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XO Beer - Brasserie Des Gabariers (L&L Cognac SA)
Displayed for educational use only; do not reuse.
Ratings: 32 | Reviews: 30 | Display Reviews Only:
Reviews by DARIVA:
3.63/5 rDev +12.7%
APPEARANCE: This is a clear amber colored beer with a beautiful head.
SMELL: This beer smells of yeast and oak.
TASTE: This beer tastes like yeast and cognac.
MOUTH FEEL: This beer has a good balance and a fine carbonation.
OVERALL: Good drinkable, short finish of cognac and a little weak.
08-22-2012 20:24:48 | More by DARIVA
More User Reviews:
1.48/5 rDev -54%
Presentation: 330 ml brown bottle with no freshness date.
Appearance: Clear reddish brown with a solid lacing on top.
Smell: The alcoholic smell of the beer and booze brings back memories of my early days of drinking just not right at all.
Taste & Mouth Feel: Insipid, astringent and full of fusel alcohol. Oddly sweet with a vanilla back which does not help. The taste reminds me of a wood polish smell.
Drinkability & Notes: I dont think I have every used the term Drain Pour before this is without a doubt a drain pour. Not even sure I would cook with this.
10-01-2004 20:29:11 | More by Jason
Alberta (Canada)
3.68/5 rDev +14.3%
The version I have of this is 5.9% ABV.
The beer pours a deep, dark reddish brown, with a few fingers of puffy, off white head, that melts away, leaving no lacing. It smells of sour grape essence, and mildly sweet malt. It tastes of sweet wood flavours, citrus, grape must, and caramel malt. The carbonation is quite mild, and the alcohol not really noticeable, just a slight warming. This finishes smooth, with the brandy edge holding on for a little while. A pretty interesting and natural pairing of French beverages, that, while being a blend instead of an aged in wood product, produces similar impressions as those offerings from Innis & Gunn and BrewDog.
03-05-2009 07:36:28 | More by biboergosum
Quebec (Canada)
3.4/5 rDev +5.6%
Been wondering about this one for a few years now. Finally decided to buy one.
A- A dark honey. Hazy, heterogeneous even, with clumps still swirling in the bottom of the bottle. Had to force the beige head by pouring with a bit of height but it was worth it. Retention isn't great but it might be my glass.
S- I think it really smells like raspberry. Some chocolate too and a little alcohol. So all in all it kind of reminds me of a black forest cognac cake. Quite an interesting smell.
T- Surprising taste. Still tastes like raspberries but it also has some sort of green hoppiness to it. Very little cognac or alcohol burn. Sweet but not cloying. A little watery.
M- Low carbonation which doesn't fit too well with the wateriness. Not dry.
D- Good. Easy to drink but not really what I'm looking for when thirsty for a beer.
My sister, who I'm having a hard time turning on to beer seems to really enjoy this one. She says it really tastes like cognac.
To me, this feels more like a cognac malt drink than a beer with cognac in it.
Before liking beer, I thought this would be awesome and fancy. After getting to know beer, I thought this must be a dirty, dirty, gimmick. I now know it's an ok/pretty good product that's not really my thing.
Worth trying.
02-04-2011 21:24:45 | More by Yoonisaykul
Alberta (Canada)
2.42/5 rDev -24.8%
Thanks to elricorico for picking this up when out of the province.
Appearance This beer pours a relatively clear deep brown with a hint of orange to it. A small amount of off white head is produced.
Smell It has a very interesting smell to it. There is a dominant alcohol aroma from the cognac along with grapes, burnt nuts, raspberries, and brown sugar. I really do smell that cognac in there it gives this beer something unique. Not bad.
Taste The taste is dominated by sweetness and cognac. There is a slight hop finish as well. Quite one dimensional. Not the most pleasurable.
Mouthfeel Very thin and not very carbonated. There is less here than Perrier.
Drinkability Not great. This beer doesnt taste very good and Im not finishing it.
The idea for this beer was interesting but Id say an experiment gone wrong.
09-09-2006 20:12:46 | More by Orrshow
Alberta (Canada)
3.83/5 rDev +18.9%
Pours a deep red brown colour and a thick fizzy beige head formed. The head falls back to a thin cap but has some staying power. The beer is quite clear.
The smell first brings to mind raspberry tartness. There is a dry alcohol aroma in there as well. A mix of sweet and tart, quite fruity aroma. I'm not very familiar with cognac, but I imagine the aroma has a lot of its characteristics.
Sweet red grapes are first the be noted in the taste, and become the dominant flavour through the first half of the mouth. The finish is tart, and again somewhat reminiscent of raspberry. There is a slight mustiness in the finish as well. Fairly straightforward, but at the same time fairly pleasant.
This beer has a thickness to it, almost feeling sticky, a bit like a thin syrup. The carbonation is medium, and does well to accent the body.
I like this one. It isn't an amazing beer, but it is quite unique (from my tasting experience) and pleasant to drink. I could see it being a nice desert beer for a winter meal.
09-12-2006 02:27:34 | More by elricorico
Quebec (Canada)
2.45/5 rDev -23.9%
Pours a clear medium cooper with a huge white head and some nice lacing, medium carbonation.
Aroma of earthy hops, hints cotton candy, mango and lichi. Flavor is a rather wierd synthetic pop-cycle like cheery candy flavor upfront followed by a boozy note of alcohol. Finished bitter and a tad bit astringent. As it warms up it becomes more and more clutered and flavor seem to clash with one another.
I love both cognac and beer and beleive blending them or perhalps aging beer in cognac barrels is a good idea. I don't feel the base beer used here is the best one for this combination.
01-26-2009 01:10:31 | More by bloberglawp
British Columbia (Canada)
3.95/5 rDev +22.7%
Pours a nice amber colour. It is diffiuclt to clasify as it is a bit experimental. It has 5% cognac and 95% beer and the two mix very nicely. Comes in 8% alc as well.
The cognac smooths out the beer and it is very sweet. This is a beer that I think you will either love or hate no inbetween. It would be a nice christmas beer and perhaps a great desert beer.
Because it is so sweet you may not want to have too many.
06-26-2003 13:52:59 | More by importguy
New Jersey
4.03/5 rDev +25.2%
This beer gets an unfairly bad rap. First off, it's a weirdie right off the bat, as it's an orange/amber beer blended with actual Cognac. If you don't like Cognac (or any Brandy), don't try it! You won't like it. It's Cognac beer. For those that are interested, read on... it pours nicely, its head isn't remarkable, but not unacceptable. Very pronounced cognac nose. I must have had a fresh bottle - the beer tasted fresh, and the balance was better than most reviews had me believing. Cognac taste is very present, of course, but it's still a beer. Smooth and drinkable, pleasant. Alcohol was not overly pronounced. Excellent alternative to a port or cognac after dinner, or with a cigar or dessert. I find it's similar in spirit to Innis & Gunn. I'd recommend it for those who like ports and cognacs.
04-08-2008 03:33:00 | More by forceten
3.73/5 rDev +15.8%
Nice initial head and retention with good lacing. Red in color, I can see through the glass.
Smell is of apple and grapes that dominate the malts underneath the beer.
Taste is sweet upfront cut with a mild sourness and a faint bitterness. The alcohol is very apparrent and a little too astringent. Not bad though.
The mouthfeel is slightly crisp but a little astringent because there isn't enough balance to cut the alcohol on the palate.
The astringency of this beer makes a little bit of a sipper, but I would definetly not mind having this beer again.
11-24-2007 09:07:53 | More by jasonjlewis
3.5/5 rDev +8.7%
Appearance: Deep amber-brown, with a small white head, and slight carbonation.
Aroma: Profound cognac and brandy aroma, quite spicy and peppery, with prominent alcohol notes.
Taste: Opens with a warm brandy note, followed by a lingering earthy, spicy note. Finishes dry with a lingering clove and spice note.
Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, very rich and full.
Drinkability/notes: Well-balanced example, quite well done.
12-03-2006 22:02:49 | More by Pegasus
Ontario (Canada)
2.85/5 rDev -11.5%
I was not impressed with the most important aspect of this brew.
The appearance was nice, reddish amber hue with a medium carbonation of large bubbles. The crown was short but acceptable.
Nose was strong of raspberries and light of alcohol.
Mouthfeel was dry.
The taste even though initially strong of raspberries was very abrupt and left me wondering "what happened?" Cognac was to quick to respond.
12-13-2003 00:24:47 | More by Shiloh
2.05/5 rDev -36.3%
Weird beer! - but then, mixing cognac in beer IS a weird idea! The result: Aroma and flavour neither of beer nor cognac - but of RASPBERRIES!! and boysenberries. Rather sweet, but not as sweet as the aroma makes you fear. Not really godawful, but definitely not a beer I'll buy again. Beer is beer, and cognac is cognac - and never shall the two meet (again)!
11-21-2003 17:03:08 | More by Sigmund
Saskatchewan (Canada)
3.95/5 rDev +22.7%
A: caramel in colour with a cream color head; soapy lacing.
S: Booze (wine taste at first)quite minimal,very subtle.
T: Slight Cherry/Raspberry/Caramel flavour but watered down. Pleasant and not overbearing.
M: Moderate body, Light carbonation.
D: Intriguing but not something I would reach for regularly. Something to throw a curve into my usual tastings.Went down easy however.Nice change of pace.
Serving type: bottle
04-27-2011 04:11:44 | More by krisklyne
Ontario (Canada)
2.73/5 rDev -15.2%
I was curious, so I decided to give this one a try.
This poured an attractive amber brown with some head near the top there that subsided to a slight ring around the glass. Smell is rather unique, very bold notes of grape and very little else. The grapes are dominant in the flavor, in fact drinking this I'd swear I was drinking just Cognac. It's not disgusting or nauseating or anything but it's certainly not the best tasting beer out there. The alcohol from the cognac is predominant in the body of this making this a little difficult to drink.
Not horrible, not amazing, not likely to get this one again any time soon.
12-16-2006 22:05:29 | More by funkengruven
British Columbia (Canada)
3.53/5 rDev +9.6%
A: Burnt caramel colour with an off-white head; some retention, nice lace.
S: Booze (fortified wine-like aroma) up front, but fades over time; toffee; caramelized raisins; brown sugar.
T: Raisins, burnt caramel, brown sugar; pleasant spicyness; the depth of flavour almost masks the booze. Initially interesting, but the taste buds become tired...
M: Moderate body finishes dry; moderate carbonation.
D: Interesting, but not highly drinkable.
12-29-2006 03:18:05 | More by Derek
Quebec (Canada)
3.75/5 rDev +16.5%
08-13-2014 20:21:15 | More by Socialiste
4.1/5 rDev +27.3%
I love cognac, so this was real exciting to get my hands on.
