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The Plan
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The Reviews

The Reviews!


Hey, this Wisconsin Brewery Tour was not all fun & games! We wanted to have some legitimacy beyond just enjoying ourselves for the weekend (which we did). We wanted to offer some opinions as we sampled all the fine (and not-so-fine) beers we came across. We used handy review cards from madisonbeerreview.com to help us keep track, and have compiled the following results. Please note that many of the numeric scores are averages of several reviews. In many cases, a pattern evolved and we had some consistency. In other cases, the ratings were all over the board, and the averages brought the scores back to the middle. Note the comments to pick out those with varied response (for example, you'll find that Dan considers "over the top hoppiness" to be a bad thing. Steve thinks that's great).

Location Our Experience
Rush River Brewing
River Falls
www.rushriverbeer.com



Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4.4 3

4.5

4 4
Good dark stout. Bitter but balanced. Lighter body for a dark beer.
Good chocolate flavor. A little bitter aftertaste. Not as good as Oscar's.
I wanted a larger sample!
Smooth Stout - Good beer.
Clear appearance.
Coats tongue.

Double Bubble Imperial IPA
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4.5 4 4.5 4 4.5
Good strong hoppy aroma. Light and clean. Good body.
A bit of pine aroma.
Crisp. Golden. Somewhat bitter. Alcohol 8%.
Amber, clear, flowery aroma. Slightly bitter. Good beer!
Mild crisp aroma. Very bitter. Thin body.

Unforgiven
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5
Cloudy appearance. Flowery aroma. Bitter taste. Thin body.

Leinenkugel Brewery
Chippewa Falls
www.leinie.com



Leinie's Original
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 3 4 3.5 4
Clear appearance, smooth aroma. Slightly bitter taste. Thin body.
Still a great lager.
Light, clear appearance. No aroma. Lightly bitter taste.

Honey Weiss
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
5 4 5 3 5
Good for me!

Classic Amber
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3.5 2 2.5 2 3.5
Looks more full-bodied than it tastes.
Medium amber. Pretty standard aroma. Dead head. A fairly middle-of-the road Leinie-like taste. Sour finish.
Clear amber, non-descript aroma. Slightly bitter.
Better beers out there.

Creamy Dark
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 3.5 4 4 4
Love it!
Dark appearance. Non-descript aroma. Mellow taste. Thin body.
Better darks out there.

Sunset Wheat
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
5 2 2 2 1
Slightly cloudy. Too sweet aroma. Low head. Artificial orange flavor.

Summer Shandy
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
2 3 1 1 1
Looks and tastes like someone peed in my lemonade.

Leinie's Red
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 2 3 3 3
No aroma.
Northwoods Brewpub
Eau Claire
www.northwoodsbrewpub.com



Bumblin' Bubba's Buzzin' Brew
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
2.5 1.5 1.5 2.5 2.5

Honey taste is forward. Sweet stays in the mouth.
Smooth, crisp.
Slight cloudiness. Sour finish.
Clear appearance. Malty aroma. Sour taste. Thin body. No thanks!


Mouthy Muskie Light
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2 3 3 3
Mineral flavor with nearly no taste.
Light color. Light, crisp with fairly traditional beer flavor.
Tastes kind of like a muskie.
No aroma. Fruity/skunky taste. Thin, thin. Going downhill quick.

Prickley Pike Lager
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 3 3.5 3 3
Has a bite - mildly bitter at the end. Stays in the mouth.
Light color - fair.

Floppin' Crappie
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3.5 1.5 2 2 3
Looks good. Tastes flat. Dry.
Nice deeper color. Sour, with a fuller flavor but a lingering aftertaste.
Amber appearance. No aroma. Sweet taste with an acidity in the aftertaste. Thin body.
Not bad but I wouldn't go out of my way to drink it.

Whitetail Wheat
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
2 2.5 2.5 2 2
Wheaty taste is very light. No aftertaste. Corriander spice comes out.
Not very wheaty. Somewhat down the middle. Clean for a wheat beer.
Don't think I'll be returning soon.

Birchwood Pale Ale
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2.5 3.5 3.5 3
Best of the sampler so far. Not overly hoppy. Pretty drinkable.
Bitter.
Too bitter - does not go well with food.
No aroma. Slightly bitter. Thin body.
Best at Northwoods.


