Author: BuffaloJern
I am the Buffalo editor and curator of Honest Booze Reviews
Allagash ‘Bijoux’ Wild Ale
Bijoux: 7.5 – Actually a slightly mellow sour (likely the aging), but does not skimp on the sour (the mellow comes on the backend) Overall it’s a pretty nice, complex, and fruity sour.
Price Average: $12
Website: https://www.allagash.com/
Clonakilty Atlantic Distillery Minke Irish Gin 750mL
Named for an iconic whale we have a gin that really nails the look and nails the first impression via smell. Sadly though with a bit of a burn, and a failure to really shine in a cocktail we have to judge whether it’s truly worth the price they are asking for, and while it’s not as bad as the last gin we had 2 weeks ago – it too falls just a bit short.
White Birch Small Batch Quad Ale
Small Batch Quad: 5.5 – Pretty dark looking for a quad. Its meaty and more carbonated than you’d think as there was zero head. Its got a gravitas to it that sadly makes it hard to go through a big bottle solo, but then again at 11% you only need the one.
Price Average: $14
Website: https://whitebirchbrewing.com/
Redemption High Rye Bourbon 750mL
Typically you don’t see something that’s both a rye and a bourbon – they mostly just make the rye whiskey to their own standard. Maybe that’s something that should change though because this has ‘loads of flavor’ going on, and it’s only improved when you mix with it.
Honest Weight ‘Locations’ Bière de Garde
Locations: 4.0 – That’s just a wild AF beer. So it’s a biere de garde first off, there’s smoky and malty with syrup, and then they age it. The effect is something that has some bitter notes, a tartness and smokiness to it but sadly nothing that one would consider – deliciousness. Sure it’s weird and wild and might be fine for someone, but it’d be a rare few.
Price Average: $7
Website: http://www.honestweightbeer.com/
GrandTen Distilling Wire Works American Gin 750mL
We previously knocked GrandTen’s outing for an Irish/Boston Whisky, but this time it’s all American baby – and it’s worse. The name wire works here evokes more of an image of a copper scrubber with this as the cleaning solution more than a copper still, and to be honest it’s not a great image to have. The worse image this conjures up though is in it’s first line asking if you’re tired of British colonization which – jeez guys – that’s a loaded question for a gin.
Shipyard Summer Ale
Shipyard Summer Ale: 7.5 – What? Yeah it’s still frozen outside, maybe some of us want to live on island time alright? And for those who wish to join grab this Shipyward as it’s a nice summer ale with some good spice and citrus and is overall pretty much exactly what you want.
Price Average: $10 for 6-pack
Website: https://shipyard.com/
Balcones Baby Blue Corn Whisky 750mL
There’s a go to market strategy which states that if you aren’t the best, you better be first. It would seem Texas-based Balcones has taken this to heart because this thing kicks you in the teeth and offers nothing of enjoyment. Combine that with a price point that’s laughable and we enter the gauntlet once again for something that thinks it’s bigger than it’s britches.
