Deschutes Hop Trip Fresh Hop Pale Ale

Beer: American Pale Ale
Brewery: Deschutes Brewing Company
Location: Bend, OR
Website: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com
Serving Type: 24 oz.
ABV: 5.5 ABV

Pour: Adequate head, which dissipates some but then a nice quarter inch layer remains.

Smell: Nice sweat malty smell with a hint of pine

Taste: Smooth beer with just the right amount of hops. I have grown a little tired of super hoppy beers that are just trying to be high in the IBU department. This beer is nice and sweat with some great hoppy taste to it. I do taste the so called "fresh" hop taste, its a little bit crisper and not as acidic as i am us to from a pale ale or IPA.

Drinkability: This is a good beer to site back and enjoy. I dont think it is some kind of super complex beer but its complex enough to enjoy a six pack instead of just a bomber.



Grade: B+

Avery Out of Bounds Stout

Beer: American Stout
Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Location: Boulder, CO
Website: http://www.averybrewing.com/index2.html
Serving Type: 12 oz.
ABV: 5.1 ABV

Pour: Smooth pour with an adequate head, which slightly dissipates in a few minutes.

Smell: I have some problems really getting a true reading on the smell of a stout. I did get the malty sweet smell.

Taste: I think this is a smooth well balanced stout. Sometimes I feel brewies want to make every beer an imperial or in your face taste. I felt this beer had the complex taste of a stout but not the over powering taste of many of the stouts i have drank.

Drinkability: This beer was smooth from start to finish. However it wasnt boring, instead it had multiple complex taste such as the well balanced hop bitterness. The evenly roasted somewhat sweet malt flavors were very enjoyable with every sip.

By the way this brewery is a fun place to visit with a great selection of fresh tasty beer.

Grade: A

Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Beer: Imperial Russian Stout
Brewery: Stone Brewing Company
Location: Escondido, CA
Website: http://www.stonebrew.com/irs/
Serving Type: 22 oz.
ABV: 10.5 ABV ah yeah!

Pour: Smooth pour with a nice thick head, which dissipates in about 2 minutes.

Smell: This beer has smells like a traditional that make you a little scared, like when you drink a aged bourbon. beer. This stout has a rich earthy, malty smell.

Taste: From the first taste you can tell this is indeed an "imperial" beer. The beer is smooth to drink. The tastes of caramel, smoky malt, coffee, and slight alcohol bite linger for a little while after you take a sip.

Drinkability: This is a smooth beer that is great for hangin out and listening to quality music, or maybe reading a good book. It is perfectly drinkable but there is no need to rush it, you could miss something. As usual I was very satisfied with this amazing beer from my all time favorite brewery, Stone Brewery.

Grade: A

Bam Biere Farmhouse Ale

Beer: Bam Biere Farmhouse Ale
Brewery: Jolly Pumkin Artisan Ales
Location: Dexter MI
Website: http://www.jollypumpkin.com/
Serving Type: 750 mL
ABV: 4.5 ABV

Pour: Smooth pour with a medium amount of head that disipates in about 2 minutes.

Smell: This beer has smells like a traditional beligum beer. The yeast smell jumps out.

Taste: The first taste that pops is the grapefruit,then comes a sweet candy like flavor but very well balanced. The malt is

crisp and clean.

Drinkability: This is a smooth beer with a low ABV, therefore I was able to drink the bottle. I normally dont enjoy

drinking 750 mL of something this sweet and bitter.

Grade: B+

Goose Island Beer Co.

Style: Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels
Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.
Location: Chicago, IL
Website: http://www.gooseisland.com/
Serving Type: 650 mL
ABV: 13 ABV

Pour: Smooth pour with a thick head that swirls and twist like a cappuccino.

Smell: This beer has smells such as vanilla, oak, and a smooth malty smell like your mom.

Taste: This is not the first bourbon barreled beer I have had but this beer has married the strong tastes of bourbon and stout with exceptional accuracy.

Drinkability: This guy is a sippin' beer, in fact this beer is being shared right now with Joe, "Luvsdahops".

Grade: A

Russian River Damnation Belguim Golden Ale

Style: Belguim Strong Pale Ale
Brewery: Russian River Brewery Company
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Website: http://www.russianriverbrewering.com/
Serving Type: 750 mL
ABV: 7.74 ABV

Pour: Smooth pour with a thick head that shows even legs.

Smell: This beer has a great Belgium yeast smell to it, with a hint of clean crisp malt.

Taste: This an exceptional example of an American attempt at a Belgium golden ale. The taste is well balanced, most Belgium's are a little too sweet for my liking, but not this one. The taste was so well balance and dynamic that I feel they have out done themselves.

Drinkability: I usually can not drink this type of beer for more than one 750 mL bottle, however for this brew I could drink about two bombers.

