Ben R
Ben Reichelt
Web Page: http://benreichelt.net
Registered Since: 2008-01-02 23:10:10
Profile: I started drinking beer when I was around 7 or 8 when my dad would give us little cups of beer from his can. Nowadays I need more than just a little cup.
Reviews by Ben R:
barfy
Week 15: Brewer's Cave Golden Caramel Lager (April 7–13) | Reviewed on April 9th, 2008
‘Caramel lager’ sounds like a good beer, as evidenced by the fact that I bought this beer TWICE, forgetting that I had tried it before and not liked it the first time. (this goes to show that I’m a sucker for words like ‘caramel’ and ‘vanilla’)
This beer is nasty, I can see why they don’t mention it on their web site, I wouldn’t want to draw attention to it either.
excellent brew
Week 14: Schell Maifest (March 31–April 6) | Reviewed on April 9th, 2008
Before I picked up the Schell’s Maifest I hadn’t tried a maifest beer in a couple years because I thought the last time I tried one I didn’t really like it. My tastes must have changed since then because I think this beer is great. I’m not a fan of wheat beers, which is what I thought maifest would be, but it says on the bottle that its a ‘full bodied blond double bock’ which sounds like how it tastes.
just ‘whatever’
Week 12: Finnegans Irish Amber (March 17–23) | Reviewed on April 2nd, 2008
Finnegans is an OK beer, nothing more nothing less. Its interesting that they have summit brew it, and they use summit bottles. Its also cool that they give away their profits to charity.
I found these two interesting facts to be better than the beer itself 
could knock you on your ass
Week 13: Flat Earth Winter Warlock (March 24–30) | Reviewed on April 1st, 2008
I wish they sold winter warlock in 6-pack’s of these bombers, it’d be badass to walk out of a liquor store with 6 huge bottles of a good, strong beer like this.
I grabbed the last bottle at Big Top, which wasn’t a big deal, since I knew Erin wasn’t going to have much. I thought this beer was great, but I would probably only be able to have two a night. I really enjoyed the boozy wine-flavor mixed with the hops, it was great.
I could have one, or five
Week 10: Lake Superior Special Ale (March 3–9) | Reviewed on March 11th, 2008
With the heat wave today Erin and I decided to enjoy our beers on the porch (with the space heater). The Lake Superior Special Ale is a wonderfully drinkable beer. Its a pale ale, I think, but with just enough hops to give a little bitter flavor, but you can totally drink several of these a night.
I ended up buying a six pack of these and I drank the first four quickly so I had to hide the last two in the back of the fridge so we would have two to drink for our review
surprisingly drinkable
Week 9: Brau Brothers Frame Straightener (February 25–March 2) | Reviewed on March 2nd, 2008
I read the label on the Frame Straightener and saw that it was a Belgian with some plum flavors and I was ready to take a sip and pour the rest down the drain. I was pleasantly surprised by the mild flavor, this is actually a very drinkable beer. Most of my experiences with Belgians has not been good, but this is definitely one that I would consider buying, if for no other reason than to have it around when I wanted a change of pace.
And I have to agree with lowrez, the Brau sister is a hottie.
sour patch kids?
Week 7: Surly 2 (February 11-17) | Reviewed on February 14th, 2008
I feel like a big negative nancy because I’ve started brew52 with mostly bad reviews of beers I don’t like, I think things will turn around when we exit winter beer season soon.
This is another one of those negative reviews, and even though it’s Surly, I can’t give the beer good marks. This beer is awful. On the way down it makes the back of your jaw tingle like sour patch kid, not something I’m looking for in a beer.
We tried this at the Blue Nile and thank god Erin and I only shared one, rather than each getting our own. The Rush River Unforgiven Amber Ale was excellent though
excellent beer
Week 6: Herkimer Meet Up, Alt Bier (February 4-10) | Reviewed on February 9th, 2008
I really enjoyed the Alt at the Herkimer, and its no surprise when its described as having “high bitterness and aroma characteristic of generous additions of hops to the brew” and is “most easily compared to a German form of a pale ale.”
Does it get any better than German AND hoppy all at the same time??!?
I liked the Alt the best of the 4 beers I tried at the Herkimer and I will definitely get it again the next time I go.
just another winter beer
Week 5: Summit Winter (January 28-February 3) | Reviewed on January 31st, 2008
I feel bad. Last winter I was all about the winter ales, I loved the Sam Adams Winter, Summit Winter, and Red Hook Winter Hook. This year, though, I don’t like them at all, its as if I’ve regressed as a beer drinker.
Most winter beers that I drink now have too much spice and raisin taste to them, and this weeks Summit is just that. Too much raisin and spice and not enough bitter hop taste.
I should probably be rating this beer based on the fact that its trying to taste like a winter ale, and not Surly’s Furious. In that regard, I do give this beer high marks. The taste is not overpowering and the aroma is subtle enough to make me keep smelling (ask Erin if you don’t believe me).
That, and I just have nothing but love for Summit (how can you not??).
delicious
Week 4: Surly Furious (January 21-27) | Reviewed on January 30th, 2008
I love Surly’s Furious. I’m not afraid to say it either, I love it. Being a fan of really hoppy beers and also being completely willing to jump on the bandwagon that is Surly, this is the beer for me.
I actually liked the Bender more than the Furious the first time I tried them both, but have since come around to appreciate the Furious more. The delicious smell of the Furious is only topped by the Hopslam that I had recently (which I definitely encourage people to try).
My first 5 star rating, but certainly not the last, at least for Surly.
best brew52 yet
Week 3: Flat Earth Belgian Pale Ale (January 14-20) | Reviewed on January 19th, 2008
This was my favorite brew52 beer yet. The mix of belgian and pale ale was interesting, but not a session beer. I tasted raisins in there too, similar to the first week’s snowstorm, which was a turn off. I won’t be buying this beer, but I wouldn’t turn one down either
I look forward to trying the other beers from flat earth later this year, I think I may enjoy them more.
smells like college
Week 2: Gluek Honey Bock (January 7-13) | Reviewed on January 9th, 2008
How can you not like a beer that smells like college, no matter what school you went to. This beer smells in particular like when I would visit my friends in Grand Forks, ND. Thats the smell of cheap beer, beer that tasted strong when you first started drinking, but now tastes like water since you’ve become a total alcoholic.
I had no pretense for Glueks Honey Bock and it didn’t disappoint. While the smell reminds me of college, the taste is like aged Miller Lite. Theres not a chance in hell that I would buy this beer over any other better cheap beers, but it was a fun one to review and reminisce.
gross
Week 1: Schell Snowstorm (January 1-6) | Reviewed on January 5th, 2008
I didn’t like this beer. I’m not a big fan of the fruity taste and after reading the label, I could taste the raisins they mentioned. I’m always biased towards hoppy pale ales so maybe I’m a bad reviewer for this beer, but I won’t be picking up a 6 pack of the Snowstorm this season, maybe I’ll have better luck next year.