Beer Review: Russian River - Pliny the Elder

Russian River Brewing Co.
Pliny the Elder
Double IPA
8% ABV

Appearance: Pours a clear yellow orange with a light and bubbly two and a half fingers of white foam.

Smell: Orange, tangerine, pine, and some earthy spiciness with a bit of sugary sweetness.

Taste: Follows the nose with grapefruit and  pine and an earthy, spicy finish. Very well balanced with a little hit of alcohol as the beer warms. 

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, crisp, and refreshing.

Overall, this is a really solid double IPA. Currently the third highest rated beer on BeerAdvocate.com, I really had to keep my expectations in check on this one as I've been trying to get my hands on a bottle ever since I became an IPA junkie about a year ago. At first it didn't really blow me away. The aroma, while pleasant, wasn't really unique or particularly outstanding in any way. The taste was similar in that it was certainly enjoyable but nothing terribly interesting or exclusive. But then the beer warmed up a bit and surprisingly revealed itself as the extremely balanced and well-made beer that it is. It's not a hop bomb like so many IPAs released today. Instead, it quietly impresses you with its subtlety and balance. Despite this, I have to admit that it does fall short of it's legendary status but through no fault of it's own. It's still a beautifully made beer that I wound never turn down and if more easily available, would be one that I would likely return to often.

4 out of 5

Beer Review: Goose Island - Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout

Goose Island Beer Co.
Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout
Imperial Stout
14.3% ABV

2012 Vintage - Intelligentsia La Tortuga Coffee Beans

Appearance: Pours an opaque black with a scant finger of reddish-tan foam.

Smell: Oak, vanilla, light coffee, baking chocolate, dark cherry, and raisins.

Taste: Follows the nose but much more robust and complex. Oak, vanilla, bitter, roasted coffee, burnt caramel, earthy, spicy, smoky and salty with some bourbon alcohol notes. The coffee is certainly there but it doesn't hit you over the head with it's presence. I've heard that the fresher you drink this, the stronger the coffee is in both the flavor and aroma.

Mouthfeel: On the heavier side with a spicy and acidic finish, presumably from the coffee beans integrated in the brewing process.

Overall, this was not quite as legendary as I was hoping for. I'd been trying to find a bottle of this (or any Bourbon County stout, really) for quite some time and the hype surrounding it was pretty extensive. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very good barrel-aged stout, but there are many others that I have enjoyed much more. I like that it's complex and quite easy to drink at a whopping 14.3% ABV (the highest of any beer I've ever had) but I didn't care for the acidic/bitter/salty flavors that were very front and center, in my opinion. And while I hate to bring the price of the bottle into a beer review, I feel that at $22 a bottle it certainly warrants mentioning. The point is, I've had much better stouts for half that price and this is one that, while I'm glad I tried it, I won't be purchasing again. I will however try the other variants (Cherry Rye in particular) if and when I come across them.

4 out of 5

Beer Review: Lakefront - 25th Anniversary Imperial Stout

Lakefront Brewery
25th Anniversary Imperial Stout
Imperial Stout
10% ABV

Appearance: Pours a black-brown with reddish highlights and over three fingers of bubbly tan foam that sticks to the sides of the glass. A beautiful looking stout.

Smell: Semi-tart cherries, coffee, oak, vanilla, and dark chocolate.

Taste: Follows the nose almost exactly with lots of semi-tart cherries, coffee, oak, roasted malt, and cocoa powder. Absolutely no alcohol present in the flavor, even after it warms up substantially.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, creamy and smooth, with a nice tart bite that mellows out as the beer warms.

Overall, this is a really enjoyable and unique imperial stout. The addition of cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, and pureed cherries were quite interesting and added a nice complexity to the aroma and taste. I loved that this was strong and flavorful but also very easy to drink with no heat whatsoever from the 10% ABV. With their 25th Anniversary Imperial Stout Lakefront offers us an impressive, expertly crafted, and affordable brew that I would not hesitate to purchase again. Well done!

