Beer Reviews by HANTRAN

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# Beer Origin Style Score Date
51 Ghost Island United States Imperial IPA 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Very strong tropical fruit in the nose with some pine lurking in there as well also a bit of cotton candy. Medium copper colored body tapped by a two-finger whitehead that lasts well and leaves good lace. Mouth is surprisingly creamy and slightly oily. Flavor reminiscent of heady topper. Bitter predominates. Fairly strong malt background some biscuit some green herbs as well, perhaps a bit more green than tropical. Slightest stringency towards the end hint of aspirin. Finishes clean long and drying. All in all a very tasty Brew.

Aug 8, 2022
11:11:55 PM
52 Toadstool United States Stout 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Vinous nose..... Prune cocoa bread orange peel. Deep brown opaque body topped with a nice caramel colored head. Leaves typical nitro skim code on side of the glass. Sick mouth is nicely carbonated somewhat slick and mouthcoating. Flavor quite similar to Murphy's. Chocolatey malt at the forefront, bitter in the middle, with a long finish that is slightly sweet. Notes of espresso throughout and also hints of tangerine. Quite drinkable.

Dec 21, 2022
10:31:47 PM
53 Armada Brewing Mermaid Cove United States IPA 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

On draft at the local. Long-lasting nose. I think there's some weed in there definitely tropical notes pineapple guava Clementine. Decent head medium retention leaves a skim coat pretty good sudsy lace. Mouth is just a hair creamy great tingle.... carbonation spot on it's a bit slick and a bit drying. I'm totally digging the flavor on this and it reminds me a bit of Bell's Two Hearted but hazy. There's just a hint of sweet tart maybe a little touch of sour pineapple at the end some nice high orange-colored citrus notes in the middle. Really well balanced. Astringency right near the end that goes away fast leaving a really clean slightly sour aftertaste. I'll have another please. They also have a really fun website maybe the best website I've seen for a Brewer so far except they could give us a little more information on the actual recipes.

Jan 28, 2023
06:38:55 PM
54 Charter Oak Juice Boost NEIPA United States Imperial IPA 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Huge nose of citrus and pine and mango. Looks just right for a NEIPA... Totally hazed dark amber body, Great lace, and a whitehead with moderate retention. This big beer brings all of your mouth into play especially the back outside tongue. It's pretty clean is moderate carbonation. If you're looking for something that's hoppy as hell and will call juicy has really at least as much old-fashioned California IPA flavor as it does normal New England juice bombs then this is the one for you.

Mar 24, 2024
08:21:35 PM
55 Paulaner Hefeweizen Germany Hefeweizen 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

A wonderful Hefe! A very prominent aroma as it should be. Pine forests and lemon grass, vanillia, bread and ripe berries, a great nose! Classic appearance, all, foggy and fine coming at you in a lovely unfiltered deep gold. Pours a great fluffy head, exactly right for its type with moderate endurance. Nice lace slides back down rapidly but leaves semi-circular wisps so you remember it was there. Mouthfeel is velvet carbonation. Taste is all Hefe..slightly astringent almonds, wheat and spice, hinting at raisins and tropical fruit followed by a wonderful bread/yeast flavor that is perfectly balanced. This is a real upfront hefe; not timid at all. Finishes extremely clean with a tiny hint of sour, burbs great too!

Mar 28, 2006
01:56:28 AM
56 Harpoon 100 Barrel Series - Imperial Stout United States Imperial Stout 4.2

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Wow, this is what Stout is all about! Pours into a glass the deepest darkest chockolate brown, small head for a stout which is pale brown in color, and wonderful lacing. Deeply complicated nose, coal and raisins, figs and tropical fruit, and honey. Mouthfeel is wonderful, velvet and satin and light on the carbonation.Initial taste is tart followed by sweet fruit (figs again), rosemary, and a delightfully sour finish leading to a very clean ending. This is a winey brew, beautifully complicated whith great balance, the alcohol is present but just right. If you see this beer buy it, its absolutely worth the price!By the way this beer needs MORE REVIEWERS!

