Beer Review 68: New Glarus Cran-bic

If you follow this blog you very well know that I love New Glarus brewery in Wisconsin. Those fine people sure know how to make beer and they know how to work with fruit and wild yeast. Cran-bic , the beer I'll be reviewing tonight is a great illustration of the magic the brewer at New Glarus creates with the latter ingredients.
Moreover, Cran-bic is pretty much a fruit lambic brewed using... of course cranberries. This beer is drinkable and delicious that one can easily drink the four  pack of twelve ounce bottles it come in. Like all New Glarus stuff, Cran-bic is priced so cheap for the quality of beer you are getting.  At $8.99 to $9.99 this beer is priced to sell and for you to buy tons of it! Furthermore,What makes this beer amazing is that you can age this beer. You can let it sit around in your closet or fridge and it will continue to develop like most lambic's do. When drinking this beer make sure to use the proper glassware as it will allow for all the complexity of this beer to shine. I recommend to use either a flute or tulip style glass. At 4.8% abv Cran-bic doesn't really have a serving size. Depending on the size of your flute or tulip you can probably pour yourself 6 to 9 oz of the 12 oz bottle, so feel free to enjoy with a friend or consume it on your own. If you wanna pair this wonderfully fruity and sour beer with a food paring I suggest you get some chocolate dessert or smokey and stinky cheese. To light to pair with a lunch or dinner. This beer is truly a pleasure to drink, and if you are a fan of this style do not hesitate to either buy this beer or trade for it, it will be worth your while.

Color: A pale pinkish red. A nice white one finger head forms at top of this brew after the pour. It slowly reduces to a dime sized ring around the edge of the glass. Little to lacing, some minor head retention is left behind.

Nose: What else.... cranberries. Also evident as the beer warms up are a mild oakiness, barnyard funk, and some minor raspberry scent.

Palate: Sublime! This beer is very drinkable and the carbonation is spot on. This beer is light in body, but it packs plenty of texture and complexity. Full of ripe fruit. The cranberries coat the mouth with a pleasant sourness. The oak texture, funk, and wild yeast/bacteria add to the character of this beer on the tongue.

Finish: Delicious and please can I have another. It finishes a a tad on the dry side, but totally like the style. The cranberries linger a bit as does the sourness of the beer, but its welcomed. An achievement  by New Glarus. well done.

Rating: 96 out of 100

Beer Review 67: Firestone Parabola

When I first had Parabola last year I felt it was the best barrel aged stout I had ever had and to this point after expanding my horizons a bit more and trying new things Parabola is still near the top when I think barrel aged stouts. I also want it to be known that tonight's review are from notes taken from the 2011 vintage of this beer not the 2010 vintage I had a while back. Firestone Parabola, is a robust imperial stout with lots of body and complexity; this stout isn't for those who think Guinness is as good as it gets. Like most of the Firestone barrel aged program releases, Parabola is a seasonal beer that see's it release near the end of May, but for sure in June. To me what makes the beer so special is the price, availability, and the quality of the product. For example, Parabola sells for $13.99 a 22 oz bottle and you can buy it anywhere Firestone distributes(sorry not all states get Firestone). Then there is the quality. Unlike the Bruery's Black Tuesday or Chocolate Rain (which  are good beer's)which are extremely expensive at 30 dollars or more and limited to Reserve Society members or for purchase at the brewery only, Parabola is as good if not better than the previous beers mentioned and did I say a lot cheaper! Furthermore, what makes Parabola even more amazing is how well it drinks for a beer bottled at 12.5% abv. Yes there is some heat from the alcohol when you consume this beer fresh, but its not enough to distract you from the array flavors this beer delivers. Make sure to enjoy the imperial stout in moderation, a 6.8 serving size of this beer is enough to last you awhile. as this beer is meant to be sipped and not pounded down like a hefe or you cheap variety lite beers. When it comes to pairing your Parabola with a meal or dessert, make sure its heavy enough to cut through the thickness and robust nature of this beer. Fish would probably be a bad idea as would be most white meats. A steak would make an excellent companion to this monster beer. I'd also like to add if you are a cigar smoker and and you are tired of pairing your Cohiba's, Montecristos, or Partagas with rum or whisky's may I recommend this beer for you, it will not disappoint. Parabola is a great beer and a beer snobs dream, so if you love stouts and barrel aging of your beer grab a few of these bottles, some to drink now and others to stash away in your cellar for years down the road because this brew will just keep developing over time.

Color: This beer is a solid deep dark brown to almost black. A dime sized tan ring forms at top of this brew. A nice amount of lacing is left on the glass and the head retention is very limited.

Nose: Complex! At first sniff you get the vanilla in this beer followed by the coffee and beautiful bourbon aromas rising from the glass. There is also the smell of bitter dark chocolate and roasted malts, truly a great smelling brew. Gets better as it warms by the way.

Palate: Explosive and layered. This beer is extremely drinkable and the carbonation is spot on. As this beer hits your taste buds and sits on your tongue you realize how wonderfully crafted this beer is. The taste of vanilla and bourbon dance the tango in your mouth, its beautiful, yet rough and sophisticated. Then comes the coffee and with it brings tobacco and velvety bitter chocolate. All these textures are present and invited. This is the wow portion of this beer.

Finish: Warm, full bodied, and extremely complex. A wonderful example of the usage of barrels with stouts. Firestone keep up the good work, this beer is a gift to all beer lovers!

Rating: 97 out of 100

Beer Review 66: Surly WET

Well as we beer lovers know, Surly Brewery makes some of the best beer in the country and there hoppy beer's are some of the tastiest offerings on the market. With that being said, this brings me to WET, Surly's wet hop IPA. For those lost, wet hops are hops that are fresh when harvested in the Autumn months. Usually these hops go from the harvest site to the brewery to being used in your beer. Beer's such as WET us these hops to give the beer an intense hop profile, meaning the citrus usually takes a back seat and the piney/forest features shine in your beer giving it a fresh aroma. Surly WET is a winner, probably the best fresh(wet) hop IPA on the market today, and with reputation you can also expect to pay a hefty price for this beer. At $16.99-$18.99 a four pack, this beer can make a dent in your wallet if your a fan of this style of beer, but if your like me.... you just tend to over look that. Furthermore, WET is canned in 16 oz cans like most Surly offerings.  What make WET so special though is how easy it is to drink, at 7.50% abv this beer goes down smooth and full of flavor. However, with WET being a fall seasonal you better load up on this because its gone quickly and it wont be out till the following year, so don't get left without any. Enjoy your WET in any style glass that allows you to pour 16 oz's. I believe this beer is simply sublime and should be savored to the last drop, so when pairing this beer with a meal or snack make sure that you are not overwhelming the hops because.... well... that's the point of this beer, the HOPS!

Color: This beer shines golden caramel hue. A fluffy two finger white head forms after the pour and it slowly reduces to a dime sized rings around the top of the glass. Good head retention and minimal lacing from this beer.

Nose: Massive amount of fresh hops! Smells like a wet forest in the spring..... ahhhhh delicious. Light amount of citrus flavors rise from the glass as the beer warms, but the aroma is still all hops. Tiny hints of caramel in this beer as well.

Palate: Smooth and crisp. The drinkability of this beer is just sublime. No hints of alcohol, just all hops and mellow tangerine and peach. The tongue just gets lambasted with a plethora of hops, but its inviting and tasty. At the back the palate gets cleansed by the underlying citrus of the brew.

Finish: It goes down way to fast and way to good. Nothing but good things to say about this beer.... well done Surly. Best wet hop IPA in my book.

