The Beer Bitch Craft Brew / Beer Review

Cigar City Brewing Co.: Humidor IPA

2011-04-12T17:48:00.000-07:00

Humidor IPA
Cigar City Brewing Co.
3924 West Spruce St. Suite A.
Tampa, FL

Aroma: (10/12)
Wow, cedar totally dominates! There are some hints of spices, almost like a saison.

Appearance: (3/3)
Pure copper hued. This beer is bottle conditioned, so it pours a massive head. Highly carbonated.

Flavor: (15/20)
The first thing tasted is cedar. Heavy, heavy cedar! The hops briefly show themselves before the cedar regains dominance.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Light to medium body, pretty darn dry.

Overall Impression: (8/10)
I liked the uniqueness of this beer, but the cedar flavor way over-powered everything else. No balance of flavors. Totally masks the underlying IPA.

TOTAL: 40/50

Odell Brewing Co.: Myrcenary Double IPA

2011-03-29T08:44:00.001-07:00

Myrcenary Double IPA
Odell Brewing Co.
800 East Lincoln Avenue.
Fort Collins, CO

Aroma: (11/12)
Intense waves of tropical fruits. Grapefruit, mango and peach dominate the hop profile and aroma. Maybe a slight sweetness detectable. In all, fantastic!

Appearance: (3/3)
Very clear and definitely filtered. Color is a light gold that is on-par with Surly's Abrasive.

Flavor: (17/20)
A healthy amount of bitterness up front, but it mellows quickly enough not to pucker the face. After the initial hop blast, like I said, it does lessen through the middle tongue, but from there on, the hops intensify through the finish. Hop flavors are slightly citrusy, but not as much as was present in the aroma. Extremely drinkable for a 10% beer, with no heat at all. Excellent job Odell!.

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
A light body. Slightly drying finish, but not much at all. Finishes clean.

Overall Impression: (9/10)
I really like this DIPA from Odell. They did a great job of balancing the hops with the malt as to not make it too much of a hop bomb. The tropical fruits, aroma and flavor really hit the "sweet spot"..

TOTAL: 46/50

Central Waters Brewing Co.: Illumination Double IPA

2011-03-24T07:13:00.001-07:00

Illumination Double IPA
Central Waters Brewing Co.
351 Allen St.
Amherst, WI

This is my re-review of this beer. I last had and reviewed this beer on September 13, 2010 (review here) I unknowingly reviewed it when the beer had been upwards of 6 months old, and we all know that an IPA / DIPA should be had as fresh as possible. The review wasn't too shining (37/50). I've discussed this beer with fellow beeradvocates and decided to pick this beer up again and give it another try. People had told me that this was one of their favorite beers of 2010, so let's see how a fresh 2011 version comes off:

Aroma: (10/12)
The fruity hop characteristics hit my nose first, then a little underlying pine.

Appearance: (3/3)
A fairly clear beer with just a touch of haze, most likely from the hopping. Last years 6 month old beer was extremely hazy (2010 photo)

Flavor: (17/20)
Bitterness hits you up-front, with a punch. Through the middle-tongue, the malt does kick in some, but not much - as the hops carry through fairly strongly. At the back of the tongue to the finish, the hops increase in intensity. Very bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
A medium-bodied beer. A pretty sweet brew. A little too sweet for me. Not too dry.

Overall Impression: (9/10)
This is a pretty good beer and I see a lot of people really like it. It is a little too bitter and sweet for me, especially the finish. Bood brew, just not for me.

TOTAL: 43/50

Short's Brewing Co.: Woodmaster

2011-03-16T17:45:00.001-07:00

Woodmaster
Short's Brewing Company
121 N. Bridge St.
Bellaire, MI

Short's Woodmaster: A high gravity Brown Ale fermented with Michigan maple syrup & toasted pecans.

Aroma: (9/12)
Huge sweet nut and or hazelnut nose. Huge sweetness from maple syrup used in this brew?
Appearance: (3/3)
Brown-hued. Pours a half-fingered head from the bottle; it exits stage-left rather quickly. Somewhat murky.
Flavor: (14/20)
The flavor follows dead on from the aroma. Huge sweetness combined with nuttiness. Level of nuttiness is so high, it seems this flavor comes from an extract.
Mouthfeel: (3/5)
Medium body. The level of sweetness is off-putting.
Overall Impression: (6/10)
This beer reminds me of the Henry Weinhard's Hazelnut from many many years ago. Fake / extract flavoring. Way too sweet! Not a beer I will be revisiting. I actually couldn't even finish the bottle.
TOTAL: 35/50

Yards Brewing Co.: IPA

2011-03-09T17:10:00.001-08:00

IPA
Yards Brewing Company
901 N. Delaware Ave
Philadelphia, PA

Aroma: (10/12)
A very pleasant, light citrusy IPA. I'm guessing more of an English IPA here...
Appearance: (3/3)
Copper-hued and slightly hazy. Carbonation racing from the bottom; highly carbonated.
Flavor: (17/20)
Wow, I really like this beer. The hops are very present and pleasant, but not too hoppy or bitter. The malt is there, but very light and plays second fiddle; keeps the body nice and light.
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Nice and light. Bitterness is on the perfect level to allow such great drinkability, this possesses.
Overall Impression: (9/10)
I really like this IPA. Perfectly hopped, lightly malted and finishes clean, making me want another sip!
TOTAL: 44/50

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Cigar City Brewing Co.: Jai Alai IPA

2011-03-08T15:49:00.001-08:00

Jai Alai
Cigar City Brewing Company
3924 West Spruce Street Suite A
Tampa, FL

Aroma: (10/12)
The nose has a nice fruity aroma. It is of medium-strength, by no means "in your face". I get notes of pineapple and mango; most likely the Simcoe hops that are used...
Appearance: (3/3)
A deep copper color; on the verge of orange. The beer is clear, until the last inch or the bottle is poured, then it turns cloudy.
Flavor: (16/20)
This IPA gives you more malt than Sculpin, Union Jack and Dreadnaught. The front end begins with a good amount of bitterness, the middle tongue brings the malt characteristic up, but not quite to the forefront. The finish has a nice bite, that intensifies in the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Not your crisp IPA, medium malty that equals a medium-bodied brew. Slightly dry.
Overall Impression: (8/10)
A very enjoyable IPA for sure. Nice hints of pineapple and mango. I'm not big on malty IPA's, but this beer does a nice job. It's well-balanced and easy-drinking. I'd prefer it to be more crisp and lighter bodied, but those are MY preferences.
TOTAL: 41/50

