Beer Tasting Notes – November 3
Welcome to Drinking N Stuff
A mix of styles this week — everything from Belgian funk to heavy stouts and sweet cider.
Some hits, some misses, but a fun lineup overall. Here’s how the night went down:
Acme – Paradox
Style: Pilsner | ABV: 4.8% | Rating: 3.2/5
Crisp, clean, and spot-on stylistically. Well-balanced and easy-drinking — a textbook pilsner that’s both refreshing and crushable.
Cold Woods – Adroit Theory
Style: Barleywine | ABV: 12% | Rating: 2.2/5
Dark fruit and sweetness overload. I was excited for this one, but it turned into a sugar bomb — the kind of beer that gives you diabetes vibes. Disappointing finish.
Curieux – Allagash
Style: Golden Ale (Barrel-Aged) | ABV: 10.2% | Rating: 3.6/5
Classic Allagash funk and Belgian character with hints of vanilla. The barrel aging doesn’t stand out much in the finish, but the beer itself is well-crafted and balanced.
Mad Elf – Tröegs
Style: Holiday Ale | ABV: 11% | Rating: 2/5
Heavy cherry and syrupy sweetness dominate. The honey notes get lost, leaving a cough syrup vibe. Not terrible, but not something I’d revisit.
Shadowman – River North
Style: Imperial Stout | ABV: 16% | Rating: 3/5
Big ABV, big potential, but this one missed the mark. The base beer is there, but the flavors feel off — slightly burnt and disjointed.
Sour Apple – Angry Orchard
Style: Hard Cider | ABV: 5% | Rating: 2.3/5
All candy and sweetness — tastes like Laffy Taffy in liquid form. Fun for a sip or two, but way too sweet to finish.
Woven Branches – Elder Pine
Style: Barrel-Aged Brown | ABV: 10% | Rating: 3.4/5
Strong whiskey aroma, smooth barrel character, and a solid brown ale base. Well balanced and enjoyable — the barrel aging really complements the malt.
Zombie Ice – 3 Floyds
Style: Pale Ale | ABV: 8.5% | Rating: 3.7/5
3 Floyds does it again. Super hoppy, dank, and fresh — almost too crushable for an 8.5% beer. One of the night’s best; a real hop-forward standout.
Overall Takeaway
Zombie Ice stole the show this week — crisp hops, big flavor, and perfect execution. Curieux and Woven Branches rounded out the top picks. Everything else leaned too sweet or too strong, proving again that balance beats intensity every time.
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