Colour was clean and clear and of a deep red/slight brown almost a clear cola. Thick head that stays till the end. Some lacing.
What a fantastic nose. Sweet aromas of honey and herbal infusion with strong wiffs of spices like vanilla and anise (somewhat cola like - or is that the colour playing tricks on me?). Almost syrupy in its nose-feel. Not really cognac like, I was expecting more nutty/oak notes, but great none-the-less.
Palate mirrored the aromas in flavour, with honey, syrup, herbs and spices showing themselves off in a complex form. Its taste is long, slightly drying but has a wild sweet kick at the end as well as good heat from the alcohol. Great aftertaste.
This was very enjoyable for a sweeter beer and would be perfect as a dessert beer. Get into it!
11-21-2003 11:40:18 | More by koolk
Ontario (Canada)
1.48/5 rDev -54%
Bottle: decants a brilliant clear garnet with amber hilights...not much of a cap even from a hard pour. Aroma is perfumey, some grape with some sweet treacle tones. Starts sweet with some molasses tastes then you catch the dry grapes and the alcohol takes over the palate for the rest of the ride to the finish. The finish is alcohol pronounced and warming...this is more like a cocktail or mixed drink than a beer....not to my liking...wont revisit. Rye and coke is more palatable
12-05-2004 01:21:01 | More by pootz
Ontario (Canada)
2.45/5 rDev -23.9%
Pours a bright copper color with a long lasting eggshell head and a modest smattering of lace. The aroma is sweet and very aromatic. Theres equal parts ripe red and white grapes, skins and all and some strawberry essence, honey, and booze. The taste is sweet and less appealing than the nose. Booze is more noticeable and cognac flavors dominate. Malt is very hard to find as are any hops. Still, the beer is palatable, like a cognac cocktail would be. The mouthfeel is medium to heavy with light carbonation and lots of numbing from the alcohol (more than most 8% beers). The finish is long, sweet and spicey from booze.
OK but not great, not enough beer flavor and too much alcohol flavor.
12-28-2006 22:00:16 | More by CAMRAhardliner
Ontario (Canada)
3.88/5 rDev +20.5%
There's no denying the branded XO glassware is classy. The liquid it contains, well, that ain't so bad looking either. Though much less ostentatious than cognac, and sootier too, this caramelly amber beer nevertheless relinquishes sharp cardinal red highlights when inspected from the right angles. Its head is foamy and sticks like plaster.
As it warms, the beer starts profusely sweating cognac: warming, soothing but enlivening scents of black cherry and raspberry tannins, vanilla-laced oak and a string of volatile alcohol components that bring phenols reminiscent of jasmine and esters of orchard fruits. It's not hard to understand why they call this stuff "eaux-de-vie" (literally: water of life).
My first thought upon tasting, however, was that they'd used the wrong base beer for this project. It was a disappointing find, to be sure. While difficult to finger exactly what it was at issue - was the beer too insipid? did it clash with the cognac? - it was obvious that without a better base recipe this beer, despite all else going for it, simply wouldn't be as awe-inspiring as it sounded. Nor as sumptuous as it has the potential of tasting.
The cognac, infused both tastefully and tactfully, is really the life-preserver that keeps this beer afloat. Without its rich kirsch-like cherry and plum fruitiness, almond, honey and brown sugar sweetness and hints of citrus shavings, this beer would be a dreadfully average ale. Perhaps the brewery did this intentionally so as not to overwhelm the cognac.
Truth be told, this biere-du-garde-type base beer, while not a perfect match, does little to hinder the cognac, except with regards to regulating its alcoholic intensity and remodeling it for slightly larger, more casually quaffed sips - both of which are positive amendments for my purposes. Still, however, the beer by and large retains much of the balance and delicacy, the sublime serenity, that characterizes even the youngest of France's cognacs.
04-11-2007 18:58:50 | More by biegaman
British Columbia (Canada)
3.18/5 rDev -1.2%
Okay, I've never had any sort of brandy, cognac or armagnac. I bought this because my wife thought it would be good.
Apperance: cola-ish, poor head. Purplish tinges.
Smell: Initial smell out of the bottle was reminiscent of grape juice. In my chalice, smells of sweet brandy with a mild beer smell. Interesting. Hard liquour edge to it. The further into it I get, the more of cognac it smells.
Taste: Better than expected. Malt and hops don't overwhelm, and the cognac is in the forefront. Sweet with and bitter edge to it. This is actually quite good, and I am likely to buy another bottle.
Mouthfeel: A bit too fizzy, and a bit syrupy.
Drinkability: Maybe its just me, but the cognac hits me differently than beer alone. I could probably have two or three of these, but I would not make this a session beer.
As someone else mentioned, this makes a good desert or Christmas beer.
05-07-2005 04:57:56 | More by BDTyre
2.63/5 rDev -18.3%
Aroma: Medicinal grape, like a cough syrup, but strangely in a good way. Overall the aroma was appealing.
Appearance: Clear amber/brown glass holds a tan head, collar, then nothing; no lace.
Flavor: Harsh alcohol and the artificial grape goes over the top. Few redeeming qualities to report.
Mouthfeel: Astringent, but maybe thats just the alcohol talking. Medium carbonation and body
Overall Impression: The alcohol is a bit hot for me, but cognac isnt a favorite of mine. If you enjoy it; this is a beer worth trying.
06-19-2006 04:14:15 | More by HardTarget
3.45/5 rDev +7.1%
Beer bottle (33 cl.), taste in 2003.
Appearance : Amber caramel clear color, with white foamy head.
Smell : vanilla oak and alcohol (cognac).
Taste and mouthfeel : round, medium bodied, bitterness of alcohol in finish.
Drinkability : a good beer in the French style "bière de garde".
01-11-2009 08:27:44 | More by thierrynantes
3.83/5 rDev +18.9%
i had seen this beer around previously before i tried it, but had been a little reluctant. this is because the bottles i saw looked a little old, even tho this is a beer that can be stored for a bit. the other thing that put me off is that local aussie attempts at combining beer and spirits/liqueurs (like carton cold shot) were a total disgrace. however, i saw a fresh batch come in and decided if someone could combine the two, the french could do it as well as anyone. the thought of cognac also appealed a bit more than vodka.
its a strange looking beer, with a lot of floaties and a slightly insipid looking brownish color. the head wasnt as intense as youd expect from this style, but was still nice and compact. it didnt look like a very drinkable beer at first. but then i had a whiff and was blown away! the smell of vanilla was intense and didnt dissapate as i had the first sip. the lack of color can often mean its a bit thin in the mouth. not so here. very very thick! the sediment doesnt settle in the glass either, but doesnt take away from the mouthfeel. theres the belgian like breadiness that is generally present in strong ales brewed in western europe, but the cognac certainly adds a marvellous vanilla sweetness that compliments the ale perfectly. it finishes slightly dry, but not overly hoppy. its not an especially complex beer, but good enuff to pull off a combination like this.
i wouldnt drink this on a regular basis, but its a lovely beer that i could polish off next to a big slice of coffee torte.
10-14-2003 11:13:20 | More by diablo14
XO Beer from Brasserie Des Gabariers (L&L Cognac SA)
76 out of 100 based on 32 ratings.


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Bikini Blonde Lager - Maui Brewing Co. (Brewpub)
Displayed for educational use only; do not reuse.
Ratings: 112 | Reviews: 76 | Display Reviews Only:
Reviews by markaberrant:
Saskatchewan (Canada)
3.98/5 rDev +9.3%
A - light yellow, very clear, effervescent, fluffy white head, persists, lots of sticky lace
S - fresh hay, crisp, spicy hop fades quickly, clean
T - sweeter up front than I was expecting, but still nice and grainy which carries into the finish where lots of dry bready notes take over from the sweetness, low hopped, but I pick up some faint spicy hop flavour
M - med light body, med carbonation, slight creaminess, makes for very easy drinking
D - simple, thirst quenching, yet full of great flavour and satisfying
You won't confuse this for a traditional german helles, but I don't think that is what they were going for. Yes, the flavours are rather "pedestrian," but so what? It tastes great.
This probably wouldn't be my first choice at the bar, yet I could see myself happily drinking this all night long. Love the grainy character.
02-09-2010 01:18:55 | More by markaberrant
More User Reviews:
4.1/5 rDev +12.6%
Appearance - This is a wonderful light yellow in color with a good, white, foaming head.
Smell - This is pure grain at its finest. There's a very light sweetness to the nose but it's not sugary, it's more like the light sweet smell of boiled corn. There's literally no hop aroma here so the terrific grain smell comes on strongly.
Taste - There's more sweetness at the taste but it's certainly not overpowering. The flavor is predominantly the fine malted barley and again absent any real hops.
Mouthfeel - For a low ABV lager this is not as light in the body as you would think. I wouldn't say it's medium-bodied but it is pretty big given the style. The malts are incredibly smooth.
Drinkability - This is THE beer you want to drink first after a long day's work. It is thirst quenching and flavorful yet light enough in alcohol that you can down a can or two without feeling tipsy. As far as American-made session lagers go this is on the top of my list.
11-06-2008 02:21:11 | More by RoyalT
3.6/5 rDev -1.1%
Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine July 2007.
Apparently, this beer is "what the sailors really come to shore for," but the Maui folks could just be referring to the hot blonde luau lady on the label. We remain unsure. Still, we dig the pro-canning information they provide.
A very pale, chill-hazed, blonde beer that's laced with a thin, creamy white head--haze clears up once the beer has warmed up a bit. Fresh malty nose. Incredibly smooth and creamy on the palate, with a well-round mouthfeel. Beneath the über-creaminess is a moderately sweet malt base with a faint hint of banana. Slight cereal graininess. A mild flash of hop bitterness attempts to pull through with some herbal notes, but its efforts are thwarted by the malt profile, especially as the beer warms. Sweet and bready in the finish.
One could easily confuse this as a Blonde Ale, rather than a Helles. Sweetness is a bit high (though not cloying), hops are not overly defined, and that expected German lager crispness and clean finish is missing. That said, it's an interesting, very drinkable brew nonetheless.
11-13-2010 20:37:53 | More by BeerAdvocate
3.79/5 rDev +4.1%
Serving glass: Poured from can into clear plastic glass.
Appearance: Pale yellow with sustained white head and slight lacing.
Smell: Apple, pear, grass and spicy noble hops.
Taste: Semi-sweet apple, quite grassy, with a peppery finish, but the sweetness remains.
Feel: High carbonation, light body, dry finish.
Drinkability: Nice Helles Lager overall, but I prefer my German lagers a little more dry.