Tröegs Brewing Co.: Nugget Nectar

2011-02-28T18:57:00.001-08:00

Nugget Nectar
Tröegs Brewing Company
800 Paxton Street
Harrisburg, PA

Aroma: (11/12)
A very nice medium-hoppy nose. Mostly of the pine-variety, but there are a few hints of floral/fruity variety.
Appearance: (3/3)
This beer is definitely filtered as it is very clear. Nugget Nectar is an Imperial Amber and the color follows as advertised. It pours a very nice one fingered head that sticks around and laces the glass very well.
Flavor: (17/20)
Piney hops dominate the palette. Quite bitter on the back end of the tongue, through the after-taste (bitterness increases).
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Medium body, like a typical amber. Extremely clean, with a very slight dry finish.
Overall Impression: (9/10)
From aroma to flavor, I am very impressed with this Imperial Amber from Troegs. It is extremely clean, crisp, hoppy and drinkable. 93 IBU's, and it delivers every single one!
TOTAL: 45/50

Surly Brewing Co. $20 Million Expansion Plan

2011-02-08T06:19:00.001-08:00

Surly announced last night at The Muddy Pig, that they intend to expand the brewery, creating an events center, 100,000 bbl brewery and restaurant. The only road-block is that Surly brews too much beer to be licensed as a brewpub – according to MN law. It also states that large breweries can’t sell beer out of the brewery. The archaic laws are on the books still, so they are trying to get them changed, to allow such facility.

Here is the Surly flyer handed out:

My Oatmeal Stout wins 1st place at 2011 Upper Mississippi Mashout!!

2011-01-31T09:54:00.001-08:00

I was uber happy to read the Upper Mississippi Mashout Blog, that I placed first in the Oatmeal Stout category (Category 13). I had made an Oatmeal Stout back in 2008 and submitted to the competition then, it was awarded 2nd place. The judges gave me some good feedback, which helped me reformulate my recipe and make changes for this version. I switched out some heavily roasted grains for some debittered and also substituted in some Franco-Belges coffee malt. The handling of the oats made a big change as well. I toasted some oats in the oven before adding them to the mash, while also adding some oats that weren't toasted. I think this combination added some great oatmeal complexity.
The beer turned out really great. It was definitely my best beer yet. I plan on submitting the beer to the National Homebrew Competition and see how it turns out. I think my next homebrew is going to use this recipe, but make it into a version of Founders Breakfast Stout, while adding some Cacao nibs in the secondary fermenter.

Full 2011 Upper Mississippi Mashout Results by Category

The Muddy Pig's 3rd Annual Festival of Hops

2011-01-28T09:19:00.001-08:00

Bell's Hopslam

Aroma:
All grapefruit, peaches and mangoes. Very pungent! You will not find an IPA/DIPA with a more fantastic aroma.
Flavor:
Fruity hops that are in your face. Some slight pine notes. 10% ABV that is nicely hidden, but one can still notice it. The honey they add to this really adds a nice flavor, while also pumping the ABV up to its formidable level! One of the best DIPA’s you can buy!
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Odell Doulbe Black IPA

Aroma:
Slight roastedness and hoppiness present. Some small chocolate hints.
Flavor:
Wow, a very harmoneous marriage between roasted grains and hops in an IPA. Crazy amounts of lacing. Hops are of the piney varietal. Medium to highly hopped; very good beer!

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21st Amendment IPA

Aroma:
Minute hoppiness, almost undetectable.
Flavor:
Doesn’t taste very clean at all. Has a little soapiness flavor that is definitely off-putting. Hop type aren’t determinable, can’t even tell fruity or piney – it’s almost neither. Very muddled tasting. Not a fan of this beer at all.

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Rush River Double Bubble

Aroma:
Citrus and pine hops, not too much, though. Picking up some maltiness, too…
Flavor:
I’m a little perplexed by this flavor, here. There is something different about this double IPA that I haven’t had before. It almost seems spiced or it was fermented with a Belgian yeast. I don’t think I like it…just weird tasting for a Double IPA.

Dieu du Ciel Brewing Co.: Peche Mortel

2010-12-09T13:39:00.001-08:00

Peche Mortel
Dieu du Ciel Brewing Co.
259 rue de Villemure
St-Jerome, Quebec

Aroma: (10/12)
Huge chocolate nose on this one. Chocolate is the only aroma I pick up. I'm not sure if the chocolate over-powers everything else or not, but is all I get.
Appearance: (3/3)
Jet black, no light gets through this. Half finger head from tap pour; it does vanish fairly quickly.
Flavor: (18/20)
Coffee dominates the flavor, with chocolate playing 2nd fiddle. Tons of coffee on the front-end. Chocolate surfaces in the middle, then once again, succumbs to the coffee. 9.5%, but there is no heat at all!
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Medium to heavy, but more so on the medium.
Overall Impression: (9/10)
A fantastic coffee Imperial Stout! Coffee dominates flavor, but doesn't overpower the base Imperial Stout. Extremely balanced between the two. Hell of a beer!
TOTAL: 45/50

Firestone Walker Brewing Co.: Union Jack IPA

2010-12-03T10:12:00.001-08:00

Union Jack IPA
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
1400 Ramada Dr
Paso Robles, CA

Aroma: (11/12)
Light citrusy hop aroma. Even smells like a great and clear beer.
Appearance: (3/3)
A very clear copper color with a nice one-fingered head poured from the tap. Some pretty damned-good lacing on the glass, even before I take my first sip. A real good sign!
Flavor: (18/20)
Definitely hoppy on the front end, then the red malt kicks in. The back-end is very well supported with smooth, citrusy hops. The aftertaste keeps the hops hanging on. A very good IPA that isn't over-hopped at all. A go-to IPA!
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
A very by the book American IPA, that is light bodied, smooth, with both ends of the malt buttressed by copious hops.
Overall Impression: (9/10)
Classic, clean and beautiful. A definite favorite of mine. Now only if I could get this locally...
TOTAL: 46/50