4.5 out of 5

Beer Review: Firestone Walker - Parabola

Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Parabola 
Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout
13% ABV
2013 Vintage

Appearance: Pours pitch black with a finger and a half of tan foam that dissipates rather quickly.

Smell: The nose consists primarily of bourbon, oak, and vanilla but also contains more subtle aromas of baking chocolate, coffee, and caramel.

Taste: Much like the smell, the bourbon dominates here. This one's pretty boozy but there's a lot more going on than just the alcohol. Dark fruits (plum, raisins, and cherries), black licorice, caramel, earthy spiciness, bitter chocolate, light coffee, oak, and vanilla all blend together to create an intoxicating concoction.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly lighter, semi-oily mouthfeel with a nice little bit of carbonation. In general though, very creamy and velvety.

Overall, this is a fantastic barrel-aged stout that's complex, flavorful and a great bottle to share with beer-loving friends or family. The wonderful thing about this beer is that while it is quite intense in terms of flavor and alcohol, it's also a very easy sipper. If that makes any sense. Like a fine cognac, Parabola is meant to be slowly enjoyed and appreciated. It's a beer that you can take long pauses in between sips and, as cheesy as it sounds, let your mind wander, discovering all the aromas and flavors within. Seriously, this can be a form of meditation. Mediation through beer. I think I may be onto something.

5 out of 5

Beer Review: Dark Horse - Artic Dekoorc Eert

Dark Horse Brewing Co.
Artic Dekoorc Eert
American IPA
6.5% ABV

Appearance: Pours a glowing hazy orange with three fingers of off-white foam.

Smell: Orange marmalade, tangerine, grapefruit, pine, and a bit of earthy spiciness.

Taste: Orange and grapefruit rind, piney, nutty, and earthy spice. Nicely balanced with the perfect amount of bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied, crisp and dry.

Overall, this is a great IPA from a brewery that I'm happily starting to see a lot more of lately here in Illinois. Part of their single hop Crooked Tree series, this particular one spotlights the highly popular Citra hop. While I feel Citra is a bit overplayed in the current market, it is a really solid hop varietal and in the hands of a good brewery can yield great results. Such is the case with Artic Dekoorc Eert (Citra Crooked Tree spelled backwards, in case you hadn't already figured that out). It's flavorful, balanced, and easy to drink at a perfect 6.5% ABV. It's not quite as remarkable as Zombie Dust (also about 6.5% and brewed with Citra) but
all comparisons aside, it's a fantastic beer that can hold it's own
against the best IPAs out there. Cheers to Dark Horse.

Beer Review: Sierra Nevada - Narwhal

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Narwhal
Imperial Stout
10.2% ABV

Appearance: Pours an opaque black with brown highlights. Over three fingers of bubbly and creamy tan foam with great retention.

Smell: Not a whole lot going on here. Light roasted coffee and dark chocolate. As the beer warms, it becomes slightly more aromatic, bringing out notes of dark fruit such as currant.

Taste: Baking chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, a medley of dark fruits (plums, raisins, currants). Finishes somewhat boozy with hints of black licorice and oak.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, somewhat of a lighter mouthfeel but still nice and creamy with the perfect amount of carbonation.

Overall, I really enjoyed this imperial stout from Sierra Nevada. This bottle was probably a good 9 months old and actually had some nice barrel-aged characteristics to it. Smooth, creamy, complex, and fairly balanced with solid but not overpowering heat from the alcohol. I do wish it were more aromatic but it more than makes up for it in the flavor department. The cold winter months are typically dubbed stout season but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a great stout under the summer sun. I'm looking forward to picking up more of this delicious black brew when it's released again this Fall.

4.5 out of 5

Beer Review: Founders - KBS

Founders Brewing Co.
KBS
Imperial Stout
11.2% ABV

Appearance: Pours an opaque black with two and a half fingers of rich, tan foam.

Smell: Bourbon, vanilla, oak, earthiness, baking chocolate, and lightly roasted coffee.

Taste: Follows the nose with bitter chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, coffee, oak, a bit of sweet vanilla and lots of great bourbon flavor. Not overly boozy. Just right.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and silky smooth with a semi-dry oaky finish and fairly low carbonation.

