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| MidwestMicroBrews' Midwest Beer Reviews! |
The Grumpy Troll Restaurant and Brewery - Mount Horeb, Wisconsin Erik The Red Ale Like almost all American brewpubs, The Grumpy Troll offers a red ale. But Erik The Red stands apart from most of those by... well, by actually being good! Beyond good, to be more precise. Even unfiltered, Erik has greater clarity than most reds, with a gorgeous ruby-brown color. Scents of fruit and spice blend with the sweet malty aroma. It hits the tongue with a floral, almost spring-like taste that quickly gives way to the sweet caramel and smoke flavor that stays in the mouth for a moment after swallowing. A red ale is usually one of the last beers we would order, but if they were all done this well, we might reconsider that. Curly Scotch Ale When breweries tell us they have a Scotch Ale they want us to review, they better be able to back that up. If there is one thing Grandpa McFlannigan taught is, it's how to tell a good scotch ale from the rest of the pack. The Captain's done such a splendid job with Curly that you'd think he grew up in the Highlands. With a nice, hard pour, Curly delivers a thick head that holds itself to the side of the glass. The aroma is both smoky and sweet. Using Fuggle hops and just a bit of peat moss, Curly has a rich, autumnal taste with a sweet, malty complexity. Finishing smooth and velvety, it leaves you with a just a whisper of smoked peat. If we could choose only one beer to have at The Grumpy Troll (and that would be a sad, sad thing), we would go with Curly. Spetsnaz Named after Russia's Special Forces, Spetsnaz was originally going to be a Russian Imperial Stout, but ended up being what The Captain calls an American Styled Stout. Like both Russia and America, Spetsnaz is a beer that is remarkably complex. Spetsnaz pours thick and black. You might think you're getting a Guinness--until you bring it to your nose and the chocolate, smoke and coffee aromas let you know you're holding something with much more. Full and rich Spetsnaz carried those aromas to the mouth, delivering a roasted taste that reminded us of a warm breakfast on a cold winter morning: freshly baked bread, sweet coffee and spices. Taking the silver at the 2007 Beverage Tasting Institute World Beer Championship, and the top prize at The Best of the Midwest this year, Spetsnaz is getting some well-deserved attention. If you're a fan of big, bold stouts, this is one you owe it to yourself to try. Maggie Much like her namesake, Margaret Thatcher, Maggie is a beer that can inspire strong feelings. This is for those who like their beer hoppy, bitter and strong. She clocks in at 100 IBUs and 9% ABV. Like the former Prime Minister, Maggie is as British as they come, using ample amounts of British hops and malts. Maggie pours a creamy peach-brown color. Some IPAs' hops overwhelm the nose, but not Maggie's. The hops mingle well with the Munich malts, making each drink an adventure. Maggie first delivers tastes of juniper and spruce, then citrus and spice, all while maintaining a foundation of grain and hops. While definitely not a beer we would drink consistently over the course of an evening, if you've been drinking darker brews for a while, mix in a Maggie. It'll make you feel like your mouth just went though the car wash... in a good way. Maggie is clean and crisp and reminded us of the ales we've had in London. Flanders Red Ale Set to be released on April 22nd, Flanders is one of the new Belgian-style beers The Captain is trying out. Pouring with a relatively thin, soapy head, its color is actually more brown than red. Even from the smell, we knew we were going to be in for a very sour beer. Sour yes, but also absolutely delicious. At first it seemed a bit overwhelming, with flashes of grapefruit and lemon across the mouth, but after a few sips we began to notice the more complex fruity flavors within. Hints of concord grape and green apple blended with the sharpness and sweetness. Coming out at a perfect time, Flanders will be a great refreshing beer on a hot summer day. |
MidwestMicroBrews, 118 S. Washington Street #402B, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301 |
Read more MidwestMicroBrews Reviews... Arbor Brewing Company - Ann Arbor, Michigan Central Waters Brewing Company - Amherst, Wisconsin Copper Canyon Brewery - Southfield, Michigan Detroit Beer Company - Detroit, Michigan Goose Island Brewing Company - Chicago, Illinois Grumpy Troll Brewpub - Mount Horeb, Wisconsin Herkimer Pub & Brewery - Minneapolis, Minnesota Short's Brewing Company - Bellaire, Michigan Sprecher Brewing Company - Glendale, Wisconsin Stevens Point Brewery - Stevens Point, Wisconsin Stone Cellar Brewpub - Appleton, Wisconsin Sun King Brewing Company - Indianapolis, Indiana Titletown Brewing Company - Green Bay, Wisconsin |