Rating 95 out of 100

Beer Review 65: Midnight Sun TREAT

Midnight Sun Brewery is located in Alaska, and when you think Alaska you think wildlife, forest, cold, and maybe depressing, but the last thing that comes to mind is quality beer. Well you would be wrong! Midnight Sun Brewery produces some of the finest and rarest beer in the country. With great beer's like Arctic Devil, Bar Fly, Sloth, and TREAT this brewery is hitting home runs with about everything they produce. TREAT is a chocolate pumpkin porter released in the fall. Its bottled in 22 oz bottles and priced anywhere between $10.99 and $13.99. Not to expensive for the quality of beer you are getting. But for all the god things there is to say about this beer, there is one negative.... availability! Midnight Sun does not distribute very far so not many cases get out of the state of Alaska. If you live in Washington or Oregon you have a good shot at finding this beer when its released, but if you live in California like me you'll be hard pressed to find it. Only a few quality bottle shops get this beer when its released and it sells out asap, so if your not on top of it your not gonna get it. However, besides that drawback, TREAT is an incredible beer, its drinkable, especially for a robust porter clocking in at 7.80% abv. Full of flavor and decent complexity this beer makes a great autumn beer. Moreover, enjoy TREAT with a wonderful thanksgiving meal as it will pair nicely with oven baked turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, and of course pumpkin pie. Lastly, even though this beer is a quality ale with plenty of character, TREAT can be enjoyed out of any glass of your choosing and serving size. So, if you are a fan of chocolate and pumpkin this beer is for you.Seek it out you will love it!

Color: A dark muddy brown. Some lacing is left on the glass, but not much. A one finger head form from the pour of the off white nature...the head then recedes quite quickly to a tan ring around the top edges of the beer.

Nose: Milk chocolate in the forefront followed by the pumpkin and spices. Cloves come in and out as does some nutmeg and all spice. Very good aroma.

Palate: Smooth! Extremely drinkable and delicious. The carbonation on this medium bodied beer is fantastic making the mouth feel tingled with an array of texture and flavor. The sweetness of the chocolate is mellow, but noticeable. the spices mingle with the nice maltiness of this beer, and the pumpkin comes in waves coating the tongue with the taste of fall.

Finish: It goes down like chocolate covered pumpkin pie, and that is not bad at all. Well done Midnight Sun! Give me more.

Rating: 93 out of 100

Beer Review 64: Sour in the Rye, The Bruery

I'm usually one to say that the offering by The Bruery are a bit over-rated and way overpriced, but not this beer! Sour in the Rye is by far my favorite beer they make. The only problem with this beer is that you have to be part of The Bruery's reserve society to be able to get this beer as it is part of your membership allocations.
Its hard to say what is the cost of this wonderful sour beer, but its safe to say that it would probably be in the neighborhood of $20.00-$30.00 like all the limited barrel aged beers The Bruery releases. Furthermore, Sour in the Rye is worth every single cent. For a 750 ml bottle, I feel this beer is worth every single penny and a beer that you need to drink till every drop is gone! Full of character and great complexity this beer shines fresh, but also with age, so don't miss a chance to try whenever you can. Moreover, Sour in the Rye is meant to be enjoyed properly. When treating yourself to this gem use a tulip style glass or flute to fully appreciate the quality and craftsmanship of the beer. I find that paring Sour in the Rye with apricot Stilton or stinky blue cheese is a match made in beer Heaven. If you choose to pair this brew with a meal Chilean sea bass or sea food and pasta dishes would make incredible pairings. I'd also like to Thank my buddy Eric for allowing me to try this beer. Thanks for the bottle, so cheers!!!!

Color: This beer pours a golden brown with little to no head. A thin white color ring forms on the edge of the top of the beer. Light to minimal lacing is left around the glass after you give this beer a twirl in your glass.

Nose: I love it! Quickly the scent of the rye hits your nostrils, after that you get the funk from this beer and a nice woody aroma comes out as it warms. Hints of vanilla also rise from from your glass. This beer offers great complexity here.

Palate: The mouthfeel of this beer is so wonderfully layered and delicious its makes this American wild ale extremely drinkable. The Carbonation is not as good as it can be, but that doesn't really hurt the overall quality of the brew. The rye coats the tongue giving this beer a sweet beginning  just to be washed away by the wonderful sourness of the beer. Sour in the Rye is multi-dimensional, making this beer a total experience.

Finish: Dry, yet very drinkable. Sour,sweet, and complete. The Bruery scores with this one. The addition of rye makes this take on the wild ale style refreshing and new.

Rating: 95 out of 100

Beer Review 63: Jolly Pumpkin Biere de Mars

Jolly Pumpkin Brewery as you well know by now is one of my favorite breweries out there. They fine people over in Dexter, Michigan hardly ever produce a bad beer. Tonight, Biere de Mars is no exception, this might be along with La Roja my favorite beer they release each year. This beer is brewed in the French style stock ale. Biere de Mars is aged in oak barrels and brewed using two different yeast strains giving this beer a unique and complex profile. Furthermore, Biere de Mars is a seasonal beer released in March, so keep your eyes open and pick up a few; some to drink now others to lay down. Moreover, this brew isn't pricey at all for the quantity and quality you get. At $13.99 a bottle for a 750 ml, I believe you are getting a steal when it comes to barrel aged sour beer. Biere de Mars is absolutely drinkable, bottled at a 7% abv this beer is smooth and refreshing. Like all Jolly Pumpkin beer's make sure to enjoy them in the proper glass and with a proper serving size. With Biere de Mars its best to use either a tulip or goblet style glass, both of which usually suffice for a 9.4 oz serving size. This is a very good beer, one that you should consider buy plenty off if you are a sour beer fan and also if you are one of those who is just starting to get into the style. Biere de Mars is a quality beer, enjoy!

Color: Brownish red hues for this beer.... glows differently from every angle. A hazy beer, not plenty of light getting through this one. A nickle sized head forms after the pour of the off white shade. Some minor soapy lacing is left on the glass as you drink the beer down.

Nose: Big funky smells come from this beer. Vinegar comes up at the forefront followed by some wicked barnyard scents. Dried pit fruit floats around in the glass and the smell of apples and cranberries swim in the background.

Palate: Interesting! mellow sourness/tart. Funky and fruity with a medium body feel. The drinkability is awesome.... the carbonation is spot on and the abv is well masked. As the beer warms it gets a tad more complex,but a bit harder to drink, but not really a bad thing.

Finish: Dry and tart with a lingering texture of sour fruit and mild vinegar. I really enjoyed this brew. I wish it was available a lot more especially in California. JP another solid brew!

Rating: 94 out of 100

Scotch Review 5: Balvenie 15 year

I love me some Scotch, especially as the colder evenings begin to show their gloomy faces. For a nice fall night I prefer a Speyside Scotch; reason being is that they don't pack as much smoke and warmth like Islay whiskey's or even of those from the Highland region. That is why Balvenie 15 year is the perfect whiskey for those Autumn nights when you want a night cap without that heavy warmth from other Scotch's. Balvenie 15 drinks very smooth and with nice sweet characteristics, especially with the abv at bottling being a robust 47.8%. Furthermore, this whiskey is priced wonderfully for the quality you get and the amount. At $59.99 a 750 ml bottle i feel this is a fair price for the this product. Moreover, Balvenie 15 is a small batch Scotch as they only bottle 350 bottles a cask and the fine folks at the distillery take time to hand number each bottle. Also, like all fine single malt Scotch's it is best to drink them out of a proper glass... a Glenncarin glass like the one pictured would be it. This whiskey is truly an art form and a true example of the speyside style. So if you like you Scotch with hints of sweetness, mild warmth and plenty of complexity on the palate grab a bottle of this at your local store and enjoy.

Color: A light honey/straw. Leaves behind a nice amount of legs on the glass due to the high abv.

Nose: Sublime! Apples, oak, toffee and sweet spices. Hint of vanilla and caramel butthey just float around in the background. Also some faint aromas of pit fruit and ceder.

