Hot Salsas, Gourmet salsa from Iguana Tom's Ultimate Salsa

Iguana Tom's Beer Review

For several years he, Iguana Tom, has been keeping a log of micro brewed beers. So, in order to enhance the lives of salsa-lovers everywhere and otherwise extend the range of human pleasure and tastebud happiness, he, Iguana Tom, is making his vast experience available to you, the salsa-eating, beer-drinking public. He, Iguana Tom, is particularly fond of English-style Ales though a fair amount of the Black Beer has also been quaffed by himself.

At this point the management should insert some self-serving public service announcement about how even he, Iguana Tom, consumes beer in moderation and so should you. But why bother? You are going to do what you want regardless of what you read on this page. Just remember, contrary to rumors not propagated by Iguana Tom nor any of his affiliates, salsa does not eliminate the calories or alcohol content of beer. It has been rumored to make you better looking. Go to The Real Beer Page for the definitive guide to all things beer.

So here are a dozen plus 6 of Iguana Tom's favorite beers. And one "NA" brew.

Name
Rating
Color
Head Tasting notes

Adnam's Broadside Ale
3+
Dark Amber
Massive, creamy Sweet malt up front is quickly followed by tart hops and citrus.

Arcadia ESB

See LINKS Page
4
Deep copper with red
Big, foamy Full-bodied, caramelly, toasted malt character finishes slightly sweet and is balanced by a solid hop bitterness. Tettnang finishing hops provide a complementary candied hop aroma and flavor. One of my favorites. Just the right balance of malt and hops.

Arcadia IPA

See LINKS Page
4+
Yellow/amber
Big, foamy
Medium bodied. Mild bitterness. Highly hopped. Balanced malt. Resinous, citrus oil aromas. Rich caramel rush is complemented by a full floral hop component that is remarkable, not bitter. Finishes with a lingering malt sweetness. "Hops flavors are all on the attack." All About Beer Magazine - May 1998.

The highest ranked American made IPA in the 1998 World Beer Championship, with a Gold Medal winning score of 92, second only to Whitbread of England with a score of 93. Great with Iguana Tom's Blazing!

Bishop's Finger Keltish Ale
3
Deep Amber/red
Huge, foamy Nice hop nose, lightly carbonated. Well balanced hops and malt and slightly bitter. Dry finish with tangy hops. Medium body.

Charleston Pale Ale
4
Golden, amber
Medium, foamy Tom's "everyday" beer. Perfect balance of flavors in a classic American pale. Low price and available at the grocery in Charlotte.

Fuller's ESB
4
Amber, red
Medium, foamy Balanced malt/hop start with some initial sweet tones. Then immediate hoppy bitterness through the long, dry finish. ESB as it was meant to be.

Henley Ale
3
Dark Amber
Big, foamy, creamy, thick Chewy, slightly bitter, with molasses and light malt and hops. Abrupt finish.

Highland Gaelic Ale
3
Dark Amber
Small, creamy God malt and hop balance. Initial sweetness and bitter notes. Slightly chewy with a big hop finish.

Hobgoblin English Ale
3+
Dark Red/amber
Huge, strong Big malt flavor with chocolate in the middle. Finish is slightly sweet, with bitter hops blending into fruity tartness.

Lucknow IPA
3
Golden with red tone
Thick, creamy Very tart and hoppy with strong floral nose up front. Slightly sweet in middle with semi-dry hop finish.

Merlin's Ale
3+
Golden Amber
Medium sized, fast Bright, crisp and tart lemon in nicely balanced malt/hop middle. Very long finish with fruit and floral hoppy dryness.

Pyramid Snow Cap Ale
3+
Dark Brown
Frothy, creamy Starts slightly bitter with caramel and light coffee. A little sweet in the middle then finishing dry. Very complex and chewy.

Rowdy's Perfect Pale Ale
5
Clear, Golden Amber
Very foamy and thick Good malt/hop balance up front with a taste of honey underneath. Lots of tart citrus in middle with longgg hop finish. Good American version of a Welsh Ale.

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale
5
Deep Red/amber
Huge, foamy Creamy, smooth texture. Initial dry, malt with a sharp hop note. Nutty. Long hop finish with dry caramel highlights. A classic!

Skullsplitter Orkney Ale
4
Dark Amber
Big, foamy Very creamy, honey malt up front, chewy caramel and honey middle. Nice long, balanced finish.

Thames Welsh Ale
5
Deep Amber
Small Very creamy. Lots of caramel, toffee and fruit. Very complex. Slightly hoppy and honey finish. One of Tom's all time favorites. Expensive. Savor it.

Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale
4
Bright gold
Thick, creamy Lots of hops from first taste to the long finish. Some citrus. A nice floral nose. Predominantly hoppy but noticeable malt notes.

Virgil's Root Beer
5
Deep Amber
Small, foamy Very complex with balanced sweetness and nice herb and spice undertones. Virgil's is imported from England and is a bit pricey. Sold as singles or in 4-packs around here. One of the few truly "natural" brews, made with unbleached cane sugar (not corn syrup) and no preservatives or caffeine. "Outstanding Beverage" at Fancy Food Show.

