Left Hand Brewing Co.: Fade to Black

Fade to Black Stout
Left Hand Brewing Co
1265 Boston Ave
Longmont, CO 
13D. Foreign Extra Stout


Aroma: (10/12)
I'm picking up strong coffee in the aroma, with some hints
of oats and licorice.

Appearance: (3/3)
Exact same color as Southern Tier Oat and Avery Czar.  Dark
brown, but it isn't quite black.  Nice head from tap, but it is
totally gone after a few minutes.

Flavor: (17/20)
Really resembles Bells Java Stout, just not as much body.  Really
nice mix between oats and coffee. The aftertaste goes from
oats and at the end, the alcohol prevails and lingers.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Nice medium body, but no real softness or creaminess.
Nothing really unique to comment on here.

Overall Impression: (8/10)
A pretty good beer. I'm not crazy about it, though. The oats and
licorice are nice, but no real chocolate flavors arise.

TOTAL: 42/50

Moylan's Brewing Company: Imperial Stout

Imperial Stout
Moylan's Brewing Co.
16 Rowland Way
Novato, CA 
13F. Russian Imperial Stout


Aroma: (11/12)
Huge coffee notes along with the characteristic roasted
malt presence.  Alcohol is definitely discernable in the nose.

Appearance: (3/3)
I found this beer on tap, and since I've never
seen it on tap before...I gotta give it a try. 
The beer poured with an impressive two finger head
and the color was that of motor oil.  Laces
wonderfully!

Flavor: (16/20)
The first thing I noticed was the bitterness, together with
the burn of the alcohol.  It is difficult to distinguish what is
responsible for the bitterness, is it the amount of hops or
the level of alcohol.
Coffee isn't very present in the flavor as it was in the aroma.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Is fairly creamy. Body is medium to heavy, but not as heavy
as the likes of Founders Breakfast Stout, Surly Darkness
or even Bells Kalamazoo Stout, etc..

Overall Impression: (8/10)
A very fine example of the style.  I was expecting something
heavier and more chocolate-like.  Not a very complex beer, but 
a pretty good one.  Do not pick up many other flavors other than
roasted malt and possibly slight chocolate...

TOTAL: 42/50

Fulton Brewing Company: Sweet Child of Vine

Sweet Child of Vine
Fulton Brewing Company
No known address
(contract brewing)
14B. American IPA

Aroma: (10/12)
Aroma is very piny and hoppy.  As description
from their website states, the glacier hops
do shine through.

Appearance: (3/3)
Copper color. Pours from the tap a small
head that quickly subsides, yet laces
glass fairly well.

Flavor: (14/20)
The flavor is hoppy of course, but there
is little, otherwise. Lots of hops upfront,
then lingers well; quite dry!

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Nice light body. Beer is pretty darn dry.
The typical general IPA feel here...

Overall Impression: (7/10)
The beer is very sessionable, although almost
too piny and one-dimensional. Piny flavor lingers
a long time even after the dryness.

TOTAL: 38/50

New Glarus Brewing Company: Cran-bic Ale

Cran-bic Ale
New Glarus Brewing Co.
2400 State Hwy 69
New Glarus, WI
20. Fruit Beer


Aroma: (11/12)
A definite tart and sour aroma! Possible oak
discernability, very pleasant.

Appearance: (3/3)
Brownish red with a nice head that does seem
to retreat rather quickly.  Head is a pinkish
hue and very bubbly and effervescent.

Flavor: (19/20)
Wow!  Extremely fantastic flavor.  Very nice
tart and sour kick! Not too sour and not too
sweet.  Cranberries add the perfect tartness
for this winner.

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Very effervescent, minute resemblence to 
champaigne. Body is light and is very 
refreshing.  Very clean and well made.  This
beer isn't very dry, which I would have expected.

Overall Impression: (10/10)
New Glarus comes out with another winner! 
Basically a cranberry sour with a fantastic
tartness to compliment.  A fantastic job
balancing these two characteristics.  This
is one for the sour and non-sourheads, alike.

TOTAL: 48/50

New Glarus Brewing Company: Belgian Red

Belgian Red
New Glarus Brewing Co.
2400 State Hwy 69
New Glarus, WI
20. Fruit Beer


Aroma: (11/12)
Beautiful tart cherry aroma. A large amount
of sweetness present, as well.

Appearance: (3/3)
Nice reddish - brown hue.  Pours a nice head;
these are highly carbonated!  Head does
dissipate rather quickly, but that is to be
expected.

Flavor: (19/20)
Cherries immediately upfront!  The cherry
flavor lingers and then the tartness and
sweetness kick in and doesn't really
fade.  Excellent!
 
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Highly carbonated and amount of bubbles
is definitely evident.  Body is light to 
medium.

Overall Impression: (10/10)
A cherry wonder of the world! This Belgian
Red is extremely well made and is the
best American made Kriek / Lambic I've had
and from reading further, I guess everybody
else thinks the same.

TOTAL: 48/50