Jun 3, 2006
04:01:03 AM
57 Leffe Blonde Belgium Belgian Ale 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Pours a great big head with oversized bubbles clinging to the outside of the glass and a lovely soft merengue textured mass floating atop the head. A soft copper colored body slightly fogged with a steady procession of carbonation makes up the body. Amazing Lace! I had to let the head receed a bit to get the aroma of the beer (my fault for pouring it into a tall galss instead of a chalice)which is just coming through now. Vanilla, orange peel, black pepper, yeast,clove, cinnamon, and a hard subtle hard to identify low note, figs perhaps. Mouthfeel starts clean, tingly, and crisp but leaves a sinuous soft coating, absolutely delightful. The flavor starts out upfront and then suprises with a continued complexity. It hits the palette with sweet yeast and round ripe tropical fruit full of esthers... mango and grapefruit and bombards with a peppery zing including clove and cinnamon at almost the same time which predominates in midtaste as it leads to an end note of tart citrus. Aftertaste is vaguely melon leading to grain and now a bit of sour yeast. These components are all incredibly well balanced and present themselves not as seperate stages but as an almost contemporaneous bursting of flavors. This is jsut a very intelligently crafted ale almost impossible to improve upon.

Jul 7, 2006
01:38:07 AM
58 Ommegang Three Philosophers United States Abbey Quadrupel 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Reviewing from day old memory. Great head, none better ...beige, thick, foamy and alive. A head that lasts forever and leaves magnificent lace with a dark dark brown body underneath. Nose of fruit and spice and malt...complex and delightful. Mouthfeel is thick yet clean, slippery and tingly. Flavor is complex, toasty malts, heavy fruit, spice and some alcohol, for a sweet beer it finishes fairly dry. This beer is a home run.

Sep 2, 2006
09:54:02 PM
59 Hofbrau Munchen Kindl Weissbier (Hefe Weizen) / Hofbräu Munchen Kindl Weissbier (Hefe Weizen) Germany Hefeweizen 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

this is a great hefe, really sets the style for others to match, the spicing is subtle yet present. Complicated and long-lasting nose...wheat, yeast, lemon, pepper and a deep not quite banana. Beautiful clouded gold body with a lovely very white head that has amazing retention, no lacing to speak of. Mouth is medium bodied with a bit of slipperyness and a nice tingle. Flavor is dead on style, lemmon, bready notes, alcohol fully masked, just the right amount of sour to play with the sweetness, no significant hops presence, and a crystal clean finish. This is a classic.

Mar 25, 2009
05:12:25 PM
60 Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier Germany Hefeweizen 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Very good in the bottle, fantastic on tap. This review is for the draught. Great spicey hefe nose full of yeast and esters banana and orange/lemon cirtus. Beautiful pour, huge head good lace lovely foggy golden body, mouth is full, all silk and velvet,slippery and tingly. Flavor follows the nose, cardamon, a bit of pepper, lemon, banana YUM! Hits bitter, goes sweet finishes sour, perfection!

Jul 15, 2009
01:16:15 AM
61 Saison Dupont Belgium Saison 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Smells like your back yard if you happen to live in heaven. Musty, earthy, yeasty with floral notes and a hint of spicy pepper, a very nice nose like rolling in a wet pasture. Pours a hazy pale amber body with a rocky sightly off white head that lasts and provides great lacing. Great full mouth feel with lots of tingly tight carbonation. Complex yet smooth flavor, grassy notes, over-ripe pear, sour and yeasty with a VERY dry finish, a remarkable finish really. They say saisons are a heavily hopped style but I don't really detect that here, perhaps its my ignorance but this is not piney, not very citrusy, and not very bitter. INHO at around 8 the bottle this beer blows away 50 dollar champagnes and I am dying to find a place with this beer that sells good oysters.... I think that would be heaven indeed.

Nov 26, 2009
12:00:00 PM
62 Brooklyn East India Pale Ale United States IPA 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Strong nose of pine and lemon with malt present. Pours a large egg-white head with tight foam that leaves very good lace. The body is clear and the copper color is slightly pale, this is a very nice looking beer! Mouth is medium and a bit chewy, nice tingle, coats the mouth nicely and the IBU's really kick the rear outside of the tongue. This beer is quite bitter (in a very good way). Flavor , well there is a big mouth of grapefruit, some sweet fruit, some pine notes, a late-in-the-taste carmel flavor, with may be a hint of concord grape. A dry bitter finish follows the sweetness. Also a hint of nuttiness in the finish. Another excellent offering from Bkly, probably the best large brewer in the US.

