterness and bourbon/oak spiciness. Light-medium carbonation and fairly full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready, and lightly sticky/chalky/tannic mouthfeel that is great. Mildly increasing warmth of 11%, with minimal barrel booziness lingering after the finish. Overall this is an excellent barrel aged flavored imperial stout. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, vanilla, coffee, bourbon barrels, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the big ABV with the mellowly bitter/tannic/drying finish. Great balance of rich malts, vanilla, coffee, and bourbon barrel presence/integration; with light fruity yeast and earthy hop balance. Not overly boozy/tannic on barrels, or bitter/charred on malts. A very enjoyable offering, and impressive style example. Very minimal complaints.
cheap (9607) reviewed Lebkuchen Christmas Ale from Atwater Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 2 | Overall - 3
So, is this new? You'd think I'd've downed one of these already? Atty, a local beer? Perhaps it smells a little spicy from the bottle. Darker iced tea looking brew. First taste is big rude ass malty cloying thangy. Yes, sweeter bitter bite, weird cold spiced christmas beer? And, so lubkuckin pfefferkuchen is a traditional German baked Christmas treat, somewhat resembling gingerbread? Not sure if ginger is really coming thru the spicy sweet christmas winter herbs of this one. Difficult, as with most winter warmers. Yes, one big bahhhhhddddd mouth coating alky beer brew; lots of personality. What else can, be winter warmer, sweet cloying, almost volatile, funny brew, be said? Mouth coating kids old school, cough medicine, calming medicinal finish. Whew! Quite an impression. Big time shortest day of winter beer, if you can call this beer.
superspak (10160) reviewed Clover Rover from Atwater Brewery 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 deep orange/amber/light copper color with a small fairly dense and fluffy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of clover honey, orange, lemon, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. A bit too fruity/yeasty aromas, but not overwhelming. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of honey, pale/wheat malts, fruity yeast, and light earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of big clover honey, orange, lemon, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal, floral, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of clover honey, orange, lemon, peach, pear, melon, red apple, wheat, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of honey, pale/wheat malts, fruity yeast, and light earthy hop flavors; with a nice nice malt/honey/bitterness balance, and no cloying flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, lightly sticky, and slightly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.7%. Overall this is a very good American pale wheat ale/braggot. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of honey, pale/wheat malts, fruity yeast, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth and pretty refreshing to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Great balance between rich honey, pale/wheat malts, fruity yeast; and mild earthy hops against sweetness. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example. Reminds me of mead a lot, definitely a significant amount of honey in the beer.
superspak (10160) reviewed First Brown from Atwater Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
12 ounce bottle into pint glass, bottled in 10/2018. Pours slightly hazy deep ruby red, light copper/brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, brown bread, toasted biscuit, and nuts; with lighter notes of chocolate, cocoa, coffee, dark fruit, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good complexity and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, toffee, brown bread, toasted biscuit, and nuts; with lighter notes of chocolate, cocoa, coffee, dark fruit, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light herbal, grassy, peppery hop; and roast bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, toffee, brown bread, toasted biscuit, nuts, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast/toasted earthiness for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Light-medium carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready, and lightly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.5%. Overall this is a very nice American brown ale. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mellowly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful for the ABV. Nicely clean and rich malt complexity; with solid earthy hop balance against sweetness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.
solidfunk (22078) reviewed Bockefeller from Atwater Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
A little sweet for my liking in a dunkler bock. Honey and cream, with a hint of coffee. Pours maroon with good head and lacing. Some bitterness in finish that is otherwise sweet and boozy like your first time drunk. Tap at Detroit airport.
superspak (10160) reviewed Pursell Station Ale from Atwater Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
12 ounce bottle into pint glass, bottled in 5/2018. Pours fairly hazy medium golden yellow color with a 1 finger dense white 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 juicy/lightly tart/tangy apricots, peach, fruit skin, pear, red apple, melon, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with light notes of pepper, clove, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of apricots, fruity yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of juicy/lightly tart/tangy apricots, peach, fruit skin, pear, red apple, melon, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with light notes of pepper, clove, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal, floral, grassy hop bitterness; fruit tang/tartness, and yeast spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of juicy apricots, peach, fruit skin, pear, red apple, melon, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, light pepper/clove, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Nice complexity, robustness, and balance of apricots, fruity yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop flavors; with a nice malt/bitter/spiciness and tart/tangy fruit balance; with no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness and fruit tang/tartness. Light-medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/silky/grainy, and lightly sticky/tangy/acidic mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.5%. Overall this is a nice fruited American pale wheat ale. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of apricots, fruity yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth and refreshing to drink with the lightly bitter/spicy/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Nicely balanced authentic apricots, American wheat yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hops against sweetness. A nicely enjoyable offering, and well made style example.
solidfunk (22078) reviewed Voodoo Vator from Atwater Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5
Coffee and caramel, with some roast. Some booze. Pours black with decent mocha head and lacing. Bittersweet finish with a dose of finish. Tap at Plum Market in Detroit airport.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 2 | Overall - 4.5
On tap at bowsers. A darker beer. Somewhat ice cream aroma. Taste is same, vanilla and some well hidden raspberry, just like the ice cream. Fruit is difficult to pick up at first but then it gently introduces itself in the middle. Smooth with a slight alky impression on the finish. Pretty much flat.
Frothingslosh (19444) reviewed Street Artist from Atwater Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5
Sampled on draft at Tapped this beer poured a cloudy orange-gold color with a small foamy white head that left good lacing. The aroma was tangy, sweet and fruity. The flavor was tangy, sweet and fruity with faint perfume, sweettart candies and pepper. Medium length finish. Medium body.