Samuel Adams Honey Porter

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Samuel Adams - Honey Porter
Boston Beer Company
Boston, MA USA
Est.1985
www.samueladams.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Black as the night.
Pleasant aroma of roasted malts & honey.
Frothy head with UNBELIEVABLE lacing.
Full bodied.
Frothy, rich creamy clumps of delicious foam that stayed after the porter was finished!

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Like the other Sam Adams (Black Lager & Irish Red) cadavers, this beer is part of the 'Brewmaster's Collection'.

This one seals the deal. I have had Samuel Adams Lager in the past and wasn't too impressed. I found it dry and a bit gassy. Well, bring on the Brewmaster's collection, cause these have all been winners. I am wowed. This beer had foam in the glass 1/2 hour after I finished the beer. I, the Reaper, couldn't kill it! Oh so tasty...look there's another in the mortuary fridge! Yeah!

Warka

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Warka High Quality Beer
Mazowia, Poland
Est. 1478
www.fourcorners.ie

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.0% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rich amber hue.
Hoppy head without bitterness.
Easy drinker, not overly filling.
Minimal lacing of head. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A real 'dead soldier', named Kazimierz Pułaski, adorns the label of this beer. He was member of the Polish nobility, and a military commander who and fought against Russian domination of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. When this uprising failed, he emigrated to North America, where he became a General in the Continental Army American Revolutionary War. He died of wounds suffered in the Battle of Savannah and has been called "the father of American cavalry".

Okay, enough with the history lesson. It was unassuming looking enough, almost like a Bass Ale. And it sounds like something Fozzie Bear from the Muppets would say, but the 7.0% alcohol content rocks it like a cavalry cannon ball! The Reaper likes the fact that it's a true 'war hero' beer, so let's salute this dead soldier in style...Nostrovia!

Spaten Premium

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Spaten Premium
Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Munich, Germany
Est. 1397
www.spatenusa.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear, pale yellow.
Slight hop bitterness.
Light and refreshing.
Some lacing of head.
Touch of skunky flavor. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Like it's brethren, I also give this "two thumbs up" just for having a brewer's malt spade (spaten) head for a logo. But that is where the similarities end. While this was enjoyable and refreshing, it had that oh-so skunky aftertaste that can appear from time to time in all beers. Perhaps the hops? Anyway, I'll have to try again sometime with another batch to see if it is just an aberration.

Black Sheep Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Black Sheep Ale
The Black Sheep Brewery

Masham, North Yorkshire, England
Est.1992
www.blacksheep.co.uk

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.4 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rich golden brown in color.
Meringue-like foaming head.
Superb lacing.
Sweetness to the brew with a pleasant hops finish. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Being that I am a bit of a 'black sheep' myself, I was curiously drawn to this ale. It had wonderful taste with a bittersweet aftertaste, which I found very refreshing. Enormous body and flavor that lasts. A small brewer that takes great pride in crafting their beer; as it states on the label, "...the culmination of five generations of brewing expertise. Brewed at The Black Sheep Brewery, Masham, North Yorkshire --- and nowhere else." The bottle cap and bottle had interesting artwork. The cap appeared to be scribblings at first glance, but the words Black Sheep Ale, rose out of the scribblings. The base of the bottle neck had hops vines encircling the bottle just above the label. Both are great touches.

Lezajsk Premium Beer

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Lezajsk Premium Beer
Browar Lezajsk
Grupa Zywiec, S.A.
Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
Est.1525
www.yespils.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Floral, light aroma.
Golden yellow nicely carbonated body.
Head sparse with nonexistent lacing.
Peaches, sweet apples and light hops flavor.
Light and well balanced for an overall refreshing brew.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
For starters, let's not confuse this with eyesight correction. But at 5.5% alcohol, the too much Lezajsk might make you 'cockeyed' ! This beer claims roots back to 1525 and states "Legendary" status in several places on the label. I never heard of the legend, let alone how to pronounce the name. It's a train wreck of consonants!
Anyway, as legend goes, Polish King Sigismund "The Old", (hmmm...I the reaper, do my best to remember 'the old'), allowed the Lezajsk brothers exclusive brewing rights. Well bro', this is one beer alive with refreshment, but just like 'ol King Siggy, it's "gone" now.

Smithwick's Irish Ale

Dead Soldier 

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Smithwick's Irish Ale
Smithwick's Brewery / Irish Ale Breweries Ltd.
St. Francis Abbey Brewery
Parliament St

Kilkenny, Ireland
Est.1710
www.diageo.ie/brands/smithwicks

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark, ruby red tone.
Deep forming head; looks like cotton candy.
Significant lacing to the bottom the glass, leaving 'clumps' of foam.
Hints of chocolate and deeply roasted malt.
Great body and delicious finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Lads, simply another heavenly religious experience...brewed since 1710 in Kilkenny at the St. Francis Abbey Brewery, dontcha' know? It's wee in alcohol at 4.5%, but readin' about this beer you de-scover the domestic Irish version is even wee-er at 3.8%. Odd that the 'yanks get the stronger version.

