I stole this pic form my friend JP. I actually did not get any pictures from Brewz Crewz, oh well.

This festival was super fun! I’ve never been to a big beer fest like this before and I definitely enjoyed myself. Everyone was really nice and pretty much everyone that noticed me taking notes asked about this blog. Hopefully some of them found it!

The fest was 3 hours long, and I managed to snag 36 samples and two full bottles of beer :)

Because of the time crunch and the fact that the friends I went with were on a beer tasting mission, my notes were a bit brief and probably got more confused and biased the drunker I got.

Anyway, here are the 36 beers I tried (in chronological order):

1. Orlando Brewing Organic Blonde Ale, ABV: 4.73% , Rating: 3/5
   Very light color, light scent, nice clean taste, nice head. Simple, sweet, nice balance, good carbonation. Could drink a lot.
2. Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye, ABV: 6.60% , Rating: 2/5
   Hoppy! Citrusy hoppy taste. Dark tan, small head. Smells like pine. Not my style, but good for an IPA lover. The lady that worked the table was very enthusiastic and sweet.
3. Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils, ABV 5.30%, Rating: 3/5
   Smells sweet, tastes kinda sweet. Nice balance. Bubbly going down - nice and tingly. Very light yellow color with nice small white head.
4. Lagunitas Censored Rich Copper Ale, ABV 6.75%, Rating: 4/5
   Really big gorgeous head, light clear brown color. Smells amazing. Warm, sweet taste - very nice and interesting.
5. Full Sail Pale Ale, ABV 5.40%, Rating: 3/5
   Nice head, light tan color, clear. Smells sweet. Sweet taste, high carbonation. I like! Not my usual style, but I approve.
6. Ace Perry Cider, ABV 5.00%, Rating: 4.5/5
   Sweet smell, sweet taste, but not too sweet. Very good balance for a cider :) Pear taste, tastes like candy, but in a nice way. Champagne color, light green.
7. Napa Smith Lost Dog Amber/Red Ale, ABV: 7.20%, Rating: 4/5
   Great malt smell. Nice brown clear color, little head. Tastes great - cold, crisp, high carbonation, light, good balance. I love it and JP (IPA LOVER) loves it.
8. Napa Smith Organic IPA, ABV: 7.10%, Rating: 3.5/5
   I don’t like IPAs and this is good! Sweet, not too hoppy. Organic FTW.
9. OBP Toasted Coconut Porter, ABV: 5.35%, Rating: 4.5/5
   Smells awesomely like chocolate coconut. Taste surprising light, milky taste and feel. Pretty thick head, very dark, almost black color. So pretty! Awesome :)
10. Orange Blossom Pilsner 2, ABV: 11.0%, Rating: 4/5
    Light orange color, nice head. Smells amazing, like oranges and cream and honey. Nice crisp taste. Definitely taste honey. Sweet, but not overly. Medium carbonation. Goes down smooth, can’t taste alcohol. Nice orange after taste.
11. Flying Dogs’ Stray Dogs Amber Lager, ABV: 5.5%, Rating: 3.25/5
    Smells like spring water. Light taste, taste like spring water! Medium brown, small head. Light, crisp, cool / can’t place taste but nice goes well with chili. Could drink at a party.
12. Flying Dog Hefeweizen In Heat Wheat, ABV: 4.7%, Rating: 5/5
    Banana and cloves! Light cloudy yellow. Very little head. Smells like cloves, taste like awesome!  Would drink all the beers. Light, crisp, refreshing.
13. Brooklyn Brown Ale, ABV: 5.6%, Rating: 4/5
    Medium brown color, cloudy, small head. Nice smell, dark and malty. Medium body. Tastes lighter than it smells. Sweet finish. Goes down smooth, med/high carbonation. Good retention and lacing.
14. Brooklyn Lager, ABV: 5.2%, Rating: 3.75/5
    Smells hoppy. Tan, good, small head. Surprisingly sweet and light. Little/med carbonation. Goes down smooth. Can’t taste the hops I smell. Filling but feels light?
15. Boulder Beer Hazed & Infused Dry-hopped Ale, ABV: 4.85%, Rating: 3/5
    Very slight hop smell. Nice head - deep tan, slightly cloudy. Sweet and hoppy but good hoppy. Medium body, medium carbonation. Smooth, bubbly in throat. I approve.
    (Should be noted I’m kinda drunk by now)
16. Twisted Pines Billy’s Chilies, ABV: 5%, Rating: 3.5/5
    Smells like straight up chili - awesome! Light yellow, slightly cloud. Woah! Weird! Slight chili taste, but great chili aftertaste! So interesting. Not for every day, but would be a great party favor. :)
17. The Native’s The Eleven Brown Ale, ABV: 4.2%
    Deep brown, awesome thumb-sized head! Smells amazing - chocolate? coconut? deep, malty, crisp, nice! Good, light carbonation. Bubbly going down, malty aftertaste.
18. Native Lager, ABV: 5%, Rating: 3/5
    Smells hoppy. Light color with good head, slightly cloudy. Doesn’t taste hoppy, tastes really light and smooth. Pleasant. Would totally dig it if I weren’t such a porter lover. Little plain, but in a nice way.
19. Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale, ABV: 7%, Rating: 3/5
    Nice caramel color, good white head. Smells awesome - like caramel. Caramel taste, sweet but not too sweet. Pretty solid, not the best but good.
20. Coronado Orange Ave Wit, ABV: 5.2%, Rating: 3/5
    Bright yellow, cloudy, no head. Smells awesome - citrusy. Light, crisp, med/high carbonation. Kinda smooth. Solid beer.
21. Coronado Mermaid Red, ABV: 5.7%, Rating: 2.3/5
    Smells great, caramel color. No head. Kinda hoppy. Okay. Pine tree aftertaste.
22. Cigar City Brewing Jose Marti
    Mmm.
23. Abita 25 Vanilla Double Dog, ABV: 7%, Rating: 6/5
    Dark, cloudy brown; nice head. Smells am-zazing - deep caramel and malt, slight vanilla. OMIGOD. Vanilla goodness. I can’t even Best beer tonight. Phenomenal. Yes yes yes.
24. Terrapin Moo-Hoo, ABV: 6%, Rating: 7/5
    Deep rich brown with deep brown beautiful head. Smells like oatmeal cookies and chocolate. CHOCOLATE! What just happened in my mouth? This is amazing! Milky smooth. Gorgeous body. Perfect balance. Low carbonation. What even is this? Is this real life?
25. Dogfish Head Chicory, ABV: 5.2%
    Yes. Awesome. Not as good as previous, but awesome.
26. Breckenridge Agave Wheat, ABV: 4.2%
    Bright yellow, cloudy. Smooth, good. I love stouts, what is happening with my life?
27. Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout, ABV: 6.10%
    Omigod Yes.
28. Konda Longboard Ale Pale Wheat, ABV: 5%, Rating: 2/5
    Light yellow, no head. Smells yellow. Tastes okay. Unimpressive.
29. Victory Lager, ABV: 4.8%, Rating: 3/5
    Bright yellow, cloudy. Smells super familiar but I can’t place it. Fruit? Flowers? Light, faerie taste. Med carbonation, good balance.
30. Southern Tier Phin & Matt’s Extraordinary Ale, ABV: 5.7%, Rating 2.5/5
31. Gordon Biersch Lager, ABV: 7.5%
    Medium brown, good head. NO smell. Tastes okay.
32. Highland Oatmeal Stout, ABV: 5.8%
    Dark black, opaque. Good head. Warm, cozy, oatmeal breakfast.
33. Holy Mackrel Mack in Black, ABV: 8%
    95% head, brown. Dark black. Smells hoppy and weird. Mocha? Kinda love it. Chocolate mocha alcohol yes. More.
34. Redbrick Brown Ale, ABV: 6%, Rating: 3/5
    Alt. Med brown. Okay head. Smells like chocolate coffee. Good. Like.
35. Laughing Skulls Amber Ale, ABV: 5/7%, Rating: 2.5/5
    Light tan with nice head. Smells like amber and light hop. Smooth. Okay. Party beer?
36. Highland Mocha Stout
    Yes.
    