Palate: This is so drinkable. Smooth and the warmth of this whiskey is just like sipping a great tea. Very balanced on the tongue as well.... it allows for all the complexities to shine. First you get the spices followed by the fruit, especially the apples. The oak later appears and with it comes the vanilla and caramel flavors.

Finish: A light warmness, smooth, but it looses some body here, but nothing to harm the overall taste of this Scotch.

Rating: 94 out of 100

Beer Review 62: Three Floyds Dark Lord 2011

When It comes to big stouts there are a few big hitters out there, and Three Floyd's Dark Lord is one of them. This big Russian imperial stout come out once a year and its only sold at the brewery, and to show you how big this beer release is I will tell you that there is a whole day in April in Munster Indiana dedicated to this beer, and appropriately its called "Dark Lord Day." This stout my friends is no joke, bottled at a robust 15% abv in 22 oz bottles sealed in wax, this beer is not for the faint of heart. Dark Lord drinks thick and heavy, but with lots of delicious complexity making this stout a delight. Furthermore, its best to to share your bottle of Dark Lord, not only because a bomber of this will knock you into next week, but also because it happens to be a rare beer and not most people get to try such a treat. Another reason to share your bottle is because this beer also happens to be expensive, not only do you have to buy tickets for 10 dollars to attend Dark Lord Day at the brewery, but also the cost of the bottle is 15 dollars, so essentially you are paying 25 bucks for this stout. Moreover, enjoy your Dark Lord in moderation; the proper serving size for this brew is about 8.4 oz poured into either a snifter or nonic pint. I prefer to drink Dark Lord as a late night beer when its cool out after dinner. This stout makes a great pairing with chocolaty desserts or a cheese fondue, but also will pair nicely with a cigar of the maduro variety. Also, Dark Lord makes a great beer to cellar, so putting this away in a dark place for a few months to a few years will help this beer mellow out a bit.

Color: Black... black as motor oil. A nice one finger khaki head forms on top of this beer. Leaves behind minimal lacing on the glass, but the darkness of this brew does stain the glass.

Nose: Boom! Immense roasted malts and bitter coffee. Vanilla, molasses, syrup, and raisin also appear as this beer warms. I can see why people say they smell soy sauce in this beer, but to me its quite faint and not a real factor in this beer.

Palate: Thick, yet drinkable because the carbonation is spot on. The tongue gets bathed in sweet waves of vanilla, chocolate, syrup, and molasses. Following the sweetness are palate crushing waves of intense bitter coffee and a gentle hop profile. This beer is well layered and smooth despite a tingly warmth from the abv.

Finish: Intense,thick,complex, sweet, and some good bitterness. Overall this stout is a great example of the Russian Imperial form. Very pleased with this beer!

Rating: 94 out 100

Beer Review 61: Upland Persimmon Lambic

We all know that lambic style beer was started in Belgium, and from Belgium come some of the finest and most sought after lambic's in the world. Well! who knew you can get a good quality lambic in the states, let alone in the state of Indiana. Upland Brewery is doing just that, they are constantly producing some of the best fruit lambic out there. Tonight's review centers around their persimmon lambic, which of course features the addition of persimmon's(fruit) into the barrel in which the lambic is stored away to age for a year or so. Furthermore, These lambics are quite complex and aromatic. The persimmon adds a wonderful fruit texture to the beer and beautiful coloring to go with the already typical lambic characteristics. Upland Persimmon is not available year round, as a matter of fact its gets released in rotation with all the other fruit lambics the Upland produces, so if you are interested in trying this beer, and I do suggest you try it if you are a fan of lambic, be on your toes and keep checking in on the brewery web site for release details. Moreover, the Upland Lambic's aren't cheap, they sell for $20.00- $25.00 dollars a pop, but in my opinion totally worth it. To enjoy Persimmon fully please pour your beer into a tulip style glass or flute, that way you can experience the amazing lambic complexity. Also, something to look out for when drinking any of the Upland Lambics, these beers do intend to gush like champagne out of the bottle, so be careful when popping open a bottle. Lastly, I really enjoy my lambic paired with a good aged cheese that provides some serious stink and punch, this makes a great compliment to your Persimmon lambic. The Abv on this beer is unknown.

Color: Quite beautiful. A hazy pale orange straw color with shades of pale dull yellow. This beer leaves behind no lacing at all and the one finger white head that forms after you pour reduces itself to a dime size ring around the glass.

Nose: Great! Nice fruit profile with all the typical lambic features: Oak, barnyard funk, hay, hints of the wild yeast. The persimmon floats in the beer, but its not over powering on the nose.

Palate: Everything you want and need. Tart/sour on the tongue followed by small waves of citrus, grass, hay, and oak. Some lemon and orange peel bring up the rear, but its so welcomed. Very Balanced and drinkable. The carbonation is a bit high, but it doesn't bother me at all.

Finish: Dry and tart. Complex and fruit forward, with a balanced integration of funk and earthiness. This lambic is a success and a total treat.

Rating: 95 out of 100

Beer Review 60: Kern Brewing Citra

When it comes to IPA's and delicious beer in general Kern Brewing company is king. About everything they brew is drinkable and puts a smile on your face and electrifies your taste buds. Tonight's review is Citra; Kern's seasonal DIPA. This hoppy treat is considered nation wide as one of the top 25 beers in the world. With its amazing hop profile that delivers amazing citrus flavors and incredible balance, Citra is a must have beer for anyone who consider himself/herself a hop head. For the most part this is a brewery release only brew, but this year Citra was bottled for the first time and saw minor distribution in southern CA. Furthermore, Citra is a very affordable DIPA. At $6.99-$9.99 for a 22 oz bottle and $20.00 for a growler fill at the brewery this beer is worth every single cent you spend on it. Moreover, at 8% abv Citra drinks smooth and crisp with plenty of flavor. This beer really makes a great summer beer and pairs well with plenty of dishes, but I find that Citra will make a veggie and meat pizza even more delicious. Enjoy Citra fresh so you can best enjoy all the complexity of the hops. Lastly, Citra is best enjoyed out of nonic pint or tulip in 6 oz servings.

Color: A nice vibrant amber orange shines through the glass. Pretty clear beer. A one finger head sits at top of the beer and of the off white shade. This beer leaves behind a good amount of lacing all the way down the glass.

Nose: Sublime! Extremely floral and filled with explosive citrus smells. Orange, peach, and pineapple shine through. The citra hop provides a wonderful aroma and the amarillo hop provides the slight bitterness and extra citrus punch. Smells heavenly.

Palate: Refreshing and quite complex for DIPA. The beer sticks to your mouth, but as it swims on the tongue you get all these wonderful fruit flavors and gentle hop bitterness and fresh pine textures. The drinkability of this beer is amazing and the carbonation is just perfect for this brew. The Abv is no where to be found.

Finish: A bit sticky and bitter, but extremely smooth and drinkable. The hops have a huge presence here and the citrus fades to the background, but that is not a bad thing. A gentle sweetness shines through here giving Citra another level of complexity. Probably the best DIPA I have ever had to date.

Rating: 97 out 100

Beer Review 59: Olde Rabbits Foot 2011

I've been away for a bit to long, but I'm back with a list of new beer's and whiskey's to review. Today's review is the 2011 Olde Rabbits Foot, a collaboration beer between these fine North Carolina breweries: Duck Rabbit, Olde Hickory, and Foothills. This has been a long time want for me, and I was extremely stocked when I was able to land 2 bottles of this delicious stout. Olde Rabbits Foot is an imperial stout aged in Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon barrels, and if you know anything about bourbon, you know that Pappy is considered the best American whiskey out there. Furthermore, ORF(acronym for our beer) is brewed with honey and cocoa nibs which add wonderful sweetness to the beer and a lot more texture and complexity. Moreover, this American imperial stout is released once a year at the brewery only and sells for $15.00 for a 22 oz bottle. As tasty and amazing as this beer is , it is no slouch; bottled at a nice robust 10.13% abv this beer is a sipper and best enjoyed in 6 oz servings and in a snifter or small nonic pint style glass. Lastly, I must say this beer is best consumed on a cool evening as a dessert beer or paired with a nice mild cigar like a montecristo white. Do yourself a favor and seek this beer out, its great to drink fresh, but also makes a great addition to your cellar to age for a few years.

