All about Matthew
Matthew isn't a member of any clubs.
Matthew has logged 874 beers a total of 1103 times.
Matthew's favorite beer so far seems to be New Glarus Serendipity Happy Accident Fruit Ale:
100 (logged 2 times)

Matthew's most often logged beer so far is Two Brothers Atom Smasher Oktoberfest Lager:
73 (logged 10 times)

Matthew's favorite type of beer seems to be Wild Ale.
Matthew's Log

Hey look, the advent box is back.
This was horribly foamy, overflowed badly.
I'm not sure I'm liking this. I'm getting some perfume flavor, bit I'm also wondering if that's left over from the nasty gingerbread I poured down the sink.
Can at Home

It is gingerbread, but it's somehow floral. And I hate floral. It's like perfume. I really don't know that I'm going to finish this.
Can at Home

Okay, I can actually taste the sweet peppermint in the porter.
I like it!
Can at Home

That's tasty. I presume this is a combination of IPA and kolch or some such.
Can at Home

The peanut butter isn't off-putting in the stout. More like peanuts than peanut butter (which is a good thing). Otherwise it's a thick and heavy stout.
Can


Dry and super bitter. And it does remind me of the old Morton Arboretum juniper beer.
That said, it's not the sort of IPA I like. But it does seem well done?
Can at Home

New Glarus Black Currant (2022)
Wow. That's dark and fruity. It's dark fruit, with an undertone of dryness.
Bottle at Home

Actively sour. Not fruity. I guess I appreciate that, but it's slightly much.
Draft at Old Town Pour House, Naperville

It's good. Dry but flavorful (you know, and bitter)
Can at Home


It's like bitter pumpkin with an aftertaste of pie spices that have give bad. I can drink it. I kind of wish I hadn't pass for it.
(As I drink more, it's a bit like driving bad perfume)
Draft at Two Brothers Tap House, Warrenville

It is very sour. The flavor owes more to raspberries than peach I feel.
Draft at Two Brothers Tap House, Warrenville

It's a good Dunkel. Dark, Woody,
Draft at Z Bar & Grill St. Robert MO

Sweet and dry caramel. It almost worries me, but it's decent.
Can at The Squire Pub, Tusayan

It's a fine, mild, red ale. Nothing to write home about.
Can at The Squire Pub, Tusayan

It's an AMERICAN pilsner, maltlog just doesn't have that option.
It's a sweet pilsner like what would come out of Milwaukee.
It's decent for all that. Cold, sweet, metallic.
Can at The Squire Pub, Tusayan

It's kind of sweet and hop juicy. I guess it's a combination of IPA and kolch, so perhaps that is too be expected.
Draft at Hidden Craft, San Diego

Yeah. It's like it's Miller time.
I mean, I don't hate miller. I wouldn't spend money on it, but it's not awful to drink.
Draft at Whiskey Row Taphouse, Mount Shasta

I'm between a Solid and a Yum. It's just a really good example of a porter.
Draft at Whiskey Row Taphouse, Mount Shasta

Tastes like a pale on the edge of an IPA.
Can at Jet's house

I guess it might be a dopplebock. I think the barrel aging caramel-and-nasty-cherry-medicine flavor (and scent) overwhelms it.
It's also possibly a little skunky.
Crowler at Jet's house

Sweet and syrupy stout. The barrel age is not forward.
Bottle at Jet's house

Bright, just on the edge of dry, IPA. Strong but not overwhelming bitterness.
I think an IPA aficionado would like it even more.

It is sweet, but it is a good porter.

It's decent beer. It's not any better, honestly, nothing to write home about.

It's pretty much a mimosa.
I mean, it's not offensive . . .

It's like an orange creamsicle. Or maybe cream soda.
Mike Lee is correct as he insists it's more tangerine than orange.
Draft at The 522, Woodinville

It's good. A little bit of bitterness, but some juicy hop flavor notes.
On further consideration, I've increased the rating.
Draft at The 522, Woodinville

Like a balsamic reduction after cooking a steak.
And surprisingly, as a hater of bourbon barrel aged, this was really not bad.
Bottle at Roy's place

Very dark, a little thin. Kind of a dry roasted flavor in a very wet drink.

Does taste European. But lighter and more effervescent than I expected.
It's also slightly sour-beery.