Grade: A

Coors Banquet Lager w/ Charles Mingus

Style: Pilsner
Brewery: Coors Brewing Company
Location: Golden CO FOOL!
Website: http://www.coors.com/
Serving Type: 12 Fl.Oz.
ABV: 5.0 ABV

Pour: Smooth pour with a even pilsner head, the head dies off within one minute of pour.

Smell: The beer has a buttery yeast smell to it with a hint of hops and malt.

Taste: This is the true American pilsner, its smooth and crisp. However it has some nice yeasty taste to it and the light hint of maltiness. I do not taste the same beer when i drink it on the east coast.

Drinkability: I drink this beer regularly, it has a nice buttery taste to the yeast. Two things need to be noted about this beer, 1) It doesn't taste good from a bottle 2) It doesnt taste good outside of Colorado, seriously.

Note: On the 1936 can it says, "export lager" it was so good we exported it...but not to the east coast? Where the hell did they export it? HA!

Grade: B, B+ with Mingus

Lion Imperial Premium Malt Pilsner

Beer: Imperial Premium Malt Pilsner
Style: Imperial Pilsner
Brewery: The Lion Brewery Ceylon PLC
Location: Sri Lanka
Website: http://www.lionbeer.com/
Serving Type: 12 Fl.Oz.
ABV: 8.8 ABV

Pour: Smooth pour with a even pilsner head.

Smell: This pilsner smells very malty once you get into it, but at the beginning it has a crisp hop smell to it as well.

Taste: I was really excited when i bought this beer, it comes in a really nice box and the guy from a great liquor store recommended it. I am almost at the bottom of the first glass and it is tough. I enjoyed the first half of the beer and now it taste a little to malty. I did some traveling in the UK last summer and many of the beers tasted like this, it was good with an Indian meal but it doesnt taste as good over here in the states.

Drinkability: The first half is indeed much more drinkable then the second half.

Grade: C

Stone Cali-Belgique IPA

Beer: Cali-Belgique
Style: IPA
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Location: Escondido, CA
Website: http://www.stonebrew.com/
Serving Type: 1 Pt. 6 Fl.Oz.
ABV: 6.9 ABV
IBU: 77
Pour: Smooth pour with a nice head and even thick legs.

Smell: This beer smells hoppy, floral and even malty smell.

Taste: The Stone Brewery Co. is my favorite brewery hands down. Stone Brewery have yet to disappoint me, this beer was another impressive beer. The beer is so well balanced, but it is still a strong complex IPA.

Drinkability: As I mentioned earlier this beer is well balanced and therefore I could drink about two bombers of this fine brew. Many of the IPA's that I have tried are not well balanced and therefore lose their enjoyment about one glass in.

Grade: A+

Sierra Nevada Glissade

Beer: Glissade
Style: Golden Bock
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Location: Chico, CA
Website: http://www.sierranevada.com/
Serving Type: 12oz bottle
ABV: 6.4 ABV

Pour: Smooth pour with a nice semi thick lager head. The beer has a light amber/golden color, this beer is very clear unlike their pale ale.

Smell: This beer smells malty, with a medium European hop smell.

Taste: I have been drinking hoppy beers for years now and have gotten somewhat burnt out on them, so I am always trying to find new tasty, complex beers and this beer did not disappointing.

Drinkability: I can drink these all the way through a Karate Kid marathon, like a did a few weeks ago. However it will catch up to you because it is smooth but not exactly light weight.

Grade: A

Olde School

Beer: Olde School
Style: Barleywine
Brewery: DogFish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Rehoboth, DE
Website: http://www.dogfish.com/
Serving Type: 12oz bottle
ABV: 15.04 ABV

Pour: Very thick with no head. It was almost syrup-like. Carbonation looked non-existent, but it had a nice amber color and was a little hazy.

Smell: LOTS of alcohol and very sweet. I'm not even sure if they used any hops on this one because I didn't note any. I did smell some dark fruit like raisins.

Taste: Again, more dark fruit. The alcohol smacks you in the mouth, but it's not too bad. Little to no carbonation and it feels very warm in the mouth and belly.

Drinkability: One might be too much. I would recommend sharing this with a good buddy. The 15% alcohol is what this beer is all about. Sit by the fire and relax!

Grade: B+

Brown Shugga

Beer: Brown Shugga
Style: American Strong Ale
Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company
Location: Petaluma, CA
Website: http://www.lagunitas.com
Serving Type: 12oz bottle
ABV: 9.84%

Pour: Copper colored with a small head. It doesn't look like there's a lot of carbonation here. I also note some yeast floating in the glass.

Smell: Very sweet...molasses, brown sugar (obviously!), and caramel.

Taste: The first thing is the sweetness followed by the alcohol. At over 9%, it's not hiding. Carbonation is very low on this one, but it feels good in the mouth.

Drinkability: I'd have to say that I could drink a couple of these very easily...either by itself or paired with something savory.