Color: Dark, dark brown, almost black. No head even after an aggressive pour and it leaves behind hardly any lacing.

Nose: Wonderful! Full of amazing scents. Bourbon, vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, cocoa, mellow honey, and a pleasant roastiness are all present. Very well done for a stout.

Palate: Full bodied and and complex. Drink ability is amazing, so smooth you can just put it down to quick. The carbonation is ok, not great, but nothing to hinder the quality of this beer. The tongue gets coated with waves of vanilla, chocolate, and nice, warm bourbon flavors. The abv is so well masked that it can hardly be detected in the mouth.

Finish: Long, warm, and with plenty of texture. Plenty of flavors become evident as it goes down the hatch, but Bourbon and honey are most evident. A sweetness eases the bit of abv that shows up at the end. A fantastic imperial stout that provides plenty to like. A true pleasure to drink.

Rating: 95 out of 100

Beer Review 58: New Glarus Raspbery Tart

New Glarus Brewery is a tiny brewery in Wisconsin and from this little location the brewers at New Glarus make some of the best beer in the country. Raspberry Tart is one of those beers and its the beer I'm reviewing tonight. Bottled in 750 ml bottles and brewed to a very low 4% abv this beer is fantastic and delicious in every way possible. What makes New Glarus also very good is the prices of their beer's. Raspberry Tart is priced from $8.99 a bottle to $10.99 a bottle and for the product you are getting that my friends is a steal. The only beef I have with New Glarus is that I can't find it out west, and as a matter of fact I don't think you can find it outside of Wisconsin. In other words, I had to trade to obtain this beer. Furthermore, this beer is best enjoyed at cellar temp and in a tulip glass or flute. Moreover,this beer makes a wonderful desert beer when paired with chocolate cake. If you are beer lover and like fruit beer's seek this one out and buy a few... you wont be disappointed.

Color: A deep crimson color. Hints of brown and violet around the edges.A white finger head form after the pour, but this beer leaves behind minimal lacing.

Nose: What else raspberries. A mellow oakiness lingers and with are hints of other read fruits and barnyard smells.

Palate: Excellent carbonation and mouth feel. This beer is very drinkable and tasty. The tongue gets hit with wave after wave of ripe raspberry. This beer has a nice tartness to it as well adding some lite complexity to the beer.

Finish: Crisp and light. The gentle sourness/tartness makes this beer very interesting and the raspberry textures are just wonderful.

Rating: 94 out of 100

Beer Review 57: Russian River Pliney the Elder

As I was looking through my blog the other day I realized I had not yet reviewed on of the better beer's in the country and one of my favorites... Russian River's Pliny the Elder. This Double IPA is simply amazing and by far one of the top 3 in its style. Full bodied and complex, this double IPA really pleases. If you follow this blog you very well know that Russian River Brewery is my favorite brewery because top to bottom all their beer's are really great. Pliny the Elder is great for a lot of reasons, but its affordability is one of the major reasons. At $4.89 a 500 ml bottle this beer is a steal, especially considering the 8% abv this beer is bottled at. The only down fall of Pliny is that it may be hard to find if you don't live in norther California, and if you do find it the shop that is selling it may limit the amount of bottles you can buy. Moreover, Pliny needs to enjoyed out of a tulip glass to make sure you enjoy all the wonderful aroma this beer processes. Also consider that the serving size for Pliny is 8.6 0z, so enjoy and sip this beer accordingly. Furthermore, this beer makes a great summer time beer and pairs well with many great summer BBQ dishes and like always Pizza is IPA's best friend.

Color: A dull Golden hay color with hints of honey at the core. Forms a nice two finger white foamy head and it leaves behind some really good lacing.

Nose: A plethora of hops and sweetness that is blended with amazing citrus fruit aromas. You get hints of pine and very mellow caramel. Also evident are the smells of peach and tangerine followed the zesty grapefruit and pineapple.

Palate: The drinkability of this beer is sublime. Wonderfully carbonated and refreshing. This beer is complex on the tongue offering plenty of citrus punch combined by an excellent hop body.The sweetness from the malt in this beer is just right, giving Pliny another level of greatness

Finish: Smooth and soothing. One of the top 3 double IPA's on the market. This beer offers everything an IPA should be and more way more. IT can be a bit dry at the end but nothing to diminish the excellent craftsmanship of this beer

Rating: 97 out 100

Beer Review 56: Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca

Its beginning to get hot and with this new summer it's time to bring out the lighter drinking beer's. Calabaza Blanca by Jolly Pumpkin Brewery is just that, a Belgian style white ale aged in barrels with a mellow sour twist. This beer is just another great offering by the fine people at JP. Moreover, this fine brew is bottled in 750 ml bottles and clocks in with a very light 4.6% abv. Priced at $12.99 a bottle I feel that its priced just right for this year round offering. However, this beer is not your typical Belgian white style beer, this one needs to be savored in a tulip or goblet style glassware and with no more than a 8.6 oz serving. Being a great summer beer Calabaza Blanca pairs well with a wide array of sea food: fish(salmon), lobster, shrimp, and creamy pasta dishes that require other sea life. This is a very good beer and one that will make the summer day's a lot better, so grab a few stick them in the fridge and enjoy.

Color: A bright hazy golden straw. Big white frothy head appears after the pour... about 2 1/2 fingers worth. Lacing in minimal.

Nose: Yeast funk and a whole lot of barnyard smells. Wet hay and wood come to mind. Lemon zest and some coriander make an appearance along with some grassy notes.

Palate: Extremely well carbonated can be difficult to drink at times because the amount bubbles. The beers mellow tartness coats the mouth and then the tongue gets hints of lemon and orange peel.

Finish: A bit dry but clean and crisp. Plenty of texture, but not overly complex. A solid beer with a lot to like.

Rating: 92 out of 100

Beer Review 55: Terrapin Midnight Project Depth Charge

I am so stoked about tonight's review. I've been wanting to try this beer for almost a year now and I never thought I would since it was a one time release back in 2009 by Terrapin brewery in Georgia. Before I go any further with this review, I'd like to thank the person who made this possible.... Chris Pinto, my awesome trade partner form the south east. Chris thanks so much for this beer and all the other fantastic stuff you have sent my way. Depth Charge, is a milk stout brewed with Jittery Joe's coffee and lactose sugars to give this beer its amazing taste. Brewed to a very drinkable 7% abv, this beer is to be enjoyed as a dessert beer and with raspberry or chocolate cake. Furthermore, Depth Charge is was bottled in 22 0z bottles and was priced at a price not known to me, but whatever it was, it was sure worth the price. I'm not sure what would be the proper glassware would be for this beer, but I enjoyed mine out of a tulip and it tasted amazing. One final point about this beer. This is a milk/cream stout so it doesn't have much aging potential. Aging this beer for long periods of time may cause this beer to loose most of its coffee smells and flavors. However, I never had this fresh, and I still thought the coffee was evident, but if this beer has faded, it must have been even better fresh because Depth Charge as of June 2011, is still drinking like a champ.

Color: Dark brown with darker brown area's. Hardly any head came from a semi aggressive pour. Very little lacing.

Nose: Big time roasted malts and a coffee/espresso presence. Chocolate and mellow vanilla cream are . Very pleasant aromas.