01-13-2010 17:17:16 | More by bsp77
New York
4.03/5 rDev +10.7%
Maui Brewing Co.'s Bikini Blonde Lager is a enjoyable beverage. It pours from the can a nice golden color. The head is frothy, white, and large. The smell is a mixture of citrus, grass, yeast, and malts, with none being overwhelming. The taste is nicely balanced between sweetness and bitter, neither one over-riding the other. The finish is dry and crisp. A very refreshing beer. Enjoy!
02-01-2008 23:47:47 | More by BadBadger
4.25/5 rDev +16.8%
So happy the Maui Brewing Co's cans have made it to California. This past weekend a friend picked up some of all 3 available here for the Coachella weekend. I was very fond of all 3, but with the 100+ degree temperatures, this was the refreshing choice I kept returning for.
It's an straw color - looks very similar to an unfiltered style wheat beer like a hefe of a wit. The taste is very refeshing - some lemon with a nice lingery malt. I could drink this all day.
04-29-2008 18:48:25 | More by sloejams
3.5/5 rDev -3.8%
12-18-2011 00:40:44 | More by Loveyourbeer
3.6/5 rDev -1.1%
12 oz can into a pint glass. Thanks to brentk56 for this in the Secret Halloween '08 BIF.
Pours a slightly hazy pale gold with a massive head of poofy brite-white head. This eventually shrinks down and retains as a big ole' creamy dollop of foam that sits smack dab in the middle of the glass, leaving huge swathes of lacing behind. The aroma is very floral and citric with some sturdy smelling bready sweetness underneath.
The taste is a light feeling blend of floral hops, prominent lemon citrus, and toasted malt sweetness. Finishes with notes of lingering bread and light bitterness. The mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with a softer carbonation and creamy feel that gets a little more crisp towards the end of the swallow.
Decent stuff here, that while not possessing the most in-your-face flavor profile that I've had, was still quite refreshing and quaffable. I'd definitely go to this for some thirst quenching relief.
12-02-2008 17:56:25 | More by Kegatron
3.5/5 rDev -3.8%
07-06-2013 13:16:54 | More by JamLand
Quebec (Canada)
3.58/5 rDev -1.6%
Can: Poured a light golden color lager with a large pure white foamy head with great retention and some lacing. Aroma of pure malt with some traces of dry German hops. Taste is also well balance between some lightly sweet malt with a somewhat dry finish with noticeable crisp hops. Well done for the style.
02-02-2009 02:09:12 | More by Phyl21ca
4.38/5 rDev +20.3%
I've been of drinking age long enough to experience first hand when people back east would pay a lot of money to get their hands on a 6-pack of Coors. And I remember when cans changed to stubby bottles and when stubby bottles changed to long necks. And when everything was a lager that tasted just like all the other ones even though people would swear by one brand or another.
And I remember moving to Seattle in 1989 and seeing 23 beer taps at a bar for the first time. And now we have all kinds of strengths and flavors available. We've come a long way.
So now I see this new beer from Hawaii. In a can. A can colored Coors yellow. And it's a lager. Oh emm gee we've come full circle!
And it's great! Good thick foam on top. Just hazy enough to tell you that the good stuff hasn't been filtered out. Just the right amount of hops to balance the also-just-right maltiness.
I think that this beer is probably pretty close to what lagers were a hundred-some-odd years ago when they were brewed in a kettle rather than a silo.. Back before chemists and precision machinery took the creation of beer from an art to a science.
Now that we seem to be kinda max'd out with the appearance of things like chili wheat raspberry imperial stouts, it's just been a matter of time until we get back to where we started. So here we are. And this time around it tastes the way it is supposed to.
Maui Brewing has done a great job on this beer. It's a beer definitely worth checking out.
04-09-2012 21:40:28 | More by Nixon
3.23/5 rDev -11.3%
What is there to say...perfectly named beer. Bikini...I love bikinis, blonde....I do enjoy a blond. (especially in a bikini). Larger...yes I do love me a larger....
Poured out of a can which I might claim to be my favorite can I have seen in some time.
The beer is golden with about 50% visibility through it. Slight haze but I wouldn't call this beer foggy.
Taste good with nice strong German flavor. Not what I expected but I enjoyed it. There is a hint of unfiltered flavor to it but I don't think this is an unfiltered beer.
It has a full flavor on the mouthful that tingled in the back of the mouth. I wished the day was 85 degrees out and I could sit on my back patio to enjoy rather then the 45 degrees it was here in Boise.
01-18-2011 00:29:35 | More by isualum12
3.7/5 rDev +1.6%
12oz can brought back to the lower 48 by my good friend and coworker Michelle E. I asked her to find me a Maui IPA and of course the Coconut Porter.. she hooked me up with the Bikini Blonde just for fun. The can has been sitting in the fridge for a week... tonight it was poured into my new favorite Sam Adams glass.
Huge head towers 3/4" out of the glass.. nice splotchy lacing.. brew is a hazy lite straw color.
Grainy aroma.. slight floral hops.. touches of musky notes.. clears out as it warms.
Flavor is soft grains and again only touches of floral hops.. maybe a little grassy. Mouthfeel is light as expected .. very drinkable.. something seems off if this is supposed to be a Helles.. there is a background fruitiness that probably shouldn't be here.
All and all... I can picture myself sitting on a beach... any beach .. enjoying this brew for hours. Drinkability is off the charts.. but it needs to be dialed in significantly if the brewery is truly shooting for a helles.
Michelle, if you end up reading this review... you need to remind me to give you a big hug tomorrow at work... Thanks from the bottom of my heart.
04-29-2008 08:12:27 | More by JohnGalt1
3.75/5 rDev +3%
09-03-2013 02:51:54 | More by MooseBoose
4.5/5 rDev +23.6%
A - Great looking beer. Not overly impressive, but very pretty. Truly a blonde bombshell, and much better looking than macro lagers; deeper color, richer light reflection... really nice.
S - Smells great. Bready malts, lightly nutty, just enough hoppiness to be balanced. i wish it was a little stronger.
T - Bready malts up front, nutiness in the middle (tastes a lot like young coconut milk, oddly enough) and a very faint hoppy finish. Subdued, but pleasant.
M - Not too light, nice carbonation.
D - Why a five? Because i could literally drink this for 24 hours straight.
09-25-2010 22:07:06 | More by dimitrius
3.43/5 rDev -5.8%
Appearance: Poured from the can into a Guiness pint glass. Dark yellow and cloudy with some residual yeast floating around. About a half inch of clean, fluffy head that dissipates after about 2 minutes. Very effervescent, some of the yeast residue gets carried around by the carbonation bubbles. Not much happening in the way of lacing. Looks intriguing.
Smell: Clean, fresh, light smell of malts and grains, nothing overpowering.
Taste: Tastes as a good lager should -- clean, bready, some tartness, and maybe a little sweeter than I was expecting. A nice dose of hops on the finish with minimal aftertaste. Could probably make a good session beer.
Mouthfeel: Carbonation is very present. This has a thicker mouthfeel than a typical lager.
Overall: It's a solid lager for sure but didn't wow me like I was hoping. I purchased this because of the high marks it advertised and I was looking for something in a can to pack in a cooler for the beach -- this looked like it fit the bill perfectly. It was pretty expensive though -- I think the same quality can be had for cheaper.
08-06-2012 01:20:56 | More by JKuras
3/5 rDev -17.6%
04-17-2013 19:58:20 | More by WritersBlock
3.88/5 rDev +6.6%
Poured into pint glass...
A: Clear yellow body, three finger head, very creamy, hangs for duration of beer, leaves good lacing.
S: Crisp floral hops, faint fruits...apples, pears, lemon.
T: Very grassy, faint crisp green apple, yeast profile comes through big almost a little unbalanced.
M: Crisp carbonation, very active mouthfeel, bubbles are pretty fine. Finishes dry.
D: Very drinkable, smooth, crisp and dry. Perfect for summertime!
01-14-2010 05:39:27 | More by RedBrewer83
3.15/5 rDev -13.5%
Made by Maui Brewing Co. and served at this wondeful brewpub in Kahana [West Maui]. 16 IBU. Made iwth 100% malted barley.
The appearance is very light but with a creamy head. A light smell with no distinguishing characteristics.
Taste is rather weak. Somewhat watery. Has a slight hint of hops and a malt finish.
Mouthfeel is good which, combined with the light character and low ABV, make this a beer that is very drinkable. Overall, too weak and lacking character for me to want more.
12-16-2005 04:32:18 | More by atigerlife
3.85/5 rDev +5.8%
Wish this had the old flip tab style, that'd be pretty cool.
Pours a big golden head like the cloud you see John Connor looking at in those ads for Terminator: Salvation. Pale Gold with lots of little bubbles.
Not much of a smell until you swish it around. Then you get sweet grains, yeasty bready, floral, pretty complex. Like Christian Bale's character in American Psycho, not skinny like the machinist.
Great sweet taste. Has a very nice sweet and suprising malt character with some hops and earthiness to it. Not icky lager taste, unlike Reign of Fire or the New World 2. Electric Bugaloo.
Just a really good sweet session beer that wont yell at you and call you hurtful names like "Prick" and ask you to leave the set.
05-12-2009 03:00:56 | More by Murchmac
Ontario (Canada)
3.65/5 rDev +0.3%
12oz Can - thanks to frenchy for this one
Appearance – Mostly clear yellow colour with an average size fizzy white coloured head. There is a below average amount of carbonation showing and there is a fairly good amount of lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes before it was gone.
Smell - Grains, bread, corn, malts, hops, lemons
Taste & Mouth - The beer has an average amount of carbonation. I can taste grains, lemons, and a nice amount of noble hops. There is also a touch of corn and the beer finishes with a lemony/hoppy aftertaste.
Overall – An enjoyable and refreshing beer. It had a nice amount of noble hops and reminded me a but of the sunshine pils by Troegs. I could see myself drinking a few of these on a beach in Hawaii.
11-22-2011 19:24:31 | More by spinrsx
4.15/5 rDev +14%
Poured from a 12oz can into a 20oz imperial pint. Thanks to Bernie and Linda for bringing this back from Hawaii!
A: Slightly hazy light straw color. A vigorous pour yields a small white head that recedes quickly and leaves virtually no lace. Very still. Only just a couple of lazy streams of bubbles climbing the sides of the glass.
S: Restrained citrus smelling hops and toasted malt mingle with an excellent, mildly tart, sour graininess. As it comes up to temp the hops take on a decidedly grassy aroma.
T: As noted above citrusy/grassy hops and toasted malt dominate the flavor. Very nice interplay between the citrus hops and toasted malt in the finish.
M: Creamy and dry/bitter but without a hint of lager "brightness". Feels much bigger than the abv would suggest.