Wow. I have to say that even after all of the hype surrounding this beer, I was still impressed. I was sort of expecting to be disappointed, assuming that this was just another one of those beers that quickly became overrated. Definitely not the case with KBS. It deserves all of the accolades it has received. I only wish it wasn't so hard to acquire as it is quite simply one of the top 5 best stouts I've ever had. Complex, flavorful, smooth, well-balanced, not too boozy (despite it's high ABV) and just an all-around pleasure to drink. The quintessential barrel aged stout.
Liquid perfection.

5 out of 5

Beer Review: Ballast Point - Big Eye

Ballast Point Brewing Co.
Big Eye
American IPA
7% ABV

Appearance: Pours a clear amber with three fingers of creamy beige foam.

Smell:  A clean lemon and pine aroma cuts through a sugary, sweet citrus (orange, pineapple and grapefruit) backdrop.

Taste: Much like Sculpin, this is a bitter beast. Lots of pine, floral notes, grapefruit rind, and a bit of a soapy lemon flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, crisp and tingly carbonation that coats the tongue.

Overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit. It's definitely a bold and bitter IPA and, like Sculpin (it's bigger brother), it teeters on being unbalanced. But as intense as it is, it's also bursting with flavor. It makes me want to give Sculpin another go. I rated it fairly low the first (and only) time I've had it. Now that I know what to expect from a Ballast Point IPA (big bitterness!) and now that there isn't that huge hype hanging over the bottle, I feel like I'll find Sculpin a lot more enjoyable. As for Big Eye, I would definitely pick up this beer again.

4.5 out of 5

Beer Review: Potosi - Snake Hollow IPA

Potosi Brewing Co.
Snake Hollow
American IPA
7% ABV

Appearance: Pours a crystal clear golden orange with three fingers of creamy, bubbly white foam.

Smell: Honey, light floral and citrus hops, and some biscuity malt. Not a very bold aroma but pleasant sweet.

Taste: Mild pine, honey, floral hops, and light orange peel with bready and caramel malts. Very sweet, almost like candy corn, with a nice hop bite in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, crisp, lively, refreshing, and smooth.

Overall, this is a solid little IPA from the good folks at Potosi Brewing. Me and my wife went to Galena, IL for a few days after getting married last October and searching for nearby breweries I found Potosi. Established in 1852, it closed down in the early 70's but was purchased in the mid 90's and has since been remodeled completely but maintains much of the original stone and brickwork. They reopened in 2008 and now, shockingly, run as a non-profit organization, channeling all proceeds to charities. It's also the site of the National Brewery Museum. All in all, a really interesting and handsome little brewery. They make some solid beer as well, Snake Hollow being just one of them. I found this a really simple but nicely balanced IPA with a pleasant sweetness and amazing drinkability, especially considering it's 7% ABV. They just started distributing to the Chicagoland area last week so chances are you'll spot some at local liquor stores. If you're in the mood for a simple, tasty, and easy-drinking beer, check them out. Plus, you'll be donating to a charity. It's a win-win.

Beer Review: Greenbush - Anger

Greenbush Brewing Co.
Anger
Black IPA
7.6% ABV

Appearance: Pours a deep, opaque black brown with a towering three and a half fingers of thick greyish tan foam.

Smell: Fairly muted aroma of toasted malt, cocoa powder, caramel, coffee and a faint, almost grape-like, fruitiness.

Taste: Light citrus, roasted and caramel malts, cocoa, pine, some bitter grapefruit rind and a nice spicy bite. Superbly balanced.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and fairly creamy with a lightly crisp finish.

Overall, this is one of the best black IPAs I've had. Unique, complex, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, this is a beer lover's beer. I wish the nose was a littler stronger but that's nitpicking at this point. No beer is truly perfect but when I come across a beer this good I can't help but give it a 5 out of 5. A fantastic beer from Greenbush, a relatively new and expanding Michigan brewery. They recently started distributing to the Chicagoland area so if you come across their beer, I highly recommend checking them out. You won't be disappointed.