Palate: Very smooth! drinkability is superb and the carbonation level is just perfect. The taste of espresso and chocolate coat the tongue, later followed the a milky cream texture from the vanilla.

Finish: Soft, short, not to complex, but very tasty and pleasant. One of my favorite milk stouts to date.

Rating: 94 out of 100

Beer Review 54: Port Brewery Mongo Double IPA

For those who don't know Port Brewery is pretty much the same thing as Lost Abbey. Both use the same brewery to brew their beers and distribute them. Tonight, since its been getting hot around here I'm gonna review Mongo double IPA from Port. This nice hoppy beer is quite amazing and thirst quenching. To me it's one of the better California IPA's on the market and one that should be savored by everyone. Furthermore, what makes this beer so good is the fact that its complex,balanced, and everything you want in a west coast IPA. Mongo, comes in 22 oz bottles and is priced very well at $6.49 per. Moreover, the 8.5 % abv that this beer is bottled at is so mellow and masked throughout the beer that the drinkability of this beer is superb. I love Mongo as a summer beer because it so flexible with what you can pair it with. Its great with burgers, dogs, and pizza. One last point on this beer; Mongo is best drank out of a tulip style glass.

Color: A hazy golden orange color. Form a 2 finger sized white foamy head and leaves behind a good amount of lacing.

Nose: A hop explosion filled with citrus scents and a mellow sweet malty backbone. Peaches, mango's, and apricot are all present and some pineapple lingers in the background.

Palate: A total treat. This beer is so drinkable its crazy. the tongue gets coated with plethora of hops and then its eased by the nice ripe fruit textures of the beer. That is all washed away by a gentle sweetness.

Finish: Complex and refreshing. An achievement in IPA. The hop body pairs well with the fruit and the malt. Very thirst satisfying.

Rating: 95 out off 100

Beer Review 53: Mikkeller Bourbon Barrel Aged Breakfast

Mikkeller! All beer lover's have heard the name, probably drank the beers, and yet wonder where is the brewery... well there isn't one. Mikkeller is a Danish brewer who brews his beer's in any brewery around the world. The man kinda just shows up at the door and says "Hey I got an idea for a beer, can I brew it here." When it come to today's review of Bourbon Barrel Aged Breakfast, Mikkeller chose to brew it at the Nogne brewery in Norway. I'll be honest, even though Mikkeller has a reputation for brewing awesome beer, most if his are swing or or miss for me. Not this one tough, this beer was fantastic, smooth, crisp, clean, and above all that enjoyable. Barrel Aged Breakfast is a home run and one of those you sit back and watch as it flies out of the park. Furthermore, this beer can be enjoyed for breakfast with a breakfast burrito or omelet, it can also be paired with a nice lamb dinner. Moreover, like most beers coming from Europe they tend to be a bit pricey and it is no different with the Mikkeller stuff. Barrel Aged Breakfast is priced at anywhere from $9.99 to $14.99 a 500 ml bottle depending on where you find it. This beer can be enjoyed out of any glassware so no need to get fancy, and since its only 7% abv, one can take down this beer in one sitting.

Color: A combination of really dark brown to black. A one finger sized tan head form and leaves behind some decent lacing.

Nose: Smooth. Coffee and oak hit first followed by hints of vanilla and bourbon. Roasted malts are mellow but present.

Palate: Very drinkable and enjoyable. The carbonation is solid and the flavors blend well together. The coffee coats the mouth and then its soothes away by semi sweet vanilla and the bourbon textures. Chocolate even makes an appearance here.

Finish: Clean, soft, and crisp. really well done. The flavors all mesh to create a wonderful texture to the beer and allow for a nice complexity. Would like it to be more robust, but still a solid stout,

Rating: 95 out of 100

Beer Review 52: Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza

Jolly Pumpkin is one of the best breweries in the world when it comes to using wild yeast with their beers. I also find that their beers age wonderfully for many years as is the case for the beer I am reviewing today. Batch 213 Oro de Calabaza, from what I gather this beer is about 3 to 4 years old, and having had this beer fresh and now aged I have to say the difference is quite pronounced. The older batch is much more subtle and garners more complexity. Oro de Calabaza is a biere de garde style brew, which if translated literally means "gets better with age," and I must say this is true. At 8 percent abv this beer is very drinkable and well savored. Furthermore, the price on this beer is not bad at all, from $10.99 to $14.99 a 750 ml bottle this beer is a bargain. However, this beer needs a proper serving and the right glassware to enjoy it at its best. An 8.6 oz serving is just perfect for this beer, its neither to much or to little. Something I noticed is that when this beer warms to much its hard to drink so that is why its best not to over serve yourself. As for the proper glass, this beer is best served into a wide mouth tulip or over sized wine glass. Something else that makes this beer special is that it can be paired with an array of meals. From fish to poultry and a wide variety of cheese this beer makes an awesome companion. Jolly Pumpkin makes this beer available all year round so pick up a few bottles of this fine barrel aged beer and drink one now age one and notice the difference a few years down the line.

Color: A hazy bright golden color. Good amount of lacing is left behind from the frothy with head this beer forms.

Nose: Bready, nutty, faint yeast funk, and a beautiful bouquet of spices. Quite the nose.

Palate: Amazing drinkability! Perfectly carbonated and gentle on the tongue. The soft sour texture floats in your mouth and with it it brings a interesting wave of spices the that tingle the taste buds.

Finish: Balanced and crisp. Semi dry and quite complex.

Rating: 95 out of 100(aged)

91 out 100(fresh)

Beer Review 51: Lost Abbey Framboise de Amorosa

Looking back on all my beer reviews I realized I had not reviewed any Lost Abbey brews, so I took it upon myself to change that. Last night I popped open a bottle of this years brewery only release of Framboise de Amorosa, and man was it good. Usually I'm not a huge fan of Lost Abbey beer because most of their beer's tend to disappoint, but this one didn't, It was one of the better raspberry based beer's I have ever had. If you are a big fan of oak aged sour beers this one is for you, Framboise de Amorosa is a blend of sourness and sweetness that coexist beautifully. Bottled in 375 ml bottles and priced at $15.00 this beer is a bit pricey, but it worth the investment as this beer will age nicely for years to come. Furthermore, at 7% abv this beer is very drinkable as the alcohol is really well masked throughout. Moreover, I fully recommend enjoying this beer out of the proper glassware i.e. a tulip style glass or flute. Paring this beer with food may be tricky, but in my opinion this beer would be delicious with some dark chocolate or aged stinky cheeses. This is a good beer from what I consider a bit than better brewery, so seek it out when it's released you won't be disappointed.

Color: A reddish purple color...looks like a dark raspberry. It forms a nice off white finger and half head and leaves behind a decent amount of lacing.

Nose: What else...raspberries. Ripe fresh sweet raspberries. Also evident are hints of oak and yeast funk. Other red fruits appear faintly.

Palate: Well carbonated and tart/sour. Good drinkability. The mouth gets coated with raspberry flavors and then washed away by a gentle oak textures. The sourness of this beer is pleasant and enjoyable.

Finish: Long,sour, and a bit dry. Sour and then sweet, Not overly complex for a sour beer, but well crafted and executed.

Rating: 93 out of 100

Beer Review 50: Russian River Supplication

I happy to say This is my 50th beer review on this site. Thanks to those who follow and hope you stick around for another 50.  To celebrate number 50 I decided to review one of my favorite sours in the world and it comes from my favorite brewery in the world... Russian River Brewery. Supplication(batch 5),  is that beer and for you sour beer freaks out there, if you haven't had this beer you must seek it out, it is that good. Supplication like all Russian River sours come in the 375 ml bottle and corked and then caged. Priced like the other sours by RR Supplication is sold at $10.99-$16.99  depending on where you do your beer shopping. Furthermore, Supplication is best savored in a goblet or wine glass, this beer has so much complexity that the right glass makes this beer that much more enjoyable. Moreover, Supplication is one of those beers you can sit in the cellar for awhile and drink in the future, this will allow Supplication to gain more complexity. Do yourself a favor buy yourself plenty of this beer and drink some now and enjoy some in the future, this is an amazing beer from an amazing brewery.