Last year, my forestry professor invited me and a bunch of the forestry students out to the Brewz Crewz in Lakeland, Florida.  Despite its unfortunate name (and despite that fact that it took place in Lakeland of all places; Christ!), I forked out the $35 with the promise that I’d get unlimited beer samples from a wide range of beer vendors, many of them Florida brewers.  I was not disappointed!  Besides all that, I got a bunch of free food, too.  Oh, and I even got a free cigar, but that was simply due to my wily charms when it comes to older rich men.

Anyway, when the Brewz Crewz rolled around this year, I was of course set on going.  The event was two weekends ago (February 19th), and I bought tickets for myself and two of my girl friends from Gainesville.  Due to a pregnant horse giving birth, they were unable to make the drive down from the ‘ville and I found myself with three tickets to the festival about four hours before it started.  However!  I was fortunately able to finagle my friends Clay and Sarah into coming with me (but really — with the promise of free beer and free food… it wasn’t that difficult).

Now.  I brought a notebook with me to make note of which beers I enjoyed and which ones sucked.  What I should have done was sit down at my computer the next morning and immediately translated my progressively incoherent babble into blog format.  However, I obviously didn’t do that, and now my then-clear notes look like a bunch of drunken scribbles.  Oh wait — that’s exactly what they are.

Let’s begin:

Beer 1:  Amber Beer from Palm Brewing (I don’t know where this was brewed; they have like a bazillion breweries). 
Not-yet-drunken notes:  ”Meh, I’d drink this at a summer bbq but it wasn’t something amazing.  Not exactly complex.  Nice and light.”  
Translation: This tasted like bud light.