Beer Review: Dark Horse - Edacsac Dekoorc Eert

Dark Horse Brewing Co.
Edacsac Dekoorc Eert
American IPA
6.5% ABV

Appearance: Pours a deep hazy orange with a frothy two and a half fingers of beige foam.

Smell: Very earthy and vegetal with hints of muted citrus.

Taste: Follows the nose fairly closely. Earthy, leafy, vegetal, and piney with some grapefruit rind and a biscuity caramel malt backbone. Very nicely balanced with a smooth, mild bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and crisp. Goes down easy.

Overall, this is a pretty solid IPA but I'm not the biggest fan of this flavor profile. Part of Dark Horse's single hop Crooked Tree series, this one is brewed solely with Cascade hops, hence the name Edacsac Dekoorc Eert (Cascade Crooked Tree spelled backwards). Cascade are a great all-purpose hop and the most widely used in American craft brewing but they're typically combined with other hop varieties to add complexity and/or balance. In this beer it's the only hop used and I didn't care for the primarily earthy aroma and flavor. I did really enjoy the mild bitterness and balance, though. And that's the really cool thing about single hop beers: you get to learn what each individual hop variety
brings to the table. I didn't love this one but I would definitely recommend
giving it a try, if even just to start familiarizing and educating yourself on different hops.

3.5 out of 5

Beer Review: Odell - Tree Shaker

Odell Brewing Co.
Tree Shaker
Imperial Peach IPA
Imperial IPA
9.7% ABV

Appearance: Pours a murky yellow orange with some floating sediment and a big fluffy head of white foam.

Smell: Lightly sweet fruity aroma, not surprisingly of which peach is the most dominant. There's also some grassy notes. Somewhat muted overall but pleasant nonetheless.

Taste: Tangy, sharp, sour, and a little funky. Candied fruit (primarily peaches but also a bit of pineapple), and some spicy, grassy hops. Hard to believe this is almost 10% as I barely picked up on any alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, dry and a bit chewy with a super tingly, effervescent carbonation.

Overall, I found this to be pretty interesting and quite enjoyable. Definitely a unique brew and despite a rather high 9.7% this was very easy to drink. Lots of fruit flavor from the 3,000 lbs. of pureed Colorado peaches they used to brew this but at the same time I didn't find it overly sweet. It has a nice natural fruitiness as opposed to an artificial syrupy taste. The herbal spiciness and grassy notes balance out the sugary flavors rather nicely. A fun beer to share on a sunny summer day. Thanks to James Dalton for flying this in from Nebraska.

4 out of 5

Beer Review: New Glarus - Totally Naked

New Glarus Brewing Co.
Totally Naked
Pale Lager
4.25% ABV

Appearance: Pours a crystal clear straw yellow with a fluffy and chunky three fingers of white foam.

Smell: Nice spicy hops and sweet crackery malt. Simple but inviting.

Taste: Follows the nose with a light crackery malt, sharp, spicy hops, some yeast and a bit of tangy lemon. Fairly sweet overall.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, crisp and clean with a creamy finish.

Overall, this is a straight forward but fantastic pale lager. Light but flavorful, crisp, refreshing and completely satisfying. A great summer session beer. As the label states, "This is beer at it's most basic". In this case, that's a good thing.

4.5 out of 5

Beer Review: 18th Street - Hunter

18th Street Brewery
Hunter
Milk Stout 
8% ABV

Appearance: Pours a rich, opaque, nearly-black brown with a scant finger or dark tan foam.

Smell: Charred smokiness, earthy and spicy hops, coffee, and a little hint of sweetness from the lactose sugar.

Taste: Smokey, earthy, spicy, bitter dark cocoa, coffee, and a bit of vanilla.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and creamy but with a crisp finish.

