Beer, Barleywine & Brews

Moylan's Brewery - Moylander Double IPA

2011-06-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

Moylan's Brewery "Moylander Double IPA" pours a clear copper in color with an orangish tint, ample head lacing is minimal. Smell initial malt aromas a bit of a surprise from an IIPA even given the notes on the bottle. Expected more of the piney and citrusy hops up front. Taste has similar notes, caramel malts are more prevalent than the piney hops. Crisp feel initially, with some oiliness. I guess overall, Moylan's does not disappoint with "Moylander Double IPA", it fits squarely in the style, and drinks well.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.5%

Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd. - Wee Heavy

2011-06-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

Belhaven's "Wee Heavy" initially appears dark brown or black, but when held to light is a deep dark red. Solid one finger head that leaves minimal lacing very small bubbles. It is definitely malty on the nose, some fruit apparent as well. A really enjoyable aroma. Taste is similar with fruitiness and maltiness. Balance is the name of the game here. A bit of a creamy feel, with a light and tight carbonation. some dryness on the finish. Overall Belhaven's "Wee Heavy" really doesn't disappoint, a nice drinkable beer, nicely balanced.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.5%

Avery Brewing Company - The Czar

2011-06-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

Avery Brewing Company's "The Czar" pours a deep dark black opaque, tannish golden head of one finger that dissipated to a nice crown. It smells of a nice roasted malt aroma, with some hop characteristics finding their way through. The taste is malts again, very prevalent, some crisp bitterness on the finish. Feel has a crisp carbonation, and an oily finish. Overall "The Czar" is as drinkable as the style can be given the sweetness and abv's prevalent. A good imperial stout though I typically prefer a bit more balance of hops to the malts.

Rating: Better

ABV: 11.03%

Bass Brewers Limited - Bass Pale Ale

2011-06-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

Pours a deep reddish copper color with a little tan head. Smell is malty flavorings initially of banana, little hops to speak of. Taste is crisp, malty, some late hop notes. Feel has great carbonation, medium in feel, some oilyness. Overall a very good sessionable beer.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.0%

Ska Brewing Company - ESB Special Ale

2011-05-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

Pours from the can a nice copper color little haze, with an off white two and a half finger head that laces enough, but dissipated pretty quickly. Smell pine notes initially with some malty sweetness following. Taste is crisp and piney followed with some roasted malt flavors. Feel is crisp yet very oily, good carbonation. Great drinking beer, very enjoyable, not too stout.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.7%

Alaskan Brewing Company - White

2011-05-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

Pours somewhat hazy, golden blonde in color with a slightly off white, tiny bubbled head that dissipated quicker than expected given the two fingered amount. Smell is definitely banana and spices with some breadiness. Taste spices and citrus, a lttle graininess. Nice crisp feel, carbonation is just right. Overall enjoyable beer, definitely drinkable.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.3%

Schmaltz Brewing Company (He'Brew) - Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah (13)

2011-05-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

Pours a motor oil black with a lighter than anticipated yellowish golden head that dissipates quickly, bubbles are small. Smell initial notes of brown sugar, alcohol presence is noted. Taste is coffee, caramel and chocolate. Full bodied feel, with some oiliness and light carbonation. As drinkable as the style allows, given the ABV, good overall.

Rating: Better

ABV: 13.0%

Southampton Publick House - Southampton IPA

2011-05-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

Pours golden with a slight bit of copper coloring, head was one finger that stuck around quite a while and leaves ample lacing. Smell is initially yeasts and cakey aromas, followed by some citrus and banana notes. Tastes cakey, with the banana following, some citrus and pine notes. Big feel with light carbonation, oiliness on the finish. Very drinkable, very enjoyable, nice balance.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.5%

Schmaltz Brewing Company (He'Brew) - Genesis Ale

2011-05-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

Pours a nice brownish copper color, head is one finger and dissipated quickly. Smell malts initially, with hints of raisin, hops character brings grapefruit, well balanced, just not very bold with the flavors. Taste malts again on the front, hops are less characterized in the taste than the smell. Good feel some oililiness, not super carbonated or crisp. Good drinkable beer, enjoyable, would like something with a little more bold flavorings.

