New Glarus Road Slush Oatmeal Stout

New Glarus Brewing Company
New Glarus, Wisconsin

APPEARANCE: 1.5/3
Dark red, not black, not opaque. Big head, could last longer.

AROMA: 2.75/4
Faint chocolate/coffee nose, could be stronger. No hop aroma to speak of.

TASTE: 6.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Could use more hop. All malt. Needs more body.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Some bitterness and weak roasted flavor.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Sharp, tangy. Needs more body.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: Not quite a stout. Weak, not roasty enough.

TOTAL: 13/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: I expect much more from an oatmeal stout. Unimpressive for a New Glarus product.
Ben: Needs to be darker, more roast, more chocolate flavor. Too light, not substantial enough to be a stout.

New Glarus Unplugged Series–Cherry Stout

New Glarus Brewing Company
New Glarus, Wisconsin

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Could be darker; not quite opaque. Reddish hue. But pretty.

AROMA: 3/4
Cherry nose, minimal hop. Yeah, cherry is overwhelming.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Appropriately malty, hop is almost negligible.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Very cherry, lots of sour/tart. Very little bitterness, no roastiness.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Nice tartness, very cherry.

OVERALL: 2/3: It's a fruit beer, not a stout.

TOTAL: 14.5/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: I like it–it's New Glarus!–but as a cherry beer. How is this a stout?
Ben: Not a stout–needs some chocolate/coffee notes to make it unbeatable. Scored as a fruit beer, it would do much better.

Rogue Dead Guy Ale

Rogue Ales
Newport, Oregon

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Light copper color. Decent head–persistent. Slightly hazy.

AROMA: 3/4
Grapefruit nose, subtle hop aroma.

TASTE: 6/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2/4: Sufficiently malty, but I'm not a fan of the Perle hop used here.
Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Lingering bitterness. Syrupy, fades to bitter. An almost synthetic aftertaste.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Decently malty, bright.

OVERALL: 2/3: A drinkable pale, but the strong chemical taste is a turn-off.

TOTAL: 13.5/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: I know it's popular, but it doesn't do it for me. Give me a Sierra Nevada over a Dead Guy any day. I will give kudos for the variety of beers they brew and the work they put into their web site, which is awesome. These guys clearly have a passion for beer.
Ben: Hop choice is reminiscent of most of Lagunitas's beers–it dominates all else. Just okay.

Summit India Style Rye Ale (Unchained Series #3)

Summit Brewing Company
St. Paul, Minnesota

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Deep mahogany color–slightly dark for the style. Minimal head.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Sweet, hoppy. Grapefruit nose.

TASTE: 6/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Very hoppy throughout, could be maltier in the middle.
Aftertaste: 1.5/3: Lots of bitterness, hop flavor lingers.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Hop at finish, residual bitterness.

OVERALL: 2/3: Really, really hoppy. Too bitter.

TOTAL: 14/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt & Ben: Should be bigger. There is some sweetness imparted by the rye. Maybe too dark. Good, but should be bigger.

Horny Goat Exposed (Lager)

Horny Goat Brewing Company
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Pale straw, weak head.

AROMA: 2.5/4
Minimal hop, dry aroma.

TASTE: 6.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2/4: Malty, almost corny, nutty.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Some bitterness (not much, though).
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Dry, smooth, light-bodied.

OVERALL: 2/3: An okay lager, on par with Boulevard Pilsner, but with less body.

TOTAL: 13/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt & Ben: Beer for the masses. A decent lager, better than your average domestic pilsner, but not a standout.

Weston Brew Labs IPA #1

Weston Brewing Company
Weston, Missouri

APPEARANCE: 2/3

Thick, foamy, creamy head. Big bubbles. Clear, red-copper color.

AROMA: 2/4

Some hop aroma–citrus, pineapple, subtle grass/floral. Weak but present.

TASTE: 7.5/10

• Hop/Malt Balance: 2.25/4: Malty. Pine nut notes. Bitter finish that lasts, fades to astringence.
  
• Aftertaste: 2/3: Very nutty, toasty. Caramel notes. Strong alcohol finish.
  
• Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Needs more body to offset the very alcohol-y finish.

OVERALL: 2/3

Needs more hop–more aroma for sure, more bittering hop, more malt.

TOTAL: 12.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:

Matt: No real flavor, no aroma to speak of, not a beer I'd buy again.

Ben: Just okay–lots of alcohol apparent at finish. Needs something (i.e. more body) to offset that alcohol.