Jan 24, 2010
12:00:00 PM
63 Ayinger Jahrhundert Germany Helles / Dortmunder 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Drank this for the first time last night followed by several other brews at an Oktoberfest dinner I threw, (yes this is not an Oktoberfest brew) so didn't have the chance to really study and rate it. However I can say it is under rated here IMHO. Will not some impressions here and come back for re-rate in the future when I can spend some serious time with this wonderful lager. Mostly malt in the nose with a hint of hops, beautiful pale golden body with tight white head. Soft medium mouth with perfect carbonation. I love the taste of this one, lost of malt; bread and biscuit with a fair amount of grass and hints of lemon, very nice balanced with he hops, dry finish, extremely drinkable!

Oct 11, 2010
12:00:00 PM
64 Berkshire Czech Style Pilsner United States Bohemian / Czech Pilsener 4.2

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Wow, just wow! I'm not a huge lager fan but this is a wonderful beer. Nose hits with a lot of biscuit and then presents pepper and ripe dark fruit, perhaps banana and some citrus; orange and lemon, and there is a bit of vanilla there too, world class nose on this beer. Although the brew is unfiltered it presents a clear medium gold body topped with a nice eggwhites head that leaves a decent skim coat. Lace is minimal. A lot of carbonation on the mouth which is medium crisp and clean. Flavor is as complex as the nose (for a lager.) Very nice malt followed by a big Saaz pepper hit, some rich vanilla and buttery notes, followed by lemon and pepper. Leaves the pallet with a very clean dry finish. Had my first bottle of this yesterday, sitting on a friend's porch in a rocking chair watching the sun set over the green hills of CT and listening to the birds. This is an excellent American effort at creating a true bohemian style pils, first rate!

Aug 26, 2011
12:00:00 PM
65 Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale United States Strong Ale 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Classic hop nose of pine and lemon (yes I get thirsty whenever I use Pledge or Pinesol), is balanced with some malty notes ( I get maple syrup, your milage may vary. Dark copper body with hints of red topped by an offwhite foamy head with excellent lace. Mouth is nicely slick, full bodied, and carbonation level is excellent. This hoppy strong ale avoids being simply a mouth full of grapefruit, its much more piney/herbal with very big bittering that is nicely balanced with a midtaste of caramel malts, big malt profile hidden away here. The finish is ever so slightly sour and the alcohol is present. Some prunes and figs in this one. Lovely.

Sep 30, 2012
12:00:00 PM
66 Captain Lawrence Imperial India Pale Ale United States Imperial IPA 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Really strong nose of grapefruit and orange and pepper with a hint of the grain bill coming through.Lovely looking brew, very clear pale amber body toped by skim coat that lingers and leaves moderate lace. Mouth has great carbonation and is slippery and fullish. Nice complex flavor with alcohol playing a large roll. VERY bitter, the citrus in the nose is not as present in the taste, maybe some vanilla, lots of resin, and some rawish grain, perhaps the best Imp IPA i have had, wish I knew the ABV, its up there! Not rerating it yet but very different now in 2014. Boy not clear but foggy, sour taste, not sure but might be bad bottle.

Dec 29, 2012
12:00:00 PM
67 Sixpoint Sweet Action United States Blonde Ale 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Minimal nose is sweet and a touch grassy. Light copper body topped by minimal head with little retention or lace. Mouth is medium, a bit creamy, quite nice with good carbonation level. Some honey in the taste, some decent malt backbone, hops are bitering, pretty decent balance, very sessionable. RERATE 7/11/2015 big pillow head with good retention and some lace. Floral nose easy drinking!

Jun 28, 2014
12:00:00 PM
68 Brooklyn Sorachi Ace United States Saison 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Nose of lemon, yeast and and some cardamom. Spot on for style. Unfiltered medium yellow body is topped by a great rocky head with excellent retention and decent lace. Mouth is fullish and creamy with very nice carbonation. A slightly mild saison flavor profile; spicy flavors are subdued (I LIKE!) and lemon is present as well as yeasty farmhouse funk. Finish is perfectly dry. I love these saisons in place of champaigns.

Nov 3, 2014
12:00:00 PM
69 HaandBryggeriet Hesjeøl Norway Saison 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

COMPLETE REVISON 11/2016 I suppose if you have to fit its into a category Saison is OK, but really thinks a "traditional" ale. Very unusual nose, licorice, ripe fruit, grass. Not quite clear pale apricot colored body topped with good and long lasting head and OK lace. Mouth is a medium with good fiz. Flavor is so unusual its hard to read. Tastes of rye, some funk, lightly smoked malts, great battering finish very dry. Truly unfiltered it left a serious amount of gunk in the bottom of the bottle. I really really loved this beer.

