Surly Brewing Company: Darkness

Darkness
Surly Brewing Co.
4811 Dusharme Drive
Brooklyn Park, MN
13F. Russian Imperial Stout

 Aroma: (11/12) 
Slight roasted aroma, less than I thought for a R.I.S.. 
Some notes of chocolate as well.  I'm possibly picking up
the aroma of the residual sugars.

Appearance: (3/3)
Fantastic head from the tap. Head is a nice
brown hue.  Head stays/persists as it laces
the edges of the glass.

Flavor: (18/20)
A wonderful roasted flavor with some hop
bite on the back end (more than usual from a
R.I.S.). Definitely large amounts
of residual sugars! Slight roasted astringency, 
but works well and isn't a detriment. Notes of
raisins and cherries. This darkness is one for
the ages!

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Very creamy! Big bodied, but not too thick at all.
Some grittiness aftertaste, but I chalk that up
to the amounts of sugars in this gem!

Overall Impression: (10/10)
This is one of the best R.I.S. I've ever had.
Balance with this is fantastic. The cherries and
raisin flavors do wonders to elevate this beer to
the top of its class.  A  real animal, and a real
delight!

TOTAL: 47/50

Surly Brewing Company: Wet IPA

Wet
Surly Brewing Co.
4811 Dusharme Drive
Brooklyn Park, MN
14B. American IPA


Aroma: (10/12) 
Hoppy, but not overly - in your face hoppy.  Slight
malt character comes through.

Appearance: (3/3)
Pours a golden honey color from the tap,
with a two-fingered head that persists and
laces nicely. 

Flavor: (18/20)
A very nice fresh-hop flavor.  Again, not overly
hopped like a West Coast IPA.  A nice bite on back
of the tongue. A little dry but not too much.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Nice and light body, some slickness.  Not sure if it's
from the fresh lupulin or not? 

Overall Impression: (9/10)

A very nice IPA that is to style and doesn't drift into

any other style, as some Surly's tend to do.  A great example

of an American IPA that isn't hopped to hell! 

TOTAL: 44/50

Founders Brewing Company: Breakfast Stout

Breakfast Stout

Founders Brewing Co.

235 Grandville SW

Grand Rapids, MI

13F. Russian Imperial Stout


Aroma: (11/12) 
Big roasted grain aroma.  Coffee isn't subtle.
No hops at all.

Appearance: (3/3)
Jet black with brown head that really persists
and laces.  It is what one would expect.

Flavor: (19/20)
Roasted coffee, the coffee flavor is actually
subtle. There is no bitterness at all from the
roasted grains; really smooth!  Nice chocolate
notes, but these are subtle as well.  Fantastic
all-around flavor!

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Exceptionally creamy.  Big bodied, as would be
to style.  Hops aren't noticable and are very much
in the background and need to be searched out.

Overall Impression: (9/10)
This beer is absolutely super! To style and very 
smooth. Coffee and chocolate doesn't overpower
in the least.  A great balance of chocolate,
malt, coffee and hops.  This is what
I look for in an Imperial Stout!

TOTAL: 47/50

Grand Teton Brewery: Howling Wolf Weizenbock

Howling Wolf Weizenbock

Grand Teton Brewing Co.

430 Old Jackson Hwy.

Victor, ID  83455

15C. Weizenbock

Aroma: (10/12)

Fruity, slightly raspberry-like...very much the

weizen aroma.  Cloves and banana galore!

Appearance: (3/3)
Reddish golden hue. Pours a nice head from

the tap. The head persists for a few minutes.

Laces the glass very well!

Flavor: (17/20)

A very good flavor mixture between a weizen

and a bock.  Exactly as one would expect.  A

nice bite on the back of the tongue.  Aftertaste

is malty but balanced well with the weizen

fruitiness.

Mouthfeel: (5/5)

Very nice, well-rounded body.  Nice and malty

with some creaminess.  Medium body, but nice

and light tasting/drinking.

Overall Impression: (9/10)

Very impressed with this beer!  I have not

seen this beer in the Twin Cities market, nor

have I ever heard of the brewery.  The

weizenbock was very very well done.  Excellent!

TOTAL: 44/50

Dog Fish Head Brewery: 90 Minute IPA

90 Minute IPA

Dog Fish Head Brewing Co.

6 Village Center Boulevard
Milton, DE 19968

14C. Imperial IPA

Aroma: (10/12)
Huge floral nose.  Hops immediately upfront.

A little sweet flavor as it warms.  Almost 
Belgian-like.

Appearance: (3/3)
Nice light brown color. The head is one
fingers' width that descends fairly quickly.

Flavor: (18/20)
Nice caramel bite - almost resembles a tripel hopped

up, on first sip.  Hopiness isn't the back of the 

tongue bite, like most IPA's.  Since the hops are added

all the way through the 90 minute boil, there really

is no bite, very smooth!

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Medium bodied with a good amount of creaminess.

I would expect some more earthiness or grit from

the amount of hops added, but doesn't play out

that way, very nice!

Overall Impression: (9/10)

The continuous addition of hops has really added
a unique flavor and hue to this IPA!  I was expecting
a west coast IPA on steroids, but this is surprisingly
not overly hop-tasting.  A fantastic brew with a kick!


TOTAL: 45/50

Furthermore Brewery: Oscura Mexican Coffee Lager

Oscura Coffee Lager
Furthermore Brewing Co. 
PO Box 776

Spring Green, WI 
23. Specialty Beer


Aroma: (10/12)
Light coffee aroma.  Some hops, but subdued.

Appearance: (2/3)
Nice light brown color. The head is one
fingers' width that descends fairly quickly.

Flavor: (16/20)
Very nice coffee flavor.  Not over-done,
but compliments the beer. The coffee
works well with the underlying Mexican
Lager style without envoloping it.  Flavor
matches aroma, exactly.  Flavor does
seem to fade quickly from the tongue.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)

Body is light, almost a Newcastle Brown

mixed with pressed coffee.  Could drink a

few of these, not heavy at all.

Overall Impression: (8/10)

This beer is well done, although I would like

to see more body, but that is just my opinion-

so I will only rate what is in front of me and

not my wishes.  A nice light brown lager with

coffee flavor.  My burps taste more like coffee

than the actual flavor while drinking it; nice.

TOTAL: 40/50