Lil' Bandit Brown
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3.5 3.5 3 3 3.5
Great wheat aroma.
A little fruity. Muddy brown color.
Clear with a fruity aroma. Slightly bitter. Thin body. Good beer.
Joe likes it! Jan likes it!

Kelly Stout
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3.5 3 3.5 3 3.5
Chocolaty - thick - lasts in the mouth.
Smooth!! But smells like an ash tray.
Bitter but not crisp enough to be yummy.
Dark appearance. Chocolate flavor with slightly bitter aftertaste. Syrupy. Not bad.

Sand Creek Brewing
Black River Falls
www.sandcreekbrewing.com



Woody's Wheat
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
2 2 3 3 4
Very good wheat with hints of spice & cloves.

Wild Ride IPA
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5
Sweet aroma. Crisp taste. Clean finish. Pretty Hoppy.
Hits quick but doesn't linger.
Cloudy appearance with hoppy aroma and taste. Over-the-top hoppy.

Belgian Reserve
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
5 5 5 4 5
A great sipping beer. Excellent casked flavor. Could be slightly less sweet, but still A+.

Hard Lemonade
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4.5 4.5 5 4 5
As good as, if not better than, Mike's Hard Lemonade.
Like it better than Mike's Hard Lemonade (better punch to it).

English Special
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 4 5 4 5
Very unique taste. Hints of caramel.

Groovy Brew
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
2 2 3 2 4
Smooth lager taste.

Oscar's Stout
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4.5 4 4.5 4.5 4.5
Dark smooth flavor. Coffee hints.
Kari might have found a beer that she likes and it is dark!
Dark appearance with chocolate aroma. Chocolate flavor, thick body.
Gooood!
Good beer. Jan loves it.

Greisedeck Golden Lager
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2 3 3 3
Clear appearance. Flowery/skunky aroma.
Skunky flavor but not too bad. Thin body.

Grumpy Troll Brewpub
Mt. Horeb
www.thegrumpytroll.com
2.4
Slow Eddie
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
2.5 2.5 4 3.5 4
A light, crisp beer with a slight pepper aftertaste.
Interesting approach to beer but it works!

Curly Scottish Ale
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4.5 4 4.5 4 4
Nice dark reddish color. Has a little lingering bitterness in the aftertaste.

Maggie Imperial IPA
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
5 5 4 5 5
Very good Imperial IPA. Has a bit of a hit to it. Must have pretty good alcohol content.

Summer Moon
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4

3

2 2 1
Green olive taste.

Imperial Stout
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 3 4 4 5
A very good stout!
(Editor's note - Jim may have been overserved with the Imperial Stout, as the waitress was shocked that his first one was in a pint glass. That may explain his very brief review...)

New Glarus Brewing
New Glarus
www.newglarusbrewing.com




Dancing Man Bavarian Style Hefeweizen
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3.5 3 3 3.5 4
Nice sweet aroma. Lighter in flavor than Crack'd Wheat. Smoother. Light body. Very drinkable. Pleasant finish - doesn't hang or cling.
Spice cent. Cinnamon is definitely present and center stage. Mild aftertaste.
I'm just not a wheat fan, bbut not too bad.

Crack'd Wheat
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2.5 3 3.5 3
Light, cloudy. Strong clove taste ,but not too strong of an aroma. Crisp with a light finish.

Coffee Stout
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4.5 4 4.5 4.5 4.5
Smooth!
Probably the best stout of the weekend. Smooth and creamy with no bitter aftertaste.

Unplugged Barley Wine
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
5 3 4 5 4
Deep color. Great example of a barley wine! A little sweet/thick on the finish.

Raspberry Tart
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 4 3.5 3 3.5
Pretty [This is the first time we've seen this as a descriptor]
Sweet. Strong fruit flavor. Like a red hard lemonade.
Wine cooler-like, but crisp. Refreshing.

Golden Ale
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2 3 3 3
Very hoppy but drinkable!

Totally Naked
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
1 1 1 1 4
Lager that is highly carbonated and lacking taste.
Good summer beer for keeping it light.

Capital Brewery
Middleton
www.capital-brewery.com

Island Wheat
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 3 3 3 3
Best wheat I've had.