D: This is an excellent lager. Satisfying and tasty and actually quite interesting to the palate. I wasn't expecting much and was pleasantly surprised.
02-20-2008 00:37:55 | More by GbVDave
2.8/5 rDev -23.1%
A - Maize transparent yellow with a fat 2.5 finger head
S - Very very slight hint of noble hops nothing really impressive at all
T - Sweet pale malts without any hint of bittering hops at all
M - very smooth up front, but more carbonated in the middle with a slight milky feel at the back
D - Very Drinkable. I could picture this beer being the gateway for those who are used to BMC pale lagers.
10-22-2009 05:16:17 | More by constahoogan
4/5 rDev +9.9%
12-09-2013 03:42:26 | More by Flathead_Monster
3.75/5 rDev +3%
Thanks to swnicholson for this one!
Pours a nice pale golden yellow with a very large foamy white head. Head turns to large bubbles and big sea foam lace.
Fresh smelling, with a little light grain and hay, zesty lemon and a little tart crispness. Taste is clean and crisp with a solid pale malt base and a pretty good dose of hoppy zing at the finish. A little lemony and fading in the end.
Lighter bodied, with a nice present but not overstated carbonation feel. A light coating remains at the finish.
Easy to drink, and pretty tasty. Not particularly standoutish in any particular dimension, but it's a good lager.
08-17-2008 00:39:01 | More by lightindarkness
Bikini Blonde Lager from Maui Brewing Co. (Brewpub)
82 out of 100 based on 112 ratings.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Town Square
Investigation continues in Pleasanton shooting deaths
Original post made on May 10, 2012
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 6:02 PM
Comments (28)
on May 10, 2012 at 7:32 am
Strange... isn't their a gunpowder residue test that can tell if you fired a handgun recently? I have to assume such a test must not be reliable or maybe doesn't work for all types of handguns?
Very sad situation, I pray comfort for Amy and Ainsley's family and friends.
on May 10, 2012 at 8:28 am
Maybe it's a case of maternal mental illness? BTW: why did she leave her job in March? There is more to this story....
on May 10, 2012 at 9:26 am
"Maybe it's a case of maternal mental illness? BTW: why did she leave her job in March? There is more to this story...."
Maybe it was done by the young "suspicious male" from Kentucky. Maybe the tale about the young "suspicious male" was a red herring thrown out by the husband to focus attention away from himself. Maybe it was a murder suicide by the mother. Maybe it was a murder suicide by the daughter, etc., etc.. We can speculate endlessly on this. Better to wait for the police to complete their investigation.
on May 10, 2012 at 10:09 am
I agree with Sam. Let the police finish their investigation before everyone jumps to conclusions. The results of ballistic tests and gun powder residue tests don't take quite as long as they are making out, but the police probably want to have all the information (evidence)in their hands so they can accurately determine what happened. If the police thought this was done by an outsider, I am sure they would have already expressed it, public safety and all.
on May 10, 2012 at 10:32 am
If it's anything other then a murder/suicide we should all be concerned. I would venture the police have everything they need except may be the time of death.
on May 10, 2012 at 11:19 am
Excuse me. We are talking about Pleasanton's overpaid and bloated union police force right? And everyone is putting they're faith in them? I suddenly have to barf up my breakfast.
on May 10, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Mustang Sally is a registered user.
Stephen, apparently you have never needed help from the Pleasanton Police Department. I am HIGHLY aggravated that you would make such an assertion. Those men and women make sacrifices every day to make our City one of the best around. My faith is in them every single day. As for the ones working on this case, I have every confidence they will figure it all out in due time.
on May 10, 2012 at 1:55 pm
However, in Pleasanton, the officers do not have much current experience in angle of bullets, etc. Shooter could be either Mom or daughter....or Dad, or freeway shooter. Do we know about wallets, and if full or empty.
on May 10, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Whatever happened, this is really a very sad story. A mother and a daughter just lost their lives-there could be many great and happy days ahead for them instead.
I don't want to speculate but I really doubt this is a third party murder case because if there are only two shots made, both deadly on the head, the murderer should be really good at shooting, like a sniper...
Never thought this kind of case could happen to this neighborhood. Still can't believe it. And feel very sad about it.
on May 10, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Detectives needed: is so right except for the freeway shooting they were both shot in the back of the head and that would be hard to do with the sound wall.
PPD always needs to bring out the crime manual for these types of crimes. They're use to traffic stops, drug raids, etc but not shootings.
I have been reading the updates on Pleasanton Weekly and KTVU and I think this is more than a murder-suicide because usually both bodies being shot in the back of the head doesn't happen as a murder-suicide!!!! There are too many empty holes in this case.
I hope PPD are able to solve this crime so there is closure for the family and friends.
on May 10, 2012 at 4:33 pm
@ unknown: please reference what article you read that said they were both shot in the back of the head. I have only read that they were both shot in the head.
on May 10, 2012 at 6:35 pm
PLEASE STOP EVERYBODY! I'm a 13 year old student at Hart who was friends with Ainsley. Please stop talking about the case and just take the time to realize what has happened. WE JUST LOST A CLASSMATE. do you know how hard that is? to wake up, and have your parents tell you your best friend is dead? Hart students have suffered more than their fair share from the deaths of Ainsley and Joey. We haven't even gotten over Joey and now we have this being thrown right back in our faces! You "adults" aren't making this any easier. AT ALL. do you know what it's like to have everybody speculating about what they think happened instead of focusing on what's really important? Pleasanton is ALWAYS like this, people talk about irrelevant things that will not make the situation any better. SO, PLEASE JUST STOP, TAKE A MINUTE AND PAY YOUR RESPECTS TO THEM, NOT JUST SIT AROUND AND HAVE ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE POLICE.
on May 10, 2012 at 6:52 pm
This is so sad. My heart goes out to the victims loved ones. We are not detectives but if you stop & think for a minute it was one gunshot to the head and the gun was found next to the bodies. Doubt that it was done by an outsider and the PPD just like any other police dept investigating a shooting case would've said so by now.
on May 10, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Unless someone fired from the freeway and then tossed the gun into the room.
on May 10, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Such a tragedy!!! My prayers go out the family!!!
on May 10, 2012 at 7:05 pm
@Kellie - please don't read the articles or comments. It is like tv, if you don't like the show, turn the channel. As adults, we question why this happens, you will too when you are an adult. I am sad about this tragedy too. My prayers go out to the family. But as an educated person, I want to know WHY this happened.
on May 10, 2012 at 7:08 pm
[removed] You cannot even see the houses from the freeway, there is a sound wall. I am surprised you didn't say someone came in on BART and did it.
on May 10, 2012 at 7:16 pm
I hope the family and friends find comfort during this difficult time.
on May 10, 2012 at 9:30 pm
love this batch of latest comments and cannot wait to see more or when the truth does come out.
kellie-you say you are 13 and live in laguna oaks yet you got to hart and some of your comment sounds more like an adult. okay so you are smart.
to Detective Needed-you are just a plain . . . as is Stephen. pleasanotn Police are wonderful and do their job-next time you two need an officer-call ghostbuster then.
Mustang Sally -thank you for sticking up for our men in blue.
Now here is what I am thinking but am not pointing fingers at anyone since I am not a detective anymore but was in another life. (Comment removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff for containing unverified or personal information.) He working for Ross Stores got transferred to the area where Ross is located? that just sounds too fishy to me. maybe Ross would transfer you out of state but why back to the area where their home office is? hummmm. Just saying. go ahead and tell me I am an . . . not the first time.
And what about the guns? come on he should have known the guns should be registered. Remember people. Scott Peterson cooperated with officials too and look what he was arrested for.
Too many open ends in this one. Rest in Peace Amy and Ainsley
on May 11, 2012 at 1:20 am
Hey Steven...a mother and daughter are dead from whatever circumstances that went down that day and you want to complain that PPD has a, "bloated and overpaid" police force? How classy of you. Additionally, this is not an episode of CSI and the Alameda County Crime Lab does not churn out ballistic results in hours or even days. It can take WEEKS or months...you know why Steven? Because of a little thing called budget cuts...those most likely "bloated and overpaid" crime lab analysts are under funded because of people like you that want to bash on law enforcement.
Steven...maybe you should take a second look at your third grade spelling level. It's "their" not "they're" but just saying...
RIP to the mother and daughter, irregardless of the way they lost their lives that day. Also thank you to the officers and detectives that had THEIR lives impacted that day when they had to be involved in such a horrific scene. I am sure it is something they will not forget either.
on May 11, 2012 at 3:03 am
Please hold the wild speculation and do not accuse a grieving husband and father. That is cruel beyond words.
on May 11, 2012 at 6:04 am
Honestly, based on everything they've said and have not said, I'd be shocked if this doesn't turn out to be a murder/suicide. They've been clear that there's no need to worry about a murderer running around the community do obviously it was someone on the inside, either a murder/suicide or the husband did it which so far this doesn't appear to be the way it's headed. They released a statement saying it was unlikely Ainsley shot herself, yet they didn't say the same about Amy. If they know this about one, they probably know it about the other.
At the end of the day, two beautiful lives were taken way too soon. If it was a murder/suicide, I'm guessing there was an underlying mental health issue, perhaps deep depression, that Amy was dealing with. No sane or mentally healthy person would go this IF THIS IS THE CASE. I don't speak of mental illness lightly as it is a real disease like any other. Amy might also have had a hard time adjusting to the move. Many years ago I moved out of state to the Midwest and moved back six months later. We just couldn't adjust and thankfully had the resources that we could turn around and bone back home. Maybe this was the case for her too but for whatever reason she felt she couldn't go back. Maybe it was financial or even guilt about moving her daughter again.
I pray for a swift resolution and am not here to judge, only to offer up potential things that might have contributed in some small way. No matter what anyone says, two lives were taken and it's profoundly tragic for their families, loved ones and thei communities.
PPD has failed my family numerous times even refusing to enforce a child custody order. They don't make laws or decide if they agree with court orders, they are to carry out the orders of the courts and ENFORCE the law. Until you've had a major need for their assistance, please reserve your kudos because things aren't always what they seem and sometimes you have to learn this the hard way even when you've done all the right things.
on May 11, 2012 at 6:09 am
Just wanted to apologize for all my iPhone autocorrect mistakes in my last posting.
on May 11, 2012 at 8:35 am
You said "kellie-you say you are 13 and live in laguna oaks yet you got to hart and some of your comment sounds more like an adult"
You don't know what you're talking about. Kids from Laguna Oaks go to Hart Middle school.