Honestly, it just tastes like an anonymous pale ale. It's fine, I suppose . . . but not the cat's meow.
;^)
Can at Some hotel room in Buffalo


So, they literally take six minutes to pour this. It's frankly just a decent drink. You don't drink it to savor notes of this or that. You just drink it.
Draft at Two Brothers Tap House, Warrenville

Citrus and Banana, with a backbone of bitter.
Draft at Two Brothers Tap House, Warrenville

Strong caramel backbone, More than a bit like the European Darks that are soda-like. However it does have notes of nutty.
Draft at Two Brothers Tap House, Warrenville

It's pretty mediocre. But then, what does "limeade" make one think when it comes to beer.
Can at Home

Pretty much what it says. The cherries give it a bit of a barrel aged flavor, bit it's pretty reasonable.
Last beer from the advent box!
Bottle at Home

Pretty tasty. But I had a problem in that it partially froze. So I'm not sure the character here is justified.
It's sort of sweet and surypy and has no carbonation left.
There's a hint of barrel taste.
I wish I had an unadulterated bottle . . .
Bottle at Home


Spicy, fruity, not quite sweet.
The flavor is really striking, it sparks on the tongue.
21st from the advent box
Bottle at Home

It's mostly just a porter.
It seems like a pretty decent one, but there's only a subliminal hint of any peppermint bark.
Actually, I guess I can smell it after hiccupping. So that's weird.
19th from the advent box.
Can at Home

This is actually really tasty. Hop-juice and a bit of sweet.
I think this was the 17th from the advent box.
Which means I'm officially over a month behind.
Where's your alcoholism now!?!
Can at Home

I don't know. There's a little sour, it's not really sweet, but there's also just not much there.
It's like a pineapple Bubly that I guess is alcoholic.
(December 18th from the advent box)
Can at Home

Interesting, sort of spicy with a definite IPA base
Bottle at Home

Wow. It really is peanut butter and banana.
Peanut butter on the nose. Not too awfully sweet, but not dry peanuts.
Banana and peanut butter on the flavor with a little efforvecence.
I think this was December 14th from the advent box.
Clearly I have failed at my alcoholism.
Bottle at Home

Hard bitterness with nothing else.
So much for the 13th. Very belated.
Bottle at Home

This was good. Nothing exciting, just reasonable beer.
Bottle at Home

Standard problem of something good with something bad.
Oh well.
Plus it's six days after the 11th
Can at Home

Wow, this punches one in the face.
Super bitter, a burnt woody flavor, if you can sense past the bitter.
I believe this was day 10 of the advent box. Clearly I've fallen off the wagon.
Bottle at Home

Like I've said before. Caramel, barrel, bit of aged bitterness.
Can at Mom's

On the eighth day of Christmas, I skipped one beer, and had it all the next day.
This might qualify as a pale at this point, but it's still not an IPA.
Can at Home

Meh. Thin fruit mush.
Draft at Empire Burgers & Brew, Naperville

Tasty, but nothing in particular to write home about.
Draft at Empire Burgers & Brew, Naperville

Yeah, pretty much. .
It's rather fruity and sweet, though I can taste the IPA bitterness underneath.
I dunno. Faking it with actual fruit is kind of cheating when it comes to beer. It's not bad or anything, it's just not super exciting.
Bottle at Home

Tastes more barrel aged than I remember.
Okay for day six
Bottle at Home

Bitter, smooth, and a head that won't go away.
Seems like a pretty decent IPA. Nothing particular to state about the flavor profile. Middle of the road on the dry/juicy spectrum. Maybe slightly on the dry side.
Day 4 of the advent box (belated)
Can at Home

Bitter with this odd dry spice flavor that I can't place.
Day three is not the best
Bottle at Home

This was darkly flavorful like a bourbon barrel aged beer, but without the parts that stab at your tongue like the proverbial scorpion.
I was really surprised to like this.
Hooray for the Two Brothers Advent box.
Can at Home

I don't know. It seems a lot like a tea.
Draft at Ike and Oak Brewing


This is interesting.
I can smell the barrel on it, but it's fairly mild on the taste.
It's a hard, slightly bitter sour with no fruit. I.e. a correct sour.
Honestly it had a good, complex flavor profile
Draft at Two Brothers Tap House, Warrenville


Sweet, fruity, but not really along the direction of a sour, or even really a beer.
It was nice to drink, but not like a beer.
Draft at Jimmy's Grill, Naperville


Bitter, but pretty tasty.
It dragged after a while, so I reduced it from a solid to decent.
Can at Traverso's, Naperville

Pretty much what it says on the tin. It's like a macrobrew, but it tastes good.
Can at Home