Overall, I absolutely loved this stout. It's rich, complex, flavorful, and near perfectly balanced. I liked that this was hoppy but considering that it's labeled a milk stout I do wish that it was just a touch sweeter. Although the foam at the tail end of my glass tasted like chocolate milk, which was awesome. Aside from the lack of sweetness, I have to say that this is easily one of the best non-barrel-aged stouts I've ever had. 18th Street Brewery is 3-for-3 in my book (Sinister & Seven preceding Hunter) and I greatly look forward to seeing what these guys will do next.

*Side Note: The label artwork is badass.

5 out of 5

Beer Review: Odell - St. Lupulin

Odell Brewing  Co. 
St. Lupulin
American Pale Ale
6.5% ABV

Appearance: Pours a clear, pale reddish orange with three fingers of off white foam that clings to the glass.

Smell: Light musty citrus (tangerine/apricot) and a little bit of bright lemon. Some earthiness along with a little bit of sweet malt. Mild and pleasant.

Taste: Pine and lemon citrus zest with notes of floral and honey. Bready/caramel malt backbone and a nutty finish. Nicely balanced with a clean hop bite.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, crisp and clean with good carbonation.

Overall, St. Lupulin is another wonderfully crafted beer by Colorado's Odell Brewing Co. This is exactly what an APA should be. Flavorful, balanced, and refreshing. A perfect summer seasonal. This tasted great relaxing on the front porch at sunset after mowing the lawn.

4.5 out of 5

Beer Review: Three Floyds - Rabbid Rabbit

Three Floyds Brewing  Co. 
Rabbid Rabbit
Saison
7.4% ABV

Appearance: Pours a virtually opaque orange-yellow with over three fingers of fluffy white foam.

Smell: Light banana esters from the yeast and bottle-conditioning, peppery spice, a bit musty and somewhat sweet.

Taste: Herbal spiciness and subtle fruitiness. Not sure if its just from the reading the description but I do get hints of rock candy sugar. Has a spicy sweet alcoholic finish which lingers on the tongue.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, fairly thin, and surprisingly low carbonation.

Overall, I really did not care for this beer. It's labeled a saison but it doesn't feel like one to me. I found it to be overly spicy and lacking in fruitiness/tartness (both of which are characteristic of the style). The low carbonation was also very strange and unappealing and probably the worst thing about this beer. It's brewed with rock candy and chamomile, which I found interesting but ultimately the flavors don't mesh well and the resulting brew is disappointing.
I would never buy this again and frankly
I wouldn't recommend it, especially at an
inflated $11 a bottle.

2.5 out of 5

Beer Review: Revolution - Galaxy Hero

Revolution Brewing
Galaxy-Hero
American IPA
6.6% ABV

Appearance: Pours a beautiful, clear golden yellow with two fingers of frothy off-white foam.


Smell: Lots of resiny pine with light notes of citrus fruits and pineapple.

Taste: Follows the nose with big, bitter pine and acidic citrus (mainly grapefruit and orange) with a faint caramel malt backbone.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and crisp with a smooth finish.

Overall, this was a pretty good IPA but nothing spectacular. It's a very bitter beer that lacks complexity but it's tasty nonetheless and surprisingly smooth. I actually had two pints of this at the brewery and was more impressed with it on draft than I was with it out of the bottle. For whatever reason, it seemed a little more fruit-forward on tap. Still, a solid IPA. I don't think I'd buy another bottle but I would grab another pint of this at the brewpub.

4 out of 5

Beer Review: New Glarus - Moon Man

New Glarus Brewing Co.
Moon Man
American Pale Ale
5% ABV

Appearance: Pours a clear golden yellow with three fingers of fluffy, bubbly off-white foam.

Smell: Softly pungent fruity hop aroma consisting of pineapple, mango, and apricot. Little bit of pine and some earthiness as well.

Taste: Pine, grapefruit, semi-toasted malt, and a nutty finish. Great balance between hops and malts.

Mouthfeel: Fairly light bodied, crisp, well-carbonated, and refreshing.

Overall, Moon Man is yet another well-executed beer from New Glarus. Nothing too unique but at a sessionable 5% this APA has quite a lot of flavor. They're not trying to reinvent the wheel here and that's ok. What they've done instead is created a tasty pale ale that's extremely well-balanced and incredibly smooth. I'm a huge APA and IPA fan but for some reason I prefer New Glarus' lagers and maltier ales to their hoppy beers. Still, this is a really enjoyable brew and a solid take on the style.