Please refrain on you ridiculous, insensitive and rude accusations.
on May 11, 2012 at 9:05 am
I was in middle school when two of my classmates died from suicide and one disappeared - the investigation is reopened after 30 years. I am so sorry for you and your classmates and what you are dealing with. We didn't have internet, but all the people still speculated and all towns are like this...unfortunately, it is human nature. My child was a close friend of the AVHS student who died a few years back. There were nasty things on here at that time too. I have to agree with another poster - for you the best thing is to stay off the PW forums. Stay near your friends and family and talk to the school counselors - that will help you with healing. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends.
on May 11, 2012 at 1:28 pm
I keep seeing people saying that the guns were not registered. Guns are not registered in America, not even in the Peoples Republic of California. This is the United States not Russia, at least not yet. Ownership is not the problem, use is.
Most murders in this country are committed by undocumented pharmaceutical salesmen, relatives or someone known by the victim(s). Because there is no report of signs of struggle it is probably one of the latter two.
Because people speculate about a crime like this it does not mean they have no compassion for the family and friends of the victims. This type of crime is rare in Pleasanton so the public is curious not callous.
on May 13, 2012 at 12:12 am
I read your assertion above, and you sound as if you do know what you are talking about, but can you comment on this clause?
25. I am moving into California and I own several handguns. What are the new-resident registration requirements? You are considered to be a personal handgun importer as defined by California law. You may bring all of your otherwise California-legal firearms with you, but you must report all of your handguns to the DOJ within 60 days as required utilizing the New Resident Handgun Ownership Report, pdf. You are not required to report rifles or shotguns. You may not bring ammunition feeding devices with a capacity greater than ten rounds, machineguns, or assault weapons into California.
(PC sections 12001(n), 12072(f)(2))
on May 14, 2012 at 8:30 am
what is the latest real news on this story? Why no update since last week?
If you were a member and logged in you could track comments from this story.
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text:
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - The Texas Rangers have completed a $10 million, 1-year deal for 6-time All-Star Lance Berkman to be their designated hitter.
The deal that includes a vesting option for 2014 was finalized Monday after Berkman passed a physical.
Berkman, who turns 37 next month, was limited to 32 games in St. Louis last year, when he had surgery twice on his right knee.
The switch-hitter provides the potential big bat for the middle of the lineup the Rangers were seeking after losing Josh Hamilton and catcher Mike Napoli in free agency and trading Michael Young to Philadelphia.
Berkman is a .296 career hitter with 360 home runs and 1,200 RBIs in 1,806 regular-season games, all but 214 with Houston from 1999-2010.
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Here's some high school football hijinks for you: John Glenn (the Michigan high school, not the aging former Senator and astronaut) has a field goal blocked as time expires, and of course Central Plymouth is jubilant. But guess what, hoseheads: that ball didn't cross the line of scrimmage, so it's live. Run! Yes you with the ball! Scamper half-assedly into the endzone and savor victory! As for you, Plymouth, we have a wonderful consolation prize: a copy of the high school football rulebook. Read it sometime. via. Thanks, John.
I want more like this!
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text:
By LOHR McKINSTRY
---- — ELIZABETHTOWN — State Department of Health Veterinarian Dr. Bryan Cherry says rabid-animal populations in Essex County are getting bigger.
People must stop feeding feral cats and other wild animals and should vaccinate their pets and maintain vigilance for rabid creatures, he said.
"In the north end of Essex County, you've got the most rabid raccoons you've seen in this area," he said. "You don't have a problem in the High Peaks — raccoons don't like the elevations."
Rabies travels up and down the East Coast every year, Cherry told the Essex County Board of Supervisors recently.
"It first moved to New York (state) in 1990. We have watched it move throughout the state. We've had (rabies) positive raccoons in the Ticonderoga area, moving up from the south or across from Vermont."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services Program is in charge of oral-rabies vaccine distribution and is now using ONRAB packaged baits.
The ONRAB vaccine is used in Canada to control rabies in raccoons, skunks and foxes. It is placed in forests either aerially or by ground distribution.
Use of the new bait has resulted in higher vaccination rates for wild animals, Cherry said.
He said they want to establish a vaccination barrier between Essex and Clinton counties to try to stop animal rabies from spreading farther north.
"You've got a lot of rabies activity going on here," Cherry said. "We were trying to hold raccoon rabies out of Clinton County. This has been a challenge. You have to get the vaccine to a lot of raccoons because they're a very prolific animal."
He said trying to create herd immunity for wild animals starts with an immune barrier to rabies expansion and requires intensive, sustained effort.
The ultimate goal is to eradicate the raccoon-rabies strain.
"You have to get upwards of 80 percent of the raccoon population vaccinated," Cherry said. "This (ONRAB) vaccine seems to work a little better. It's been successful in Canada."
Some rabid raccoons have been identified in Clinton County but almost none in Franklin County, he said.
"What we're hoping for is at some point we get enough (animals) vaccinated that it (immunity) does maintain itself," Cherry said.
Each vaccine packet costs about $2, so a vaccine barrier is an expensive endeavor, Cherry said.
"I've seen so many rabid raccoons (in an area) it affects the quality of life. You need a sustained effort, year after year after year (distributing baits)."
He said people still need to have their pets vaccinated and maintain vigilance.
"Don't feed wild animals; don't feed feral cats," Cherry said. "The number of people exposed to an animal that might be rabid is huge."
Last year in Essex County, 16 raccoons, two skunks, a fox and a woodchuck were confirmed rabid.
But the last time a rabid bat was detected in Essex County was in 2008.
Cherry said 85 percent of rabies vaccination treatment for humans is due to bat exposure, yet almost no one is getting rabies from bats. He said it's important to capture bats found in homes so they can be tested.
County Board of Supervisors Chair Randy Douglas (D-Jay) said people are coming to see him, worried that there's a rabies epidemic in Essex County.
"Last month, I had rabid skunks running down my main street. Kids going to school could not get out the front door to get on the bus. I had to call a trapper to come and get the skunks."
Cherry said other initiatives are needed along with bait distribution.
"Bait on the ground is useful, but you have to do education, stop feeding the ferals. Community awareness is important."
Email Lohr McKinstry: email@example.com


text:
Select Brands Appointed Exclusive Distributors for Demerara Distillers Ltd
Select Brands, importers of a wide range of Wines and Spirits to Jamaica, have announced the addition of Demerara Distillers to their portfolio. Demerara Distillers, which began as a sugar cane co-operative over 300 years ago, has since grown to be one of the most famous rum companies in the world, receiving — for the second year running — the Spirits Producer Trophy for the Americas and the Caribbean in the respected International Wines and Spirits Competition for 2011.
Their extensive portfolio includes Ivanoff Vodka, Tyler's Liqueurs and Lord Roberts Gin. Most notable, however, is El Dorado rum. El Dorado — whose distinctive flavour is characterised by a deep, mellow sweetness — is a product of three centuries of tradition and expertise, and a production process unique to Demerara Distillers.
While the whole range of rums has consistently been singled out for a number of well-respected awards, most recently, El Dorado 15 YO Special Reserve was awarded The Best Rum Worldwide Trophy for the seventh time in the International Wines and Spirits Competition for 2011.
"We take great pride in bringing El Dorado Rums to our family, and the future prospects are extremely exciting," said Andrew Desnoes, managing director of Select Brands. "El Dorado is an extremely well-respected rum and will be a lovely addition for rum lovers in Jamaica to complement their existing repertoire," he added.


text:
Related content
Local Natives Live at The Corner Hotel
I had promised to take an American friend out to a gig in Melbourne before she flew back home. A Californian band seemed appropriate, but I was more excited about taking her to the Local Natives show at The Corner Hotel. It's the perfect venue for alternative music and perfectly encapsulates the unique urban culture that makes Melbourne such a good place to live.
The Paper Scissors opened the night with their Modest Mouse-style sounds. The impressive vocals and constant tempo changes had everyone in a happy mood early and, in my opinion, should have been given the main supporting slot.
Instead, that responsibility was given to South Australian indie kids Leader Cheetah. I was looking forward to the show, but their appeal was ruined by a lead singer who thought he was way too cool for school. Arrogance is only something that works on stage when you back it up, not when you look, act and sound like every other try-hard musician on Brunswick Street. Sorry, champ.
The room was full to the brim, however, as Local Natives emerged, kickstarting with the signature drum-heavy rhythm of World News.
I have a lot of respect for any percussionist that takes on lead vocals, but Kelcey Ayer blew me away. Not only did he juggle drums and vocals on most tracks, but he also played keys and lead guitar when required. I also want to use the term "musical instruments" in place of "musical chairs," but it doesn't work for obvious reasons. Ayer, Taylor Rice and Ryan Hahn switched between drums, mandolin, keys and guitar, while simultaneously swapping or harmonising lead vocals.
All tracks were taken from their impressive debut album, Gorilla Manor, with highlights including a cover of Talking Heads' Warning Sign, Wide Eyes, the instrumental intro of Stranger Things, and crowd favourite Airplanes. They closed the set with Sun Hands, during which the lads had everyone clapping along to the beat and fans chanting the closing verse in unison.
Local Natives are an incredibly talented band, but what makes them so likable is that they're genuinely nice guys. As they finished, Ayer admitted how excited they were to be playing their first headline show in Australia and encouraged everyone to meet them afterwards.
I'm sure they didn't travel half way around the world to market themselves to other Americans, but they've definitely gained another fan back home.
Liked: The free-spirited trio in front of us who never stopped dancing. They were obviously on something but it looked like a lot of fun.
Hated: The tool that stood directly under a down light on the side stage with his pad and pen, trying to get noticed as he took notes. Thanks for making all music writers look like fuckwits.
Drank: $4 beers! Thank god there's still a venue that you can get hammered at without sacrificing food for the next week.


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DALLAS — Blighted properties can be a huge drag on neighborhoods. Taxpayers spend millions cleaning them up, which makes even one tear-down something neighbors celebrate.
Habitat for Humanity — known for building affordable homes — demolished two blighted properties on Saturday.
It was a sweet moment for long-time neighbors like Beverly Harrison. "In 1968, Oak Cliff was beautiful country," she said. "Over the years, it just declined. Now I see people have an interest in bringing it back to its former glory."
In recent months, the non-profit Habitat has been focusing on demolishing problem homes, bulldozing a total of 12 in the past nine months.
"We have some neighborhoods in Dallas that can't move forward until we get rid of the rundown eyesores like the one that is behind these gentlemen," said Habitat executive Melissa de Leon.
Dallas spends $5 million a year just mowing the grass on abandoned properties. Blight has been a major focus for city leaders, who admit that paying for tear-downs can be a difficult proposition.
