Reviews from First Friday September 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the eleventh "First Friday." For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (Oct. 2 @ 7:45 p.m.).

A run-down of the September 2009 favorites:

New Belgium Mothership Wit
Very Nice – Some licorice taste
Reminds me of my standard Blue Moon

Flying Dog Dogtoberfest Marzen
Kind of nice
Ruff ruff

Taurino Cervesa
Wonderful – Could drink 3

Maui Brewing Coconut Porter
Tastes like you’re eating the bra of a hula dancer
It’s coconut!
Coconut sack flavor
Not for me

Rogue Chipotle
No!
Finishes nice
Can taste the spice, but no smoke

Metolius Damsel Blonde Ale
Nice but bitter at the end (no one else noticed)

Lost Coast Downtown Brown
Nice
For a Brown it’s very doable
Good for a Brown

Kona Firerock Pale Ale
Liked!
No! Bitter!

Delirium Nocturnum
Sorry Brady: Too bitter

Capistrano Amber Ale
Not bad for an ale
Lighter than Downtown Brown – Duh!

Wingwalker Pale Ale
Very nice

Reviews from First Friday August 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the tenth "First Friday."

 For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (Sept. 11 @ 7:45 p.m.).

Note: First Friday in September will be held on the Second Friday (Sept. 11) to avoid conflict with the International Street Fair of Orange on Labor Day weekend.

It seemed like a consistently good batch of beers for August, with no runaway winners or losers.

A run-down of the August 2009 favorites:

Sierra Nevada Summerfest
Good!
XLNT summer brew

Framboise Lambic
Yum! I’d drink this all night!
Too sweet

Hoegarden
Ho Ho Ho gimme more!!
Light taste
Could drink a keg of this stuff
Very good!

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat
Not a traditional wheat aroma
Spicy finish

Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale
Hoppy
Very bitter
Roasty, smooth bitterness

Victory Hop Wallop
Strong bitter
Lots of hops!
Lovely for 1 to 6 beers. Too much for a keg

Bruery Trade Winds
Nice, light, a little hoppy and spice at the end
Sharp, spicy, very nice!
OK
Spicy on the tongue

San Lucas Cervesa
Tastes like Cabo
Nice and Light
Kelly likes – Drank the whole beer

Kona Wailua
Expected to hate it but a good surprise

Scrimshaw
Nice and clean!
Good
Very good!

Sea Dog Wild Blueberry Wheat
Yum!

Reviews from First Friday June 2009

The reviews from First Friday June 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the eighth "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (July 3 @ 7:45 p.m.).

A run-down of the June 2009 favorites:


LEADING CONTENDERS
Damnation
Fantastic
Damn it’s tasty
Very good

St. Peters Cream Stout
Would have liked to taste this.
I did and it was wonderful!

GOOD GRADES
Racer 5 IPA
Yum. Racy.
Too much bite
Good bite, but smooth

Taps 50 Schilling Scotch Ale
Delicious
Hits the spot!
Starchy

Blackened Voodoo
A little bitter. Like me.

Smithwicks
Always a good choice

MIXED BAG
Banana Bread
Bitter-banana after taste
Not so bad

Land Shark Lager
Nightastic!
Weak-kneed watery
Coors?
Not so much…

Peroni
I liked it
No taste
Not so good
Not a big Peroni fan

Tower 10 IPA
Nice to begin and then bitter

NOT SO MUCH
Shock Top Belgium White
Like water.

Poleeko Gold Pale Ale
I brought this and I didn’t like it.

Warsteiner Dunkel
Nothing special

The reviews from First Friday May 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the seventh "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (June 5 @ 7:45 p.m.).

A run-down of the May 2009 favorites:

LEADING CONTENDERS
Drifter Pale Ale
Hoppy Heaven!
It bites, but I like it.
Got my daily dose of Vitamin C!
Bitter & Tangy… at the same time!

Belli Bock
Really bocky
Yes! Really this was the beer of the evening!
Like it!

Rogue Brown
Like ice cream, but healthier?
I (heart) Rogue Brown
If beer and coffee did “it” and had a chocolate baby
Good!
All I can say is “Duncan Hines Chocolate Cake.”

