Commercial beer review thread

[ohiobrewtus]

There may be something similar to this already in existance out here somewhere (I know that the beer of the week/month thread comes close), but I thought it would be nice to have an official commercial review thread using the BJCP scoring system to not only give people an impression of commercial beers that they may be interested in but also give those of us that aspire to become BJCP certified a platform on which to practice completing an evaluation sheet.

MODS - feel free to merge with another thread if one already exists.

If I can use HTML tags freely I could duplicate most of the official BJCP scoring sheet in here, but I have been told in the past by a mod to hold off on HTML tags until TxBrew signed off on their use, so I will not do so unless a mod contacts me to let me know that it is ok to do so.

In the interim, this will have to do, and I'll kick this thread off with a review of Eliot Ness Amber Lager from GLBC (Great Lakes Brewing Company):

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Beer Name: ______________________________________
Brewery: ______________________________________
Category: ______________________________________

Did you notice any of the following (yes/no)?

Acetaldhyde (green apple-like flavor or aroma) ____________________

Alcoholic (warming effects of Ethanol or other alchohols) ____________

Astringent (harsh graininess/huskiness) __________________________

Diacetyl (Artificial butter/butterscotch) __________________________

DMS (dimethyl sulfide - cooked/canned corn) _____________________

Estery (fruit/fruit flavorings/roses) ______________________________

Grassy (aroma/flavor of fresh cut gras or leaves) __________________

Light-struck (similar to the aroma of a skunk) _____________________

Metallic (Tin/copper/iron/coin/blood-like flavors) ___________________

Musty (stale or moldy flavors/aromas) ___________________________

Oxidized (winy/vinous/cardboard/paper/sherry-livke aromas/flavor)_______

Phenolic (clove/pepper/smoky/plastic/plastic adhesive/medicinal) ________

Solvent (fusel alcohols/paint thinner aromas) ________________________

Sour/Acidic (tartness in aroma and/or flavor) ________________________

Sulfur (rotten eggs/burning matches) ______________________________

Vegetal (canned or cooked rotten Vegetable aroma/flavor) _____________

Yeasty (bready/sulfur/yeast-like aroma/flavor) _______________________



Bottle inspection: (appropriate fill/size/cap/label removal)




Aroma ___/12
Comment on malt, hops, aromas and other esters






Appearance ___/3
Comment on color, clarity, and head (retention, color and texture)





Flavor ___/20
Comment on malt, hops, fermentation characteristics, balance, finish, aftertaste and other flavor characteristics




Mouthfeel ___/5
Comment on body, carbonation, warmth, creaminess, astringency, and other palate sensations





Overall Impression ___/10
Comment on overall drinking pleasure associated with entry, give suggestions for improvement





Scoring guide:

45-50 = Outstanding - World-class example of style
38-44 = Excellent - Exemplifies style well, requires minor fine-tuning
30-38 = Very Good - Generally within style parameters, some minor flaws
21-29 = Good - Miss the mark on style and/or minor flaws
14-20 = Fair - Off flavors, aromas or major style deficiencies
0-13 = Problematic - major off flavors dominate.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

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Beer Name: Eliot Ness
Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing COmpany
Category: 10B

Did you notice any of the following (yes/no)?

Acetaldhyde (green apple-like flavor or aroma) no

Alcoholic (warming effects of Ethanol or other alchohols) no

Astringent (harsh graininess/huskiness) slight

Diacetyl (Artificial butter/butterscotch) slight

DMS (dimethyl sulfide - cooked/canned corn) slight

Estery (fruit/fruit flavorings/roses) no

Grassy (aroma/flavor of fresh cut grass or leaves) no

Light-struck (similar to the aroma of a skunk) no

Metallic (Tin/copper/iron/coin/blood-like flavors) slight

Musty (stale or moldy flavors/aromas) no

Oxidized (winy/vinous/cardboard/paper/sherry-livke aromas/flavor) no

Phenolic (clove/pepper/smoky/plastic/plastic adhesive/medicinal) no

Solvent (fusel alcohols/paint thinner aromas) no

Sour/Acidic (tartness in aroma and/or flavor) no

Sulfur (rotten eggs/burning matches) no

Vegetal (canned or cooked rotten Vegetable aroma/flavor) no

Yeasty (bready/sulfur/yeast-like aroma/flavor) no


Bottle inspection: (appropriate fill/size/cap/label removal)

All aspects of bottle appear in excellent condition.


