Berghoff - Sundown Dark

OK, I have GOT to get the remnants of this variety pack out of my beer fridge!  I'm pretty sure its been there since the first quarter of this year and fridge space is rapidly becoming a commodity as my nice, cool closet is looking more and more like a beer cellar every day (literally 3 cases in there!).  This is a Wisconsin beer, but the rest of the 12-pack has been so-so.  There is good news though; these beers seem to be getting better as they age.  Needless to say, it has been an incentive to let them sit, but there are now more expensive beers that need the space.  That said... Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 9/12
This is somewhat surprising given my past less-than-memorable experiences with Berghoff.  First to the nose are handsomely roasted, molasses-laden malts.  Something not far behind that is an almost smoky, chaw-like, spiciness.  It is a fainter example of when beers use a rye or spiced tea (chai?).

Appearance 2/3
This has a very nice look for a dark or amber beer - at different times appearing cola-brown, dark amber, copper, and ruby.  The head is a light tan, moderate in size, and remains as a disc for the majority of the pint.

Picture is my own

Flavor 13/20
Certainly more flavorful than any macro, but not a strong competitor in the craft beer market.  The list of ingredients found in the aroma is disappointingly absent in the flavor.  It begins with a lot of molasses and malt, though the malt is much less roasty than we discovered in the aroma.  The backbone continues to be laden with molasses and  malt, but does allow for a bit of the spiciness to show through (now seen as originating from the hops).  Things even get a little sweeter, if you can believe that.  By showing caramel flavors and a sweetness that could be called apple-like were it not the complete lack of tartness.  The finish leaves one feeling somewhat unsatisfied.  There are no parting flavors or changes of profile.  It simply fades away and leaves one a bit miffed, as would company that leaves without saying good-bye.  Aftertaste unfortunately continues that trend.

Mouthfeel 3/5
A bit light in body than a "dark" (which pressumedly means "brown"?) beer should be.  Also the carbonation was almost completely gone very early on into the pint.  Normally, that could complement the "brown ale" style by lending an illusion of creaminess, but when the beer is this light-bodied it can come across as more flat than it should be.  I think this beer examples both the benefit and the detriment to this choice.  There is a certain level of creaminess wrought, but it could also use some more carbonation.

Overall Impression 5/10
Better than pretty much any macro you would find on a shelf.  However, that does not exactly earn it a lofty perch in the grand scheme of things.  Flavor has the elements for something grander, but insists on showcasing a sweet, simple malt.  Carbonation could stand to be increased as could some balance.  The lack of balance effected this beer more than anything when scoring the flavor category.

Total 28/50
I've only mentioned it a couple times already, but this is not an atrocious beer.  I would gladly snag this in a cooler filled with the other typical offerings found at a party.  A great beer it is not, but the beer spectrum must contain all contenders.  They can't all be Dogfish Head or Bud Lights or St. Bernardus or Mickey's.  There will be beers that fall in the middle of low-flavor, well-made macro offerings and amazing flavor, intense craft beers.  This is one of those beers.  Plenty of flavor, but probably not enough to wow anyone involved in craft beer circles.  That said, it sweetness could be a great way to introduce someone to darker beers that might not yet care for the bitter flavors commonly found in them.  Being fairly sweet, it could also be a convincing and safe introduction to beer with more flavor.

Score says it all folks.  They can't all be winners, but that doesn't necessarily make it a loser either.

Berghoff - Winter Ale

Some of you may be asking, "How can you review a winter ale during the beginning of summer."  The answer is, "Easily!"  I have kept this beer stored properly and if anything the extra 6 months have given its flavors a chance to mature and enrich.  However, 6 months is about the longest I will trust any bottle not specifically known for maintaining its longevity.  That said... Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 10/12
A lot going on here, especially for a winter ale.  Normally one expects brown, roasted malts and more spices than an oriental trade route.  This aroma meets us halfway.  A sweet "red" malt has been substituted and gives a sharp, sweet backdrop for a myriad of other smells.  Dark fruit (dates) and warmth are present as well as some subtle spicing.  Hints of cinnamon and clove are not difficult to detect and go nicely with an almost banana-like ester.  The banana could be my own misinterpretation of a vanilla flavor mixed with spices, but in any case there are some strange malts afoot.

Appearance 2/3
The beer pours thin and produces a small amount of soda-like head that dissipates almost immediately to a collar.  On the bright side, the collar doggedly sticks around until the end of the pint (no lacing) and the beer itself is very aesthetically pleasing.  A dark, barely translucent brew, but when held to light reveals several gorgeous, dark red shades.  When the red combines with the brown/chocolate tones, they almost appear a dark purplish-red.

