Beer Review 78: Cantillon Fou Foune 2008

Cantillon Fou Foune.... what can one say other than a near perfect beer form one of the premiere brewery's in the world. Fou Foune is one of the best fruit lambic's produced anywhere, the combination of apricots and the sour and funk of the beer make this liquid treat a true pleasure to consume. This beer transforms throughout its life. Starting as a fruit forward lambic with light acidity and sourness, this beer than becomes more sour/funky as it ages and the fruit begins to take a back seat. Jean Van Roy is a true master in producing fruit lambic's, his work is only matched by a hand full of other brewers in the world. Drinking his beers are a total guilty pleasure. Moreover, Fou Foune is quite expensive to buy and find here in the states. Starting from $25.00 a bottle to anywhere below $35.00, this beer will def leave your wallet hurting, but once you taste this magnificent creation you'll want to spend to get it again. However, finding it can be quite tricky, especially if you live on the west coast like I do. Though this beer is made every year, not much makes it to the states and what does usually stays on the east coast. So how do you go about buying one or finding it.. well you can start buy finding it online and see how much it would cost to get it shipped to you (but trust me this option gets expensive). Or if you are an avid beer trader, find some one with multiple bottles of it and hope he is willing to give one up. Fou Foune comes in 750ml bottles and are the most common ones sold on the market, but they also bottle it in 375ml bottles, but finding these anywhere might be tough as the only ones I've seen have come from Japan. Like all Lambic's, the abv on Fou Foune is low, at 5% one can easily consume a bottle without help and quite quickly(its that good). I recommend enjoying this beer in a tulip or flute to fully enjoy the complexity of this beer, but if you want to be old school and have a vintage Belgian gueuze tumbler glass feel free to use that as well.

Color: A hazy, but yet bright golden/orange. White 1 1/2f finger head that reduces to a thin bubbly cap after awhile. No lacing with light retention

Nose: Apricots what else, but the fruit has definitely faded compared to the fresher batches. Nice funk aroma with hints of wood, hay, and light lemon peel.

Palate: Wow! simply amazing. A perfect amount of carbonation making this beer very drinkable. The apricots hit the tongue first followed the an enjoyable wave of sourness and funk. This beer is dry, but yet it contains a good amount of spritz. At the end you begin to taste the oak/woody textures of this beer.

Finish: Long and dry with a good amount of texture. Mellow fruit which balances the light acidity at the end. An incredible beer that can be consumed fresh and aged.

Rating 98/100
08 vintage score

Beer Review 77: Midnight Sun Bar Fly

I'm back with another beer review, and its another Midnight Sun Brewing offering. This time it's their smoked Cabernet barrel aged stout, Bar Fly. I can say in all honesty this may be my favorite barrel aged stout of all time. Bar Fly posses great texture, balance and its so drinkable that one alone can put down a 22 oz bottle without any help. One draw back about this beer, its very limited, and by that I mean it was brewed once and sold only in Alaska. Making it even more rare is the fact that less tan 2000 bottles were made 2010, so if you trying to track one down you might be looking for awhile or you will be paying some insulting type of money to purchase one. Furthermore, Bar Fly makes a great beer to cellar as well, so people who still have it, they wont be parting with it, making trading for it pretty hard.  If you do have a bottle of this make sure to enjoy it in 6oz pours and in the proper glassware. In the case of Bar Fly, a snifter or tulip glass will work best. Moreover, this incredible stout is bottled at a very smooth 12.60% abv. Usually a beer of this high alcohol content packs some heat when drinking it, but Bar Fly goes down smooth and clean. I'm fully blown away by this beer and I want to give the head brewer and other staff at Midnight Sun a big hug and high fives for not only coming up with this beer, but many other beers I truly enjoy. If your an avid craft beer drinker, do yourself a favor... get some Midnight Sun brew!

Color: Pours almost jet black. Hints of mocha shine around the edges of the glass. A nice tan one finger head forms in the glass, but it dissolves quite quickly.

Nose: Just superb! Light smoke, roast, and great oak presence. Hints of roasted coffee beans, mellow chocolate, with hints of tobacco. Quite complex.

Palate: Medium to full bodied. Extremely drinkable with the perfect amount  of carbonation. The abv is well masked throughout the beer. On the tongue you first get the smoke followed by waves of roasted coffee and tobacco. At the back end the vanilla and cab barrel presence begins to show.

Finish: Smooth and uber complex. Great texture and layers. An incredible stout that shines above all others out there.

