Elk Rock Velvet Antler
Portland Brewing Company

Cooking beer, not a drinking beer (see this month's magazine!)

Pours a red/light brown with a thick tan head that dissipates quickly. Leaves a light lace.
Smells of cheese (I think someone else noticed this too - I guess Muenster or Gruyere), alcohol and pine.
Taste is sharp with little redeeming malt. There is bitter aftertaste that would be ok if it were lighter, but it sticks.
Mouthfeel is "oh well".
Drinkability is low due to that bitterness.

That said, use this beer in cooking. That bitterness and outdoorsy flavor will bring a great addition to chili, BBQ sauce or meat marinades.

I picked this beer up at a local grocery store and poured it into a pint tumbler.

Pours a pale copper color, with two fingers of off-while head, that dissipates quickly to a thin foam. The head is sticky and produces some lacing on the glass.

The smell is earthy, it smells a little of roasted grain. The smell is not robust.

The taste is malty, and slightly sweet, with a little smoky caramel flavor, and a delicate hop finish. The hop taste is very mild and not bitter. The flavors are well balanced.

Mouth feel is crisp and clean, and the beer is well carbonated, not flat or watery at all.

This is a very drinkable American amber beer, and at a fairly low price point. I got a six pack for $6.50. As ambers go I’d say it is average or slightly better, and I would certainly drink it again.

12 oz. bottle purchased at Safeway(I think)
Pours out a nice looking amber color. Good frothy 2 finger head.

Smells foul. This smells like vomit or sour milk.

Taste, unfortunately, is not much better. This tastes rotten. After a couple of sips, I conclude that this must have some kind of bacterial infection in it. Down the drain with this vile fluid!

I originally bought this to have a beer that I didn't have to think about reviewing. Just a beer to have a beer. This was so bad, I feel obligated to review it. AVOID!!!

Rather cheap looking labeling on this beer..I think its brewed for Safeway stores only. 12oz brown bottle.
The beer pours a dark amber..with minimal carbonation strings, a good sized off white head made an appearance but sunk fast leaving minimal lace.
the aroma was dissapointing rather faint malts..slightly "cheesy".
The taste was mainly malty with a little nip of hops near the end..has a long lasting after taste.
pretty thin on the palate..but not too bad.
I found this pretty bland stuff but easy enough to drink on a warm muggy night.

When poured, the color was clear amber brown with a little foam that disapated almost immediatly. The smell of roasted barley filled the nose with a pleasant aroma. The taste of barley and hops was very mild and smooth to the mouth and palate. This is a very pleasant amber ale.