Strong juice and hops. Mild bitterness. It's very tasty though I can only take small sips at a time.
Can at Home

Light, lemony. Barely bitter at all. But at least it's not a shanty.
Draft at Burnt Barrel Social, Yorkville

Bitter, little bit of orange.
Not bad. Clearly an IPA
Draft at Burnt Barrel Social, Yorkville

This was billed as a pilsner on the menu.
My comment at the time: "Tasty. Light. Lemony. Not bitter. I'll admit it doesn't seem like a pils. Light, sweet, tasty. "
Yeah, it's not a pils, it's a Fruit and Field beer.
Not bad as a drink.
Draft at Jackson Avenue Pub, Naperville

Bitter, somewhere between brackish German and clear Czech. Reasonably heavy and bitter.
Reminds me of some Claim Jumper ale, maybe the red (though this was not at all red).
Draft at Lazy Dog Cafe, Naperville

This is actually the best of the Bunch. Clean, effervescent, reasonably tasty.
I'd have this again.
Bottle at Lazy Dog Cafe, Naperville

A bland, timid entry suitable perhaps for patients recovering from surgery.
Draft at Lazy Dog Cafe, Naperville


It is a quad, which I like. But it is also barrel aged, which I don't.
Those who like their barrels would enjoy this. I wish one of those folks were around to give my last can to.
Can at Home


Tasty.
Dry, bitter like dark chocolate. Maybe hints of caramel, but there's no sweetness here.
Draft at Old Town Pour House, Naperville

Harsh, sort of body odor flavored.
I don't really like it
Draft at Old Town Pour House, Naperville

Sweet and kind of fruity. I'm not sure why this is considered an IPA, but I like it.
Can at Home

This tastes skunky, so I don't know if it's a fair review.
It's a fairly clear taste underneath the nastiness at least?
Can at Home

Dry bitter IPA that nevertheless has some of the flavor notes of a juicy IPA.
Can at Home

It's a nice, mild red. Not too bitter or brackish, but not super clear.
Feels like it would appeal to the mass market.
Draft at Lazy Dog Cafe, Naperville


This is nice. Though maybe I was influenced by reading about the pilsner malt. It was clean, both lightly bitter and lightly sweet. I didn't really think it tasted anything like gummy bears, which would have been a bad thing.
Can at Work

It's very bourbon barrel aged.
Hard for me to drink.
But I appreciate my friend for trying. :^)
Bottle at Home

I think this is a good middle of the road stout.
Draft at Miller's Ale House, Aurora

Not bad, but more like one of those European dark soda-like beer than a real beer beer.
I don't expect a stout lover would love it.
Draft at Miller's Ale House, Aurora

More bitter and less flavor than the love of hops. But has a clear refreshing character that reminds me a bit of a good pils, except that there's some sweetness.
Draft at Paisans Pizzaria and Bar

Really tasty. Nice flavor balanced by hops.
Draft at Paisans Pizzaria and Bar

Actually, I'm really liking that. And that's despite it tasting a little skunked (this is not a great restaurant)
It's a nice marzen flavor cut through with a sharp bitterness.
Draft at Miller's Ale House, Aurora

I think this would be way better work food.
OTOH, beer feels necessary anyway.

Goose Island Matilda Belgian Style Ale (unknown release)
Initially, I really liked it. The bottle tagline is "Rustic, Complex, Alluring". I'll give it at least the first two. Complex. Mineraly, pretty interesting.
Bottle at Home

It is indeed Amber.
Actually had a nice hard bitterness as an Amber should.
Bottle at Home

It was pretty good. Not too sweet, somewhat bitter. I don't know, go drink it yourself.
Draft at Two Brothers Tap House, Warrenville

This was very good. Balanced with notes of apricot and citrus.
Draft at Draft Picks, Naperville

It's okay. This time was sort of watery orange-flavored with very little of the hefeweizen spices.
Draft at Draft Picks, Naperville

Good. A mild juicy-type ipa. It's pretty good
Can at Front Street Cantina, Naperville

I immediately said "ooh, ow". So that's not a good sign. It's hard and bitter with little in the way of redeeming qualities. I'm guessing the hard core IPA folks would like this.
Draft at Two Brothers Tap House, Warrenville

I don't know. It's pretty tart, but I'm not sure if I like it. Weird efforvescence, some wateriness, I don't know man.
Draft at Two Brothers Tap House, Warrenville

Light, but kind of tastes fake, like the Raspberry flavor is from a packet. I'm guessing that's not true, but it's how it tastes.
Draft at Two Brothers Tap House, Warrenville

It's like a brunch of Cherry skins have been steeping in some beer. I'm impressed how dark Cherry it tastes.