4 out of 5

Beer Review: New Glarus - Spotted Cow

New Glarus Brewing Co.
Spotted Cow
Farmhouse Ale
4.8% ABV

Appearance: Pours a beautiful four fingers of rich, bubbly white foam over a bright pale yellow body. Relatively clear despite the claim that it's bottle conditioned with yeast. Looks amazingly fresh and mouth-watering.

Smell: Bready/crackery malt, grain, corn, white pepper, and a light fruitiness from the yeast.

Taste: Follows the nose. Grain, crackery malt backbone, corn, a light lemony sweetness, and just a touch of a white pepper-like spice.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, dry, crisp, tingly, and refreshing.

Overall, New Glarus certainly makes more interesting and flavorful beer than Spotted Cow but it's easy to see why this is their flagship beer: anybody can drink it. Simple, clean, light, and refreshing. This is the kind of beer you want handed to you after mowing the lawn on a hot summer day. This is the kind of beer you want a whole cooler full of at a backyard BBQ. This is the kind of beer you want to drink outside with the sun shining behind it, illuminating its beauty. Understated, delicious, and utterly satisfying. One of life's simple pleasures.

4.5 out of 5

Beer Review: New Glarus - Dancing Man

New Glarus Brewing Co.
Dancing Man Wheat
Hefeweizen
7.2% ABV

Appearance: Pours a bright pale, semi-hazy yellow with over three fingers of creamy off-white foam. Looks amazingly fresh.

Smell: Being a hefeweizen I expected banana in the aroma but this is just ridiculous. In a good way, of course. Smells almost exactly like banana Laffy Taffy. I also picked up on some clove, bubblegum, and a light whiff of vinegar.

Taste: Lemon, white pepper, clove, and lots of delicious banana. Spicy and sweet. Finishes with a soft kiss of sugary alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Nice, tingly carbonation. Refreshing and creamy.

Overall, this might very well be the best hefeweizen I've ever had. True to style, beautifully crafted, and bursting with flavor. New Glarus has perfected yet another classic German beer. Prost!

5 out of 5

Beer Review: Pipeworks - Abduction

Pipeworks Brewing Co.
Abduction
Imperial Stout
10.5% ABV
Batch #100

Appearance: Pours pitch black with a scant one finger of tan foam.

Smell: Strong initial hit of bright, fresh oak with notes of pear, bourbon and vanilla.

Taste: Pine, coffee, roasted malt, and like the nose, a little bourbon and vanilla creep in on the finish as the beer warms.

Mouthfeel: Super creamy and velvety smooth. Low carbonation with a medium to heavy body.

Overall, this was a nice imperial stout. Its not super complex and flavorful but it makes up for that with its insanely creamy mouthfeel and smooth finish. It's hard to believe that this is 10.5%. Drinks very easy. A tasty stout that would probably be great after some barrel aging.

Beer Review: New Glarus - Edel-Pils

New Glarus Brewing Co.

Edel-Pils
German Pilsner
5.3% ABV

Appearance: Pours a perfectly clear golden straw with three fingers of fluffy off-white foam.

Smell: Spicy and floral hops, bready malt, and a lightly fruity yeast (banana and lemon). I was expecting a typical pilsner aroma but this is quite nice. It does have a little bit of that sharpness inherent to the style but its softened by the Bavarian yeast.

Taste: Dry, crackery malt, lots of graininess, some spicy hops and fruity yeast. Picked up a little apple and lemon tartness as well as some faint banana esters.

Mouthfeel: Wow. Starts off crisp and then becomes incredibly creamy. Finishes super smooth. Carbonation seems to die off rather quickly but other than that I absolutely loved the feel of this one.