Boundary Bay Brewing Co.: Imperial Oatmeal Stout

2010-12-02T11:45:00.001-08:00

Imperial Oatmeal Stout
Boundary Bay Brewing Co.
1107 Railroad Ave
Bellingham, WA

Aroma: (9/12)
Some sweet roastedness that takes some digging. As I let the beer warm, some oatmeal comes out. When this beer was poured from the tap, the beer had no aroma at all.
Appearance: (3/3)
Jet black, no ruby on the edges. Half-fingered head that is hazelnut-colored.
Flavor: (18/20)
The aroma had some oats, but the flavor has tons of oats and roasted malts. The roastedness never becomes astringent, very nice roast throughout.
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Medium bodied and very creamy.
Overall Impression: (9/10)
A very oat-forward brew and a very good one at that. A very smooth and velvety brew that I would drink all night in the cold Minnesota winter.
TOTAL: 44/50

Town Hall Brewery: Three Hour Tour

2010-11-22T08:30:00.001-08:00

Three Hour Tour
Town Hall Brewery
1430 Washington Ave S
Minneapolis, MN

Aroma: (11/12)
Very light roasted hints, together with a good amount of coconut and sweetness.
Appearance: (3/3)
Very black; virtually no light getting through at all. Poured from the tap a half-finger of head that is fleeting. Dark tan head.
Flavor: (17/20)
The sweetness / lactose and coconuts hit the tongue right away and carries through in the middle. The coconut dominates the back end and aftertaste. Strong coconut flavor!
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Very silky and smooth! Medium-bodied. Sticky lips from lactose.
Overall Impression: (9/10)
This is a very good beer that is extremely smooth and silky! The lactose makes a nice heavier body and definitely adds some stickiness to your lips. Very well crafted, but I could only have one pint per sitting - the coconut flavor would become too much for me.
TOTAL: 45/50

click to enlarge

Town Hall Brewery: Masala Mama

2010-11-22T08:18:00.001-08:00

Masala Mama
Town Hall Brewery
1430 Washington Ave S
Minneapolis, MN

Aroma: (11/12)
Huge grapefruit and orange! Tropical fruit hops dominate. Super enticing.
Appearance: (3/3)
Copper in color. Poured from the tap with a nice fluffy, one-fingered head. Insane lacing, even before I took my first sip.
Flavor: (18/20)
Grapefruit and big hoppy bitterness upfront. Little to no malt present. A west coast style IPA. This beer really reminds me of the Green Flash West Coast IPA. Hops only intensify from the front-end to the back. Wonderful!
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Light in body with a great hoppy bite.
Overall Impression: (10/10)
I haven't had a better IPA (besides Pliny and Green Flash West Coast IPA). It's crazy that this is available in my backyard. I much prefer this beer to Surly Furious, as it is lighter and the malts take a definite back seat to the hops.
TOTAL: 47/50

click to enlarge

Surly Brewing Co.: 2010 Darkness

2010-11-09T14:42:00.001-08:00

2010 Darkness
Surly Brewing Co.
4811 Dusharme Dr.
Brooklyn Center, MN

Aroma: (10/12)
The beer was served very cold on tap, and because of that - there isn't much aroma. After letting it sit and warm, I definitely get more malt sweetness and roastedness.
Appearance: (3/3)
What else is there to say, besides that it is jet black! Brown, half-fingered head. Very good lacing for a 10% beer!
Flavor: (18/20)
The malt sweetness and sugars/lactose hit you first, quickly followed by the balancing hops. The beer is amazingly balanced for a beer of this strength and style!
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Huge body! Residual sugars level is absolutely crazy. Very sticky.
Overall Impression: (9/10)
This is a uber huge beer. The level of sugars and stickiness, I have not yet had in any other beer! The roasted malt, alcohol level and hopping is amazingly balanced. Very little to no alcohol noticeable; that's saying something!.
TOTAL: 45/50

Black Raven Brewing Co. : Fresh Hop IPA

2010-11-01T07:38:00.001-07:00

Fresh Hop IPA
Black Raven Brewing Co.
14679 NE 95th St
Redmond, WA

Aroma: (10/12)
Lemony and orange hops on the nose.
Appearance: (3/3)
Light / golden hued. Very good lacing.
Flavor: (16/20)
Light hops on the front. The middle tongue continues with that and then the end finishes with a tiny bit of malt and some hop remnants.
Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Very light body with some pepperiness that tingles along with the hops.
Overall Impression: (8/10)
A very solid offering. I could session this beer, but I usually like to try different beers at one sitting. So, I probably wouldn't purchase this beer again. Doesn't stand out from the crowd.
TOTAL: 41/50

Russian River Brewing Co.: Temptation

2010-10-27T12:22:00.001-07:00

Temptation
Russian River Brewing Co.
725 4th Street
Santa Rosa, CA

Description from Website: Aged in French oak wine barrels for twelve months with distinct characteristics of fruit and subtle oak" sounds more like a description of wine than beer. However, Temptation is indeed beer. Temptation is a Blonde Ale aged in French oak chardonnay barrels with Brettanomyces. Flavors of wine and oak absorb into the brew throughout its aging. Temptation is re-fermented in the bottle to create its carbonation--a process commonly used to make fine champagne and sparkling wine. Spent yeast forms a thin layer of sediment to remain in the bottle. 7.25%ABV / 1.062 O.G / 27 BUs

I was able to secure this beer at the Uber Tavern, in Seattle last week. They had it on tap, so there was no doubt on what I was ordering! Any chance of finding a Russian River brew on tap, that is what I’m getting!

The bar is a pretty damn cozy place, with probably 10 seats at the L-shaped bar, about five seats around a gas-fired circular “table”, and a few couches towards the back . This is the type of bar that I like, it’s intimate, comfortable and not overly loud. Oh yeah, the beer on tap was unbelievable:

Aroma: (11/12)
Definite sourness and tartness on the nose!
Appearance: (3/3)
A nice golden hue to this one, on the tap pour. Came with a one-fingered head. Super small bubbles that creates a very dense "topping".
Flavor: (19/20)
Sourness & tartness right away, that intensifies through the middle tongue. The finish is quite mellow and balance between the tartness and sour characteristics. Chardonnay becomes evident in the aftertaste and lingers faintly.
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Very light body. Sourness and tartness give your mouth/tongue a nice mellow ride.
Overall Impression: (10/10)
This is my first time trying the Temptation and was extremely impressed. A beautiful American sour that would now stand at the top of the list, in that category.
TOTAL: 48/50

Pike Brewing Company

2010-10-19T07:55:00.001-07:00

Exploring the downtown Seattle area on foot is easy and pretty cool, with much to see. Pike's market is a must see. The fish market is a large tourist attraction, where slinging of fish, yelling and many trinkets and baubles are hawked. The market also consists of very nice fruit and veggie stands, selling fresh produce and flowers galore. The area can get pretty packed and when I was there checking it out, it definitely was, so that is when I started to search for Pike Brewing to try a brew. I figure, by the time I'm having a beer, the crowds will have dwindled.