Color: A hazy copper color with hints of brown at the core of this beer. A nice nickle sized head forms of the off white color. A good amount of lacing is left behind in the glass.

Nose: Complex and intense! Tart cherries hit first followed by hints off oak and wild yeast funk.

Rounding off the aroma of this beer are apples and a slight vinegar smell.

Palate: An amazing mouth feel. Sour/tart with a great level of carbonation.  The cherries coat the tongue and are then washed away by earthy tones and barnyard flavors. 

Finish: Wow! Dry and complex. An immaculate beer that offers plenty of texture and surprises. One of the better beers in the world.

Rating: 97 out 100

Beer Review 49: Nogone Porter

Out of Norway, this brewery has quietly produced some of the best beer in the world, with such hits like the the Dark Horizon stout line and Red Horizon, and many more this brewery deserves recognition for the high quality product it produces year in and year out. Nogne Porter, another of the amazing beer's they brew, this one by far is one of the best porter style beer's in the world. The drinkability of this beer is superb and amazing aromas are sublime as they run up the nasal passages. Furthermore, Nogne Porter is one of those beers you see on the shelve and you wonder about it because it seems expensive for what you get. At $8.99-$9.99 a 500 ml sz bottle its not much beverage to entice you to buy it, but you should. You pay for quality and this my fellow beer drinkers is good high end quality. Moreover, this beer is quite versatile when it comes to pairing it with a meal. Its light enough to enjoy with summer BBQ and heavy enough to enjoy with a steak dinner. Nogne Porter is best enjoyed out of a pint glass or an over sized snifter depending on how much of it you wanna serve your self. This beer is one of the best porters out there and if you are a fan of the style I suggest you you pick some up. Its available year round so it should be easy.

Color: Dark brown.  About a two fingers worth of tan head forms after the pour. Lacing if fine nothing drastic.

Nose: Explosive! Roasted coffee beans and malts. Dried fruits and toasted coconut that is then followed by some mellow toffee and hazelnut.

Palate: Creamy and full of flavor. The tongue is hit with waves of different flavors. Coffee and roasted nuts and malts. Good complexity.

Finish: Soft and flavorful. a plethora of flavors make themselves evident. A great porter may be one of the best.

Rating: 94 out of 100

Beer Review 48: Russian River Salvation

Russian River brewery is my favorite brewery in the world; top to bottom every beer they make is amazing and the craftsmanship and hard work that goes into crafting these beer's is evident in every sip you take. Tonight I'm reviewing batch 10 Salvation, and boy is it a treat. This beer is a Belgian dark ale that is refermented in the bottle to give it its carbonation and a long cellar life, so if you would like to age this beer for awhile you can. Salvation is bottled in 375 ml bottles and its priced at $5.99 and I've seen it as high as $7.99 depending on where you buy your beer. Furthermore, this brew comes in at a smooth 9% abv which is so well masked through out the whole beer. In my opinion, this beer is best savored out of a goblet or wide mouth tulip, this will allow for this beer to open up and show its complexity and wonderful taste profile. Lastly, this beer is an excellent beer to pair with food especially cheeses of the stinky variety. Salvation is a rotational beer so keep your eyes peeled when it hits the shelves... buy one and cellar one for the future. Cheers!

Color: A dark brownish raisin color. The pour allows for an of white head to form of about two fingers. A good amount of lacing is left on the glass.

Nose: Lost of earth tones. Mild woodiness with hints of tobacco and raisins. Bitter hints of molasses and dried fruit are present.

Palate: Feels great on the mouth. the carbonation is maybe a bit much but the beer is very drinkable. The tongue is coated with layers of tobacco and raisins. The malt body becomes evident at this point and it provided a gentle roastiness. A full bodied beer.

Finish: Solid and complex. An array of flavors and texture. Another solid offering from Vinne at Russian River.

Rating: 94 out of 100

Beer Review 47: Bells Special Double Cream Stout

Special Double Cream Stout by Bell's brewery is one of my favorite cream stouts on the market. Its drinkability is amazing and it delivers so much flavor that you just can't help drinking more than one in one sitting. Brewed with a blend of ten different malts this beer takes on a creamy,lushes, full bodied beer. For those who aren't familiar with Bell's brewery, they are the same people who put out beers like the amazing Hopslam, Expedition stout, Oberon, and many more, but this beer and Hopslam are by far my favorite of the bunch. Moreover, Special Double Cream Stout is packaged in 6 packs and its priced at a cheap $10.99 a six pack, a true bargin for a beer that will amaze. Furthermore, the abv on this beer is right on, at 6.1%  this beer drinks great without hints of any booze. What's really cool about this stout as well is that it drinks well out of any glass: pint, snifter, or out of bottle. This cream stout is great to pair with most meals and makes an amazing dessert beer if you don't want coffee. I really suggest you get your hands on this beer when you can.... it is a seasonal release so keep your eyes peeled.

Color: Looks like coffee... dark coffee. Nickel thick tan head that recedes quickly to a dime thin head. Little lacing left behind.

Nose: A bouquet of roasted malts that deliver a sweetness to the nasal passages. Quite evident also is a subtle creaminess and sweet milk chocolate. Some caramel but its a bit faint.

Palate: Soft and drinkable. The carbonation is just right. I would like to see a bit more character here and some more complexity, but still solid. The creaminess of this beer subdues a bit on the tongue and the coffee flavors come to the forefront.

Finish. Just north of ok. If it finished the way it smelled it would be a home run, but instead its a hard hit double that just missed being a triple.

Rating: 92 out of 100

Beer Review 46: Founders Breakfast Stout

In a previous post I reviewed Founders KBS, which is by far one of my most favorite stouts on that market. Today's review is Founders Breakfast Stout, this beer is KBS's little non barrel aged brother. Breakfast Stout comes in at a very drinkable 8.3%  abv, and I must say it is so drinkable you can probably polish off the four pack that this beer is packaged in.  Furthermore, this beer does make a great morning beer; with the robust coffee and chocolate flavors, this would pair beautifully with a breakfast burrito or omelet.  Even though this beer is bottled in 12 oz bottles I do suggest you pour 6 oz. at a time into a snifter and sip on this beer because it is truly a magnificent beer that offers complexity and plenty of character as it warms in the glass. Founders brewery in Michigan is really a winner when it comes to brewing stouts... they really know what they are doing and how to please the the consumer with full body stout offerings. Keep up the good work guys.

Color: Pretty dark... I would say dark heavy brown. a nice dark khaki head forms, about 1 1/2 fingers worth and the lacing is quite good through out.

Nose: Just like breakfast should be... full of robust coffee flavors and nice thick dark chocolate. In the background there are the scents of roasted malts and a mellow hp body.

Palate: An amazing mouth feel with excellent drinkability. The carbonation on this beer is great it allows for the beer to show off all its incredible flavors. I love that this beer coats the tongue

with waves of coffee(if I had to guess... Sumatra coffee was used.) and sweet dark chocolate. Totally yummy.

Finish: Like everything else: Coffee and chocolate all the way down the hatch. Well balanced and layered. An incredible stout.

