Fort Collins Brewery sample...post #1

I'll rate beers in a manner adopted from www.beeradvocate.com.  I'll keep my 0-10 rating (rather than their A-F grading and I'm not going to individually grade appearance, smell, etc....I'll just give an overall 1-10 rating).   here's the code...
Appearance(A)
Smell (S)
Taste (T)
Mouthfeel (M)
Drinkability (D)

Fort Collins Brewery: Z Lager (Smoked Amber Lager).  apparently this is  in the Rauchbier style - an old German beer style, its origins go back to the 1500's. "Green malts are literally dried over an open fire of beech wood, imparting a unique smokiness ("rauch" is German for smoke), the usage of which produces beers of an acquired taste. Imagine a smokiness so robust, so assertive, that it tastes of spiced, smoked meat."
http://www.fortcollinsbrewery.com/z.html
serving type: bottle poured into glass

A: nice amber color. nice looking beer.
S: smells like someone threw beer on a campfire. no shit.
T: imagine drinking a campfire...that's this beer!!  tastes like beer poured over a burnt log.  not actually a horrible taste just so usual. it's one thing to EAT something with a smoky taste, it's another thing to DRINK something with a smoky taste.   initial flavor is malty sweetness which is quickly followed by the smoky flavor which seems to build for a few seconds before dissapating...again, kinda different and interesting.
M: certainly not overly carbonated. rather flat.
D: it was okay in that it was unique but certainly would never seek out this beer...ever.
Verdict: "acquired taste" is right.     
Rating: 4.0

Fort Collins Brewery: Rocky Mountain IPA.  http://www.fortcollinsbrewery.com/ipa.html
serving type: bottle poured into glass
A: dark amber color. nice off-white head which lingered nicely
S: not very aromatic.  maybe a dull pine scent
T: more bitter than flavorful. certainly not one of those IPA's with "citrus notes". I just taste bitterness.  pine?
M: nice tongue-tickling bitterness which lingered between sips.  Marky likey.
D: lack of flavor lowers the drinkability big time. cant imagine having more than 2 in one sitting. no way.
Verdict: shit, it's an IPA so I'll drink it.
Rating: 7.0