4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
One of my favorite American beers. Nice amber color, great balance of malt and hops, very warming and oh so good.
3.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
Re-rate: This years edition is not nearly as good. The hops seem to dominate the aroma, but the flavors are weak. In fact, they seem to get sour, and not in a good way. I like this a lot more with the 2001 a few months ago. 10/30/2002, 4.1 2001 edition. I thought this would be a good beer to drink after getting my first job out of college. I’ve had it for a while, so I know it’s ’past it’s prime,’ but I found it to be pleasant and easy to drink. Wonderfully hoppy, without being overdone. Nice notes of citrus, pine, and juniper. The palate is incredibly creamy and smooth. I cannot wait for the 2002 edition. Now that I have a job, I can actually afford it.
3.8 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
2002 edition. Oh this is a fun one. Very sprucey, and very bitter. Thick dark beer, which is naturally thick and rich on the palate. Well done
3.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 9/20
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
A very pleasent winter warmer. I like to have a little more malt character or sweetness from a winter seasonal. Good stuff anyhow.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Wham! A bucket full of hop aromatics. The beer is clean and pure tasting; distilled hops, a ghost of malt in there somewhere, one dimensional. But a dimension I love.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
HEad held on forever! LOADED with tiny bubbles. Nice floral creamy nose. Very well balanced, full and complex. Good stuff!
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
UPDATED: AUG 14, 2006 2002 sampled on 12/6/2002: Upon opening, the aroma of fresh hops fills the room. The pour yields a medium copper colored ale with a pillowy head. The taste is initially sweet becoming more bitter and hoppy at the end. The bitterness is still a bit sharp and sort of coats the back of my throat. I think this could use a year of aging. The alcohol is well masked and this beer shows lots of potential.
Re-Rate 10/14/03: Still tastes like I remember it. A good clean crisp IPA with nice malt and hop balance.
Second rerate (still 2002 vintage) 6/10/2004: Still don’t notice much change. Maybe a little mellowing of the hops, but still pretty floral and bitter. This has kept very well, a classic IPA.
4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
This is good beer. The fact that I love IPAs doesn’t hurt.
Celebration Ale has a fruity, hop aroma. It pours up a nice big
head whick is retained throughout. The brew exhibits heavy lacing.
Very attractive golden brown color. Best of all the flavor is excellent.
Lots of hops with a light malt finish. Very good.
4.7 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 20/20
If you take a look at my beer list this brew sits on top. I rated the 2001 edition a 4.5 in December 2001. Sure this beer is made for the winter season, but stash some in the basement and let it ’cellar’ until summer. The character of the beer becomes much more complex. Last night I had a 2000 & a 2001 edition both had a much different taste from each other and from when the beers were originally purchased. This beer is a must try whenever you can get your hands on it. I am still searching for a better beer.
|
