Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Young's Old Nick Barley Wine Ale

Beer score: 3.3

I was too busy to try any new beers this week, but as is always the case, I had some notes about an older beer that's no longer being produced. I last tasted this one a little more than a decade and a half ago, and while I always hate to see beers disappear, I can't say I miss this one.

Some folks liked this brew from London, but I could barely tolerate it because it was extremely sweet. It poured a dark color with scents of fruit and nuts, possibly cherries. The flavor was similar to the smell with perhaps some coffee taste, and this drink was somewhat syrupy.

To me, the sweetness was reminiscent of some of the stronger Scottish ales.

I guess I just don't care for overly sweet beers, so this one was never one I liked.

Beer of the Week: Molson Golden

Beer score: 4.6

Company: Molson
ABV: 5.0
IBU: 12

I've had better. I've had worse.

Pours a pale golden color while providing a skunky smell with maybe hints of wheat grain.

This drink has a flat, fizzy texture to it. There's a little bitterness, but not much. There's some more of that wheat grain in the flavor along with some corn taste, but not much else.

Not awful when served cold.

This beer could use some work, but by the third or fourth one, you really don't care what you're drinking anyway.

Beer of the Week: Young's Double Chocolate Stout

Beer score: 5.7

Company: Damm
ABV: 5.2
IBU: 25

The Young's brews in the UK have gone through various corporate hands over the years, but they continue to still be some pretty pleasant drinks.

This one isn't the best, but it's not awful by any means.

As one might expect for a stout, this one pours a dark brown color not unlike the look of molasses, though perhaps not quite that dark. It gives off a sweet smell of coffee, dark chocolate, and maybe some hints of brown sugar.

It's a wet stout without the heavy syrupiness of some stouts. The flavor definitely is controlled by chocolate and some sweetness, but there are light bitter hints and nuttiness to be found.

I thought this stout started out okay, but about halfway through I tasted a flat, soapy flavor. I've heard of others who liked this beer about halfway through and then lost interest or turned away, so I'm not the only one.

Worth trying if you're a stout drinker.

Beer of the Week: Gritty McDuff's Best Bitter

Beer score: 4.3

Company: Grittys
ABV: 5.0
IBU: 25

I found the heavy mix of sweetness and bitter to be overpowering at first, but that strength dies away until it is tolerable by the time you're halfway through the bottle

The smell is too strong, in my opinion.

Leaves the mouth dry, but I found this one went well with bar food, your typical chicken strips, tiny burgers, etc.

Not a great beer, not even worth going out of your way to try, but not the worst I've ever put to my lips.

Beer of the Week: Coors Light

Beer score: 2.3

Company: Coors
ABV: 4.2
IBU: 10

Quite the popular beer for the mass audience, but not really worth the notice of beer aficionados.

Pours a clear, faint golden color. Smells a little sweet.

There is a little flavor and some carbonation here, but that's about all. Oh, there is some of the familiar cheap corn taste common to most mass-produced beers. Just slightly better in taste than the non-light version, but just barely.

If it's all you've got, that's fine. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Harpoon Munich Type Dark Beer

Beer score: 6.2

No chance to try a new beer this week, so I'm resorting again to my old beer notes about a beer I tried years ago, a beer that's no longer available though the maker is still in business. Also, of note, this beer has gone by a couple of different names over the decades, and the maker does continue to make dark beers, so it's not as if all is lost.

This drink reminded me of a weak porter. It had strength, but it was more like one of those mass-marketed dark beers than a true porter or stout. It had a decent burnt flavor that wasn't too strong, with just the slightest hint of carbonation. A little smokiness and maybe chocolate in the smell and the taste.

Was worth trying.

Beer of the Week: Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier

Beer score: 6.0

Company: Samuel Adams
ABV: 5.5
IBU: 10

This is another brew Samuel Adams has released several times over the decades, and this year they decided to grace us with this one for their Spring collection release.

This one pours a fairly light, hazy golden shade while giving off fruity tart smells, a little citrus perhaps and definitely some blackberry.

That blackberry is also there in the taste, but it's not so strong as to ruin the beer. Sweetness and tartness combine her with the blackberry flavor for a not unfortunate combination, but again, it's not all that strong.

The texture here is also not strong, but it's not the weakest around either.

Not a bad brew, but not really worth going out of your way to try. If someone hands you one, sure, toss it back, but there's no need to go searching for this one.