Rating: Good

ABV: 5.6%

Rogue Ales - Chocolate Stout

2011-05-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

Pours a deep dark opaque brown, with little 1/2 finger head that laces well. Smell cocoa and chocolate on the nose, some hops crispness in the back. Taste again cocoa and chocolate, with bitterness and crispness on the finish. Feel crisp carbonation, very tight, with some slight oiliness on the finish. Not real drinkable for me due to the sweetness and chocolaty flavors, but good for the designed taste.

Rating: Good

ABV: 6.0%

Rogue Ales - Double Dead Guy

2011-05-20T08:12:00.000-07:00

Nice deep copper color, very clear, pours a nice two finger head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma opens with some caramel malts, followed by some slight pine notes of hops. Taste is very crisp initially, malts sweetness, with some crisp pine notes, overall nice balance. Feel is good with tight and crisp carbonation that transitions to an oiliness on the finish. Overall nice drinkability, very balanced and a good overall beer.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.0%

Deschutes Brewery - Hop Trip (Bond Street Series)

2011-05-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

Beautiful glowing copper color. Very clear and bright. One finger head that dissipated quickly not any noticeable lacing on the pint glass. Smell of pine and grapefruit on the nose, some malts balance very nicely. Taste pine and grapefruit again, but again very balanced. Great feel, nice carbonation, ample oiliness and feel. Great taste not overly sweet or bitter, great drinkability.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.5%

Odell Brewing Company - India Barley Wine

2011-05-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

Darker copper color, with a light brown head that laced slightly in the glass. Some sweet malts presenting as banana, but the primary aroma is from the hops, grapefruit mostly. Taste is crisp pine followed with sweetness and some alcohol. Initially very carbonated but by the second pour carbonation was mostly gone. Enjoyable beer, abv limits repeatability, though i will drink again. Would like to try this aged several more months.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.7%

Odell Brewing Company - Mountain Standard Reserve

2011-05-14T13:57:00.001-07:00

Deep, very dark brown with a slight off white head that left some lacing on my snifter. Smell is a hoppy citrusy aroma, with some finishing malts on the end. Taste is very similar to the smell with a nice balanced flavor, citrusy hops up front and malt sweetness finishing. Light carbonation, gentle feel, soft finish. Good feel, and taste. Good balanced beer.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.5%

Goose Island Beer Company - Bourbon County Brand Stout

2011-05-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

Deep dark used motor oil black, poured an abysmal 1/2 inch head, that dissipated quickly with little to no crown in the pint glass. Smell, bourbon is more muted than expected, malts are vary prevalent, with coffee and caramel being the primary aromas. Taste is malty more than bourbon-y, definitely chocolaty with coffee and caramel, some bitters on the tail end. Very tight carbonation, with some crispness and dryness to it. Very sweet, and the ABV don't lend to true sessionablity though I could drink it several nights in a row.

Rating: Better

ABV: 13.0%

Avery Brewing Company - Hog Heaven Barley Wine

2011-05-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

Deep dark copper color, clear, with ample tan head and some minimal lacing on my snifter. Great pine and citrus aromas, followed with some definite malt sweetness. Taste is again hoppy with pine and grapefruit, followed by some brown sugar and caramel on the finish. Great feel, with a nice carbonation, and some oiliness on the finish. Overall great, very balanced beer with great character, abv the only thing keeping this from sessionability.

Rating: Best

ABV: 9.2%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Anniversary Ale (2007-2009)

2011-05-14T13:43:00.000-07:00

Darker in color than some IPA's, pours a copper/golden/amber color with ample tan head of about 3 fingers, laces nicely on my snifter. Faint notes of pine on the nose, not overly aromatic. Taste is again pine, with some malty presence following, almost caramel. Feel is crisp on the front and oily on the finish. Nice sessionable beer, not super bold on the aromas or the flavors, but enough to keep it good.