Rating: 96 out 100

Beer Review 45: 50/50 Eclipse Evan Williams

One of the smaller breweries in California 50/50 brewery is located in the northern part of the state in a little city called Truckee. For awhile now they have been brewing their eclipse line of stouts in which they age their stout in different bourbon barrels. Today's review is their Eclipse aged in Evan Williams bourbon barrels, not the best bourbon out there,but I'll tell you what, it provides an excellent tasting stout.  These beers are pretty hard to come across as they make very limited amounts of them each year. The better the bourbon barrel they use the less of them they produce. As for the EW, they only produced 3000 bottles of it last year. Moreover, 50/50 brewery releases this beer each December and boy are they pricey. They range anywhere from $23.99-$25.99  depending on which version of the beer you are buying.  Furthermore, all these stouts are bottled in 22 oz bottles with waxed caps, in this instance the EW is dipped in black wax.  What I really like about this beer is that unlike most top of the line imperial stouts which clock in at high abv's this one is brewed to a 9.5 % abv, and that makes this beer very drinkable. Lastly, this beer is one of those beer's you wanna share with a friend and enjoy after dinner on a cold night with a fine maduro cigar.  Also, before i forget please enjoy this beer out of a snifter and 6 oz at a time.

Color: Black at the core but if held to the light hints of a dark brown appear around the top ring of this beer.  It forms a nice dark tan head, about 1 1/2 fingers worth. Light lacing left behind on the glass.

Nose: Warm bourbon flavors hit the nasal passages: vanilla, molasses, and hints of caramel. Also present are scents of honey, coffee, charred oak, and roasted malts.

Palate: Full bodied with decent carbonation. It drinks warm, so it can use a bit of aging. Here the bourbon coats the mouth and later its soothed by chocolate and honey. The beers hop profile makes a show here but not totally noticeable. 

Finish: Warm, long, and complex. Much like bourbon, this beer can use some time in the cellar before it reaches it max potential

Rating: 93 out of 100

Beer Review 44: Three Floyds Apocalypse Cow

Three Floyd's brewery is becoming one of my favorite breweries in the country. They continue to make solid beer that is a bit "not normal" and I like it. Today's review, is a seasonal release by Three Floyd's, usually coming out in July, Apocalypse Cow. This beer is an double IPA brewed with lactose sugar, giving this beer a different taste and take on the style. Coming in at 9.5% ABV this double IPA is very drinkable and balanced. Bottled in 22 oz bottles and priced anywhere from $10.99- $12.99, this beer is worth the buy. Furthermore, Apocalypse Cow is best enjoyed out a snifter glass or tulip glass, this will allow the intriguing characteristics of this beer to be more noticeable. A 9.6 oz serving of this beer should be enough, but one can easily drink down this monster cause it so good. Lastly, this beer makes a great summer time BBQ beer as it pairs nicely with grilled meets, grilled or cedar planked salmon. Make sure to pick up a few bottles of this brew, it does go fast and it is limited.

Color: Hazy bright yellow/orange.  Forms a frothy white one finger head as well. Leaves behind a good amount of lacing.

Nose: Big time citrus and fruit: Oranges, grapefruit, tart tangerine, and peach. pleasant sweetness from the malt and lactose sugar. The hop body brings forth some pine and wet Forest smells.

Palate:  Balanced between the sweetness and hoppiness. Full bodied and very drinkable, the carbonation is just right. petite waves of creaminess coat the tongue and then are washed away by the taste of fruit. Very very nice.

Finish: Long with some dryness. Wonderfully complex and sharp. Three Floyd's brewery really know how to use hop and each beer is always a surprise. 

Rating: 94 out 100

Beer Review 43: Dogfish Head My Antonia

Wanna give a shout out to my very good trading partner Corey Evans for sending me this beer, so thanks! 

My Antonia is Dogfish's version of an imperial pilsner and in my book this beer is a slam dunk. In my humble opinion this is one of the top ten beers that Sam and the boy's over at Dogfish produce. My Antonia is a limited release beer each year so if you are fan of this type of brew, I suggest you seek it out when its released. Furthermore, this pilsner is bottled at a very drinkable 7.5% abv and in a 750 ml bottle. The cost of this beer depends on where you buy it... I have seen and heard that it can go from $10.99-$15.99 a pop. Is it worth the hefty price tag, I would say yes, but only if you really like this style. Moreover, what makes this beer pretty good is that its very versatile, it pairs really well with most foods and its drinkable the whole year round.  I prefer drinking this beer out of either a pilsner glass or a wide bottomed tulip.  Lastly, this beer says it can be aged for time, but I would say differently. I believe that the hop character this beer has will fade over time and it will also lose its crispness, so if you do wanna give it some time take that in mind when doing so.

Color: Golden straw, hazy at the core.  It form a 2 finger with frothy head. Leaves behind a good amount of lacing.

Nose: Some citrus. Oranges and lemons come and go, with comes hints hops and malts. Some nice bready flavors.

Palate: Amazing mouth feel. Refreshing and complex. The hop character of this beer comes through here. the citrus texture blend well with the malt in this beer.

Finish: A tad dry but very drinkable because of the good carbonation of this beer. Lots of good flavor here

Rating: 93 out of 100

Beer Review 42: Cantillon Gueuze 100 % Lambic

For a long time now the Belgians have been brewing beer of all kinds. Some would say they are the best beer producing nation in the world, and in some way I agree with that. They have developed so many styles and have become trailblazers in the world of beer. The one significant style that sticks out for me is the Lambic; here we have a style so beautifully crafted and perfected the by the Belgian brewers. Lambics are beers that are spontaneously fermented and then has fruit added to add texture and flavor to balance out the tartness/sourness. After that process it then aged in oak barrels before bottling. Another form of Lambic is gueuze, and this style is made by blending young and old lambics together. This style is said to be the more dry/intense/sour of all the lambic styles. Today's review is a gueuze style beer from the renowned Cantillon brewery. 100 % Lambic is that beer. This being my first one from Cantillon I was more than pleased to have savored such a treat. Like most beers from Cantillon, they are hard to come across in the U.S. as most of them are very limited, 100 % Lambic is one of the most common ones you can find, so if you see it... buy it! At $ 9.99 a 375 ml bottle it totally worth it. Furthermore, this beer requires special glassware to be consumed; I recommend either a tulip glass or an over sized wine glass, this will allow for this beer to open up and release all its aroma. Moreover, a typical serving size of this beer is about 9.6 oz and it should be sipped at cellar temp(55 degrees). Lastly, this beer is meant to be sipped and enjoyed over time. If you wanna pair this beer with something I would suggest Stilton cheese or a blue cheese or cashews and other more oily nuts.

Color: Hazy gold with hints of pale orange at the center. This gueuze develops a nickle thick head and leaves no lacing on the glass.

Nose: Major yeast funk in the forefront followed by light vinegar tones and barnyard scents.  Also present are very mellow oak scent.

Palate: Light bodied and with a perfect amount of carbonation. The sourness is pleasant as it coats the mouth. Hints of lemon and sour apple appear and slowly wine like qualities such as those of a sauv blanc begin to sow.

Finish: Explosive, complex and surprising. It ends a bit dry but with plenty of flavor. An amzing beer,

Rating: 96 out of 100

Beer Review 41: Russian River Consecration

As you well know I am a big fan of everything Russian River brewery.  The brewers at Russian River just continue to produce solid beer and especially in the wild ale category. Consecration is just that, a sour ale that aged 4 to 6 months on Cabernet oak barrels and then refermented in the bottle to create the nice carbonation this beer possesses. Furthermore, this beer is so well crafted and complex that it really requires a special glass to drink it from to fully enjoy this beverage. I recommend you go with either a tulip glass or Cabernet wine glass, both of these will help nose the beer better and help open it up. Moreover, Consecration like most of the RR sours are a bit pricey, but always worth it in my book. At anywhere from $10.99- $ 14.99 per 375 ml bottle, this beer will make a dent in your wallet, so buy them in moderation. Consecration is bottled at a robust 10% ABV, but when drinking it you will notice its hardly evident. Other notes on this beer: Consecration is now on batch five and that's what I am reviewing, this beer is a good choice to age, this beer pairs well with aged cheeses, and will pair nicely with a lamb dinner. So, if you are a fan of sour beers this one should make its way to your home or seek it out on tap at you local beer bar, you wont be disappointed.