Wellington County Ale
5
Bright Red/amber
Big, foamy Hop and fruit nose with hints of honey. Crisp fruit in middle and excellent malt/hop balance. Medium hoppy finish. Hard to find. Worth the search.

Whitbread Pale Ale
4+
Dark Amber
Big, foamy Malty and tart up front and a bit chewable. Just enough hops to balance the sweet malt. Hints of caramel. Long balanced finish. Arguably the best "English style" Pale Ale. Beer to buy a friend.

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Last Updated - July, 2002

Name	Rating	Color	Head	Tasting notes
Adnam's Broadside Ale	3+	Dark Amber	Massive, creamy	Sweet malt up front is quickly followed by tart hops and citrus.
Arcadia ESB See LINKS Page	4	Deep copper with red	Big, foamy	Full-bodied, caramelly, toasted malt character finishes slightly sweet and is balanced by a solid hop bitterness. Tettnang finishing hops provide a complementary candied hop aroma and flavor. One of my favorites. Just the right balance of malt and hops.
Arcadia IPA See LINKS Page	4+	Yellow/amber	Big, foamy	Medium bodied. Mild bitterness. Highly hopped. Balanced malt. Resinous, citrus oil aromas. Rich caramel rush is complemented by a full floral hop component that is remarkable, not bitter. Finishes with a lingering malt sweetness. "Hops flavors are all on the attack." All About Beer Magazine - May 1998. The highest ranked American made IPA in the 1998 World Beer Championship, with a Gold Medal winning score of 92, second only to Whitbread of England with a score of 93. Great with Iguana Tom's Blazing!
Bishop's Finger Keltish Ale	3	Deep Amber/red	Huge, foamy	Nice hop nose, lightly carbonated. Well balanced hops and malt and slightly bitter. Dry finish with tangy hops. Medium body.
Charleston Pale Ale	4	Golden, amber	Medium, foamy	Tom's "everyday" beer. Perfect balance of flavors in a classic American pale. Low price and available at the grocery in Charlotte.
Fuller's ESB	4	Amber, red	Medium, foamy	Balanced malt/hop start with some initial sweet tones. Then immediate hoppy bitterness through the long, dry finish. ESB as it was meant to be.
Henley Ale	3	Dark Amber	Big, foamy, creamy, thick	Chewy, slightly bitter, with molasses and light malt and hops. Abrupt finish.
Highland Gaelic Ale	3	Dark Amber	Small, creamy	God malt and hop balance. Initial sweetness and bitter notes. Slightly chewy with a big hop finish.
Hobgoblin English Ale	3+	Dark Red/amber	Huge, strong	Big malt flavor with chocolate in the middle. Finish is slightly sweet, with bitter hops blending into fruity tartness.
Lucknow IPA	3	Golden with red tone	Thick, creamy	Very tart and hoppy with strong floral nose up front. Slightly sweet in middle with semi-dry hop finish.
Merlin's Ale	3+	Golden Amber	Medium sized, fast	Bright, crisp and tart lemon in nicely balanced malt/hop middle. Very long finish with fruit and floral hoppy dryness.
Pyramid Snow Cap Ale	3+	Dark Brown	Frothy, creamy	Starts slightly bitter with caramel and light coffee. A little sweet in the middle then finishing dry. Very complex and chewy.
Rowdy's Perfect Pale Ale	5	Clear, Golden Amber	Very foamy and thick	Good malt/hop balance up front with a taste of honey underneath. Lots of tart citrus in middle with longgg hop finish. Good American version of a Welsh Ale.
Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale	5	Deep Red/amber	Huge, foamy	Creamy, smooth texture. Initial dry, malt with a sharp hop note. Nutty. Long hop finish with dry caramel highlights. A classic!
Skullsplitter Orkney Ale	4	Dark Amber	Big, foamy	Very creamy, honey malt up front, chewy caramel and honey middle. Nice long, balanced finish.
Thames Welsh Ale	5	Deep Amber	Small	Very creamy. Lots of caramel, toffee and fruit. Very complex. Slightly hoppy and honey finish. One of Tom's all time favorites. Expensive. Savor it.
Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale	4	Bright gold	Thick, creamy	Lots of hops from first taste to the long finish. Some citrus. A nice floral nose. Predominantly hoppy but noticeable malt notes.
Virgil's Root Beer	5	Deep Amber	Small, foamy	Very complex with balanced sweetness and nice herb and spice undertones. Virgil's is imported from England and is a bit pricey. Sold as singles or in 4-packs around here. One of the few truly "natural" brews, made with unbleached cane sugar (not corn syrup) and no preservatives or caffeine. "Outstanding Beverage" at Fancy Food Show.
Wellington County Ale	5	Bright Red/amber	Big, foamy	Hop and fruit nose with hints of honey. Crisp fruit in middle and excellent malt/hop balance. Medium hoppy finish. Hard to find. Worth the search.
Whitbread Pale Ale	4+	Dark Amber	Big, foamy	Malty and tart up front and a bit chewable. Just enough hops to balance the sweet malt. Hints of caramel. Long balanced finish. Arguably the best "English style" Pale Ale. Beer to buy a friend.