GOOD GRADES
Blind Pig
Waiting for the bite at the end but it never came – Love it
The bite tastes like celery… Peanut butter anyone?
Good hops and barley taste

Monty Python Holy Grail Ale
It’s the beer that makes me say “Ni”
Eki eki eki botong whoqu zoing zoing

Tetley’s English Ale
Much better than Tetley’s Tea – Smooth!
Best right after opening – Widget Magic.

MIXED BAG
Whitbread Pale Ale
Wonderbread is much better…
A surprise for me tonight. I’m down for the bread.

NOT SO MUCH
Poleeko Gold Pale Ale
Speaks for itself… Po-Leak-O
Can’t beat the Pig!

Capistrano Amber Ale
Hard to swallow.
Watered the tree with it. Hope it doesn’t die.

The reviews from First Friday April 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the sixth "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (May 1 @ 7:45 p.m.).

There wasn’t a dud in the bunch this month. A run-down of the April 2009 favorites:

THE CLEAR FRONT-RUNNER
Weltenburger Kloster Winter Tralem
The best beer I’ve had in a long time!
Winner
Good. Very Good.
Excellent taste!
A little watery

ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 3
Deschutes Hop Henge IPA
Da best!!
Add 2 more “Da bests”

Fin Du Monde
Excellent!
Got a kick to it.
Nutmeg – spicy and wintery

THE REST OF THE PACK
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
Hearty
Tastes like soup!

Sam Smith IPA
Definitely can taste the hops!

Black Toad Dark Ale
Good stuff! Basic, smooth beer

Stone IPA
Hemp smell. Crisp flavor without being too sharp.

Phuket Lager
Very light
I just like saying it – Phuket, Phuket, Phuket

Victory Prima Pils
European taste

Birra Moretti
Drinkable

Fat Weasel Pale Ale
OK

Photos: First Friday (April 2009)

The reviews are in for the "fifth" First Friday (March 2009)

Thanks to everyone who came out for the fifth "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (April 3 @ 7:45 p.m.).

The most-talked about March 2009 beers included:

THE CLEAR FAVORITE
Beautification Russian River
Strange (but beautiful) brew. Lime flavor, dry finish.
Lemon funkiness. Finishes tart and dry. Super good.
Similar to unflavored Lambic. Nice and sour. -- Chris O
Good choice for a very hot day (in small amounts) -- Joseph B
How about some Alka Seltzer -- Al

TOP MARKS
Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Loved it. My kind of beer.

Long Hammer
Great IPA. Loved it.

San Luis Obispo Brewing Extra Pale Ale
Easy drinking ale.
Nice and smooth. Something you can definitely get a keg of.

Leffe Blonde
Al says: I totally love it.
Ditto Al!
Yum! Not too shabby

Firestone California Pale Ale
Love the aftertaste.
Not as hoppy as I expected.

Steelhead Double IPA
Smooth for the 8%+ alcohol content

New Glarus Raspberry Tart
Tastes like a raspberry truffle. Not too sweet though. Well balanced.

Ale Smith Grand Cru
Tastes like caramel, vanilla and candied fruits.

Smithwicks
Smooth & de-lish! Could drink it all night long.

Sierra Nevada Barleywine
Strong as shit!

MIXED REVIEWS
2 Degrees Below
Grabs you at the first sip. Then it's smooth there after.
Delicious brew!
Smooth. Not as good as Fat Tire

Moose Drool
Will not be droolin' over this anytime soon
Dark and smooth. Great taste!
Coffee taste. So so.
Welcome to Starbucks

Lost Coast Raspberry Brown
Too jammy! -- Andrew
Perfect balance of berries and beer.

Jumping Cow Amber Ale
Decent amber beer, but nothing special.
Mooo! Happy cow
Good!

NOT SO MUCH
Stone Mill Pale Ale
Not too good. Left a bad taste in my mouth.

Stone Levitation
Harsh!
Fair to middlin'

Grimbergen
Not that great.

Hofbrau Original
Too light, too watery
Heinekin -- not that good