The Brewery/Pub is about a block and a half down the street from the market, so it was an easy stroll to find it. You walk in from the street and you are on the 2nd level, looking down at the Pub. The view from above is fantastic as you can check out the mash tun, brew kettle and the all of the piping and controls. As a homebrewer and aspiring brewer, this is the stuff that I like to see. Pike is a large pub with a lot of seating and and tables for large groups and a lunch crowd. On this day that I was in, the lunch crowd was fairly numerous. I, of course, bellied up to the bar to take a peak at the taps and some of the serving tanks (as you can see in one of the pictures). This place is quite comfortable with a nice atmosphere to imbibe.

Pike Weisse
Pike Brewing Co.
1415 First Avenue
Seattle, WA

Description from Menu: Light, refreshing, golden brew with 32% wheat malt, Belgian yeast.
Aroma: (10/12)
Definite wheat present right away, when I put up my nose to the glass. Low hop profile.
Appearance: (2/3)
A very clean golden color. Very little head poured from the tap.
Flavor: (17/20)
I am suprised by the very good German characteristics, here. Much more a German brew, it seems. This might be the best or near the best Weisse I've had that is brewed in the States.
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Crisp, light and refreshing. The wheat carries though well, through the finish.
Overall Impression: (9/10)
Very impressed by the fantastic drinkability and German characteristics. I guess I wasn't expecting much from this and any American attempt. But I was pretty much thrown back by the taste and quality. This is brewed with a Belgian yeast, but I couldn't pick that up.
TOTAL: 43/50

Russian River Brewing Co.: Pliny the Elder

2010-10-15T10:05:00.001-07:00

Pliny the Elder DIPA
Russian River Brewing Co.
725 4th Street
Santa Rosa, CA

I had this at Brouwer's. I was hoping that it would be on tap, but none-the-less, a bottle will do. This is the first time for me trying this insanely acclaimed beer. I had this brew on October 12th, the bottled on date was marked as September 23rd. Three weeks, old...I'll take it!

Aroma: (11/12)
Super duper fresh with tons of citrus. Orange and mango dominate! The hops jump out from the glass after I poured it into the glass.
Appearance: (3/3)
Really clear. Orange/copper-colored. Half-fingered head on the bottle pour. This brew has insane lacing, it grabs and hangs on for life!
Flavor: (19/20)
Holy cow! The depth of the hops continue from the aroma to the front-end, all the way through the middle-tongue and on to the finish. Hops dominate malt, without question. Some pepperiness present. Somewhat dry. Outrageous piney hops in here!
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Light to medium-bodied. Slickness and some grittiness from hops. Definite dry finish.
Overall Impression: (10/10)
If you like hops, this beer is a must! I'm not breaking any news here, but this was my first time enjoying this gem. More intense than Three Floyds Dreadnaught, but not as fruity. A hop-heads dream. Extremely impressed.
TOTAL: 48/50

NEXT BEER: Black Raven Brewing Company's Fresh Hop

Brouwer's Cafe Seattle

2010-10-14T10:31:00.001-07:00

View Larger Map

So, you want to come to Seattle and check out a great array of brews on tap? Well, this is the place to go. They have 60 on tap and hundreds of bottles sitting in the cooler windows for your choosing pleasure. This is like a kid in a candy store for the craft beer fan. I see countless beers available here, either in bottle or on tap that I can't get my hands on in Minnesota.

My first night here, I stopped in for a brew after flying in and taking the light rail to the hostel. I grabbed the bus and went on over to the Fremont neighborhood, where Brouwer's is located. The building is a large and from the outside is industrial in appearance and very modern. The large "church" front door welcomes you in to the large and spacious interior with 20' ft high ceilings. Very industrial on the inside with a long bar and very comfortable chairs. Of course, this is where I found myself. As you can see from the pictures below, a very impressive line of taps and bottles just above.

On Wednesday, October 13th Brouwer's cleared all their tap lines and tapped 60 beers, all local. This was of course great as almost all of these I've never tasted nor heard about. Here is the lengthy list that got me and my new friends I met at the hostel drewling, I will post some reviews from that list in the next posts.

Iron Horse Brewing Co.: Fresh Hop IPA

2010-10-13T10:25:00.001-07:00

Fresh Hop IPA
Iron Horse Brewing Co.
416 N Main
Ellensburg, WA

I'm on vacation in Seattle! What a great city and what great views! Oh yeah, great beer, too! I'm going to be checking out a whole bunch of places/breweries and brewpubs and sharing them with you. The first place I stopped at last night was Brouwer's Cafe. What an unbelievable tap selection. 60 beers on tap! Most of these beers I can't get in Minnesota, so I'll be sharing quite a few beers with you. I'll add pictures of the joints I go to, so you all can check it out too! Time for some Seattle coffee....

Aroma: (10/12)
Really citrusy, mainly orange and mango. Some malt on the nose, but very little. Very green/fresh smelling - as would be expected.
Appearance: (3/3)
A hazy orange hue. Poured from the tap with a half-fingered head. Already fabulous lacing, even before the first sip.
Flavor: (18/20)
Wow! Very nice and somewhat strong hops upfront, but isn't too much of a punch in the face. You get the uber fresh hops upfront, in the middle, the malt rises to an almost Imperial IPA level. The finish is mostly hops of the citrus sort.
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Medium bodied as it almost tastes like a red or Imperial red.
Overall Impression: (10/10)
This beer is unbelievable! Almost a fresh hop Rye IPA. The citrus fresh hops dove-tail fantastically with the red/rye flavor. This beer does remind me of the Founders Red Rye for sure! Excellent work!
TOTAL: 46/50

