The Beer Enthusiasts of Blacksburg

Style: Dortmunder/Export Lager Purchased at: Vintage Cellar What makes this beer different: A quick punch in the face; and BTW it's from Russia! Will I be drinking this again: Probably, but not often. Grade: C+ Comments: This beer is just OK to me. I would usually consider it an average Eastern European pilsner, but there are two things that set it apart; (1) it is from Russia, which I find neat & (2) the bottle including presentation is subtle but eye catching. Baltika 7 is a classic eastern european pilsner with honey and sugar overtones. The taste and waft are not very strong, but I must admit that the aftertaste lingers (which is a good thing for this beer). Bottom line is that this beer has a hint of complexity in it that should not be ignored. The lager has a clean, smooth taste and exhibits excellent lacing. Recommendations: Pours well with potato skins, pizza bites and mozzarella sticks! Also, beer mug will not suffice for this beer; complexity demands...

Style: Pumpkin Ale Purchased at: Vintage Cellar What makes this beer different: Cool crisp fall taste of pumpkin! Will I be drinking this again: Yes Grade: B- Comments: Let me say first that I truly appreciate a good quality pumpkin ale; and this beer is one of the better ones I have had. Most brews in this category are just so-so, but this one caught my attention. Mouthfeel is thin body, crisp high carbonation. It is a much lighter brew than others, but the aroma it gives off is quite wonderful. That being said, the spices are a little too strong and could possibly muddle the taste for some. This beer is good, but not what the smell would suggest nor what I had hoped for. Bottom line is if you like pumpkin beers, this is one of the better ones ... but it isn't perfect. If you don't like pumpkin beers ... well then you are silly for reading this analysis and need to look for another beer to fit your style! Recommendations: Combine this beer with a good spinach or crab dip,...

Style: Quadruple Purchased at: Vintage Cellar What makes this beer different: Lindeman's Kriek (Cherry Lambic Flavor) Will I be drinking this again: Yes Grade: A Comments: A “Quad” is a belgian style ale with high alcohol content, and uses up to four times the usual malt one would use to brew beer. Usually they end up pretty sweet and hide the alcohol well. This Belgian is brewed by Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY and let me tell you, it’s good. Period. It is not the best Belgian I have ever had, but it has a wonderful taste and is quite unique. From the first sip, the dominant taste in this one is tart cherry. Three Philosophers is a blend of Belgian dark strong ale and Lindeman's Kriek (a classic cherry lambic directly from Belgium).The one note I would make is that it lacks the liveliness usually associated with quads. Recommendations: Wonderful accompaniment for roasted meats, cheeses, desserts, and for after dinner sipping as with a fine port.

Style: Fruit/Vegetable Beer Purchased at: - What makes this beer different: Has a distinct watermelon aroma and taste. Will I be drinking this again: Probably not. Grade: D- Comments: Let me tell you, this is an interesting beer. It isn’t complex, but the taste is a little confusing and quite honestly it is a taste I have never experienced from a beer before. One of my associates, Jbarb, and I tried this beer out and discussed it briefly. The head of this beer is monstrous, so take care to poor it slow and steady. It doesn’t have a lot of bite, nor is it bitter. Honestly it has a slight candy-ish type of taste. But if you’re looking for a beer a little out of the norm, give this one a shot and see what you think! For me, it is a no go beer. But I am glad to have sampled it with Jbarb! Recommendations: Mixes well with slices of watermelon and virtually all types of potato chips on a cool breezy summer night!

Hello everyone! I just want to start by thanking everyone for coming to our blog. Essentially, we like drinking and rating beers. There are many names associated with drinking beer, but we prefer to call ourselves enthusiasts. Our goal is to sample beer from all over the world and post our thoughts about it here. If you are looking for something in particular, or just want a good suggestion feel free to post on the blog. We will hopefully be bringing you the first anticipated beer later this evening, so check back for updates!