Honestly this isn't doing it for me. Maybe I don't really like Oktoberfest beers.
Luckily for them, the marginal cost of the next 5 is in fact free . . .
Bottle at Home

Actually tastes a little barrel aged, which makes it interesting. But not too offensive to my taste.
Draft at Warren's Ale House, Wheaton

I think I stand by my last rating.
Draft at Warren's Ale House, Wheaton

Sweet and spiced, honestly I think the beer base might be really good, but I don't really like the perfumed spice on top of it.
Draft at Warren's Ale House, Wheaton

So, this tasted like a very normal marzen that had been skunked. However the server (who notably was terrible at his job) made a sotto voce comment about it being tapped yesterday. So, it's possible it's just a very bad beer.
Draft at Arrowhead Golf Club

This was very tasty, the sour flavor was forward but had a nice base in the IPA bitterness.
Draft at Arrowhead Golf Club


As usual, if you want something stupidly sour, Destihl delivers.
Pickeringly sour, though I've had worse from them.
Can at Home

It's like a good version of Budweiser.
Bottle at Granite City Food & Brewery, Naperville



The pineapple sweetness completely cancels out any APA bitterness. It's actually a little weird drinking it on its own. With food, the sweetness comes out a bit more making it easier to drink.
Draft at Allegory, Naperville

The sort of red which is dark bitter and brackish.
Draft at Allegory, Naperville

Banana and sweet, but with an odd aftertaste.
Draft at Draft Picks, Naperville

Nice. It's a little more malty than is expect from a Bohemian Pils. But it's pretty clear, and fairly bitter.
Can at Family's

Refreshing, slightly tart, though with the dry flat bitterness at the back.
Draft at Warren's Ale House, Wheaton


Nice mild, flavorful pale. It's like an IPA that I enjoy drinking. :-)
Draft at Warren's Ale House, Wheaton

A little bit more like a kolsch than a pils. It's clear, but only slightly bitter.
Draft at Old Town Pour House, Naperville

Wet like river water. Slightly sour.
Draft at Old Town Pour House, Naperville

Sweet, medium bodied. Not thin, not soda-like, but not heavy beer either. I've had stouts of this body, but they were more like baker's chocolate. This is sweet.
It's okay.
Can at Home

Not overly sweet, with more of a vegetable flavor (I'm assuming from the carrot). Like Mike says, it's not very "beery", but I enjoyed it.
Bottle at Home

I don't know man, it's sort of bitter, sort of brackish.
Bottle at Home

Orange flavors with a very nice bitterness. I like it.

Thick and red, fairly bitter but then you notice a strong malt flavor.
Draft at Up North Ale House, Naperville

Normal red. Little malty, a little almost fruity
Draft at Empire Burgers + Brew, Naperville

Let clear than I would expect. Honestly tastes like a mixture of a red and a brown.
Draft at Empire Burgers + Brew, Naperville

This is actually really good, and I don't like IPAs. Of course, it's not super bitter, and trends towards what I think of "juicy IPA". I'm sure it's just mild and mass market, so a true IPA aficionado wouldn't like it.
Draft at Up North Ale House, Naperville

Bitter and brackish.
Draft at Up North Ale House, Naperville

This was stunningly good. Fine stout with some sweetness and barrel-aged notes. And I'll note, I tend to hate barrel-aged beers. But this was really good.
Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville

Light and malty for an Irish red. It's okay, if that's what you want.
Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville

This is weird. It looks dark with a stout head. But the flavor is like a solid red ale. It is very confusing to me. But I did like it.
Nitro Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville

This is really just a very normal stout. Good, nowhere near great. Just the sort of thing you drink but don't rate.
Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville

Smokey in smell and taste, backed with a sour/bitter flavor. Not really appealing to me.
Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville


Sour with mango, like it says on the can.
Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville

Light, carbonated, soda-like. Little bitter, little tart.
Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville

Dark, plum, reminds me of a Lagunitas Dark Swan, except less fruity.
Bottle at Home

It hurts me with chest-seizing fake sweetness.
Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville



No smell, bitter, slight flavor of apricot.
Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville

Smells like a brown, but it tastes of medicinal cherry.
Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville

Off-cabbage scent. Not bad, I feel like it could be meatier in flavor.
Draft at Red Arrow Tap Room, Naperville
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