• American Lagers
• Belgian Whites 
• Dubbles and Tripels
• English Ales
• Strong English Ales
• German Beers
• India Pale Ales
• Lambics
• Meads 2003
  
• Mixed Styles I
• Mixed Styles II
• Mixed Styles III
• Mixed Styles IV
• Mixed Styles V
• Mixed Styles VI
• Mixed Styles VII
  
• Oktoberfests 1999
• Oktoberfests 2000
• Pilseners
• Stouts 
• Strong Beers I
• Strong Beers II
• Strong Beers III
• Strong Beers IV
• Wheat / Golden Beers

• Alpharetta / Cumming, GA
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
  
• Athens, GA
• Atlanta, GA
• Austin, TX 
• Belgium 
• Chicago, IL 
• Fort Collins, CO
• Germany 2003: Munich, Kelheim, Regensburg
  
• Minneapolis, St. Paul
• Montreal, Canada
  
• Nashville, TN
• New England - RI, NH, ME
• New Orleans, LA 1999
• New Orleans Beer Tour Photos 2001
• New Orleans Craft Brewers Conf. 2003
  
• New York, NY 
• Philadelphia, PA
• Germany: Munich, Bamberg, Kulmbach, and Berlin 
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Tampa, FL 
• Chimay Trappist 
• Orval Trappist 
• Rochefort Trappist 
• Westvleteren Trappist 
• Westmalle Trappist 

 

Melton's App and Tap was gracious enough to host our evaluation of these beers. This pub and restaurant is nestled off East Ponce De Leon Avenue in Decatur and features a fine beer selection and superb pub food (including pasta, sandwiches, salads, burgers and a brunch menu). MELTON'S APP AND TAP 2500 N. Decatur Road, Decatur, GA ph: 404-634-9112

St. Ambroise Vintage Ale Brasserie McAuslan - Montreal, Quebec English Barleywine (9.4% abv)  FIRST PLACE Aroma: Malt, rum, plums, caramel, molasses, coconut. Appearance: Ruby, garnet hints with good carbonation for a barleywine. Flavor: Woody English hops, great malt content, smooth toffee flavors.  Alcohol is there, but in the background. This beer is well-aged.  There is a really nice malt-hop balance.

Ephemere (Beer with Apple Must) Unibroue - Chambly, Quebec Fruit Beer (5.5% abv) SECOND PLACE Aroma: Nice aroma of real apples.  Apples dominate - there is very little beer aroma. Appearance: Slight haze with a white head. Effervescent and champagne-like in appearance. Flavor: Carbon dioxide balances the slight sweetness.  Slight caramel apple finish with elegant flavors all around.  This is a surprisingly good beer that tastes like real green apples.

1837
Unibroue - Chambly, Quebec
Belgian Specialty Ale (7% abv) 
THIRD PLACE
Aroma: Nice phenols, alcohols and complex aromas.  Spice, flowers, and honey are also present.
Appearance: White, nice head.  Slight haze.  Yellow color.
Flavor: Very drinkable.  Flavor is deceiving - does not give away alcohol content.  There are low levels of hops with a nice acid finish.  Spicy phenol undertones are very subtle.  This is a mildly complex ale that is smooth and soft.

X.O. (Beer with Cognac)
Benedictus, Quebec / L & L S.A.S., France
Specialty / Experimental Beer (8% abv) 
1st HONORABLE MENTION
Aroma: Sherry, whisky, fruit, and malt.  Berry/grape-like aromas are pleasant.  The aroma is subtle and perfumy.
Appearance: Clear with a dark copper / reddish / mahogany color.
Flavor: Flavors improve as the beer warms to room temperature.  This is a very different, unique beer.  There are flavors of grape tannin with a slight astringency - oaky and very wine-like.  There are also notes of sweet honey.

La Bolduc
Unibroue - Chambly, Quebec
Historical Beer (5% abv) 
Aroma: Slight DMS (corn, butter) notes.  Lightly hopped with an earthy, woody aroma.
Appearance: Golden and clear with an attractive, white head.  Clear and bright.
Flavor: Slightly tart and lactic with a dry finish. This is a refreshing beer that is light in body and light in hops - not what one would expect from an "ancient ale."  As it warms the flavor becomes more and more like a Canadian lager.

Bock de Joliette
Micro-Brasserie L'Alchimiste - Joliette, Quebec
Bock (6.1 % abv) 
Aroma: Malt with apple hints (acetaldehyde?).  Aroma also has butter, caramel, and toasted notes.  Smells a bit like citrusy American hops as well (not right for style).
Appearance: Clear and dark gold / light copper in color.
Flavor: Malt, grain, toast, Munich malt, butter and a slight acidity.

Sergeant's IPA
Old Yale Brewing Company - Chilliwack, British Columbia
India Pale Ale (5.5% abv) 
Aroma: Butter and diacetyl is overwhelming.  There are also some toffee / caramel undertones.
Appearance: Golden in color with some yeast particles (bottle conditioned).
Flavor: Paper, acid, butter.  Problems cover up any nice malt and hop character.  This is a slightly infected beer that is very dry.  Should have more clean malt and spicy hop aroma and flavor.

Tord-vis (Maple Strong/Smoked Beer)
Brasserie Le Cheval Blanc - Montreal, Quebec
Specialty / Experimental Beer (6% abv) 
Aroma: Malty, sweet aromas. There is also fruit, spice, clove, and mild tobacco hints.
Appearance: Medium gold with a beautiful clarity.
Flavor: Mild maple, medium body, mild sweetness, slight astringent smoke that is ash / cinder like.  The smoke character is not very refined.  Needs more malt, maple, and mellow smoke qualities.

Bonte Divine
Microbrasserie Charlevoix - Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec
Spice Beer (7% abv)
Aroma: Mild clove, sweet orange peel, mild spice, fruit, apple, and caramel notes.  Beer has a complex, yet light aroma (subtle).
Appearance: Slight haze with a copper color and good carbonation.
Flavor: Complex, light spices with medium malt and body.  This coats the tongue and has a sweet start with a bit of a dry finish.  This is an interesting beer.  More malt might be nice.