Island Wheat Experimental with Belgian Yeast
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 3 4 4 4
Light yellow appearance. Light body & flavor - a little grassy. Clean finish - Refreshing!
Unfiltered goodness.

Wild Rice
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 3 3 3 3
Clear Lager with nice amber color. Strong fruit flavor.

Supper Club
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2.5 3 4 3
A throw-back beer to days ago.
As intended, this creates an immediate flashback to the big American beers in their glory days. It's a matter of taste as to whether this is a good thing.

Rustic Ale
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2 2 3 2
Bland.

Pale Ale
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 3 4 3 3
Hoppy but refreshing.

Capital Dark
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
5 3 4 4 3
Interesting color. Caramelly flavor - medium bitterness.
Not as sharp as a coffee stout. Not too heavily sweet. Little sour aftertaste but good.

Capital Hop Bock
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 3 3 3 3
A little hoppy but som sour tones too. Sweet & sour aftertaste.

Ale Asylum
Madison
www.aleasylum.com



Ambergeddon Amber Ale
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 4 3 3 3.5
Very hoppy for an amber. Sweet pineapple essence and flavor. Great!
Strong wheat taste.
Fruity - Okay.

Satisfaction Jackson - Double IPA
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3.5 2.5 3 3.5 3
Not quite as crisp as Rush River's Double Bubble Imperial IPA, but pretty good!
IPA - Good!

Big Stick Stout
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
5 4 4 5 4
Bold!

Mad Town Nut Brown
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 3 4 4 4
Ale - great color!

Contorter Porter
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 3 3 3 3
Good - with a bit of a bite!

Tripel Nova - Belgian Tripel
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
2.5 4 3 3 3
Cloudy yellow. Great balance. A little tart on the aftertaste. Real nice combination of flavors.

Hatha Weizen - German Wheat
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2 3 2 3
Bananas!

Hopalicious
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2 3 2 3
Hops, Hops, Hops!

Tyranena Brewing
Lake Mills
www.tyranena.com



Fargo Brothers Hefeweisen
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 4 4 4 5
Good Light hefeweisen flavor with a clean finish. Very drinkable!

Three Beaches Honey Blonde
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2 2 3 3
Okay.

Bitter Woman in the Rye (with Rye Malt)
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3.5 3 3.5 3.5 3
Smoky but good.
Interesting - a little grassy. Good body.

Headless Man Amber
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
2 3 2 2 2
Thin.

Rocky's Revenge Bourbon Barrel Aged Brown Ale
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 3 4 4 4
A little more subtle bourbon flavor than Sand Creek. Clean and
drinkable.

Chief Blackhawk Porter
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
5 3 5 4 5
Nice smooth taste. Good flavor. One of my favorites.

Stone Teepee Pale Ale
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 2 2 2 2
Very tin-like flavor and aftertaste.

Headless Man Amber
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
2 3 2 2 2
Thin.

Blueberry Lambic
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2 2 3 2
Like bourbon.
Great Dane Brewpub
Madison
www.greatdanepub.com


Crop Circle Wheat
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 3 4 3 3
Medium spiced wheat. a bit of a tart finish. Not as fresh as some of the other wheats we've had.

Devil's Lake Red Lager
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 3 3 3 3
 

Black Earth Porter
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
3 2 3 3 3
Smokey smell. Smooth taste.

Barley Wine
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4 2 3 3 1
Too seet. Candy overtones and heavy, sticky finish.

Emerald Isle Stout
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
4.5 5 5 5 4.5
An actual "drawn" beer! What a treat!
Creamy and smooth. Full body.

Texas Speed Bump IPA
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
5 4 3 5 4
Very clean, medium-dark IPA. Clean taste. Not real crisp but no lingering aftertaste. Clean finish.

Cask Ale
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
         
Muddy, cloudy. Tastes like a band-aid smells! Not very drinkable.

Apricot
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
         
Light and cloudy. Fruity aroma. Tastes like lake water or salt water. Stick to the beer - not fruit!

Sex on the Beach (Faye and Lori deviated)
Appearance Aroma Taste Body Drinkability
         
Colorful appearance with a fruity aroma. Tropical and coconutty taste. Voluptuous body. Easy to drink several. Fruit garnish of orange and cherry - delicious (and healthy)!

Contact us: info@wisconsinbrewerytour.com