Color: A deep mahogany with shades maroon at the core. Forms a clear bubbly head that disappears quickly. No visual lacing left behind.

Nose: Sourness form the brett and other wild yeast and bacteria used to brew this beer. Dark cherries are evident along side the currants and faint tobacco. Oakiness creeps up toward the end.

Palate: Nicely carbonated makes for an easy drink. The abv is well masked through the beer, hardly noticeable. The dark cherry coat the tongue followed by little waves of oak and tobacco. The currants are not very evident here.

Finish: Long and a tad dry. Crisp with oak and cherry. Complex and drinkable, really well crafted beer with the right amount of sourness.

Rating: 94 out of 100. Not as good as Supplication or Temptation, but extremely solid.

Beer Review 40: Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

There is this fine Brewery in San Diego by the Name of Ballast Point and at this fine beer producing business they make what might be my second favorite IPA in the country. Sculpin IPA is that beer, and boy does it leave you feeling like you just had a sublime beer experience. This beer is a complete single IPA, it has everything you want and nothing you hate, this beer is just that good. Furthermore, is that this beer is a single IPA and it delivers all the robust textures and flavors of double IPA's. Moreover, what enhances the taste of this beer is the dry hopping stage that this beer goes through, it adds more complexity to the beer and it lets all the fruity flavors blend together to give Sculpin a wonderful aroma. Like most top of the line IPA's you want to enjoy this beer out of the proper glassware, and for this beer I fully recommend drinking this beer out of a snifter, but a tulip will work ok if a snifter is not available to you. At 7 % abv this beer drinks smooth and clean with plenty of refreshing qualities. Lastly, this beer is worth every dime, at $7.99 a 22 oz bottle I believe this is a steal and this beer should be in your fridge at all times. Try Sculpin with an array of foods, but my recommendation is to pair this beer with meaty  pizza or other robust Italian dishes, the pairing is amazing.

Color: A hazy hopper color with an orange hue around the edges.  This beer is excellently carbonated and it forms a nice 2 finger head when you pour it into your glass. Not much lacing but it does stick to the glass.

Nose: Delightful! This beer delivers a plethora of floral and fruity flavors. Mango, apricots, peach, and some mellow papaya make their way up your nose. The bouquet of hops follows and it is accompanied by a welcomed sweetness..

Palate: A full bodied beer that is balanced, explosive, and complex. This beer just throws everything at you and it all works so well together. Smooth and clean and exploding with flavor.

Finish: Just sublime! The Hops are more evident at this stage and the fruit kinda takeas a back seat but nothing wrong with that. Best Single IPA on the west coast and maybe the whole country.

Rating: 96 out of 100

Beer Review 39: 3 Floyds Moloko

For those of us out west or way out on the east coast we may not be familiar with 3 Floyds Brewery, but we should be. They make some of the best beer this country has to offer and also at very good prices. Located in the small city of Munster, Indiana it van be easy to overlook such a brewery, but with solid offerings like Dark Lord imperial stout, Moloko, Behemoth, and Apocalypse Cow this brewery is amazing.  Tonight's review is on Moloko, a milk stout that is released in the summer months. It can be seen on the shelves starting in August. Furthermore, this beer is is awesomely priced at $8.99 a 22 oz bottle and the art work makes this an eye catcher as well. Moreover, this milk stout is bottled at a nice 8 % abv, which is wonderfully masked by the creamy texture of this excellent beer. Moloko is not a beer you need a special glass for, so any icy cold pint glass will do. This beer, unlike most high abv stouts, is not meant for aging, so don't still stick it in your cellar for to long, as it will loose most of it characteristics that make Moloko so tasty. Lastly, this is an awesome stout for hot days in the summer, it drinks so good and it can be paired as a dessert beer or with some fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Go and seek this beer out, you wont regret it.

Color: Very Dark... almost jet black.  Pours with a nice two finger tan head and the beer has a medium level carbonation.  Some lacing left behind.

Nose: Milk Chocolate and cream hit the nasal passages first followed by hints of mellow coffee and vanilla flavors. Caramel brings up the rear.

Palate: Light bodied stout with lost of sweet and creamy flavors. The milk chocolate hits the palate first directly followed by some fresh vanilla and coffee tones. 

Finish: Smooth and clean. Sweetness and mild roastiness are evident on the way down. Everything works together to make an excellent drinking beer.

Rating: 93 out of 100

Beer Review 38: Cisco Cherry Woods

Like some of the beer's I have reviewed on this site, Cherry Woods was my first of any of the Cisco brews. I want to thank my beer buddy Michael Nielsen in New Jersey for hooking me up with this fantastic sour. Before this beer I didn't know this brewery existed, and after doing a little research on them and trying more of their beers, they are truly a good brewery.  Cherry Woods is a beer in a line of sours from what they call the "woods" series. This nice mellow sour is bottled in 750 ml bottles and is corked like all the Russian River Beers. Furthermore, Cherry Woods is priced quite well at $16.99 a bottle, so spend the money and grab yourself a few. At a 4.7 % abv, this beer is a gentle and very drinkable beer that is bet enjoyed out of a tulip glass. Like most sours, I prefer to enjoy them on their own and not pair them with any food, but if you are so inclined to have a snack or a meal with it, cheese would be appropriate and some fine roasted pork with some nice spice seasoning.

Color: Orange/Reddish coloring. Very little lacing and very well carbonated. Hardly an head.

Nose: Mellow cheery up front with gentle yeast funk in the background. Hints of wood appear slowly along with tart fruit.

Palate: Light bodied with plenty of flavor. Cherry flavors explode but don't overwhelm and the the tartness is balanced with the earth woody tones that make an appearance. 

Finish: Smooth and a bit dry. The sourness is pleasant and the fruit flavors really mellow out. A good solid sour with plenty to offer, but not in the great sour bracket.

Rating: 93 out of 100

Beer Review 37: Troegs Nugget Nectar

Usually I'm not a fan of red ales/ amber ales, but I kept hearing how good this imperial amber ale was, so I made it a point to score a few bottles and see if the beer was worth the hype. I wanna thank Scott in Buffalo, New York and Thorpe429 in Virginia for hooking me up with this beer. Nugget Nectar is all that and more, its somewhere between a double ipa and a saison. It has all the hop of an ipa and the smoothness of a saison. Furthermore, Nugget Nectar smells great and drinks even better, truly an amazing beer coming out of Pennsylvania. Moreover, this beer is a seasonal beer, so its not available when you want it, so if your a fan of this type of beer, line up and get some. West coast people, you like me though can't buy this out here so if you have friends willing to ship you a six pack... take them up on it. Also, what makes Nugget Nectar amazing is that its so well balanced between the hop body, the abv which stands at 7.5% and the malt body; truly a great beer. Nugget Nectar is also priced pretty well for a limited seasonal release, at $12.99-$14.99 a six pack of 12 oz bottles. This beer is also a beer that can be enjoyed with a variety of meals and out of any glass including the bottle.  Do not pass up a chance at trying this beer, its truly one of the top 150 beers out there.

Color: Like the type of beer, it pours an amber color with hints of orange. This beer is well carbonated and leaves behind some decent lacing. A dime thick head sits a top of this beer.

Nose: A wonderful hop bouquet. Floral and light citrus. Some orange and lemon appear in the background.

Palate: Excellent mouth feel! Balanced and with some good bite. I get some caramel blended in with the nice hop body. Mellow citrus come in waves.

Finish: Short but full of flavor. Not complex but nicely layered with all its components. Great all around beer!

Rating: 94 out 100