Also, you need to be knowin' that this here is the oldest brewery in Ireland at mere 300 years young. Must have taken a lot for the Irish to put aside uisge making (for a little while) to start an ale brewery, because uisge baugh is the 'craic' in Ireland. Saints preserve us all, for that!

This beer was fulll of sudsy head and smelled like liquid whole wheat bread...yummy. Interesting side note: the 'W' is silent when you be pronouncin', like, 'Smiddicks' or 'Smithicks'. Anyway, tis a great day to be Irish, so get out there and be wearin' the green and drinkin' this red!

St. Peter's - Cream Stout (Ale)

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

St. Peter's Cream Stout

St. Peter’s Brewery Co. Ltd

St. Peter’s Hall, St. Peter South Elmham

Bungay, Suffolk, England

Est.1996

www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review

Color, black as midnight.

Medium forming head.

Significant lacing throughout the glass.

Black currant & gooseberries with honey flavors in aroma and taste.

Barley and malt taste.

Bittersweet finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Seems to be a trend with the last three beers and their ties to religion. St. Peter's brew site dates back to circa 1280 AD, as part of a monastery and nunnery. They even have a pub in London, "The Jerusalem Tavern". Doesn't get more biblical than that. The bottle logo has a raven with a key for a wing; a 'church key', me thinks? Wise old crow! There's lots of fruit flavor that embodies this darn fine ale from a young brewery. But even at that, the location of this brewer keeps such history, including references to King Henry VIII. "Off with its head!", I say, and let's have another! Oh goody, there's two in the casket!

Greene King - Abbot Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Abbot Ale
Greene King - Morland Brewery
Bury St. Edmunds
Suffolk, England
Est.1799
www.abbotale.co.uk

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden red color.
Deep forming head from bottom to the top of glass on pour.
Liquid marshmallow like head that continuously coats glass.
Malty aroma start and mild bitter hop finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Fella's, if you can find a more beautiful, mature, rich and creamy, smooth bodied, strawberry blond that you can hold in your hand without upsetting your current girl one iota, let me know. Inside the confines of this proper pint is a plastic nitrogen ball,(widget). Says so on the can. Pop open this 'big-unit' and the widget will rupture, giving forth a frothy creamy, smooth tasting ale.

I must say, this is an ale to experience. Sit back a while and watch the full head form from bottom to top. As it goes down, it doesn't just lace the glass, it coats it. As the comical talent Lou Costello (more than) once said, "Hey, Abbot! ! !" Must have wanted one of these ales.

Staropramen - Premium Beer

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Staropramen - Premium Beer
Pivovary Staropramen A.S.
Smichov, Prague Czech Republic
Est.1869
www.staropramen.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2 

Postmortem Brew Review
Pleasant dark golden color.
Very malty nose throughout the glass.
Creamy carbonated head with abundant lacing.
Hops in the finish, but not overtly intrusive.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
As the story on the website goes, a priest, Fr. P. Love, (for real...look it up), anointed the first batch from the brewery in 1871. More proof that God loves us and wants us to have beer! I must say that the more of these European beers I sample, the more I appreciate them. These have so much more flavor, character and buzzzzzzzzzzz than most beers here in the U.S. Even their website is full of good things, like the history of beer and a tour of the Staropramen city. Good beer!

Samuel Adams - Irish Red Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Samuel Adams - Irish Red Ale
Boston Beer Company
Boston, MA USA
Est. 1985
www.samueladams.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Amber in color to the point of red.
Pleasant aroma of roasted malts & caramel.
Frothy head with spiderweb lacing.
Full bodied.
Slight bitter hop aftertaste.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Like the other Sam Adams (Black Lager) cadaver, this beer is part of the 'Brewmaster's Collection'. The black lager did not have an overly hoppy finish and therefore rated slightly higher than this red. I am fond of 'red' beers and ales. But that said, I'm beginning to see why Samuel Adams beers have garnered such a great reputation for brewing.

Hornsby's Hard Cider

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Hornsby's Hard Cider
E & J Gallo Winery
Modesto, CA USA
Est. 1933
www.gallo.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5% ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Light golden color.
Distinct sweet apple smell and taste. (Granny Smith?)
Good lacing of head.
Head lasted halfway through glass.
Refreshing, not overly sweet nor overpowering apple flavor.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Well, when did this turn into a wine review? Let's see...it's made by Gallo Winery, and it's got 21 grams of sugar like a wine...if it looks like a duck and it walks like a duck...it must be a 'cold duck', or wine in this case! In any event, it did not detract me from enjoying its delicious apple fruitiness. I found it to be a very refreshing for some Sunday afternoon imbibing, on a scorcher of a day. The cute little rhino busting through the apple barrels is quite comical. While the Grim Reaper doesn't like the old adage, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", I think this drink could change his mind.