They told me that soon this day would come; my house is again quiet. The wife is away for the weekend, the kid is at a sleepover, even the cat won't talk to me. Just me and a bottle of beer. Maybe I won't clean the fish tanks and play Battlefield 3 instead.

Rayon Vert (Green Flash) = 7/10
Ratebeer 3.7 98th percentile
Beer Advocate 88%

This brew smells like all citrus goodness: oranges, mild lemons and pomelos. Don't forget about the glorious wafting of bready Belgian yeasts. Each sip is spicy, tart yet slightly sweet. It is hard to tell where all the flavours are coming from. Is the lemony citrus from the hops or the yeast? How about the sourdough bread is that the Brett funk? Only the malts or again with the magic Belgian yeasts? Oranges; I don't care where you originate as long as you keep returning. A dry, citrus finish only invites you in for another sip. Very nice.


Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 7%
Value +1
Appearance 0

Other Misc Belgian Style Ales
Spring Rite (Driftwood)
La Chouffe
Delirium Tremens

Green Flash Hop Head Red Ale

Ratebeer 3.73 98th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Taste +5

I have never met a Green Flash that I didn't like; no, make that love. The dry hopping of Amarillo gives a big citrus, sweet and slightly fruity nose. This brew wastes no time and instantly delivers the hop punch: astringent, floral, resins, citrus and tangy. Normally all these hops flavour mix together and get lost. Not with this brew; they all line up and present themselves in an orderly fashion. The malts are a true caramel but barely peek through the hop smack. For those keeping score there were 45IBU's.

Aftertaste +2

The alcohol warmth nicely supported the long lingering floral hops. It was not an astringent lingering but it was a tongue coater.

Alcohol Content +1 6.4%

Value +1

Definitely hop head approved. It was very much like the Three Beavers, but slightly better.

Ingame Enhancement +1

This is going for a perfect 10, so why stand in its way. Lets see... I drank this glorious beer after saving a kitten from a burning building while it was snowing.

Overall 10/10

This is a hophead delight. The big hop nose and tastes are off the charts, yet not intimidating. If you care about the malts, the caramel goodness will surely please. I look forward to getting this one again.

Three Beavers
Phillips Double Dragon

Now this is science. Playing video games may help improve concentration in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A very small study of 10 children with ADHD found that when they played Gran Turismo, it increased electroencephalograph (EEG)-measured beta waves. Beta waves are associated with greater concentration. After regular video game session these subjects demonstrated improvement in behaviors at school. It sounds great but critics of the study noted its small size and warned that video games can be addictive.

Le Freak

Ratebeer 3.71 95th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

This is a mix of two big styles of beer, Belgian Tripple and American Imperial IPA.

Taste +4

The nose is a little on the tart side with light fruits, apricots, green apples, pale malt and citrus hops. The flavours are a little hard to put your finger on, because there are so many. There is the ever present citrus hop bitterness at the start, but this mixes well with the tart green apples and Belgian yeast spiciness. It comes with with it the big carbonation expected from a Belgian style.

Aftertaste +1

It ended quite dry and clean, but the citrus hop residue still lingered a little bit.

Alcohol Content +1 9.2%

You could taste the alcohol , but your palate was too confused to notice it.

Value +1

I don't think I could drink this everyday. It would be fun at a tasting party because it doesn't really fit any style.

Ingame Enhancement +1

After playing L4D2 demo for the unknown number of times, I am ready for the real thing.

Overall 8/10

This was a lot to take in. It is best described as a big Belgian Trippel with extra citrus and spicy hops.

Damnation and Conspiracies
Tripel Karmeliet
Green Flash Trippel

Green Flash Barleywine

Ratebeer 3.7 94th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +4

This brew pours with the deepest ruby and a thin head the colour of a latte. Even before your nose gets close, you can pick out citrus hops, caramel/toffee and alcohol. It was very sweet on the toffee, fruit and caramel side, which is expected for a barley wine. The unexpected side was the huge hop bitterness and tartness at the end.

Aftertaste +2

After all the surprises were over, the palate was left with a full mouth creamy pine and grapefruit hop resin. This combined with the heavy visceral sweetness makes one unique brew.

