That Choc Dubbel is really good. But I wish Choc would send their Quad down here, as it's supposed to be even better.

yeah... i'm busting my butt trying to find a source for that Quad!

Augustijn Ale
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. | Ertvelde, Belgium
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale � Tripel

My personal notes: This brew makes for a rather good session beer. It pours up a murky apple-juice colored body with a huge foamy head with good retention and loads of lacing. Scents of yeast and malts intermingled with a bit of honey and ripe bananas. Flavors are near the same with the yeasts and malts and some spices with a tinge of alcohol and something near the lines of a sour mash taste at the finish. The body is light and thin with an ease of drinkability. For those that haven�t dabbled with tripels, this is a good start but know that tripels should possess a flavor complexity greater than what this brew presents. Would go well with some grilled pork topped with grilled peaches or pineapple.

Gulden Draak
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. | Ertvelde, Belgium
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale � Strong Dark Ale (Dark Tripel)

My personal notes: Now this is one amazing dark tripel! This brew pours up a rich dark brown colored body with an incredibly frothy tan-colored head loaded up with amazing retention and lacing! Scents of hot caramel, buttery toffee and dark fruits (like plums or dark cherries) along with slight hints of bananas or warm banana-nut bread. Hearty flavors of caramel and toffee are largely present followed up by a smooth, creamy, non-bitter finish with just the right amount of alcohol taste to the brew. Take your time with this brew as it is definitely not a quaffer (as I cannot stands beers like that!). Pair this up with a slow-grilled steak dinner and you have a winner!

Leinenkugel�s 1888 Bock
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company | Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin USA
Purchased @ Olivers Fine Foods (Mansfield, Texas USA)

Style: Lager � Bock

My personal notes: Of the line of Leinenkugel beers, this one is my favorite! When poured I would compare it to looking like a fine cherry Dr. Pepper (without all that carbonation!!). The head is very robust and tan-colored with some nice lacing as you enjoy the beer. The flavor is just a nice smooth roasted flavor; nothing overbearing nor standout-ish. For a beer that�s not too complex I find this one very satisfying; one to be enjoyed over and over! An excellent pairing with a wild game dinner!

Keep me updated one some of those wild game dinners. Maybe I'll come over for one sometime, and see if I can bring some beers you haven't tried. Or at least some you enjoy a lot.

Pete�s Wicked Ale
Pete�s Brewing Company; San Antonio, Texas USA
Purchased @ Kegs & Corks - Mansfield, Texas USA

Style: English brown ale

ABV - 5.3%

Personal Notes: It took a while to get into the brown ale but it finally �grew� on me and this is a nice beer to have on those fall days beside a roaring fire. It�s reddish, copper color sports an off-white foamy head which settles down much more quickly than I would like. It has a nice caramel aroma with a creamy, smooth body with a faint grainy finish. I enjoyed it for a couple of beers but anything more than that and the flavor really begins to decline. Darn good with a hearty hamburger though!

Avery Joe�s Premium American Pilsner
Avery Brewing Company | Boulder, Colorado USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Lager � Strong Lager

My personal notes: For those that like a lager/pilsner with some extra �ooomph� this is the brew for you! This brew pours up a vibrant straw colored body (almost like Mello Yello!) and a nice fizzy head that tapers down quickly to a thin film and leaves minimal lacing on the sides of the glass. Strong aromas of hops hit you right upon opening. Flavors filled to the brim with hops (if you like bitter then you will like this brew!) followed up with a slightly sweet, somewhat biscuit-like flavors and finish. Very light bodied and easy to drink, this brew would be an awesome compliment to your summer-time BBQs or with a nice spicy cajun/seafood dinner!

Piraat Ale - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. | Ertvelde, Belgium
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale � Belgian IPA

My personal notes: Of the IPA line of brews, Belgian IPAs are sure to rank at the top! This brew pours up a creamy, murky, hazy apricot colored body sporting a bubbly two-finger head with great retention and lacing. Served just slightly cooler than room temperature so that the scents and flavors are maximized. Slight hints of apricots (possibly apples?), hops, alcohol, and warm biscuits. Flavors of apricots, honeycomb (not the cereal!), just a hint of cloves, and a bite of hops at the end. The body is very creamy, almost silky. This brew is best enjoyed all by itself after a hearty beef/wild game dinner.