Surly Brewing Co.: Wet 2010

2010-10-11T15:44:00.001-07:00

Wet IPA
Surly Brewing Co.
4811 Dusharme Drive
Brooklyn Center, MN

Aroma: (10/12)
The smell of fresh/wet hops hit the nose, first. The first thing to pop in my head is of a west-coast IPA. Citrusy nose, with some black pepper as well / some earthiness. Not a hop bomb on the nose, though.
Appearance: (3/3)
The Golden Ale is very clear and has a perfect golden hue for this style. Very clear and golden-hued. Obvious filtration utilized. Poured about a one-fingered head from the 16 oz. can. Head does dissipate quite quickly.
Flavor: (18/20)
Nice maltiness here to balance the hops. I get the malts on the front to middle of the tongue, the hops come to the forefront on the back end and at the aftertaste. Extremely fresh-tasting - as it was canned, yesterday.
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Some stickiness / dankness here; really nice. Very clean, with a light body.
Overall Impression: (9/10)
Extremely fresh and green-tasting. Reminiscent of the Furious backbone/malt. This isn't an uber hop bomb, but is extremely clean and refreshing. I have to try this on tap! On cask would be amazing....!
TOTAL: 45/50

Ballast Point Brewing Co.: Sculpin IPA

2010-10-01T07:33:00.001-07:00

Sculpin IPA
Ballast Point Brewing Co.
10051 Old Grove Rd.
San Diego, CA

Aroma: (11/12)
Amazing citrus and grapefruit leap out of the glass. I swirl the glass and the aroma hits me in the face from a distance. Very dank!
Appearance: (3/3)
Sculpin pours from the bomber with a one-fingered head that slowly dissipates. Laces glass on the way down, very well. Nice golden hue, with touches of copper in the middle.
Flavor: (18/20)
Wow! Lots of fruity hops. Pine is also fairly forward; melds well with the fruity varietals. The hops begin at the front and and continue through the end. The aftertaste continues for a long time! Nice and light finish.
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Light body as most IPA's are. The aftertaste is quite impressive and endless. Medium to high carbonation. Very clean.
Overall Impression: (10/10)
West Coast IPA all the way. Wow, this is one of the best IPA's I've ever had. Three Floyd's Dreadnaught is very close to this brew on many levels. Very clean, light, very hoppy and very citrusy. Fantastic!
TOTAL: 47/50

Summit Brewing Co.: Belgian Style Golden Ale

2010-09-23T18:41:00.001-07:00

Belgian Style Golden Ale
Summit Brewing Co.
910 Montreal Circle
St. Paul, MN

Aroma: (9/12)
Very slight orange this is complimented by the apparent malt, on the nose.
Appearance: (3/3)
The Golden Ale is very clear and has a perfect golden hue for this style. Very effervescent, with racing bubbles. Small and uniform bubbles.
Flavor: (16/20)
Big and malty as one would expect from a beer this style and ABV. Bold malt, but light enough not to do all the talking. I do get a fair amount of heat mid-tongue and afterwards.
Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Body is nice, medium and light. Alcohol does bite, middle through the end.
Overall Impression: (8/10)
The Golden Ale is a very clean and well-made beer. It is a bold move for Summit, which I appreciate. Definitely a sipper. I would only order on per sitting. To style, but not unique enough to purchase again!
TOTAL: 40/50

Central Waters Brewing Co.: Illumination Double IPA

2010-09-13T17:25:00.001-07:00

Illumination Double IPA
Central Waters Brewing Co.
351 Allen St.
Amherst, WI

Aroma: (8/12)
Very malty for a Double IPA. Surprisingly little hop aroma. Slightly reminds me of a barleywine. Some citrus, but very little.
Appearance: (2/3)
A quite cloudy orange. This beer looks like it could be a wheat beer.
Flavor: (16/20)
The taste is pretty malty up on the front of the tongue. Midway through, the hops show themselves. At the back end, it turns really hoppy and dry. Earthy hops as well as citrusy hops.
Mouthfeel: (4/5)
The mouthfeel is a little heavier than most DIPA's I've had. This version is definitely more malty and less crisp.
Overall Impression: (7/10)
This beer is a nice drinker, but the flavor isn't very crisp and the hops used in this brew would have benefitted from the usage of more citrusy, grapefruity varietals!
TOTAL: 37/50

New Glarus Brewing Co.: Dancing Man Wheat

2010-08-02T20:06:00.001-07:00

Dancing Man Wheat
New Glarus Brewing Co.
2400 State Hwy 69
New Glarus, WI

Aroma: (12/12)
Dancing Man Wheat is a Hefeweizen, the bottle states it is a "true Hefeweizen that is 100% bottle fermented". Just like the Hefe's in Germany I've had, the aroma is spot on with of banana and clove esters.
Appearance: (3/3)
A perfect straw color, hazy from the wheat and the bottling yeast. It poured very effervescently with bubbles racing to the top. A quick swirl brings back the head for a few minutes. Laces well.
Flavor: (19/20)
Oh, wow! The aroma brings me back to Germany with its spot-on aroma; the flavor does exactly the same. Great banana flavors, wheat malt present and there is a little tartness on the finish; perfect!
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
A nice medium body, as most Hefe's. As noted earlier, a little tartness on the back end, like true German Hefeweizens.
Overall Impression: (10/10)
This is by far the best American brewed Hefeweizen that I have ever had, not even close! Summit, Schell's, Flying Dog, Shiner and many others haven't even sniffed the level of perfection that New Glarus has created here! Brings me back to Munich!
TOTAL: 49/50

Ninkasi Brewing Co.: Total Domination IPA

2010-07-26T17:58:00.001-07:00

Total Domination IPA
Ninkasi Brewing Co.
272 Van Buren Street
Eugene, OR

Aroma: (10/12)
A nice earthy hop aroma. It isn't strong, pungent or over-powering at all; quite mellow, actually. Some hints of floral and citrus meld in as well...
Appearance: (3/3)
A beautiful gold / light copper color that is very typical of this style. Head is very healthy and fluffy. It sticks around extremely well and laces quite well, too.
Flavor: (17/20)
The flavor is very very nice. Nice and citrusy - it reminds me of a perfect summery, sunshined-filled day. The aroma is a mellowed version of the flavor. Quite flavorful and not overly in your face at all.
Mouthfeel: (4/5)
This beer isn't extremely crisp and clean, there are some malts here that increase the body nicely, but don't allow for that crispness in the flavor. Still very enjoyable, though.
Overall Impression: (8.5/10)
A very nice offering from Ninkasi. This IPA is extremely drinkable and not too hoppy. Although it isn't crisp, the flavor and aroma make this beer one to look for, if available in your area!
TOTAL: 42.5/50