Rating: 97/100

Beer Review 76: Cantillon 100% Kriek 2010

Here is another Cantillon review, and this time we are gonna talk about their 100% Kriek. This beer is a lambic brewed with cherries, and like all other Cantillon is just sublime! This lambic is one of Cantillon's year round offerings, which one can pick up form the shelf wherever Cantillon is distributed. Coming in at 5% abv this beer is sour, complex, and just straight drinkable. Moreover, 100% Kriek comes in two different bottle formats: 375 ml and 750 ml. The cost for both is a tad pricey; with the 375 ml coming in at 10-12 dollars and the 750 ml coming in at 17-20 dollars depending on where you are purchasing your beer. Furthermore, with all well crafted lambic one must enjoy it out of the proper glassware. I recommend using either a flute or tulip for this beer and to not to exceed a 10 oz pour as to enjoy this beer to its full potential. Like all other well made Belgian lambic, these beers are meant to age for years and can be enjoyed with an array of aged cheeses and desserts. Do yourself a favor, if you are a fan of the this style of beer, seek out as much Cantillon as you can; drink them fresh or drink them after years of storage in your cellar, either way you are in for a special treat.

Color: Hazy, but yet a vibrant and deep reddish/pink. A nickle thick white head appears after the pour and this beer leaves behind minimal lacing/retention.

Nose: Big time sour cherries followed by that unique Cantillon funk. A nice oak profile rises from the glass along with all those barnyard smells associated with Belgian sours.

Palate: Sour, fruity, balanced, and complex. This beer is extremely drinkable for how funky and tart it can be. Cherries invade your mouth followed by some woody textures and dryness. The abv is this beer is not evident at all making the mouthfeel incredible and full if taste.

Finish: Dry and sour. Cherries abound and the complexity of this beer is superb on the back end. Truly an amazing fruit lambic/

Rating: 94/100

Beer Review 75: Upright Fantasia

This is my first Upright Brewery beer, and I must say if all their beer is as good as Fantasia I want to try everything they offer. Upright is located in the heart of Portland, Oregon and by word of mouth I hear they make great saison's and other really tasty barrel aged beers. Today though I am reviewing Fantasia, a peach sour aged in barrels and boy does it deliver! This beer packs in great fruit flavor along with a great balance of sourness and drinkability. Furthermore, with this beer being priced at $20.00 for a 750 ml bottle, I believe this brew is a steal, so if you bought some lucky you and if you didn't trade for some and drink it; you wont be disappointed. Fantasia is so drinkable that you alone could polish of a whole bottle, especially when this beer clocks in at only 5.75% ABV, but don't do that, serve yourself a nice 9.6 oz serving into your tulip or goblet and share this rarity with other beer loving friends.  Moreover, I would say that you enjoy this beer fresh as I am not sure how this will age, but the potential is there is the excellent peach profile holds up. Usually I would tell you what fine food you can pair along with this beer, but its my honest opinion that this beer should be consumed solo to fully enjoy all the excellent complexities it contains, but if you must pair it up, just make sure your meal doesn't overwhelm the beer.

Color: A vibrant golden/orange  with a thin white head that recedes quickly. No lacing or head retention to speak of.

Nose: Peaches! More and more peaches! Light oak rises from the glass as it warm, a soft sweetness is paired with an inviting sourness. I also get some light white wine textures.

Palate: Very drinkable. The abv is well masked throughout the beer making the peach profile in this beer shine. The beer is sour/tart, but not to point were it makes your mouth pucker. Very fruit forward with waves of oak and vinous qualities, but these are just sort of floating in the background.

Finish: Simple, fruity, and mildly dry. Great peach flavor all the way through, but the complexity lacks on the back end of this beer. Still a quality sour with a lot of excellent textures and body