Alcohol Content +1 10%

Yup, after one things are freakin wonderful.

Value +1

I will certainly get this one again.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Nothing is better than a night of L4D with Shifty from the Shire. We let him go first and hold the propane tank.
Overall 9/10

Good brew, enough said. If you like'm strong, sweet and tart this is the one.

Green Flash Imperial IPA

Ratebeer 3.84 97th percentile
Beer Advocate A-


Taste +4

WOW, the aroma hits you as soon an you pop the cap; grapefruit and piny hops. This one is going to hurt. Every single one of those 101 IBU slaps your palate with every sip. Surprisingly the sensation is smooth and creamy; not as bitter as one would expect. There is lot of malt sweetness in there but the hops hide it well. For a strong IPA it is very drinkable. Is that a hint of vanilla bean?

Aftertaste +2

Very nice coating of the mouth with creamy hops and a slight alcohol warmth.

Alcohol Content +1 9%

You can't actually taste the alcohol, but it provides an effervescent feel to the brew.

Value +1

This is a great, super hoppy IPA. I will, without a doubt, buy this one again. At a price of $6 for a 650ml bomber, it is a great deal.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Whenever I find a great beer it makes every occasion special.
Overall 9/10 BOOM ZOMBIESHOT

This was another stellar IPA, Dogfish Head 90min IPA was the other one. If you see one, buy it.

Meterman: I find myself saying this far too often, Flavius that the @#$# are you doing!
Flavius: I am getting ready ..OWW.. for the big Shire meet...OWW..
Meterman: Right, all our regular on-line gamers are meeting in RL for a few pints. I don' think they will care if your eyebrows are not plucked.
Flavius: So a back waxing will also be unnecessary?
Meterman: That might be nice for the Missess, but not needed for us.


Green Flash Trippel

Ratebeer 3.45 82th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +4

This is a great Belgian style abbey ale. The nose is sweet with hints of prunes, raisin and malt. At first taste it is a very good and drinkable Belgian. You can pick up a mild spice (coriander, pepper) which sits on a firm bed of sweet citrus fruits and malt. This brew gave a full mouth, effervescent feel.

Aftertaste +1

There was a nice alcohol warmth that complimented the lingering fruit flavours. It was certainly a dry finish.

Alcohol +1 9.5%

The alcohol was hidden very nicely and only showed up as a warmth.

Value +1

I picked this 750ml bottle up at Brewery Creek. I will definitely buy this one again; it was in the $7-8 range.

Ingame Enhancement +1

You need to consume a lot of strong beer while trying to finish the blood harvest map on expert. It helps to calm the nerves. I have found that if you don't drink enough, you tend to call for your Mommy too often. Over 3000 zombies were harmed in the reviewing of the article.

Overall 8/10 BOOM ZOMBIESHOT

If you like your Belgians, this one is a little brighter in flavour than the Trappists.

Flavius: Why are not many people subscribed to my blog?
Meterman: It's crappy
F: Could you help and elaborate.
M: It's really crappy.
F: You are not helping things.
M: You just noticed that, and I thought you were slow.
F: Any ideas how to draw more readers to my blog?
M: Try jumping off a bridge.
F: Great idea! That would be great publicity, it might even hit the evening news!
M: No just jump off the bridge; I'm tired of listening to you whine.

Green Flash Brewing Stout

Rate Beer 3.88 98th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Taste +4

The nose is full of roast and peat; almost like a good smokey single malt. There are big hits of roasted and sweet malt with every gulp. You can also taste slight bitter chocolate notes after the roast leaves. It finished off with a nice alcohol ting.

Aftertaste +2

There is a full mouth coating of roast that slowly, very slowly fades away.

Alcohol +1 8.8%

The very auspicious alcohol content is not out of place and you can taste it.

Value +1

It was above average price for a 750ml craft beer, but not outrageous for the flavour you get.

Ingame Enhancement 0

Lounged around Meterman's house and entertained kids. Good news for the zombies.

Overall 8/10 BOOM HEADSHOT

This is perhaps one of the greatest stouts I have ever tasted. I picked this up at the Brewery Creek CBAW; they have a great selection of craft beers. They were out of stock of the Rogue XXX Stout; this is the greatest stout I have ever tasted.