Rating: Good

ABV: 5.9%

The Lost Abbey - Avant Garde

2011-05-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

Pours a nice reddish brown copper color with an off white head that laces decently and dissipates quickly. Not very strong aromas, but some biscuity malt followed with some apple. Taste is similar to smell with some dryness and crispness. Dry feel with some good carbonation that doesn't stick around long. Drinkable for sure, but not one I'm going after really often.

Rating: Good

ABV: 7.0%

Brouwerij St Bernardus NV - St. Bernardus Prior 8

2011-05-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

Deep, hazy, dark brown, with a large off white head that laces nicely. Smells of banana and cocoa with a definite presence of alcohol. Taste is cocoa malts and sweetness up front, banana and alcohol on the end. Feel is very tight up front on the tongue, finishes almost flat, thick, alcohol very warming. Nice beer not overly drinkable or sessionable.

Rating: Good

ABV: 8.0%

Bear Republic Brewing Co. - Racer 5 India Pale Ale

2011-05-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

Poured a hazy(bottle conditioned) golden color, with little head, and not any retention past about a second. Great aromas of hops, specifically citrus and pine did not notice a strong malt presence. Taste is crisp pine notes, with grapefruit finish. Crisp feel, little carbonation, some oiliness. Enjoyable, and very drinkable. Nothing keeping me from downing a sixer of these.

Rating: Best

ABV: 7.0%

Paulaner Brauerei GmbH & Co. KG - Paulaner Original Munchner

2011-05-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

Pours a golden, apple juice color, with a limited amount of head. Smells grassy, with some amount of lemony aroma. Taste is much like the smell with the grassiness up front and the citrus following. Love the crisp dry nature of the feel. Very drinkable, could definitely enjoy quite a few of these on a poker night.

Rating: Good

ABV: 4.9%

Brouwerij Het Anker - Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor

2011-05-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

Pours a golden yellow with some haziness, extremely large white head, dissipates gradually, leaves beautiful lacing. Smell has a faint citrus aromas of lemon, grassiness, and the definite Belgian yeastiness, as it warms the strong aroma changes from the yeastiness to the citrus. Taste is again lemony with a cakey aftertaste. Feel is sharp and crisp, tight, with ample carbonation. Definitely enjoyable and drinkable, watch the ABV, though not extreme.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.0%

Ska Brewing Company - Decadent Imperial IPA

2011-05-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Pours really much redder than expected, deep amber/copper color with ample tan head. Smell alcohol as really the first aroma, followed by malts, very sweet smelling. Taste again has alcohol up front, followed by malts and sweetness, some hoppy bitterness on the end. Nice feel, very oily with ample carbonation. Not as drinkable as some of the same style, enjoyable, though quite sweet and the abv does not lend to extreme drinkability.

Rating: Good

ABV: 10.0%

Moylans Brewery - Hopsickle Imperial Pale Ale

2011-05-14T12:19:00.000-07:00

Pours a nice clear copper color, with an ample tan head that dissipates quickly. Smooth citrus notes of grapefruit, with pine following in the aroma. Taste of pine is most prominent with the citrus as a follower. Feel tight, strong carbonation with an oily finish. Drinkable given the obvious fact of the alcohol content, other than that i could drink these for days.

Rating: Best

ABV: 9.2%

Wychwood Brewing Company Ltd - Hobgoblin

2011-05-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

I first had this beer in college, when a group of us went across from Johnson City, TN to Boone, NC to get good beer that wasn't available to us in Tennessee. I don't think I appreciated the beer near as much as I should have back then, but it was a cool bottle. This time around I was able to really sip, enjoy and finally review it. Here is what I came up with.

Pours a deep, dark brown/ruby almost black, clear color. One finger of sligtly off-white head that dissipates quickly to a thin crown. Smell is bananas, raisins, sweet malts. Taste is similar to the smell though not quite as bold, a little bit spicier. Light carbonation, with a dry finish, little aftertaste. Drinkable for sure, sweetness is not over powering, very balanced and full flavored.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.2%