Bornem Dubbel - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. | Ertvelde, Belgium
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale � Dubbel/Trappist

My personal notes: Yet another great dubbel!! This brew pours up a robust dark, cherry-cola colored body and a slight bubbly head that dissipated quickly leaving minimal lacing. Sweet aromas of raisins (maybe it was figs?), caramel, molasses, spices. Serve just slightly cooler than room temperature the flavors in this brew are just incredible! Caramel, raisins, cloves. The body is very smooth, medium in heaviness and just a slight �hoppy� bite with a light alcoholic tinge at the finish. This is a very easily drinkable brew and pairs nicely with a beef dish of some sort (especially Shepherds Pie!).

Full Sail Amber Ale - Full Sail Brewery | Hood River, Oregon USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale � Amber/Red Ale

My personal notes: Hands down this is one refreshing amber ale! This brew pours up a dark copper-colored body sporting a frothy two-finger thick tan-colored head that has good retention and lacing effects. Served fridge-cold this brew produced scents of apricots, toasted malts and a very slight citrus-y/hoppy note. It has a very crisp/smooth feel with lots of spices, apricots, caramel, malts and finishes up with a slight hoppy bite. This brew would go nicely with a rich or spicy fish/seafood dinner!

Bornem Triple - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. | Ertvelde, Belgium
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale � Tripel/Trappist

My personal notes: This brew poured up a hazy golden colored body with a one-finger bubbly head that dissipated quickly and left some lacing effects. Served �fridge-cold� there were scents of citrus fruits, malts and definitely some yeast. It has a medium body with flavors of dried fruits (apricots, pears); slightly malty and has a clean �hoppy� finish that is not too bitter. Grilled pork steaks (thick ones; two-inch thick that is!) covered with an apricot marmalade would be the perfect pairing with this brew in my opinion!!

Bruegel Amber Ale - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. | Ertvelde, Belgium
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale � Amber/Red Ale

My personal notes: This brew poured up a rich copper-colored body with a thick foamy head with great retention and lacing effects. Served slightly cooler than room temperature, the aromas of apples, malts and yeast (biscuits or bread) were just amazing. This medium-bodied brew produced some incredible flavors of warm caramels, sweet malts, and candy apples followed up with a slightly �hoppy� finish. This would pair up well with a spicy stuffed shrimp meal or perhaps some halibut or flounder!

Big Sky Summer Honey - Big Sky Brewing Company | Missoula, Montana USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Ale � Pale Ale

My personal notes: Under the cap � �If yer gonna be stoopid, ya gotta be tough!� This brew poured up a clear golden body with a one-finger head (from a somewhat vigorous pour). Retention was minimal reducing down to a bubbly film on top with minimal lacing effects. Smell- Lots of sweet honey and spices throughout. Served �fridge-cold�. Scents and flavors of honey (duh!) and various spices and very little detection of hops or malts throughout. This is definitely a great session brew worthy of appearing at your BBQ (pulled pork, smoked sausages, brisket, etc.)!

Choc Beer 1919 - Krebs Brewing Co / Choc Brewing Co. | Krebs, Oklahoma USA
Purchased @ Lone Star Beverages - Carrollton, Texas USA

Style: Lager � Wheat Beer

ABV: 5%

My personal notes: This is one great session brew! This brew poured up a cloudy, hazy, murky golden colored body with a small fizzy head that dissipated quickly and left minimal lacing. Very citrus-y, lots of hefty malts and yeast. I did not detect the usual banana scents that are usual in this brew style. This wheat brew was a nice change from most other hefeweizens (although I like to keep hefes and wheats in their own categories) as it had a nice, smooth, creamy texture and very easy to drink. A great brew to pair up with some grilled chicken or turkey; perhaps some dove stuffed with jalapeno and cream cheese!