Cascade Brewing Co.: 2008 Cascade Kriek Ale

2010-07-14T20:04:00.001-07:00

Cascade Kriek Ale
Cascade Brewing Co.
7424 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy
Portland, OR

Aroma: (11/12)
The aroma is that of a typical Flanders Ale that is blended with cherries; absolutely delectible! The sourness is very present in the nose, some oak as well. Fantastic!
Appearance: (3/3)
A beautiful dark ruby color. The bottle pours a nice fizzy head (almost champaigne-like), but it dissipates totally, very quickly.
Flavor: (16/20)
The sourness is right up-front on the tongue, then through the middle, the cherry flavor takes hold. It isn't strong, but definitely there. The back-end and aftertaste - the flavor sort of breaks down and becomes muddled.
Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Slightly thin body and somewhat champaigne-like; as you can feel the bubbles on your tongue...
Overall Impression: (8/10)
This beer comes with a lot of hype, as it has won the gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in the barrel aged sour beer category. The aroma is fantastic, but the flavor was above average for sure, but NOT fantastic. The only negative was from the middle to back end of the tongue, where the flavor broke down.
TOTAL: 42/50

GABF Medals by State

2010-07-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

***click map to enlarge***

Flying Dog Brewing Co.: In-Heat Wheat Hefe

2010-07-09T17:58:00.001-07:00

Hefeweizen
Flying Dog Brewing Co.
4607 Wedgewood Blvd
Frederick, MD

Aroma: (9/12)
An interesting smell from this Hefe, almost an aluminum-like aroma. No hints of banana or cloves at all. Not a lot of wheat undertones, either.
Appearance: (3/3)
The looks of this is spot on. Very deep straw color that can't be seen through. Head is great. Hefeweizens usually are highly carbonated and with the % of wheat, the head should and is destructible.
Flavor: (14/20)
I swear I can taste aluminum in this beer, and I should know; I use to brew with aluminum and this is the flavor that would sometimes sneak in. I got rid of that shit, right away! No banana or clove tastes in the least.
Mouthfeel: (3/5)

Mouthfeel is nice. Not as well-rounded as a hefe should be, though. Still, it's a tad velvety. A little lighter body than should be./span>
Overall Impression: (6/10)
After trying the Schell's Hefeweizen and being to Germany on a number of times, this beer is really bland and has no typical Hefeweizen anything. I wouldn't search this one out!
TOTAL: 35/50

Schell’s Brewing Co.: Hefeweizen

2010-07-07T19:03:00.001-07:00

Hefeweizen
Schell's Brewing Co.
1860 Schell Road
New Ulm, MN

Aroma: (11/12)
Awwwwwwe! The nose on this Hefe is a thing of beauty and brings me back to the biergarten in Munich! A wonderful banana and clove aroma. Not sure of the yeast strain used, but must be a German Hefeweizen strain. Fantastic!
Appearance: (3/3)
Pouring the first 10 ounces into the glass, the beer is mainly clear and golden hued, but after adding in the last two ounces by swirling the beer to pick-up the yeast at the bottom of the glass, the beer turns a straw color that is nice and cloudy - the hallmark for a Hefeweizen.
Flavor: (18/20)
Even after the first sip, I can already tell this is one of the better American-made hefe's I ever had. The wheat flavor, together with the German hefe yeast, creates the beautiful banana flavors - while being oh so smooth.
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Medium-bodied, this hefe isn't light by any means. The color says light, but the wheat will fill the stomach up rather quickly. Highly carbonated and creates a velvety smooth mouthfeel!
Overall Impression: (9/10)
Schell's is the second oldest family-owned/run brewery in America, and the German town of New Ulm, MN is where it all happens. They knock this German hefeweizen out of the park. When summer comes, there's not a style of beer that I reach for more, than a hefeweizen. Thank Mr. Schneider for revitilizing this style of beer in Munich. A great patio beer, with a touch of banana to please.
TOTAL: 46/50

Town Hall Brewery: AmeriBelg Pale Ale

2010-07-01T06:44:00.001-07:00

AmeriBelg Pale Ale

Town Hall Brewery

1430 Washington Ave S

Minneapolis, MN

Aroma: (10/12)

The first thing to hit me was the citrusy nose, then the Belgian yeast aromas. Nice and light; summery.

Appearance: (3/3)

From the tap, the beer came to my table with maybe a 1/2 finger of head (see picture). The color of the beer light copper, as would be expected. Zero lacing.

Flavor: (17/20)

Very interesting! This is definitely a pale ale at the very front of the pallette, and then it migrates into a saison mid-pallette, with a peppery and slightly dry finish.

Mouthfeel: (5/5)

Pale ale = light, so no surprise here. A pleasant and dry finish. Medium carbonation on the tongue - brings the peppery flavor forward at the end.

Overall Impression: (8.5/10)

This is a very nice and pleasant treat on the patio. It speaks of summer, and I like it! The Belgian addition to this pale ale was done very artfully and I could session this beer all night!

TOTAL: 43.5/50

Great River Brewing Co.: 483 Pale Ale

2010-06-28T17:44:00.001-07:00

483 Pale Ale
Great River Brewing Co.
410 E 2nd St.
Davenport, IA

Aroma: (7/12)
The aroma is almost not present. Very slight floral.
Appearance: (1/3)
A golden hue. Pours from tap with very little head, but the head has large bubbles and totally disappears after a minute.
Flavor: (12/20)
Not crisp and sort of non-descript. Pretty bland.
Mouthfeel: (2/5)
Slick and even thin for a pale ale. Almost flat.
Overall Impression: (5/10)
A very bland and uninspired brew. Would not purchase again!!
TOTAL: 27/50

Odell Brewing Co.: Woodcut #4

2010-06-22T19:43:00.001-07:00

Woodcut #4
Odell Brewing Co.
800 E Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO

Aroma: (11/12)
A very nice malty aroma is the first thing that is apparent. Has no presense of hotness or sweetness. Almost a barleywine characteristic. Raisins and apricot hints...
Appearance: (3/3)
The Woodcut #4 is a nice light brown hue, much like a copper. A very healthy head poured from the bottle and sticks around, probably two fingers worth Lacing on the glass is minimal.
Flavor: (18/20)
Well, contrary to the aroma, the flavor definitely has a huge malt backbone and the heat from the alcohol is definitely there, but not overly so. Sweetness makes itself known.
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
The body from this oak-aged lager is medium to medium heavy. There is some dryness on the back end, but definitely would not be considered a dry beer.
Overall Impression: (9/10)
Odell has done a great job on their Woodcut #4 Oak-Aged Double Marzen. Clocking in at 11%, it is a big beer, but this gem comes off very smooth! Slight hints of vanilla from the oak adds great texture and complexity.
TOTAL: 46/50