Grade: A-

Howl by Magic Hat

Beer: Howl (Winter Seasonal 09/10)
Style: Black Lager
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Brewery Location: South Burlington, VT
Site: http://www.magichat.net/
Hops: Apollo, Hallertau
Malts: Pale, Crystal, Carafa
ABV: 4.6%

Pour: Off the charts dark with a not much head. The bottle caps from Magic Hat are always interesting too. This one said “All my friends are brown and red,” which gave me a little chuckle.

Smell: Really soft nose on this one; slightly nutty with hints of tobacco

Taste: I had mine near ice cold and would recommend it that way. Went down very easy. Felt full and complete in the mouth while delivering just the right hints of coffee and chocolate undertones.

Drinkability: This is a great winter seasonal. It is chilly outside right now, and it felt just right sipping on this brew. If I was going to have a few drinks, this wouldn’t be my choice. It is not especially heavy (I think its Lager roots must help that), some may enjoy having more then one in a sitting. I’ve been milking the six-pack I picked up a couple weeks ago, and look forward to see what Magic Hat has to offer next year.

Grade: B (Almost a B+, but it was less enjoyable as it warmed up just a few degrees.)

HopDevil Ale

Beer: Hop Devil
Style: American IPA
Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Location: Downingtown, PA
Website: http://www.victorybeer.com/
Serving Type: 12oz bottle
Glass: Pint Glass
ABV: 6.7%

Pour: Amber color with less than a finger of head. Once it warms up, it is very transparent and doesn't look very carbonated.

Smell: Sweet and citrus.

Taste: Lots of citrus and a bit of spice. I taste of bit of pine, but not too much.

Drinkability: I couldn't get drunk off of this, but I like it. I'd say one or two and call it a day. Definitely worth your time though.

Grade: B+

Black Chocolate Stout

Beer: Black Chocolate Stout
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Website: http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/
Serving Type: 12oz bottle
Glass: Tulip
ABV: 10.1%

Review:
Pour: Very dark with a huge head...at least three fingers. This gives it plenty of time to warm up.

Smell: The chocolate is definitely there with a bit of coffee, malt, and some plum.

Taste: Very sweet initially and LOTS of chocolate and coffee flavors. You can feel the alcohol going down on this one, but it goes well with the style.

Lacing: Not much. This is surprising since the head was full, but I'm assuming that this one is more malty than hoppy.

Drinkablity: There's a reason this now comes in a four-pack (last year was a sixer). You'll want to sip on this one and enjoy the complexity of it. I'd say it's the east coast version of North Coast's "Old Rasputin". I'll probably catch hell for that, but it's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Grade: A

Great Divide Titan IPA

Beer: Titan IPA
Style: India Pale Ale
Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Company
Location: Denver, CO
Website: http://greatdivide.com/
Serving type: 12oz. bottle
Glass: Ale style stem

Review: This is my first review of a brew so bare with me on this one.

Pour: This one is excellent. It's a nice dark golden color almost copper color with about two fingers of head that take a bit of time to dissipate. I let this guy sit out for a couple of minutes out of the fridge to get to proper temp.

Taste: Pine, citrus, a little caramel. The carbonation is not overpowering and seems "just right" for this style. Also worth noting, even though it's 7.1 abv, the alcohol is very well balanced.

Lacing: With all of the hop oil, this one laces well all of the way down to the bottom of the glass (Shouldn't every brew? Unfortunately, no.) .

Drinkability: Be careful...this brew can be dangerous because since the alcohol is blended is so well, you can pound this down without realizing that you're getting hammered.

Grade: A+

Winterfest, AC Golden Brewing Company

Beer: Winterfest
Style: Amber
Brewery: AC Golden Brewery Company
Brewery Location: Golden, Colorodo
Site: http://www.acgolden.com/

Review:
This is the 15940th bottle of 85248, for a brewery like MillerCoors, that is a somewhat limited batch. I will start with the good; this is a clear, crisp, well balanced seasonal beer with great taste of maltiness and carmel. The bad is that MillerCoors marketing is too scared to put their companies name on a good beer. I understand the marketing side of things, the average person will think they are getting a craft beer.

Grade: B+

Inversion IPA, Deshutes Brewer

Beer: Inversion IPA
Style: IPA
Brewery: Deshutes Brewer
Brewery Location: Bend, Oregon
Site: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/splash/default.aspx

Review:
This isn't the first beer I have had from this brewery, I got my hands on a limited edition Red Chair IPA they made this paste late fall, which I will do a review for soon.
The Inversion IPA was nothing close to the Red Chair IPA. The beer is too bitter with no malt characteristics to balance the bitterness out. I could be wrong about this but there is a hop extract out there that some breweries use in place of real hops that in my opinion taste horrible, i think this beer has this hop extract in it.

Grade: B-