"It's time to take care of and get rid of the blight, get rid of the crime," said Dallas City Council member Dwaine Caraway. "Bring in the hope and restore the family."
Habitat plans to replace the eyesores with new homes, but Harrison is happy enough with just an empty lot for now.
"It's just better all around," she said.
Habitat for Humanity says it hopes to bulldoze a dozen more eyesores in Dallas.
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Buyers looking for a good deal through Craigslist this holiday season may want to take some extra precaution after two men were robbed of $5,000 at gunpoint in Skokie on Nov. 8. The victims meet their suspect through a local ad on Craigslist.
The two men told police they were supposed to buy 10 Apple iPhone 5s, but were robbed after meeting the suspect, who went by the alias "Tyrone," police said.
The three met in the 9100 block of Ewing Avenue and introduced each other via shaking hands.
However, the deal went south when the suspect pulled out a black semi-automatic pistol and said, "you have five seconds to give me the cash or I will shoot you," the report stated. The suspect then removed $5,000 in cash from the victims and fled the scene.
The men told police that they were going to sell the phones on eBay for a profit of about $150 per phone. The suspect was described as a black male, about 27 to 37-years-of-age, 5-foot-6 and weighing around 160 to 210-pounds, the report stated.
No arrests have been made at this time, but police are investigating.
Recent Craigslist scam -
In February, police responded to a battery complaint in the 4000 block of Oakton Street on Feb. 21. According to the report, the man purchased a used Honda for $6,000 through an ad on Craigslist. While the odometer said the car had 97,000 miles, the title stated it had more than 160,000, the report said.
This upset the buyer and a scuffle between the two ensued, police said. No charges were filed.
Some tips from the Skokie Police Department
- Do not invite strangers into your home.
- Insist on a public place meeting, such as a restaurant or coffee shop.
- Do not meet in a secluded place.
- Be especially careful when buying or selling high value items.
- Tell a friend or family member where you are going.
- Consider having a friend accompany you.
- And most importantly, trust your gut instinct. If a situation seems uncomfortable or "too good to be true," then it probably is.


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It's time for our third installment of This Week in Angels Castoffs!
In which we examine the exploits of players signed and developed by the Angels organization, but then traded, or allowed to walk, or Rule Fived, or dropped like a methadone habit on Morphine Day. We do this to remind ourselves of the costs & benefits of various transactions, to stay in touch with players or prospects we once held dear, and to distract ourselves from yet another lousy April.
This week our merry team of Castaways produced what will likely be the single most unusual play of the 2013 Major League Baseball season. Move over, Jeff Mathis throwing to first base, here comes Jean Segura stealing first base Friday night!
via i.imgur.com
As Mike Axisa put it over at CBS Sports, Segura's inning went "infield single, steal of second, steal of first, thrown out at second [trying to steal it again]. What the what."
Segura, our cost for acquiring two months of Zack Greinke, is still 2nd in the National League in hitting at .386, but A) that's not gonna last, and B) OMFG did you see that play?
2013 Rotation vs. The Ones Who Got Away Update:
As detailed last week, we have a neat apples-to-apples comparison of the 5 pitchers in our Opening Day rotation (who are being paid a combined $45.7 million this year) vs. the 5 former-Angel MLB starting pitchers (John Lackey, Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana, Patrick Corbin, Miguel Gonzales), who are earning a combined $35.7 million. How's it looking after Week 3? Well, after 14 starts each, like this:
3-7, 5.62 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 5.3 K/9, 5.1 innings per start, 0.1 WAR vs.
5-5, 3.16 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 6.0 innings per start, 1.5 WAR
And yes, it's the Castoffs who are beating the 2013 Angels like a gong. Of special note is 23-year-old Patrick Corbin, one of the 4 players we sent to Arizona Diamondbacks acting G.M. Jerry DiPoto for 1.5 great years of Dan Haren + 1 mediocre one. Corbin is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA, allowed just 20 runners in 19 innings, and is in the NL top 10 in 11 different pitching categories.
But What About the Bullpens?
With the promotion of Michaels Roth and Kohn, we are now getting something like a homegrown quorum in our bullpen, allowing for preliminary comparison with the Gonesome Threesome of Darren O'Day, Joel Peralta, and Jordan Walden (who earn a combined $5.54 million). What happens when we stack up our Michaels, plus the bullpen work of Kevin Jepsen and Garrett Richards, who clock in at around $2.66 mil? This:
1-1, 3.86 ERA, 14.0 innings, 1.00 WHIP, 12.2 K/9, 1 hold, 2 blown saves, 3 of 8 inherited runners scored, -0.1 WAR vs.
2-1, 1.64 ERA, 22.0 innings, 0.86 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 8 holds, 1 blown save, 0 of 2 inherited runners scored, 0.6 WAR
It's early in the season, so much could change. But man, we used to get a lot of value out of home-grown relievers, to the point where teams would happily scoop up our excess. Recall that we waived Peralta just after his rookie season in 2005, and failed to protect O'Day from the Rule 5 draft in 2008. Hard to imagine such a surplus these days, innit?


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Carbon Hill has some good memories as a Class 4A team.
The Bulldogs best two football seasons came in the classification. Carbon Hill went 12-1 and made the 4A state quarterfinals in 1999 and advanced to the 4A second round in 1988, finishing 10-2.
Carbon Hill returns to 4A for the first time since 1999 for the 2012 football season. The Bulldogs face a schedule filled with first-time meetings and long-time rivals under third-year coach Royce Young.
Recent years haven't been kind to Carbon Hill's football program with the team winning just seven games over the last five years. This year's schedule doesn't promise to be easy with perennial power Bibb County on the region schedule along with Dora, which is coming off its best season since 2006.
Carbon Hill, which moves from 3A, Region 5 to 4A, Region 4 faces Bibb County, Jemison, Oak Grove, Calera, West Blocton, Corner and Dora in region play.
The Bulldogs have played against just two region opponents (West Blocton and Dora). West Blocton and Carbon Hill were in the same 3A region in 2006 and 2007 and Carbon Hill faced Dora consistently from 1927 to 1973 before the Walker County rivalry came to an abrupt end.
Carbon Hill faces a pair of winless teams in non-region games in 2012.
Winston County (0-10) was one of three Class 3A teams to not win a game in 2011 while Cold Springs (0-10) was the only 2A team to go winless. Winston County has lost 14 games in a row dating to the 2010 season while Cold Springs hasn't won a game since beating Hanceville in Week 5 during the 2008 season, a span of 35 games.
Carbon Hill plays three Yellow Jackets (Corner, Curry and Winston County), two Tigers (Oak Grove and West Blocton) as well as two Eagles (Cold Springs and Calera) this season.
Carbon Hill opens the season at home against county rival Curry (5-6 in 2011) on Aug. 31. Curry has won the last five meetings and eight of the last nine. Carbon Hill leads the series 37-27.
The Bulldogs' first three region games come against opponents Carbon Hill has never faced: Bibb County, Jemison and Oak Grove.
Carbon Hill opens region play in Week 2 at home against Bibb County, which is making the 230-mile trek from Centerville. The Choctaws have won three straight region titles and have won a total of 46 games over the last four years. Bibb County advanced to the third round of the state playoffs in 2011 and made the semifinals in 2010.
Carbon Hill hits the road in three consecutive weeks starting in Week 3 with a 100-mile trip to Jemison to take on the Panthers (6-4). Jemison has advanced to the playoffs 22 times during the last 28 years, but missed out on the postseason last year for the first time since 2003. Like Carbon Hill, Jemison's best season came in 1999 when the Panthers were beaten by Deshler in the state championship game. Deshler knocked out Carbon Hill in the third round that season.
Week 4 sees Carbon Hill travel to Oak Grove to face the Tigers (6-4).
Oak Grove missed out on the playoffs last year despite winning five of its last seven regular-season games. The Tigers are 11-4 in their last 15 home games.
Carbon Hill takes on a familiar opponent in Week 5 with a non-region game at Winston County (0-10). The Bulldogs rallied for a 37-33 homecoming win over Winston County last season for one of its two wins. The win snapped a six-game losing streak to the Yellow Jackets.
Calera (4-6) travels to Carbon Hill in Week 6.
The Eagles missed the playoffs for the first time since 2001 last year. This will be the first meeting between the teams.
Carbon Hill hits the road to West Blocton (7-4) in Week 7. The Tigers have been to the playoffs each of the last three season, losing in the first round each year. The team, which is entering its third year in 4A, hasn't won a playoff game since 1992.
Carbon Hill's last three opponents each have a new head coach.
Corner (6-5) makes the trip to Carbon Hill in Week 8. The teams have never played.
The Yellow Jackets made the playoffs for the first time since 2006 last year under coach Brent Smith, who took the job at Shelby County. Zac Willis is the new coach at Corner.
Carbon Hill's final road game is across the county at Dora. The teams haven't played in nearly 30 years with Dora winning the most recent meeting, 70-3, in 1973.
Dora (9-3) won a playoff game for the first time since 2006 last year when Johnny Wright guided the Bulldogs to the postseason. Wright returns to coach the Bulldogs this season.
In Week 10, Carbon Hill hosts Cold Springs.
The Eagles are 0-4 all-time against the Bulldogs. Rodney Elliott is Cold Springs' head coach this season.


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Town Square
Michele Bachmann Drops Bombshell: America's True Patriots Are Devastated
Original post made by Liberty Takes a Big Hit on May 29, 2013
"Be assured: My decision was not in any way influenced by any concerns about my being reelected to Congress. I've always in the past defeated the communist candidates I ran against, and I have every confidence that if I ran, I would again defeat the corrupt, unpatriotic individual who I defeated last year, who recently announced that he is once again running on an unabashed socialist agenda to bring down these great United States of our Christian God's America."
"And be assured," she continued, "that this decision was not impacted in any way by the recent unpatriotic, un-American inquiries into the activities of my former presidential campaign or my former presidential staff."
Accolades were almost instantaneous. "This late-night decision leaves most Americans devastated," claimed Marco Rubio (R-FL). John McCain echoed Rubio's remarks. "Aside from Sarah Palin, Michele is probably the world's greatest living female." Even the prominent Republican radio personality Rush Limbaugh chimed in: "She is a babe, what more can I say?"