Rating: 93/100

Beer Review 74: Goose Island Bourbon County Vanilla Stout

Goose Island in Chicago, Illinois is one of the premier stout brewing breweries in the country. Their line of barrel aged stouts are even better. From the classic BCBC to the highly regarded,expensive, and now retired Bourbon County Rare these stouts make up what can be the best stout portfolio in the world. Today though we are not reviewing one of the former, but another from the long list of award winning barrel aged stouts offered by Goose Island, Bourbon County Vanilla. This beer like Rare is now retired and never to be made again. I have had the pleasure to have tried all the BCBS beers except for the Rare, and until then I am gonna have to say that BCBVS is by far my favorite. The combination of the barrel treatment and the vanilla beans make for an extreme stout with a huge taste profile. Furthermore, BCBVS is a heavy hitter like all great barrel aged stouts should be. Clocking in at 13% abv this beer when fresh packs some heat, but as you age it it realy begins to mellow out and become smoother and mellow. Bottled in 22oz bottles and priced anywhere from $13-$15 when it was released, this beer was a steal. If I lived in Chicago when this rolled out I would have bought a truck load of this stuff. Bourbon County Vanilla is best enjoyed in moderation and small servings, a pour of 6oz goes a long way as this beer should be sipped and not chugged. This beer should also be consumed out of the proper glassware. A snifter or goblet is just what this beer needs and this will also allow you to enjoy the beer at a whole different level. In the end, this beer is a must try for any craft beer lover. If you have the means go out and get it;  it wont be easy as you can't buy it anymore at any bottle shop, you'll have to either go the trading route or if you want to spend top dollar an auction site.

Color: Thick, almost jet black. A tan, creamy film forms atop of the beer after the pour. Light lacing is left behind with no head retention at all.

Nose: What else Vanilla! Caramel and a strong bourbon aroma float around. In the background hints of caramel and hazelnut appear. Coffee tons are apparent once the beer warms up. after awhile in the glass.

Palate: Big and full bodied. A tad boozy from the 13% abv, but its not a beer killer. The drinkability is damn good and the carbonation a bit low, but not a deal breaker. Vanilla assaults your tongue from the get go, then the bourbon influence washes it away leaving behind the taste of caramel, chocolate, and espresso. Some minor oak character comes through as the explosion of taste subsides.

Finish: Warm and long with a sweetness. A great combination of bourbon and vanilla linger as the beer slowly goes down the hatch. Definitely a winner and a super presentation of a barrel aged stout.

Rating: 95/100

Beer Review 73: Midnight Sun Arctic Devil

Midnight Sun Brewery in Alaska is one of those breweries that if your really not a craft beer nerd you don't know much about, but I'm here to tell you that you should! Midnight Sun makes some of the most sought after beer's in the country and for a reason..... they are amazing! I want to to say that about 3 months ago I reviewed TREAT, their pumpkin chocolate porter, and it blew my mind. Shortly after that endeavor I made it my mission to search out all their other highly reputable beers, but the one I really wanted and finally got was Arctic Devil. This Beer is a barrel aged barleywine that just simply out shines most other barleywine's...it's that good. The complexity level and sublime drinkability of Arctic Devil is off the charts, its layered with tons mouth watering flavors that leave you wanting more. This is one of those beers that you just never want to run out off or come down to your final sip. Moreover, this beer isn't simple to find, if you live outside of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, you're gonna find yourself going crazy trying to find it. Even California and Idaho get some, but not very much, so before you know it its gone. Furthermore, Arctic Devil isn't available year round. Its a winter release and like stated earlier it has very minimal distribution. Some other important facts about Arctic Devil:
Its bottled at a smooth 13.4% abv in 22oz bottles, it cost anywhere from $12-$17 dollars depending in which state you buy it in, and should be served in 6oz servings and in the proper glassware such as a snifter or wide mouth tulip. I fully endorse this beer, so go buy it or trade for it. As a matter of fact get multiples so you can cellar a few because this beer will just keep getting better over time. Lastly, I usually like to tell you what kind of food goes well with the beer being reviewed, but screw that this time, this beer should just be enjoyed as is!

Color: It shines a caramel/copper color with a light off-white head that quickly dissolves into a dime thick ring around the glass. No head retention and minor lacing.

Nose: Wow!!!! Caramel,vanilla,bourbon, and mold oak shine. As the beer warms hints of toffee and dried apples appear. Just a wonderful aroma emanates from this beer.

Palate: Regal... yes I said it, this beer is just that... regal. Once this beer hits your tongue it is an elegant presentation of flavor and craftsmanship. For such a high abv this beer is highly drinkable. The alcohol is well masked and the carbonation is just right. Waves of bourbon and caramel hit your taste buds first, followed by the smoothness of the vanilla and the boldness of the oak. Gentle fruit appears as the beer warms adding another level of complexity.

Finish: Warm,smooth, and mildly sweet. the taste of bourbon lingers with hints of vanilla at the back end of the tongue. This beer is at another level... simply outstanding and an achievement in beer making.