Overall, this is easily the best pilsner I've ever had. I've never been a fan of the style but leave it to New Glarus to make an expertly crafted version of a boring classic. In my opinion, this is the kind of beer they do best. Simple, clean, beautifully constructed lagers. I like that they're sort of old-fashioned in their approach to brewing. Being a German style of beer, the use of Bavarian yeast and hops are key and lend an inimitable authenticity, while the addition of American barley and hops keep it from being strictly a European affair. This one threw me for a loop. I was not expecting something this good. Apparently it's been years since they last brewed it. New Glarus celebrates their 20th anniversary this year. I couldn't think of a better way to commemorate the occasion.

4.5 out of 5

Beer Review: New Glarus - Cabin Fever

New Glarus Brewing Co.
Cabin Fever
Maibock
6% ABV

Appearance: Pours a crystal clear pale gold with three fingers of white pockmarked foam.

Smell: Not a whole lot going on here. Mostly bready malt and some faint floral notes. Sweet honey comes through as the beer warms up a bit. It does smell crisp and inviting though.

Taste: The flavor is much more pronounced than the smell, although it does follow the nose. Crackery malt, mellow lemon, and clover honey. Finishes super sweet with semi-warming notes of what I can only assume is alcohol (although this is only 6%).

Mouthfeel: Dry, crisp and light bodied with a syrupy finish.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this Wisconsin pale bock. The aroma didn't do much for me but the taste was refreshing and unique. The addition of clover honey really imparts a lot of flavor and turns what would've been a fairly standard lager into something special. Its a very sweet beer so that may divide beer drinkers on this one. There are aspects to it, particularly the finish, that remind me of mead (an alcoholic drink of fermented honey & water, for the layman). I don't think I could drink a lot of this in one sitting but I would recommend giving it a try.
It won't knock your socks off but I found it to
be a tasty little drink.

3.5 out of 5

Beer Review: Three Floyds - Toxic Revolution

Three Floyds Brewing Co.
Toxic Revolution
Imperial Stout
8.5% ABV

Appearance: Pours an opaque blackish brown with over two fingers of dense beige foam.

Smell: Coffee, soy sauce, roasted malt, bitter chocolate and a peculiar aroma reminiscent of oyster sauce.

Taste: Follows the nose but thankfully minus the fishiness. I mostly get coffee and toasted malt with some baking chocolate. Moderately bitter and quite salty.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, relatively light for a stout. Medium carbonation with an oily feel.

Overall, this was not what I was expecting. Three Floyds is a very hop-centric brewery and I was hoping for a nice hoppy stout. Or, failing that, at least a smooth, richly complex one. Toxic Revolution, unfortunately, is neither. It had an odd, unappetizing fishy aroma and an overly salty flavor profile which I did not enjoy at all. I've had excellent stouts from this brewery in the past, most recently their Blot Out the Sun, but this was a disappointment. It's a shame, too, because the label art is probably the coolest I've ever seen.

2.5 out of 5

Beer Review: Aleman/Stone/Two Brothers - Dayman

Aleman/Stone/Two Brothers
Dayman Coffee IPA
American IPA
8.7% ABV

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden orange with two fingers of off-white foam that clings to the glass.

Smell: The first sniff I got bitter roasted coffee and on the second sniff I got bright aromatic citrus. The two vastly different aromas continued to tag in and out throughout the tasting.

Taste: Unlike the aroma, the flavor stayed the same sip after sip. There's roasted coffee grounds, toasted pine, a little nuttiness, and some grapefruit and orange rind. No alcohol on this one. I never got the sense I was drinking a beer that was almost 9%.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, nicely carbonated, relatively smooth and easy to drink.

Overall, this was a unique beer drinking experience. I must say I've never had anything quite like it. The coffee aromas and flavors actually complimented the citrus characteristics nicely. Sometimes it tasted like you were drinking an iced coffee and other times the fruity hops really shined through. While this was really interesting to try I can't say that I would ever buy this again. I think it was a fun experiment and really it's about the best a coffee flavored IPA is going to taste but it's not my thing. Still, I've got to give these three breweries credit for brewing such an unusual but drinkable beer. I'll bump up the rating a bit just for its uniqueness. It's definitely worth trying at least once.

4 out of 5