New Glarus Brewing Co.: Crack’d Wheat

2010-06-16T17:08:00.000-07:00

Crack’d Wheat
New Glarus Brewing Co.
2400 State Hwy 69
New Glarus, WI

Aroma: (11/12)
The nose is an interesting combination of Hefeweizen (banana and cloves) and Pale ale (citrus and floral). This aroma emminates summer and sunshine!
Appearance: (3/3)
A very nice straw color, on the order of a hefeweizen. The head is a big one, probably two fingers. Head sticks around for a long time and the lacing is quite impressive.
Flavor: (18/20)
Wow! This is one beautiful beer! The German-trained Master brewer has hit a homerun with this one. It's amazing how it starts out on the front end as a pale ale and then on the back, it ends as a hefeweizen.
Mouthfeel: (5/5)
The mouthfeel is extremely smooth, with a touch of bitterness, but not dry at all. I could swirl this around in my mouth for a long time before swallowing!
Overall Impression: (9/10)
Dan Carey is one of America's great brewers! He brews German style beers like no other. What a thirst quenching brew from one of the best breweries this country has to offer!
TOTAL: 45/50

Cantillon Brewing Co.: Rose de Gambrinus

2010-05-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

Rose de Gambrinus

Cantillon Brewing Co.

Rue Gheude Straat 56

Brussels, Belgium

Aroma: (11/12)
Very fruity with big raspberry aromas. This reminds me of the

New Glarus Raspberry tart.

Appearance: (3/3)

Just the appearance of this beer invites me to drink it! It's

bright red in color,tiny-bubbled, one fingered rose-colored

head with bubbles racing to the top - very effervescent

and champaigne-like.

Flavor: (19/20)
The raspberry forward aroma dominates, but not in the flavor.

The tartness starts at the front of the tongue, raspberries

through the middle and the sourness at the back of the tongue -

with a touch a funkiness. Absolutely wonderful and

balanced!

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
The lambic style lends to a light mouthfeel with high

carbonation, this beer definitely is that. The sourness

on the back of the tongue is awesome.

Overall Impression: (10/10)

This lambic is absolutely fantastic. Everything you would
want in a Belgian lambic and more. Not sweet, like most
American versions and Lindeman Framboise. The balance
is perfect and the best I've had as yet.

TOTAL: 48/50

Oskar Blues Brewing Co.: Gubna Imperial IPA

2010-03-31T06:44:00.000-07:00

Gubna Imperial IPA
Oskar Blues Brewing Co.
303 Main Street
Lyons, CO

Aroma: (10/12)
Hoppy, but not as hoppy as I would have expected from an
Imperial IPA. An interesting aroma and mix of pine and
pineapple. There is also a small grassy component as well.

Appearance: (3/3)

A light gold color, probably the lightest imperial IPA

I've seen thus far. Very bubbly and effervescent. Small

bubbles create a one fingered head that really lasts. Very

nice lacing on glass.

Flavor: (16/20)
Wow, first sip is very hoppy. From the front of the
tongue to the back, I get pine. Taste doesn't change from
the front to the back, either. Seems a little one-
dimensional.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)

Body is light and the finish is dry, as would be expected

from an imperial IPA. Mouth seems coated and slick after

sips, maybe from hop oils.

Overall Impression: (8/10)

This beer comes with hype and I know I shouldn't judge

against that; I've tried not to. The Gubna was pretty good,

but definitely isn't in the upper tier of imperial IPA's. It shows

little complexity.

TOTAL: 41/50

Three Floyds Brewing Co.: Dreadnaught Imperial IPA

2010-03-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

Dreadnaught Imperial IPA

Three Floyds Brewing Co.

9750 Indiana Pkwy

Munster, IN

Aroma: (11/12)
Right when I opened this beer I could smell
the hoppy aromas! Extremely nice grapefruit
and pine aroma. Smells great from the get-go!

Appearance: (3/3)

A very mighty 1 to 2 finger head from bomber pour.

Usually hoppy beers tend to have less head, but not

this guy. Head is fleeting, though. Laces fantastically.

Flavor: (19/20)
Oh yeah! The fruity and piney flavors hit you right
away and increases through aftertaste - the hop flavors
continues to grow. What a fantastic brew, from crisp
malts to the hop heaven.

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Light malts create a light body with some creaminess after
sipping and rolling around the tongue - nice! The end is
dry, but not as much as I would have thought from an
Imperial IPA.

Overall Impression: (10/10)

If you like hops and Imperial IPA's, you must try this beer.
What a fantastically concocted beer. One of the best
Imperial IPA's I've ever put my lips on. Wow!

TOTAL: 48/50

Oskar Blues Brewing Co.: Dale's Pale Ale

2010-03-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

Dales's Pale Ale
Oskar Blues Brewing Co.
303 Main Street
Lyons, CO

Aroma: (10/12)
A nice light and crisp nose. There almost seems to be
some citrus or coriander as well. Slight hop aroma.

Appearance: (2/3)
A light golden color. The head when poured from the
can wasn't very present at all and it dissipated very
quickly!

Flavor: (16/20)
It is very crisp, the hops do come forward at the end.
When I opened the can, there was very little sound/
carbonation and tastes somewhat flat.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)

Fairly light as would be expected. Somewhat dry finish,

but very nicely done.

Overall Impression: (8/10)

Dale's Pale Ale has been fairly hyped as a very good

example of the style. I found it very enjoyable, although not

great. Flavors could be more crisp and the hop bite at the end

outshines the malt.

TOTAL: 40/50

Summit Brewing Co.: India Rye Ale

2010-03-12T07:38:00.000-08:00

India Rye Ale

Summit Brewing Co.

910 Montreal Circle

St. Paul, MN

Aroma: (10/12)
A very nice malty presence; together
with medium hoppy aroma. Rye is
definitely distinguishable!

Appearance: (3/3)
Color is a burnt sienna. Head is a one-
fingered creation. It dissipates rather
quickly, but is recreated with a nice
swirl. Nice compact bubbles.