Picture is my own.

Picture is my own.  See all those red shades?  The purples show up even more when  not held up to bright light.

Flavor 17/20

While initially starting out with a thin body and little flavor, this beer makes up for lost time almost immediately.    The malt shows first.  It not only seems toasty, but also perhaps a bit smoked.  When held in the mouth, sugary sweetness arises with the dark fruit from the aroma.  The malt takes a bit of a backseat here, even if its toastiness does not.  The finish again showcases the warmth and smokiness with the sugar sweetness and a building creamy presence.  The aftertaste is clean but ebbs into a light hop bitter - a very nice touch for a malt-based brew.

Mouthfeel 3/5

Nothing especially earth-shattering here.  Medium to medium-light body, a light level of creaminess, and very low/subdued carbonation even at the beginning of the pint.  Nice bit of warmth in the finish as well.

Overall Impression 7/10

Not a bad winter ale at all: medium body, subtle spicing, well-hidden hops that show in the end, and a sugary sweetness.  The malt easily is more "red" than the traditional brown used in wintertime brews, but that does not hurt this beer's flavor or score.

Total 39/50

I'm as surprised as anyone about this score.  This bottle is actually from a variety 12 pack I bought some time ago and I was not very pleased about the rest of the pack.  However, this bottle has several interesting flavors that fade in and out.  The sugary sweetness was a interesting twist as opposed to the traditional spices.  It definitely makes the beer a little less "seasonal" and a much more drinkable throughout the year.  While this beer is far from something that will knock you socks off or take home any prizes, it sure was a nice surprise from Berghoff.  I would have to recommend it if you are a fan of winter ales or red ales with a kick.

Berghoff Brewery - Rock River Red Ale

I have come to the realization that I have a beer fridge full of beer (a sure sign of God's love).  However, in order to keep purchasing and reviewing news beers, I must drink and review the beers I already have in a more rapid fashion.  That said, I look to be churning out the reviews in the coming days/weeks.

Today's sample is from the Berghoff Brewery in Monroe, WI.  They have several locally-themed brews and this one's focus is on the Rock River, a fairly large local river known for its fishing, canoeing, and general summer relaxing.  Sounds like a good theme for a beer, right?  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 5/12
I am welcomed immediately by a dull sweetness followed quickly by lightly toasted, biscuity malt.  There is no hop aroma of which to speak. This is not a major concern as red ales are typically more defined by their malt characteristics and not the hops, but I was hoping for some hints at the beer's balance and a little more complexity.  The dull sweetness can almost be described as that of a dried fruit?  It is hard to specify in the aroma, but I look to having my suspicions confirmed in the flavor.

Appearance 2/3
The clarity was great for the style.  It is not crystal clear, but still appears bright.  The color was more that of a dark orange.  Normally, I would deduct for not being quite red/dark enough, but shades of red faded in and out from the center of the glass where the least light would pass through.  I'm not going to say it was like the aurora borealis or Tiffany Glass in its shifting of light, but it was very pretty to behold.  Not many beers change shades.  The head was fairly typical in its "foaminess" and did not go out of its way to compliment the beer.

Flavor 13/20
This beer is immediately sweet on the tongue.  The biscuity malts detected in the aroma can still be tasted, but they are being edged out by the sweetness.  The sweetness is apple cider-like and defines this beer.  Even for a traditionally malt-heavy red, this beer is not balanced.  You can experience a slight sensation of the hops, but it is only ever so faint and only during the aftertaste and occasionally during exhale.  There is no "bite" in this red ale.

Mouthfeel 3/5
There are really no news of note in the mouthfeel category.  It is light bodied, light-medium carbonation, and no flaws (astringency, etc).  However, for a bottle which mentions "craft brewing" several times on the bottle, there is nothing that really stands out about its mouthfeel either.

Overall Impression 4/10
I am left wanting a bit with this beer.  Its sweetness is the predominant flavor and does not really yield to much else.  It seems like an introduction into craft beers for someone accustomed to macros.  While it is true to style, this particular offering is rather generic and does not declare itself as an excellent example to its genre.

Total 27/50
This beer has a flavor and it is sweet.  Almost to the point where it tastes like a malty, less-crisp cousin of a cider.  What makes this really unfortunate is that I have fond memories of red ales (and hefes) being a gateway into craft beers.  This one may have something to offer those who are unfamiliar to a more flavorful beer, but its single characteristic (sweetness) is far from complex and will not likely be intriguing to more experienced cerevisaphiles.  I had not experienced Berghoff Brewery before this sampling and this was one flavor in a variety 12-pack.  I am all for second chances and wish them better luck in their future reviews.