Beer of the Week 4 and 5

Beer of the Week 4 and 5

I have been lax recently, so this entry is a two-fer. In the interest of variety I will be reviewing two beers, one dark and one light, one bad and one good.

Here we go. First the bad:

R.J. Rockers Bald Eagle Brown

Some Facts: The R.J. Rockers brewery is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They were the first micro-brewery located Spartanburg. The company brews six different beers. The Bald Eagle Brown has 5.6% ABV. More information about the company and their beers can be found at their website.

What they say: A 2.78 rating out of 5.0 at ratebeer.com, putting it in their 27th percentile overall. It has a 3.58 rating out of 5.0 at BeerAdvocate.com, giving it an overall B grade.

What I say: I poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass. The beer has a murky brown color and a head that is gone before you know it. It is not appealing. It has a nice sweet aroma. The flavor is initially bold and sweet. It has a very hoppy finish and aftertaste. It does have a complex and full flavor, but that is not necessarily a good thing. I would not recommend this beer. There are many other better brown ales out there.
I found this beer at my favorite little country store full of craft beer, so it should be widely available.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 6 pints.

Now the good, really good:

Delirium Tremens.

Some Facts: Delirium is brewed by Brouwerij Huyghe in Belgium. It is 8.5% to 9% ABV. It is an award winning beer that has been brewed since 1989. It was named the “Greatest Beer in the World” at the 1998 World Beer Championships in Chicago, Illinois. More information about this beer can be found at their website.

What they say: A 4.04 rating out of 5.0 at BeerAdvocate.com for a grade of A-.

What I say: First, I am not a big fan of Belgian ales. That being said, Delirium Tremens is amazing. The first thing one notices about this beer is how it pours. I poured from a 25.4 ounce bottle into a snifter. It is very pretty. It has a nice golden yellow color and a full head. The aroma is mild, sweet, and has a little citrus character. The taste is wonderful. It is very similar to the aroma, sweet and citrus. It is full without over powering. There is virtually no aftertaste. I thoroughly enjoyed drinking this beer and will definitely drink it again.
I found this beer at my local Harris Teeter, so it is widely available.

Final Rating: 5 out of 6 points.