Flavor: (17/20)
Interesting marriage of chocolate malt
and rye malts. The hops do make
themselves known, towards the end
or even mid-tongue. The malt flavors
seem to dove-tail nicely with the hop
flavors - creating a very enjoyable brew.
Not a crisp rye finish, but more of a
malty finish.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)

Fairly light; similar and right within style of

an IPA or Rye IPA. Slight dryness, but not too

much at all.

Overall Impression: (8/10)
A very interesting offering from Summit and

brewer Mike Lundell. The flavor of malts and hops

work well together in a strange and intriguing way.

I would have thought this would be fairly crisp,

but the finish is more malty.

TOTAL: 42/50

Rogue Brewing Co.: Captain Sig's Northwestern Ale

2010-02-04T06:47:00.000-08:00

Captain Sig's Northwestern Ale

Rogue Brewing Co.

2320 OSU Drive

Newport, OR
BJCP Category?

Aroma: (10/12)
A very slight citrus nose. I kept searching for more characteristics,
but couldn't come up with any.

Appearance: (3/3)
A very nice dark copper/red hue. Pours a half-finger head from
the tap. The head persists pretty well.

Flavor: (16/20)
A definite red ale. The hops are there upfront, but nothing
overpowering at all. The initial bite fades quickly. I wonder
if there is rye in here, because the finish is pretty dry.
Slight fruity interludes.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)

Body is fairly light, but does have a malty backbone after the hops.

Maybe a tad soapy or slick.

Overall Impression: (8/10)
This Rogue is a nice offering. The possible rye in here has added
a nice peppery and dry finish. It doesn't stand out from others,
but is very sessionable. Solid.

TOTAL: 41/50

The Bruery: Saison Rue

2010-01-28T07:19:00.000-08:00

Saison Rue

The Bruery

715 Dunn Way

Placentia, CA
16C. Saison

Aroma: (10/12)
A very spicy nose. I can detect the presence of
Brettanomyces. Some slight peppery wafting (yes,
I used that word).

Appearance: (3/3)
Color is a fantastic straw color, but you can still
see through it, unlike a straw-colored hefeweizen.
Very nice and persistant head. Very small bubbles.
Definitely not filtered, sediment due to bottle
conditioning.

Flavor: (17/20)

Definite bourbon-alcohol burn up front and at

the very end. Bourbon is furthest up front and

masks the base beer, but is still fantastic.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
A nice and light beer. Very easy to drink. Pretty
dry at the end - as would be expected from most
saisons.

Overall Impression: (8/10)
This beer is definitely tasty, but it seems to be
lacking complexity. It is brewed well, but doesn't
have the characteristics to move this beer higher.

TOTAL: 42/50

Example of Mapping Beer Sales

2010-01-25T08:15:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I've exploring the idea of mapping beer sales and like ideas to get a better idea of where things are selling. This is just an example and I am using Summit and Horizon Red Ale as just an example, this map is not based on any sales data at all, only for purposes of me mapping possibilities. I used Madison Wisconsin as the example area. I've been toying with the idea of putting my mapping skills and profession into something like this.

Let me know what you think about this idea of mapping beer sales/data.....

Click HERE to view large map.

Town Hall Brewery: Festivus

2010-01-04T07:17:00.000-08:00

Festivus

Town Hall Brewery

1430 Washington Ave. S

Minneapolis, MN

21A. Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer

Aroma: (11/12)
Big chocolate up front, that is complimented by lots of coffee.

Appearance: (3/3)
Dark black with only slight ruby around the edges. Pours a one-
fingered head from the tap and subsides very quickly; slight lacing.

Flavor: (18/20)
The first thing to hit the tongue is the amount of coffee in this brew!
At the back-end, some chocolate is present, but not much. As it
warms, coffee flavor intensifies.

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Medium bodied, lighter than an oatmeal stout, but not watery at all.

Overall Impression: (9/10)
This is a fantastic beer...if you like coffee. It is very coffee-forward
with chocolate aromas. Coffee does over-power stout base, though.

TOTAL: 46/50

Goose Island Brewing Co.: Bourbon County Stout

2009-12-30T08:39:00.000-08:00

Bourbon County Stout

Goose Island Brewing Co.

1800 West Fulton St.

Chicago, IL 60612
22C. Wood-Aged Beer

Aroma: (11/12)
Has possible dried fruit; figs or prunes, etc..
I do catch a little burboun in the nose.

Appearance: (3/3)
This beer even looks viscous! From the tap,
it poured very thick with little to no head and
was jet black! No lacing.

Flavor: (18/20)

Definite bourbon-alcohol burn up front and at

the very end. Bourbon is furthest up front and

masks the base beer, but is still fantastic.

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Thicker than used motor oil and more of a bite
than it too (can't say I've tasted it, though)!
Big heavy bodied beer. Coats the tongue like
none other.

Overall Impression: (9/10)
A fantastic beer, but you really have to like
bourbon, because it is definitely not masked
in the background; very bourbon forward!
Too much for me, but I can still appreciated
this extremely well-made beer.

TOTAL: 46/50

Surly Brewing Company: Smoke

2009-12-28T05:10:00.000-08:00

Smoke
Surly Brewing Co.
4811 Dusharme Drive
Brooklyn Park, MN

22B. Other Smoked Beer

Aroma: (10/12)
Slight roasted hints, nothing over the top at all.
No hops evident. As beer warms, the presence
of smoked malt comes alive (only became apparent
after warming up).

Appearance: (2.5/3)
Deep black hue with no ruby color on the edges.
Decent head, but it waves a quick
goodbye; very little to no lacing at all.

Flavor: (17/20)
Roasted grain up front with very little to no smoked
malt noticeable. No bitterness and very smooth.
Tastes very similar to a Schwartzbier.
After waiting a bit for this beer to warm, there IS a slight
smoked flavor that arises.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Very nice and smooth and medium-bodied. There
seems to be a touch of oatmeal in this recipe, because
of the creaminess, but it actually wasn't added into the
grain bill.

Overall Impression: (8/10)
This Surly offering was very good, but definitely not
exceptional. I didn't pick up the smoked Bamburg
malts until the beer really warmed up and didn't pick
up any oak notes at all.

TOTAL: 41.5/50

Left Hand Brewing Co.: Fade to Black

2009-12-03T06:35:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-01T07:55:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-18T11:43:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-17T06:34:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

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