Aug 11, 2015
12:00:00 PM
70 Sierra Nevada Estate Homegrown Ale United States IPA 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Nice nose mild flowery hops and sweet malt notes. Pours a small head that is light caramel colored and long lasting with little lace over a a very cloudy copper/brown body. Really nice mouth, medium bodied, slippery and tingly, carbonation spot on. I am digging this flavor profile. Its IPAish but also hints at a brown ale. Presents with a malty sweetness very earthy and finishes moderately bitter and very dry. The alcohol is present in the end and warming. Winner Winner !

Nov 17, 2015
12:00:00 PM
71 Spencer Trappist Ale United States Belgian Ale 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Vanilla, grass, biscuit, a bit of piney hops, a fresh yeast in the nose. Good god, the head on this thing! Makes Duvel look flat!! Head is off white/light beige and rocky and frothy even with a soft pour. Leaves great lace before I even take the first sip.Deep honey colored body is cloudy as all get out. Yeast chunks are floating all around and also collecting on the bottom of this unfiltered brew. Mouth is soft and fizzy, medium bodied and slightly slick. Flavor profile is similar to a good Saison. Good grassy flavors with some barnyard funk, as it sits a bit I am getting apple and some green herbal notes. Has a nice sour hit to it with a finish closes with bubble gum and aftertaste is remarkably clean. Haven't had many American Belgians but man this is one balanced, subtle, tasty brew!

Dec 19, 2015
12:00:00 PM
72 Black Isle Organic Export Scotch Ale United Kingdom Scottish Ale 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Added this beer as it does not appear to be the same as the Black Isle Scotch Ale, the abv on that is 4.5, this export is 7.9 Aroma of toasted carmelly malts, cotton candy, and some vinous notes. Deep brown body with ruby hints that is not quite opaque topped with a moderate head that is off white and leaves a long lasting skim coat with little lace. The mouth if fairly full, slick and tingly, carbonation nicely done, really fills the palate.This is a sweet beer with a clean finish, quite well done. Leaves hints of coffee at the end with some tobacco. Up front its ripe dark fruit and toffee. The hops are minimal and indistinct but they balance the flavor nicely. Not normally my cup of tea but this is a very nice beer. Alcohol a bit present as a warming in the finish. Suspect this profile will round out and be a bit more complex as it warms. Well done!

Mar 28, 2016
12:00:00 PM
73 Stoudts Pils United States Bohemian / Czech Pilsener 4.2

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Strong grassy nose with some bread and a bit of funk, spot on. Good fluffy white head with decent lace atop a clear golden body. Mouth is medium, carbonation well done. Darn good American-made Pils. Grassy sour notes, light malt body, crisp and dry, very very well done.

May 3, 2016
12:00:00 PM
74 Troegs Sunshine Pils United States Bohemian / Czech Pilsener 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Most ratings on this one are old. I believe the recipe has changed significantly. Its worth revisiting. Grassy Saaz in the nose with some biscuit notes and some wildflower.Pale straw body is super clear with dead white egg whites head that has very good retention, and leaves nice lace...Spot On! Mouth is medium to lite bodied with excellent carbonation. Classic Pils flavor profile with hay up front, a tinge of lemony citrus, a very dry clean finish that is just slightly bitter. This is a great American rendition of a classic European style....WELL DONE!

Jun 22, 2016
12:00:00 PM
75 Framing Hammer United States Baltic Porter 4.2

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Hints of coffee and chocolate and raisin in the nose. Pours an opaque deep deep brown body with a caramel-colored head that is decent and has nice retention and very nice lace. Mouth is creamy and full bodied with a nice slickness. Favor is on the sweet side with again, hints of chocolate and coffee and cotton candy but its nicely battered as well, very nice hop level at 45 IBU. Finish is surprisingly clean and balanced. 10% abv is well masked, the alcohol is just a bit warming. WELL DONE! Side Note; BeerPal forces porters to be listed as ales and then describes them as usually lagers, which this one is,,,,, whats up with that?

Jul 9, 2016
12:00:00 PM