Beer 2:  Red Ale from Orlando Brewing Company (Orlando, FL)
Not-yet-drunken notes:  None.  I was too busy talking to the owner.
Translation:  THIS BEER IS AWESOME.  Okay, well — the beer itself wasn’t exactly mindblowing, but it was really good.  The cool thing about this brewery is that it’s totally organic.  It is, in fact, Florida’s only certified organic brewery.  Kudos.

Beer 3: Milk Stout from Left Hand Brewing Company (Longmont, CO)
Not-yet-drunken notes:  None.  I’ve had this beer several times and apparently didn’t see a need to write about it.
Translation:  YUM. Come on, it’s called a Milk Stout.  It has to be good.

Beer 4: Longfellow Winter Ale from Shipyard Brewing Company (Portland, ME)
Getting-a-buzz notes:  ”CJ - black IPA.”
Translation:  Clay, who attended the festival with me, mentioned that he thought this tasted like a black IPA.  I think that’s what that my note means anyway.  I just remember talking about black IPAs when we tried this beer.  I don’t even know what a black IPA is.

Beer 5: Prelude Special Ale from Shipyard Brewing Company (Portland, ME)
Getting-a-buzz notes:  ”A little metallic in its aftertaste.  Dark and floral.”
Translation:  *rolls eyes*  That is so vague.  I have no idea what this tasted like.

Beer 6: Jai Alai IPA from Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, FL)
Getting-a-buzz notes: “Now for an IPA it’s good, but don’t we all know that I don’t like IPAs!  It’s not too overwhelming.  But I mean everything from CCB is so good anyway.”
Translation:  None needed.  The beer’s good, ya’ll.

Beer 7:  Porter from Red Brick Brewing (Atlanta, GA)
I-shouldn’t-be-driving notes:  “Possibly the lightest porter I’ve ever had.  Good!  Not my fave but hey I like southeastern breweries.”
Translation:  Uuhhh, possibly the lightest porter I’ve ever had.  Red Brick is a good brewery but they aren’t superb.  However, as my drunken notes stated, I dig southeastern breweries.  And I usually have a Red Brick when I visit home in Birmingham.

Beer 8: Brown Ale (?) from Terrapin Beer Company (Athens, GA)
Okay-I’m-drunk notes:  ”Yes well it tastes like a brown IPA.  Actually it’s better toward the end.”
Translation:  It tastes better toward the end?  The end of what?  The end of the sip?  The end of the beer itself?  None of that makes any sense.  I don’t even know if it’s a brown ale or an IPA.  I can’t find either on Terrapin’s website.

Beer 9: Turbodog Dark Brown Ale from Abita Beer (Abita Springs, LA)
Drunken notes:  ”Sweet chocolate toffee flavor.  Oh my god this is phenomenal.  It tastes like dessert!”
Translation:  All of that is true.  It’s amazing.

Beer 10: Strawberry Harvest Lager from Abita Beer (Abita Springs, LA)
Drunken notes:  ”Okay this tastes like a strawberry cookie.  I want this everyday.”
Translation:  This beer tastes like a light lager with strawberry flavoring. I don’t actually want it everyday.

Beer 11:  French Saison from Southern Brewing (Tampa, FL)
Drunken notes:  ”I am sad this isn’t in stores it’s my fave so far!  Sour and beautiful.”
Translation:  Okay, Southern Brewing is not actually a brewery.  It a beer and wine brewing supply store in Tampa, and it’s actually about 10 minutes from my house.  Anyway, they made about four brews and brought them to the festival.  The French Saison, though I took atrociously vague notes on it, was excellent.  It was a wheat beer and it was perfectly sour.  I loved it.

Beer 12:  Cookies and Cream from Southern Brewing (Tampa, FL)
Drunken notes:  ”This was run through actual cookies and cream.  Okay.  I take it back.  The Fr Saison is not my fave THIS ONE IS!  This tastes basically like fermented cookies and cream.”
Translation:  Even though it sounds like I drunkenly made it up — it’s true:  They had this one on tap and they were actually running the beer through crushed up oreos or something.  It was ridiculous.  I loved it.  And it probably was actually my favorite beer that night.

Beer 13:  Berry Cider from Ace (Sebastopol, CA)
Drunken notes:  ”Basically it’s like Woodchuck Cider but with berries.  I approve.”
Translation:  Thaaat about sums it up, actually.  Cider’s cool; whatevs.

Beer 14:  Special Golden Ale from Holy Mackerel (Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Greenville, SC)
Drunken notes:  None.  I have no recollection of drinking this beer.
Translation:  According to the review on Holy Mackerel’s website, this seems like a beer I’d really like.  ;-)

Beer 15:  Mack N Black from Holy Mackerel (Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Greenville, SC)
Drunken notes:  ”I only want”
Translation:  Apparently, I really enjoyed this beer.


Boom!  Fifteen beers in one evening. I think I did pretty well.  (Now it may be good to note that these were all four ounce samples.  Otherwise my lightweight self would have been admitted to Tampa General for alcohol poisoning).

xo, Mary