Bachmann will leave behind an impressive legacy. She authored the 37th bill in Congress to repeal Obamacare, and she was one of only three Republican representatives to attend Margaret Thatcher's funeral. Such impressive accomplishments, in addition to being the tireless beard of her homosexual husband, have led many to surmise that Bachmann is using the late-night video to launch an effort to run for president in 2016.
on May 29, 2013 at 6:48 am
Michele Bachmann has been perhaps the single most important voice for the Tea Party caucases that have impacked every state in the union. No voice in Congress has done more to preserve America's (Comment removed by Pleasanton Weekly staff.)heritage than Michele. She is going to be sadly missed, and I hope with all my heart she will be this country's next president who will rescue us after the inevitable impeachment of Barack Hussein Obama, and restore this nation once again to a Godly nation, exceptional in every respect.
on May 29, 2013 at 7:43 am
Wow I commented on another thread about how the european white man came and took america from the native americans and my comment was deleted by the PW. Yet jimf can post about americas pure caucasian heritage? Somebody needs to learn US history.
on May 29, 2013 at 8:48 am
liberalism is a disease is a registered user.
(Comment removed by Pleasanton Weekly staff.)
Please tell us more about US history, as revised by your left wing JC professors.


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Guinness Special Export Stout (John Martin - Belgium) - Guinness Ltd.
Displayed for educational use only; do not reuse.
Ratings: 223 | Reviews: 153 | Display Reviews Only:
4.2/5 rDev -0.5%
This one pours close to a pitch black but there's definitely some reddish hues there.
The smell has notes of vanilla, coffee, and some chocolate. Weird nose but nice.
The taste is big on the roasted malt, as it should be, followed by vanilla, chocolate, and a fairly substantial amount of coffee. I also get a lot of warming from the alcohol. lol. I didn't think I'd ever say that about a Guinness but this puppy is strong and lets you know it. But I have to say, the flavours more than make up for it; you just have to take small sips and I *do* mean small sips to appreciate it.
It has a fullish mouthfeel, the carbonation is on the light side of medium, and it finishes with bitter coffee notes. This is defintely a brew where I drink 1 and I'm done but there's nothing wrong with that and I suspect that the breweres didn't intend to offer up this brew as one to session on.
Bottom line: A great taster, looks great in the glass, has a great mouthfeel, good smell, and is not meant to be sessioned on so drinkability won't be the best. Try it if you see it!
Edit, Nov 28, 2010: I'm drinking side by this and the Guinness Foreign Extra...this is less roasty and has notes of pitted fruit that I didn't notice before. (plums and cherries?) I'm glad I did a comparison..
10-29-2008 00:32:29 | More by Bitterbill
4.2/5 rDev -0.5%
330mL bottle poured into a pint glass.
pitch brown with a moderate layer of chocolatey dark head. moderate lacing.
tons of sweetened coffee in the aroma. dark fruit aromas as well; raisins and prunes.
heavy, malty feel with strong roasted coffee flavors. slightly metallic flavors, some sweet dark fruits, and a burnt espresso finish. if there's any guinness sour in there, it's hiding behind the roasted malt. balanced, enjoyable, and drinkable.
10-10-2006 00:28:49 | More by Prufrock
New York
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
a - pours a dark brown, not quite black with a sizable tan head with decent retention and lacing
s - dark roasted malts with some dark chocolate, lots of caramel sweetness with some dark fruits
t - dark malts dominate, but there are notes of dark fruits and caramel, surprisingly sweet in the body with mild bitterness in the finish, not much alcohol detectable
m - medium-bodied, moderate carbonation
d - pretty drinkable, fairly easy on the palate and the alcohol is not overwhelming
This is many steps up from the Guinness everyone is used to; nothing transcendental, but very good nontheless; very solid stout that I would love drink regularly
09-17-2007 03:11:17 | More by WeisGuy
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
Bottle that I received as an extra from Masterski. Thank you, Alex, this has been on my wants for about 2 years and I finally get a chance to drink this.
This is another first for me - this bottle actually has nutritional information on it! 0 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbs and 0.8 grams of protein per 100ml for a grand total of 64 calories per serving, best by 27 August 2010.
Pouring a very dark brown, this sits black with reddish dark brown highlights. A mocha colored head is present, dense, creamy and beautiful lacework. The nose is excellent. Licorice and molasses, there's also some spice character. The spice is a blend of yeast and licorice. Unsweetened dark chocolate syrup and a little coffee are present, but what strikes me the most is the complex yeast profile - spicy with a little clove? Some vanilla and brown sugar are also present.
The palate opens with a blend of licorice, cocoa and some spice character. Moderately yeasty, particularly on the mid-palate. The malt backbone is quite complex, with a blend of moderate roast, a little acidic burnt malt bitterness, some burnt sugar and some molasses. Drying on the finish with some yeast, this beer is medium in body with moderate carbonation. Spicy and yeasty on the finish, this is enjoyable, and I'm glad to have got the chance to drink this. Excellent
01-16-2011 01:59:44 | More by DefenCorps
United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
330ml bottle poured into a silver rimmed Westmalle challice
Pours with a deep dark brown body, almost black with little light penetrating. A large puffy tan head head forms about an inch and a half thick, lots of patchy lacing
Smell, estery alcohol, smokey roasted malt. Some nice roasted fresh coffee along with a hint of vanilla. Fresh coffee beans and some slightly sweet dried fruit.
Taste, crisp and crunchy roasted malt, lots of thick bitterness from the malts and a little bit of caramel and mollasses. Slightly chalky on the finish with some lingering spicy malt and a crisp dark chocolate flavour. Strong vanilla coming through once again, a touch of acidity on the fnish too. A tiny alcoholic character is present but generally its very well hidden
This bottle is about a year old or so from bottling, holding up very well. Full of rich flavours this is probably the most full flavoured guinness product available, surpasses the standard FES.
06-02-2007 21:54:27 | More by cypressbob
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
Guinness Draught was my first true love of beer. I have come a long way since then to try what is proclaimed to be the best of the Guinness line. They had this at Asterix in São Paulo, of all places, when it wasn't as ridiculously expensive (R$32) compared to other places in the city. I checked the back label, and yep, this is the Martin's edition (although mine said Anthony Martin). On to the beer:
At first, the head is thick and semi-tan on top before falling to a thin sheet and leaving thin coats of lacing. Blacker than midnight. The aroma is ripe fruit with chocolate, a tad fruity. The taste is where the fun begins. Starting off is licorice and chocolate liqueur. Some fruit, courtesy of the booze, makes appearances. More chocolate liqueur and melted chocolate bars. The aftertaste lingers of chocolate liqueur. Yet despite all this, it doesn't kick your ass.
This is a big and heavy stout. I could see why this is so widely acclaimed, it's very mellow and a pleasure to sip on.
01-27-2009 05:00:05 | More by DoubleJ
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
330 ml bottle purchased from Cracked Kettle in Amsterdam for a few bucks, consumed 12/30/08, reviewed from notes, drank from a Dogfish Head snifter, color is a very dark brown that is almost black, 3/4 inch creamy beige head that had good retention, nice lacing at first, aroma consists of sweetness, hazelnuts, roasted barley, other nutty scents, mild coffee and dark chocolate, and light bread, taste starts off a lot sweeter than I would expect a Guiness to, a little chewy in the middle, lots of underlying chocolate once it warms, more malts and spice continue to come out as it warms, really enjoyed the nuttiness in this brew, chewy, slightly sweet, sticky, and mildly roasted mouthfeel, moderate level of carbonation, taste lingers well, went down easy for an eight percent beer, alcohol was hidden, smooth and not near as dry as its normal version which I am used to, good drinkability, significantly better than the normal Guinness I am used to drinking, wish this stuff was available here, would enjoy drinking again, recommended
02-12-2009 01:29:58 | More by Floydster
4.18/5 rDev -0.9%
30cl, Netherlands.
Pours a dark brown hue, settling to a rich ebony in the glass. Thick tan head, okay lacing.
Aroma is full of roast, with notes of maple syrup and molasses complemented by mellow alcohol. Excellent.
The flavor is also richly roasty, with a dry, bitter finish reminiscent of the Irish stout style. But this version has a lot more going for it. Nice and dry malty flavors. I get notes of molasses, coffee and buttery diacetyl mid-palate. Mouthfeel was surprisingly light, however, and just couldn't support the rich flavors of this beer.
This is an excellent stout with a lot going for it, but the mouthfeel needs to be improved in order to fit the flavor.
10-14-2010 22:51:13 | More by dasenebler
4.15/5 rDev -1.7%
33cl bottle.
Deep dark pour that borders on black with garnet highlights when held to the light. A half inch of tan foam leaves some spotty lacing as it falls. Aromas start out with clean roasted malts along with chocolate accents. There's a slight sour / lactic edge along with dark fruits and big molasses. Caramel and licorice hints work in as well with just a touch of coffee.
First sip brings dark roasted malts upfront leading into a mix of bold molasses and licorice flavors with toffee undertones. Dark fruits meander in and out as it flows down along with a coffee/cream flavor that's just a touch sour. Finishes off with a nice lingering malty roasted flavor.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth...there's quite a bit more malt body here than in the standard Guinness we see in stores in the U.S. that is for sure. Good steady carbonation makes this one a treat. Overall, if this was the Guinness I could buy in the store here I'd be buying it quite a bit more often! Thanks to clvand0 for sending this one my way.
04-11-2009 21:36:38 | More by orbitalr0x
4.15/5 rDev -1.7%
BYOB brought this back for me from Kulminator on his recent trip to Europe.
Bottled in 1997, best before March 2nd, 2000. Today is January 15th, 2007.
Pours pitch black with a thick, creamy tan head that never goes away. Lacing is spotty.
Smells of molasses, alcohol, and dark chocolate.
Tastes of chocolate, raisins and alcohol upfront with a roast bitterness and coffee finish.
Mouthfeel was as smooth as velvet. Incredibly creamy.
A little too heavy to drink a lot of, but perfect for a hearty meal.
I was impressed with how well it held up over time.
01-15-2007 11:28:45 | More by irishtimepiece
4.15/5 rDev -1.7%
GLASS: Imperial Pint Glass
TEMP: Cellared @ approx 45 degrees
Dark, dark brown. Verging on blackness. Medium pour produces a massive 5-finger head of thick creamy tan foam. About a full finger of it was standing above the rim of the glass. Excellent retention and amazing lacing.
Butterey caramel and coffee with a touch of chocolate. Dark fruits. English toffee. Vanilla extract.
Nice roasted malts upfront. Sweet vanilla caramel follows. Nice dark fruit hints. Finishes with the bite of burnt coffee grounds. Hides it's alcohol quite well, even though it does provide a slight bit of warmth.
Much more complex than the more readily available version.
Feels good, but is not quite as creamy and velvet-like as it's relative. Still great compared to others in the same style, but could stand to be a bit thicker and richer.
Very drinkable, in general. Would rate higher if not for that nasty bite, at the end. Still, I wish I could bet better access to this.
10-30-2008 17:26:52 | More by coldmeat23
4.15/5 rDev -1.7%
It's an interesting aroma. A light hint of roast, some yeast fruitiness and just a wisp of diacetyl. The aroma is unfortunately weak.
