Beer

DECEMBER BEER REVIEWS

This month’s beers are available depending on supply & demand at all 10 Liquor Locker locations. Visit our website at www.Liquor-Locker.com.

BLOOMINGTON BREWING CO. KIRKWOOD CREAM ALE

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3.75

This regionally-brewed cream ale pours a clear yellow with a thin head. It has a smooth body with a malty profile on the palate. It finishes very smooth, with very little bitterness, making it a very easy drinking beer, perfect for the holidays. A nice job up north by the Bloomington Brewing Company.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.5

A thick white head crowns this beer and takes time to evaporate. A slight malt presence hits the nose. Likewise, the malt flavors remain with the initial tasting of the beer due to the flaked maize used during the brewing process, with little hop presence detected. This lighter beer seems like a good one to always have available, since it will please most drinkers. Pair it with salad, mild shellfish, Monterrey Jack cheese or lemon custard tart.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4

I always enjoy Hoosier breweries but was reluctant to review a cream ale. Every time I'm offered one it takes me back to my youth and Little Kings. I like that this Bloomington brew comes in a 16 oz can and doesn't taste like Little Kings. It pours a slightly cloudy amber color. It's very smooth and crisp with light fruit flavors - and a lot better than what I was expecting.

THBC WANGO TANGO BELL'S QUITE BRITE

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4 PAUL HOLLYFELD - 4

Wango Tango is an IPA that pours a cloudy straw color and has a nice cream-colored head. It is mediumbodied, with citrus on the nose. It is slightly malty on the palate and has a smooth mouthfeel. Grapefruit and orange dominate and it finishes slightly bitter. Overall, this is a good offering from our local Terre Haute Brewing Company. Quite Brite is a Belgian Wheat Ale. It pours a clear yellow with a lasting thick white head. Notes of orange citrus on the nose as is typical of the style, with clove and citrus rounding out the flavor profile on the palate. Light to medium body with plenty of carbonation to give it a light, refreshing finish.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4.25

A decent white head tops this hazy IPA and evaporates slowly. A significant amount of grapefruit notes dominates the scent profile. Likewise, more grapefruit flavors come forward when drinking the beer, which boasts a very heavy body and mouthfeel. People who enjoy heavier hop-forward beers need to drink this. Pair it with a wide variety of foods like Buffalo wings, burgers, beef stew, turkey or desserts like carrot cake and fruit pies.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4

A thick white head rests on this beer when poured into a wheat beer glass. A good dose of wheat scent fills the nose. A burst of carbonation hits the tongue first, followed by wheat flavors and some notes of banana in the long finish. This refreshing beer should remain a staple, especially in the summer. Pair it with savory seafood like sushi or scallops, or a lighter dish like a salad with an oil-based dressing.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is an extremely cloudy beer - almost thick looking. I'd be interested to put a spoon in it to see if it would stand up. It pours a dark amber and almost a light brown color - I simply can't see through it. It has an ABV of 7.5% and it's from Terre Haute - a total win-win. I'm surprised by the sweet hops flavor - was expecting it to be extremely bitter, but it's not at all. It has a nice citrus flavor but it's not your average IPA - it's so much better.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4.5

This is a cloudy, straw-colored beer. It has a wheat-y malt flavor with the light sour flavor of the Belgian yeast. I can detect a hint of spices, some cloves, coriander and a bit of banana but none of it is overpowering. They make a winter Bell's that is somewhat similar and I can't wait for it to come out, but this one will give it a run for its money.

NEW BELGIUM VOODOO RANGER HOP RAIDER IPA

PAUL HOLLYFELD - 3.5

This IPA pours a clear amber with a nice lasting head. Notes of citrus and pine dominate the nose. On the palate it is somewhat malty, with the pine flavors dominating. It has light to medium carbonation and finishes with a distinct hop bitterness.

PAUL BRAGIN - 4

A thick white head forms on this IPA and never totally evaporates. A decent amount of citrus controls the nose with some pine also present. The beer seems mild at first, but hop flavors continue to develop in the long finish. IPA lovers need to try this. Pair it with heavier dishes like fried chicken, hearty pasta dishes or big sandwiches like a barbecue burger or a BLT to counterbalance the hop bitterness.

JABEZ MARTINEZ - 4

I have always been a fan of the New Belgium beers and this one is pretty solid. It pours a clear amber color with decent carbonation and features an ABV of 6%. I consider this a better than average IPA. It has your standard barrage of hops that tend to overpower everything else.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.