Millstream Big Honey Hefe Review

Sorry about the fuzzy picture!

Name: Millstream Big Honey Hefe
Style: Weizenbock
ABV: 8.5%
IBUs: 21

Millstream Brewing is one of those breweries that you always see on the store shelves but are seemingly eclipsed by other breweries out there yet still manage to crank out new offerings all the time. Though this has been around for a few years per Beer Advocate, this is my first time seeing it on store shelves.

I'm of course talking about Big Honey Hefe, which is actually classified as a Weizenbock by Beer Advocate. The reason for this is the high ABV, which clocks in at 8.5%, while most Hefeweizens are usually in the 5-6% range, Also on Beer Advocate, this beer is considered "retired" and even has the same label that it did 5 years ago because it was supposedly a one-off offering. Did Millstream just recently bring this out of cryogenic suspension or do I have a beer in my possession that predates me getting my undergraduate degree? Well, we'll see depending on how it tastes. Also, in case you didn't pick it up from the label, this is a beer made with honey.

Appearance - Very cloudy dark orange color with no visible carbonation. The head starts out very thin and fades away after a few moments, leaving nothing behind except for a light white ring along the sides of the glass

Aroma - Malted wheat and strong honey notes mixed in with some pale maltiness and some light citrus-like notes.

Taste - Sweet honey and candied malts upfront with some malted wheat & banana notes towards the middle. In the back, I'm getting some floral hop & light clove notes, in addition to more honey sweetness and light booziness. The aftertaste is almost exclusively honey with a light floral hoppiness.

As a whole, this is a great beer. The flavors all work and the honey used in the brewing process really shines here. I'm hoping that this is a beer that was recently brought back because I can see this being a pretty big hit for the brewery. And if you so happen to see this, then I would say this is most certainly worth your time.

Millstream Big Honey Hefe - 9/10

Millstream German Pilsner Review

Name: Millstream German Pilsner
Style: Pilsner
ABV: 5%
IBUs: 25

Here's a brewery that I haven't really looked at before and that is Millstream Brewing based out of Amana, Iowa. If my memory serves me correctly, I've had one beer from these guys before and it was their Iowa Pale Ale. If my memory serves me even better, I believe I it 3 years ago when I was visiting from Chicago and I grabbed this as part of a mix-a-six.

For the time being, I've got their German Pilsner, which is what we will be reviewing today and it's a beer that I don't recall seeing before. As for the Iowa Pale Ale, I'll be sure to review that sometime in the near future.

Appearance - Fairly clear straw-yellow color with just a hint of haziness and a high amount of visible carbonation. The head is fairly thin with some mild retention and the lacing is very sparse with just a couple small spots here and there.

Aroma - I'm getting some pilsner & pale malts with some grassiness and light floral hoppiness. There's also a hint of very light yeastiness, so there's really not much to it.....let's try it out!

Taste - The flavor is, for the most part, fairly similar to the nose. You've got pilsner and pale maltiness with some lemongrass-like notes and a mild yet sweet floral hop profile on the back of the palate. The aftertaste itself is quite dry save for a light toastiness that lingers for maybe a few seconds.

This is a pilsner that plays it safe and, sure enough, it works in its favor. You've got a nice crisp pilsner with a light body that makes this an ideal beer to drink on a nice spring/summer day. Like I said, it plays it safe so don't expect anything too extraordinary.

Millstream German Pilsner - 8/10

Toppling Goliath Dorothy's New World Lager Review

Name: Toppling Goliath Dorothy's New World Lager
Style: California Common
ABV: 5.5%
IBUs: 11

I've been looking at quite a few offerings from Toppling Goliath Brewing and I've recently come across yet another offering from them. Today I have Dorothy's New World Lager, which gets its name from the of the founder's grandmother. Despite the immense popularity of PsuedoSue, the brewery refers to Dorothy's as their flagship beer.


Appearance - A very hazy yellow color but with some translucent characteristics and a mild amount of visible carbonation. The head has a good amount of volume to it upon pouring but it's quite soapy and loses its volume after a couple of minutes. As expected, there really isn't any lacing to speak of so it finishes clean.

Aroma - Getting some potent lager yeastiness and biscuit notes. Some graininess mixed with some light alcohol booziness while pale maltiness encompass the aroma as a whole.

Taste - Upfront I'm getting some mild lemongrass tartness & pilsner maltiness, before it gives away to the lager yeastiness

California Commons are a style that never seems to blow me away, but at the same time it doesn't disappoint either (Well, except maybe one time.) With that said, Dorothy's New World Lager is a solid beer and the pilsner touch to the flavor is a welcome addition and it comes across as one of the better California Commons that I've had.

Toppling Goliath Dorothy's New World Lager - 8.25/10

Toppling Goliath Tsunami Pale Ale Review

Name: Toppling Goliath Tsunami Pale Ale
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 5%

Another beer from Toppling Goliath? Don't mind if I do! After having their Golden Nugget, I've been very eager to try out their other offerings. I recently came into possession of their Tsunami Pale Ale or as I heard someone else call it, Toppling Goliath's OTHER Pale Ale.

I found out too that this was a draft only beer until very recently when they decided to bottle this up. It's not PseudoSue, but it'll have to do for now. Though I've heard whisperings and rumors that PseudoSue may be arriving in the very near future; Only time will tell.

Appearance - Hazy orange with a mild amount of visible carbonation. The head is thin but foamy and has distinct orange complexion on an otherwise white head. Maybe it's just the lighting but it's worth mentioning. The lacing is also very abundant and quite sticky

Aroma - Floral hops and yeasts permeate the nose up front. I'm also picking up on some toffee malts and a bit of resin bitterness as well. Nothing I haven't already seen this far, so let's see how it is.

Taste - Floral & Bitter hops dominate the front of the palate before being taken over by some mild yeastiness and toffee malts. In the aftertaste, the bitter hops make a reappearance along with some yeast notes. The bitter hops in particular linger on the palate long after everything is done.

Tsunami Pale Ale is a solid American Pale Ale that manages to please. At the same time, it doesn't do anything that I haven't already seen before in an APA and plays it safe flavor-wise. Still, it is worth checking out if you so happen to see it.

Toppling Goliath Tsunami Pale Ale - 8/10