Very dark brown-black colour with a massive, creamy tan head. Good head retention.
The flavour is good. The roast bitterness is smooth tempered by a rich, round malt body and a hint of alcohol. Some nice fruity esters come through. Just a hint of acidity that is the trademark of the Guinness brand and a light touch of diacetyl. Solid.
Medium body with moderately low carbonation. Simple, smooth and effective. Greamy and with a nicely dried out finish.
A great beer. The alcohol is well hidden in the flavour and works effectively to temper some of the flavours. The best Guinness product I've tried.
03-08-2010 08:46:48 | More by dgilks
4.13/5 rDev -2.1%
My wife picked this beer up at a local supermarket in northern Italy. It pours as a deep blackish-brown liquid with a monstrously fizzy head. The head settles down quickly, but leaves some pretty lace. The aroma is fantastic...chocolate, coffee beans, very roasted grain, charcoal, and a lot of caramel. As the beer warms, a slight alcohol smell comes forth as well. The taste is solidly good. It's moderately dry, despite some notable malt flavors (quite a bit drier than the Foreign Extra Stout). There's a lot of bitterness, both from hops and also from highly roasted grains. The mouthfeel is full, thick, and satisfying. This is quite good, and easily one of the best Guinness products that I've had.
11-14-2008 20:33:35 | More by Suds
4.13/5 rDev -2.1%
12 (11. something?) oz. bottle.
Opaque, darkest brown leaning towards black, liquid. Large, cocoa colored head. Very creamy. Good lacing, modest legs.
Fruity scent (raisins & figs) at first pour. Dark chocolate. Bit of earthy funk. Alcohol. Roast character/coffee, milder than expected.
Taste brought the roast flavor to front and center. Overall, more bitter than sweet. Dark chocolate was next note, followed by coffee - mild, but espresso like. Strong herbal bittering at the finish. Alcohol.
Medium to full body. Medium carbonation. Not very dry.
Not your typical Guiness by a long shot! Very complex. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't describe it as a top stout for my taste. My preference tends towards more sweet elements in a stout.
07-15-2008 14:36:49 | More by
New Hampshire
4.13/5 rDev -2.1%
Vintage 1999
Poured thick and black, with a dense tan head.
Chewy nose filled with roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate, laced with smoke and old leather.
Cocoa dusted bacon bits in an aged wingtip.
Thick, viscous mouthfeel. Wraps around your tongue and doesn't let go. Creamy and smooth.
Rich, full, pallet- loaded with the essense of Guinness, but concentrated.
Chocolate cake batter, espresso, and a rauche-like complexity.
Finishes slow with plenty of grip, minimal bitterness and no distinguishable alcohol.
Best before 2000? Ha!
12-16-2005 22:58:59 | More by brewandbbq
4.13/5 rDev -2.1%
Tried this beer for the first time last year in Belgium. It was being sold in a convenience store for 1 Euro each. More recently, I was surprised to be sitting in a bar in Milan last month and saw this offered. It was 7 Euros for the bottle, but I was on vacation, and a second chance to have this beer sounded good.
Best glass I could get from the bartender was a mug. Oh well. When poured into a glass, it looks like normal Guinness. The smell, also, has that really roasted, bitter scent. But the flavor is way different, in a much better way. It's so much flavorful than normal Guinness. Flavors of chocolate and coffee are everywhere. It has a creaminess and, at the same time, a smoothness that is remarkable. At no point do you think that you are drinking an 8% beer. It's a shame this beer is not available in the States. I guess that makes it more of a treat when you find it overseas.
09-16-2008 03:13:40 | More by morebeergood
4.11/5 rDev -2.6%
Pours an austere black with an unconventional white head like the flesh of a coconut.
Nose is yeasty and fruity. Think lamb fat and soy. Like some raw meat aromas with a really fruity accompaniment.
Taste is a sexually secure roast- able to evoke all the fruits without becoming one. Lamb fat, roast and more fruits.
Mouthfeel is a slightly water-y, macro-y roast. And more fruits.
Imagine hints of the Cooper's Sparkling yeast made more subtle and fruity and crossed with a one-part macro four-parts craft roast. Interesting (and good) combination. Guinness reinvented.
10-04-2013 10:58:43 | More by danieelol
4.1/5 rDev -2.8%
This one poured a very dark brown, almost black brew with a medium sized, tan head.
The aroma is that of strong, black coffee (espresso), chocolat (fondant), roasted malts and some hints of yeast and alcohol.
The taste contains the same elements along with something woody, smoky. The taste was impressive and complex but the bitterness in this beer was a bit over the top for me, making it hard to thoroughly enjoy it.
The mouthfeel was good: big & smooth.
I enjoyed the Hercule Stout I had a week earlier more as it was sweeter than this one. This was still a nice and very intresting drink though. Either way, I haven't had many beers in this style (which is starting to grow on me) yet so I don't know what to look for in a stout and how to judge one properly.
01-02-2005 13:07:25 | More by Paddez
4.1/5 rDev -2.8%
Pours jet black with a tan head. In the aroma, sweet roasted malt and a small bitterness. In the taste, roasted malts, a sweetness, a note of alcohol and a dry hop in the end. A bitter and medium to bigger bodied mouthfeel , with a dry chocolate roast in the aftertaste. It is like an imperial stout, or Guinness on steroids.
11-08-2011 12:44:21 | More by OWSLEY069
New York
4.1/5 rDev -2.8%
Thanks to drseamus for this.
A: Looks black with brown around the edges. Minimal brown head.
S: Little bit funky. A little roasty. Belgian yeast. Swetness behind it.
T: Very roasty. Nice sweetness. More of a Belgian beer than a stout. Best Guinness I have ever had.
M: Very dry. Makes sense considering the origin of this beer.
D: Very nice. Not quite top 100 for me but a damn good beer. Again the best Guinness I have ever had.
12-08-2008 03:08:59 | More by aerozeppl
4.08/5 rDev -3.3%
Pours a dark brown/black with a tan head that lasts for quite some time. Very nice lacing.
Smells of dark roasted malt, blueberry and grape esters, and caramelized sugar. Tastes similar, with the roasted malt prevalent. Hints of coffee and chocolate, along with very slight hints of both hops and alcohol. Mouthfeel is fantastic. Very thick with an incredibly creamy head.
Really drinkable stout; it's a shame the normal Guinness is such a far cry from this.
08-12-2008 20:24:58 | More by philipquarles
4.08/5 rDev -3.3%
330ml bottle
A- Black (or extremely dark brown) colour. Two finger, dense, very light brown head. Great retention at first, just a little ring after some sips. Loads of lacing on the glass
S- Quite weak, even after head has receded, but nice. Creamy chocolate aroma, with notes of nut and raisin. A light alcoholic note in the back. Maybe a hint of leafy hops as well. Overall this is much sweeter than expected
T- Very sweet as the aroma suggested. Rich, full chocolate taste, but really on the sweet side with a delicate caramel malt foundation to it. Nut, alcohol, maybe liquorice notes all blend very well and bring complexity. Finishes with a refreshing hint of bitterness. Not the slightest hint of roastiness
M- Medium body and just a hint of carbonation. Wonderfully delicate on both tongue and palate, but somehow still a dense, full creamy mouthfeel
O- Delicate and rich. Extremely drinkable but still nicely complex, perfectly balanced. Even quite refreshing, which is great to be found in a strong stout
10-16-2011 15:17:43 | More by Cozzatoad
4.08/5 rDev -3.3%
Pours a jet black color with a finger of tan head that persists nicely over top of the brew. Very opaque. Nose is big in dark fruits, light chocolate, creamyness. Good residual sweetness. Nice nose. Flavor is chocolate with a light infusion of fig. Very creamy tasting. Light bitterness hangs on the end. Tasty beer. Feel is Thick, smooth, almost silky, with a moderate carbonation. Overall, this is a good drink. Well balanced and proportioned. Very good feel. No hint of 8% anywhere.
11-19-2005 23:41:18 | More by kmpitz2
4.05/5 rDev -4%
Jet black appearance with a tan head that lingers with a lacing that sticks down the glass as you sip.
Smells similar to regular Guinness but with added Belgian esters and chocolate.
Taste is great with less of the regular Guinness smokiness and bordering on Belgian Strong Dark Ale thanks to the added weight (ABV). A hint of bitter dark chocolate at the finish.
Silky smooth mouthfeel and the taste hangs around long after it's gone. Yum!
I have gone back to this stout on many occassions and it tastes damn fine.
If only the regular stuff tasted this good!
01-27-2010 11:16:13 | More by Bisho
New York
4.05/5 rDev -4%
Bottle provided by Goodbyeohio. I saved this one for a special occassion, and review #700 sounds good to me. Huge thanks, man. Best before 04/07/06.
Pitch black, with garnet accents. Looks slightly hazy, capped with a frothy mountain of craggy, tan foam. Large bubbled lace all over the glass, looking like dish soap. Smells like what I always thought Guinness, with it's reputation, should smell like. Images of grizzled coal miners with bristling beards, clutching black pints in a smoky pub. Sturdy, frowning and unwelcoming to strangers. Browned chocolate malt, coffee notes, with a distinct wooden floral english hop profile. Fairly clean otherwise, faint treacle and booze, the hops a bit soapy. The flavor opens with brown, semi-sweet chocolate, thinner than I'd expected, with hints of caramel, licorice and molasses. Not terribly sweet, more like a slightly bumped up version of your regular Guinness Extra Stout. A bit of ale fruitiness is chased by a woody, earthy, almost metallic hop bitterness. Malty bittersweetness in the finish, providing a semi-sweet, surprisingly bitter and dry finish. A touch of medicinal, aspirin-like phenols. The sweetness rallies hard with warmth, rich with coffee and chocolate maltiness. Strong coffee flavor in the finish, particularly as it warms. Excellent bitterness, quite dry, leaving my palate stripped down for the next sip. Fairly light bodied. Modest, small bubbled carbonation very much in the UK tradition. A light whiff of alcohol, brown plastic bottle style ethanol, in my sinuses with each sip.
A huge improvement on what I know as Guinness here in the states. I do enjoy the extra stout, but the nitro draught is nearly characterless. Very nice. Strong, unforgiving flavor, what I imagine Guinness should be like. I would have preferred a thicker body, but the dryness is quite nice. Much higher marks, easily a 5, on the mouthfeel if it felt as substantial as it tastes.
10-24-2005 05:01:12 | More by UnionMade
Guinness Special Export Stout (John Martin - Belgium) from Guinness Ltd.
94 out of 100 based on 223 ratings.