Rating: 97/100

Beer Review 72: Cantillon Lou Pepe Gueuze 2008

I'm so excited to be reviewing this beer tonight. Aside of  being one of the beer's I have sought after for the longest time, it also comes from on of my favorite breweries in the world, Cantillon, in Belgium. For those of you who don't know, Cantillon is one of the premiere lambic, gueuze, and sour beer makers in the world, and Jean Van Roy the head brewer at Cantillon, is by far one of the best at coming up with these fantastic beers. One of Jean's best creations is the Lou Pepe series of beer's: Gueuze, Framboise, and Kriek. However, these beer's are not easy to find, and if you do spot them at your local bottle shop the price of buying a bottle is steep. The Lou Pepe Gueuze runs anywhere from $25.00- $30.00 a 750 ml bottle. I know what your thinking... Damn! that shit is expensive, is it worth it. My response... Hell! Yes! Then again I'm a beer snob and  I love they style, so if your like me and like the sour and funky beers do yourself a favor and pick up as many as you can get your hands on. Furthermore, like all gueuze's this one also has a low abv. At 5% this beer is an easy drinker, but also provides plenty of complexity and character. I also suggest you enjoy this beer out of a tulip or goblet in reasonable 8 oz pours that way you can see how this beer changes as it warms over time. Finally, what else can be said about Lou Pepe Gueuze that doesn't sound like hyperbole, this beers taste should be enough.  Do remember to share this rare gem if you have one in your possession because like all Cantillon its best enjoyed in good company.

Color: A hazy golden/blonde this beer is. A thin white bubbly head forms that quickly reduces to a cloying white ring at the edges of your glass. Minimal head retention.

Nose: Wow! Like all great Belgian gueuze this one smells of funk, lemon peel, and stinky cheese. hints of oak and barnyard rise from the glass as it warms. A pretty complex aroma.

Palate: Simply perfect. Outstanding drinkability, perfectly carbonated, light and layered on the tongue, and above all delicious. Once this beer enters your mouth your palate is assaulted with sourness, extreme funk and waves of lemon. The oak then comes through to mellow out the sour patch invasion that just happened. Hints of grass and other barnyard textures shine on the back end.

Finish: Dry and easy going. Sour through and through with an incredible complexity that can only come from excellent craftsmanship.

Rating: 96/100

Beer Review 71: Beatification Batch 3

When it comes to making American Wild Ales, Vinnie from Russian River knows best. The whole sour line-up that is produced by Russian River Brewing is fantastic, from the year round productions of Supplication, Temptation, and Consecration, to the limited releases like Sanctification and Compunction and the ever spontaneous appearance of Beatification! This beer might be the best American produced sour beer I have had to date, it is complex, funky, sour, delicious, and way to drinkable. Beatification is a spontaneously fermented beer inspired by the Belgian sour beer making way. No yeast is added to the beer, it is put in a tank over night to collect whatever yeast and bacteria might be floating around and later transferred into a wine oak barrel where it sits and ferments for months. For all us craft beer nuts out there, we aspire to try this beer, we try to convince someone to trade us a bottle,which isn't easy to do, especially for the older vintages(batches ph1-3) or we try to become friends with someone who has one and have them share their bottle with us. Furthermore,  what I'm trying to get to is this: If you have a chance to get a bottle get it. If you have a chance to buy one, especially an older bottling, buy it (short of selling of your first born or home of course). Moreover, I'm one of the lucky few who over time has been able to not only try different vintages of this beer, but also own a few different batches of this beer and I must say that to this date.... batch 3 is still my favorite. What makes this vintage so sought  is that its the one year Russian River bottled Beatification in a 750 ml bottle. I believe when this came out it sold for $20.00 or more depending on where you bought it. As most of you know who read this blog I'm a big stickler for using proper glassware and its no different for this beer. A goblet or or champagne flute will do wonders for this beer, so please pour this beer into its proper glass. As for what to pair this beer with, I say nothing; do not ruin the greatness of this beer by shoving food in your mouth, enjoy the excellent craftsmanship that went into making this beer sublime! Lastly, like all well made sours Beatification can be cellared for a long time, so don't rush and drink it all at once.... save it for the right occasion.

Color: Golden to blonde with a few orange highlights. A thin white bubbly head appears but quickly reduces to a white ring around the glass. Leaves behind some head retention, but no lace.

Nose: Extreme and complex. Sourness, barnyard textures, funk, lemon scent, and mellow grassy notes.

Palate: Like heaven on the tongue. Extremely drinkable for how sour it is. The carbonation is perfect, no trace of alcohol and its tingles your taste buds. As this beer sits in your mouth waves of sour lemon and oak coat the tongue , later the grassy notes appear in soft gentle way. Truly well crafted.