Aroma 8/12
Comment on malt, hops, aromas and other esters

Strong malty nose with a faint spicy hop presence detectable that fades as the beer warms. There is a slight diacytl/old coin aroma present that persists throughout.



Appearance3/3
Comment on color, clarity, and head (retention, color and texture)

Brilliant amber color, very clear, poured with a thick, evenly distributed white head.

Flavor 13/20
Comment on malt, hops, fermentation characteristics, balance, finish, aftertaste and other flavor characteristics.

Malty in the front and overall smooth with a bit of an astrigent finish. No diacytl, no dms. Little to no hops are present. Medium bodied and appropriate to style. This beer emphasizes malt more than balance.


Mouthfeel 3/5
Comment on body, carbonation, warmth, creaminess, astringency, and other palate sensations

Carbonation is a bit low for the style. No alcohol warmth, nice creamy medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. Slight astringency in the finish.


Overall Impression 7/10
Comment on overall drinking pleasure associated with entry, give suggestions for improvement

A solid overall example of the style with impeccable appearance. This beer would benefit from being a bit more balanced by adding more hops. Overall a very clean and refreshing example of the style.


Overall Score: 34/50

 

[ohiobrewtus]

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Beer Name: Burning River
Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Company
Category: 10A

Did you notice any of the following (yes/no)?

Acetaldhyde (green apple-like flavor or aroma) no

Alcoholic (warming effects of Ethanol or other alchohols) no

Astringent (harsh graininess/huskiness) no

Diacetyl (Artificial butter/butterscotch) no

DMS (dimethyl sulfide - cooked/canned corn) no

Estery (fruit/fruit flavorings/roses) no

Grassy (aroma/flavor of fresh cut grass or leaves) no

Light-struck (similar to the aroma of a skunk) no

Metallic (Tin/copper/iron/coin/blood-like flavors) no

Musty (stale or moldy flavors/aromas) no

Oxidized (winy/vinous/cardboard/paper/sherry-livke aromas/flavor) no

Phenolic (clove/pepper/smoky/plastic/plastic adhesive/medicinal) no

Solvent (fusel alcohols/paint thinner aromas) no

Sour/Acidic (tartness in aroma and/or flavor) no

Sulfur (rotten eggs/burning matches) no

Vegetal (canned or cooked rotten Vegetable aroma/flavor) no

Yeasty (bready/sulfur/yeast-like aroma/flavor) slight



Bottle inspection: (appropriate fill/size/cap/label removal)

All aspects of bottle appear in excellent condition.


Aroma 10/12
Comment on malt, hops, aromas and other esters

Strong citrusy/piney hop aroma with malty undertones and a slight bready aroma. The hops dominate the nose while the malt and bread are there only minimally.

Appearance3/3
Comment on color, clarity, and head (retention, color and texture)

Crystal clear golden to dark golden/light amber color that is very clear. One finger, evenly distributed whote head that remained for 30 seconds after pouring.

Flavor 14/20
Comment on malt, hops, fermentation characteristics, balance, finish, aftertaste and other flavor characteristics.

Medium-bodied, average to above average attenuated mouthfeel with a hop bitterness appropriate to the style. Caramel notes become dominant as the beer warms and slightly unbalances this beer towards malt, overall is pretty well balanced but hop flavor is a bit recessive.

Mouthfeel 4/5
Comment on body, carbonation, warmth, creaminess, astringency, and other palate sensations

Carbonation is appropriate for the style. No alcohol warmth, nice creamy medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. Nice slightly dry finish appropriate to style. Carbonation is medium and spot on the the style.


Overall Impression 8/10
Comment on overall drinking pleasure associated with entry, give suggestions for improvement

A very well crafted APA. A bit more bitterness would balance this beer out perfectly. Nose is a great teaser to lead people into this beer.


Overall Score: 37/50