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Bitterbill (4395) reviewed
Doppelbock from Fort Collins Brewery
8 years ago
8.4/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
From Sep 2007

This pours from Growler a clear reddish brown with a huge tannish head of foam that is very long lasting. Near the end of my first glass, there's still a solid layer and it has some nice lacing. Beautiful looking beer in the glass.

The smell is of caramel malt with some smoke and chocolate and a bit of vanilla.

The taste is malty but not too sweet and has some smoke, dark fruit(fig mostly) some dark chocolate and a touch of vanilla and...this is with my drinking it directly out of the fridge so I'm going to let it warm up some and see what happens.

While I'm waiting for it to warm, I have to say at this point, for being 10%abv, it is *very* well hidden. I get just the slightest bit of warming after the swallow and that's it. Pretty impressive.

Ok, it's warmed up some now and I get some more smoke(just the right amount, imho) and more malt and more chocolate and overall, this is one fine smooth drinker. I could see myself sipping on it all day long but...I'm going to cap it and save the rest for tomorrow.

Bottom line: I liked last year's version but thought the smoke was overpowering the other flavours. This batch, I think, brings out the best in *all* the flavours and for that, FCB, I salute you. I can't wait to try a bottle and see how it compares. I highly recommend you try this DB if you see it in your area!
Tried from Growler on 27 Oct 2017 at 09:39
Bitterbill (4395) reviewed
Kidd Black Lager (Schwarzbier) from Fort Collins Brewery
8 years ago
5.9/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 4 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
From Apr 2007

This one pours from 12oz bottle a deep brown with reddish hues and a medium sized head of tannish foam. After a few minutes, it settles down to a fine broken layer with lots of lacing.

The smell has a lot of chocolate and grain in the nose.

The taste is big on the chocolate up front but it's a semi-sweet chocolate. Could be desribed as a cocoa flavour. Further sips in and I'm getting some caramel with a bit of a hop bite that makes for, an overall, very balanced flavour. The finish has a touch of smoke to it. Very nicely done indeed. The flavours work so well together; tast, really smooth, and very darn drinkable. Good mouthfeel too. I really like this Schwartzbier...wish they carried it here in Casper.

Bottom line: Like I said, this is a very drinkable and tasty Schwarzbier. I'll have to pick up some more on my next trip to Ft Collins! Recommended!
Tried from Bottle on 24 Oct 2017 at 09:19
Bitterbill (4395) reviewed
Wilburfest from Fort Collins Brewery
8 years ago
5.6/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
From Apr 2007

This pours from 12oz bottle(2006) a clear deep amber with a smallish head of foam. The foam shrinks quickly leaving just a bit in the middle and around the edge of the glass. There is some lacing.

The smell is a nice caramel malt with a side note of grain.

The taste is big on the caramel malt on first sip but it also has a nice earthiness to it. Judging from the smell, I thought this would be sweeter than it is but there's some hop bitterness in the background that balances out the flavours. Further sips in and I'm getting some good bready tones midway through with the finish being slightly bitter and quite crisp. The mouthfeel is good and the carbonation is on the light side. Nice brew.

Bottom line: This is a nice Marzen that is quite drinkable and has enough flavour to hold one's interest. I recommend it.
Tried from Bottle on 24 Oct 2017 at 09:18
Bitterbill (4395) reviewed
Big Shot from Fort Collins Brewery
8 years ago
5.9/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
From Nov 2006

Poured from 12oz bottle a dark red with a nice large head of foam that settled to a solid layer and lasted for the entire session.

The smell is delicate but there's some nutiness there with some smoke.

The taste has some sweet caramel notes and a bit of nutiness on first sip but that's immediately taken over by the smoke. I'm not saying this is a hugely smokey beer but the other flavours are just too delicate and easily succumb to the smoke character. I was hoping for something more complex and well, better...:^(

Bottom line: There are some Ft Collins beers that I really like, some that I think are ok, and then there's this one. Not my cup of tea at all and I can't recommend it.
Tried from Bottle on 18 Oct 2017 at 09:27
Bitterbill (4395) reviewed
Z Lager from Fort Collins Brewery
8 years ago
6.9/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
From Sep 2006

Poured from 12oz bottle a hazy reddish-gold with a an ample head of foam that shrank quickly but left a layer that remained for the entire session.

The smell is of semi sweet malt with a touch of smoke.

The taste is woody with notes of smoke and roasted malt. The smoke, to me, is more noticeable midway through and in the finish where it *does* have a bit of harshness to it but, all in all, I like this brew and find it pretty drinkable.
Tried from Bottle on 17 Oct 2017 at 11:25
Bitterbill (4395) reviewed
Red Banshee (Retro Red) from Fort Collins Brewery
8 years ago
6/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 7
From Jul 2006

Poured from 12oz bottle a clear red-gold with a medium sized head of foam that slowly dissipated leaving about a 1" layer that stayed for the entire session.

The smell has a malty nose to it...perhaps some caramel sweetness there.

The taste is malty but not really sweet. There's some roastiness going on with a bit of hoppy bitterness and there's a bit of a nutty flavour there as well and over all, I'd have to say it makes for an off the beaten track tasting Red Ale that hits *my* palate nicely.

Bottom line: I like this Red Ale and I'm going to get some more, no doubt about it.
Tried from Bottle on 17 Oct 2017 at 11:02
Bitterbill (4395) reviewed
Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat from Fort Collins Brewery
8 years ago
6.4/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 6 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
From Jul 2006

Poured from 12oz bottle a clear light gold with a huge head of foam that actually grew after pouring and almost overflowed. Half way through the session and on, I had about a 1/2" layer but it was still "billowy".

The smell is a very sweet fruity nose. Not ever having tasted a pomegranate, I can't say it smells like that but..it's nice.

The taste is of wheat and what I presume to be pomegranate. It's an interesting flavour for sure; a mix of sweet and bitter that, imho, makes for good drinkability, especially in the hot weather we've been having in Casper.(today it's 94F, yesterday it was ~107!)

Bottom line: An unusual, and good, enough taste to visit again and...the label is really cool looking.
Tried from Bottle on 17 Oct 2017 at 11:00
cheap (9783) reviewed
Shot Down from Fort Collins Brewery
9 years ago
4.8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 3 Texture 4 Overall 4
Strange label on this can; is that a view from the backside and she's turning her read to look behind? Whatever; strange. Big and black, look is large & in charge. Smells like a nice civilized mildly malty brew, with hints of a roasty nose. Taste is quite strong, the color of the beer and the nose is a deception. Yes, maybe some coffee and if we stretch it, perhaps some choco but fer sher there is much burnt attitude and maybe it even comes across like a mild balic or foreign stout. Yes, seem to have more alky kick than 6%, heheheh. Burnt roasty finish in the end on this one. At least it has some co2 in it clear to the end, makes the palate better than a nitro.
Tried from Can on 07 Sep 2017 at 15:53
Staleandfunny (6545) ticked
Red Banshee (2016-) from Fort Collins Brewery
9 years ago
7/10
Tried on 30 Jun 2017 at 22:03
Drake (22980) reviewed
Sled God from Fort Collins Brewery
9 years ago
7.8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
12 ounce can from Brennan’s Brookfield. Clearly this was a bit old when I bought it last week! Hopefully it will hold up. Best by date on the bottom of the can is completely illegible. Hazy dark red, large foamy tan head, good retention. Aroma of nuts, oak, brown sugar, coffee, vanilla. The taste is coffee, nuts, chocolate, oak, vanilla, plum. Medium bodied, warming. Nice.
Tried from Can on 13 Jun 2017 at 17:45