Finish: Long and dry with plenty of layers. Tart and funky, sour and lightly fruity, and yea very drinkable till the last drop. A masterful sour!

Rating: 97/100

Beer Review 70: Surly Darkness 2011

When it come to Russian Imperial Stouts there are few that stand up to the behemoth that is Surly Darkness. This big, flavorful, and rich stout out of the the Minnesota is an amazing beer. Since 2007 when Surly when first decided to bottle Darkness has become one of the cornerstones of the imperial stout market. Once a year during "Darkness Day " at the brewery people gather from all around the country to share bottles from their cellar and have a good time as they wait to buy their allotment of bottles. I've been blessed to have had Darkness 09-2011 and I must say that I enjoy this beer fresh. I'm not saying Darkness gets worse with age, I just prefer the nice hop profile it has when you consume it fresh. At $20.00 dollars a bottle I find that this beer is worth every single dime, especially because it's bottled in a really cool 750 ml bottle that is waxed and has great art work every year. Darkness clocks in at a very drinkable 10.30 % abv, but its still best enjoyed out of a snifter in 6 oz pours. What I also like about this beer is that as it opens up you get more and more flavors and textures. I love to pair this beer with any form of red meat especially with my bone in cajun rubbed rib-eye, but it also goes well with a big juicy bacon burger with blue cheese.... yea yum, and now in hungry! I do recommend to go out and find this beer, buy 2 or more bottles and drink a few fresh and age a few so you can also see the changes this beer goes through over the years.

Color: Deep, dark, and black. a beautiful tan head of 1 1/2 finger head forms at the end of your pour. Light lacing and some good head retention are left behind in the glass.

Nose: Big time roasted malts... like so big in your face roasted malts. A delightful hop aroma arises from this beer along with hints of espresso and mild chocolate.

Palate: Boom! Out of the gate you get bitter coffee along with the perfect compliment to it sweet mild chocolate. As the beer makes it down your tongue you get many different aspects of this beer: roasted malts, hops and a tad of warmth from the abv. The drinkablity of this beer is just sublime, the carbonation is just right and this full bodied beer just goes down easy.

Finish: Near perfect Russian Imperial Stout. Quite layered with a long finish. you can taste this beer well after you have taken down your sip. A nice bitterness come through here along with a gentle sweetness to chase it away. Just good.

Rating: 96/100

Beer Review 69: Allagash Ghoulschip

From one of the furthest northeast breweries in the country comes this wonderful pumpkin sour. Ghoulschip, is made by the fine brewers at Allagash located in Portland, Maine. Yes, the state known for Stephen King and clam chowder does provide us with of the most delicious beer made in the U.S. Ghoulschip, is an American wild ale in line with the coolship series beer's released by Allagash every now and then, and with this beer they tried to capture the essence of a seasonal pumpkin beer and make it a high quality wild ale. They succeeded  in their attempt, Ghoulschip is an extraordinary beer with good complexity and taste. I will be the first to say I was a bit skeptical at first about this beer seeing that there have been many attempts by other breweries to make this such style and failed. With Ghoulschip though, it was a massive achievement! Furthermore, Ghoulschip had a minimal release as it was only sold at the brewery last year and only 1,200 bottles were sold to the public making this beer quite unique and rare. Moreover, this wild pumpkin ale was sold at $10.00 dollars a bottle and packaged in a cork and caged 375 ml bottle. Ghoulschip clocks in at a very drinkable 6.9% abv and should be enjoyed from the proper glassware as to allow the multi-layered aromas of this beer come to life. I would recommend enjoying this beer out of a tulip or wine glass in 8 oz servings to allow for the beer to open up and develop over time.  No lie, this beer will pair wonderfully with braised pork ribs or lamb or if you just want snack on something any form of aged stinky cheese will do fine.

Color: Copper,orange, auburn hues glow from this beer. A dime sized white ring forms around the top of the glass.

Nose: Pumpkin, light molasses. toasted oak(which I love) slight sour funk and other seasonal spices: allspice, nutmeg(faint) and clove.

Palate: This is where Ghoulschip shines! The drinkability of this beer is insane good. The carbonation is just right and the abv is well masked all through this beer. This brew has a medium bodied feel on the tongue and it provides plenty of sour funk and oakiness. I love the feel of molasses at the back end and the spice profile on the finish. The pumpkin comes in waves to add some pleasant sweetness.

Finish: a nice sourness with good sweetness and subtle dry finish. Def a good American sour

Rating: 94/100

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