The Beer Garden

• Taste: 4
• After Taste: 3
• Label: 4
• Buzz Factor: 3

Copper red color with a 1/2 inch head that is a little thin but sticks around and leaves a light lacing on the side of the glass. Nice mild earthy flavor with a little hop in the middle. Clean & slightly sour finish. I dig the “western noir” look of the label and the cowboy reminds me a bit of the unkown soldier. You should try this beer.

• Taste: 4
• After Taste: 3
• Label: 4
• Buzz Factor: 5

This locally-brewed beverage smells and pours like a typical lager - it has a nice deep amber color and a heavy aroma. The surprise, for me, came at first sip… it seems to have a little extra bite and bitterness that I didn’t expect, almost bordering on what you might find with a pale ale. It’s still a hearty, refreshing lager with a bit of a punch, which is why I gave it a 5 for “Buzz Factor”. Or wait, maybe this buzz isn’t just from one beer. Maybe I’m feeling this because of the fact that I’ve had about three of these in about fifteen minutes. But don’t worry folks, I won’t be doing any driving tonight as I’m safe at home… Or am I? Wait a minute, what is this place?

Anyway, the label is nice enough. It features a nice illustration of Mr. Ness hanging out at the local pub, no doubt pondering how to crush the world of organized crime. It makes me want to go watch “The Untouchables” again. Well, not really, but you get the idea.

Taste: 4
After Taste: 3
Label: 1
Buzz Factor: 3

Notes: This beer is about as common as water in this area, so I don’t have much to say about it. Pours out a nice golden color with a head that is promising but fades quickly. Taste is smooth and well balanced with an average aftertaste. The label is boring and overly self congratulatory, I pretty much hate it.

Shawn described this beer’s role in our area pretty well in his review – it’s everywhere! To add to his comments, it’s also the beer that “beer posers” use to try to impress other people and convince them that they are somehow more worldly or well-travelled because they know of a beer made by someone other than Miller or Budweiser. “That’s right ladies, I drink Dortmunder Gold… now if you would kindly remove your pants and join me in a darkened secluded corner of this fine drinking establishment.”
I don’t mean to take anything away from the beer; it has a decent flavor and is better than average in the buzz category, but it’s nothing special.
Shawn also hits the nail on the head with regard to the label. So it won a few awards, big whoop! You don’t see me wearing the shirt I won at last year’s national clog dancing event, do you?