Back to one of my favorite breweries, Rogue Brewery. One of their most popular is Rogue Dead Guy Ale. (www.rogueales.com) I actually have to give my brother-in-law to be props for introducing me to this beer a few years ago. He brought it to our families beer festival and everyone was kind of put off by the look of the bottle but in the end it did very well. In my previous post about Capital Breweries Maibock, I kind of bashed that style. Well, apparently Rogue Dead Guy is a German Style Maibock. So, I’ve kind of put my foot in my mouth, but I know I would much rather have Rogue’s than Capitals. 
Very malty taste and very smooth. A great beer to sip on and enjoy. Rogue keeps pumping out terrific beers. Give this one a try, it’s worth it.

REVIEW
 Pour: Copper, dark orange color pour.
Aroma: Smell of malts, caramel, and apples
Taste: Sweet caramel with a honey-wheat bread flavor
Overall: B

Eastern Iowa Residents: This beer is available for purchase at most high-end liquor stores such as Benz, Hy-Vee, Family Beer and Liquor and John’s Grocery. The Wig and Pen on the Coralville Strip also has it in bottles. The price of $9.99-$10.99 is worth it. A very good beer.

This review should have a big *asterisk* next to it because I’m reviewing a style of beer that I have never been fond of, so if it comes off as unfair or off the mark it’s because I’m not a big Bock or Maibock drinker. Capital makes pretty good beer, located in Middleton, WI, most of their beers are available in Eastern Iowa. The Maibock beer is available from February to June.
This beer was just too sweet for me, a bready/honey sweetness that I just couldn’t get by. Not enough hoppy bitterness to overcome that overlysweet taste. I won’t discount Capital for this beer and am looking forward to trying some of their others.

REVIEW
POUR: Golden orange pour with thick white head.
AROMA: Fruity (apples, pears), yeast, sweet honey smell.
TASTE: Flavor of malts, fruit, and dominantly sweet
OVERALL: C-

RESIDENTS: John’s Grocery and Hy-Vee carry multiple Capital products.

I have to credit Boulevard Brewing (www.blvdbeer.com) with getting me into the craft beer scene with their Wheat beer. I always like to try their new releases and their beers are something I know I will enjoy if I can’t decide on another beer.
Let me first say that if you are new to craft beer and had been drinking light beers all the time, then Pilsner styles might be a good transition to the craft beer scene.
With Boulevard Pilsner, this is what American Pilsner should be. A straw colored beer, aroma of grass and malts. Flavor on the lightside with a little hop at the end. Not bad. However, I’ve recently been addicted to Sam Adams Noble Pils which is my favorite American Pilsner out there.
REVIEW
POUR: Deep golden,straw colored pour with nice white head.
AROMA: Grassy, malty smell.
TASTE: Flavor of malts, yeast, and hops at the end.
OVERALL: C

EASTERN IOWA RESIDENTS: See this more often now, and the price tag has been anywhere from $6-$8. A great transitional beer and very easy drinking. Try this and then make sure you try Sam Adams Noble Pils.

Leinenkugels’ beers (www.leinie.com)  for me are usually middle of the road, they won’t knock your socks off with a fantastic flavor but they won’t repulse you with their products either. This is a decent nut-brown ale, and reasonable priced. Fireside nut-brown is a little too sweet for me, has sugar caramel almost Tootsie roll taste that sticks out a little too much for my taste.  The price for a six-pack is very reasonable however and this beer is drinkable. I would rather spend my six bucks on a Hazelnut Brown by Rogue however.
REVIEW
POUR: Dark brown color pour with a somewhat tan head. Nice lacing.
AROMA: Roasted malts, nuts, and caramel.
TASTE: Overly sweet caramel taste, a little too much for me, roasted malts. A good brown to start on.
OVERALL: C

EASTERN IOWA RESIDENTS: A winter seasonal offering by Leinenkugels that is available at most good liquor stores. Hy-vee, John’s Grocery will certainly have it.
If you’ve had it, let me know your thoughts!

Don’t let the name fool you, this is an Anheuser Busch product. Not that there is anything wrong with that but it seems they are hiding their name on the label for some reason. Anyway, tried and was not impressed, pretty sure AB is trying to take some steam from the success of Coors’ Blue Moon product and Shock Top falls way short. Almost an artificial fruit loop cereal flavor is way too sweet for me. This beer just seems to lack its own personality and is instead trying to be a ripoff of an already successful product and not trying to stand out on its own.

I know a few people who have tried and liked this beer, but my recommendation is to avoid it. If you want a white ale try Blue Moon or Millstream’s Johns’ Generation White Ale; both are much better and stay true to what a white ale is supposed to be.

REVIEW
POUR: Hazy yellow pour.
AROMA: Smell of citrus, corriander, oranges.
TASTE: Artificial fruit taste, overly sweet. I’ll pass.
OVERALL: D+

EASTERN IOWA RESIDENTS: This beer is available everywhere and is also on tap on many bars and restaurants. Could be a good start to drinking craft beer, but if you are already drinking craft beer then you don’t need to try this one.

Going to continue with the Bell’s Beers. Got a tweet from Reds Ale House in North Liberty, IA about their keg tapping of Hopslam! from Bell’s Brewery. Big fan of this brewery and a big fan of Reds. Since they made a big deal about it I figured this beer must be the real deal. 
Ordered the beer and looked like a nice perfect IPA. The aroma of grapefruit really stood out and the flavor of piney hops and grapefruit was creamy and fantastic. This beer is limited realease, I believe, so if you ever get a chance to try this please do, it is a must try beer! I also have to commend Reds Ale House and the Sanctuary for continually getting these great beers to the area for us to try. 
If you try this beer let me know what you think!
 REVIEW
POUR: Cloudy yellow/orange pour.
AROMA: Smell of piney hops and grapefruit.
TASTE: Very smooth, piney, bitter, grapefruit, and creamy.
OVERALL: A+

EASTERN IOWA RESIDENTS: On tap at Reds Ale House in North Liberty, IA and the Sanctuary in Iowa City.

Going to continue with the Bell’s Beers. Got a tweet from Reds Ale House in North Liberty, IA about their keg tapping of Hopslam! from Bell’s Brewery. Big fan of this brewery and a big fan of Reds. Since they made a big deal about it I figured this beer must be the real deal. 
Ordered the beer and looked like a nice perfect IPA. The aroma of grapefruit really stood out and the flavor of piney hops and grapefruit was creamy and fantastic. This beer is limited realease, I believe, so if you ever get a chance to try this please do, it is a must try beer! I also have to commend Reds Ale House and the Sanctuary for continually getting these great beers to the area for us to try. 
If you try this beer let me know what you think!
 REVIEW
POUR: Cloudy yellow/orange pour.
AROMA: Smell of piney hops and grapefruit.
TASTE: Very smooth, piney, bitter, grapefruit, and creamy.
OVERALL: A+

EASTERN IOWA RESIDENTS: On tap at Reds Ale House in North Liberty, IA and the Sanctuary in Iowa City.