http://www.hoptopia.com Feed of beer reviews from hoptopia.com. en-us hoptopia@gmail.com hoptopia@gmail.com PHP RSS Feed Generator Dogfish Head is known for brewing beers of an outlandish and unexpected nature. Today, the brewery uses its brewpub in Rehoboth Beach to pilot experimental beers to ascertain if they might be successfully scaled and bottled for the wider good beer drinking consumer. Wet Hop American Summer is one such beer. Like many of its Dogfish brethren, Wet Hop American Summer is fascinating and esoteric because of its lineage. In many ways it is the modern American counterpart to Dogfish well-received Ancient Ales series of beers; beers that in some fashion seek to bring-to-light various lost ethos of brewing history. In the case of this beer, the connection runs North of Delaware to Newark, New Jersey, to a once proud brewery called Ballantine; specifically to Ballantine in the 1940s and 50s. It was during that time that the last bottles of a unique beer called Ballantine Burton Ale were bottled. Burton Ale is a old English strong ale style; for more on Burton ales read my review of Fuller's Past Master's XX Strong Ale. Ballantine's Burton Ale was never sold to the public. It was bottled prior to Christmas, and cases were given away as gifts to friends and employees of the brewery. The most fascinating aspect of the beer is that it was aged in giant oak barrels for upwards of 20 years before being bottled. Ballantine Burton Ale was heavily hopped. It is thought that Ballantine used a significant amount of its house produced hop oil extract for both bittering and preservation purposes. The beer was engineered to be robust enough for long-term cellaring, indeed a handful of bottles have survived into the 21st century and remain entirely drinkable. In the early summer of 2011 I contacted Dogfish Head to see if the they would be interested in opening two rare bottles of Ballatine Burton Ale that had come into my possession. Both bottles were from a batch of Burton brewed in 1946 and subsequently bottled in 1958 and 1960 respectively. Dogfish happily accepted my offer and we opened one bottle in the brewery lab to taste it and run various tests. The second bottle was sent to Siebel Institute for further testing. The beers were bottle conditioned, but we knew that the likelihood of any of the yeast still being alive was slim to none. Nevertheless, the beer still had plenty of secrets to reveal via testing. Dogfish was eventually able to locate the actual yeast Ballantine used to brew their beers at a private collection and the owner kindly grew-up enough of the yeast for them to brew with. And so we arrive at Wet Hop American Summer, a decidedly Dogfish-spin on a hoppy Ballantine ale. The beer was brewed with a massive amount of fresh Cascade hops, and perhaps thanks to the unique yeast source, it tastes unlike any fresh hop beer I've had before. The beer has an abundance of punchy citrus aroma and bite, but also has a soft fruity ester character more commonly associated with Belgian Pale ales. There is also an attractive wet suede or chamois leather smell to the beer. It's dank, but not in the same way a lot of fresh hop beers are, it's brighter. It is exciting to imagine what Dogfish might do next with the Ballantine yeast strain now that they have it on-hand. Personally, I love the idea of a strong beer brewed with the Ballantine yeast and left to mature in a couple of oak barrels for an extended period. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/355 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:56:43 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/355 This double dry-hopped American IPA is one of two beers this Maine start-up have chosen to launch their brewery with; the other being Pamola Xtra Pale Ale. The beer has a strong quinine gin like direct bitterness upon initial taste, becoming increasingly leafy, dank and botanically bitter towards the finish. Baxter does not reveal specifically what hops they use in this beer, but it's clear that they are not shying away in terms of the amount they are using; especially when adding for bitterness. The American IPA category is arguably the most hotly contested in all of beer in 2011, with only truly exceptional examples making headlines. Stowaway IPA delivers upon the styles' promise of a well presented and dominant bitterness, but lacks some of the refinement and deeper balance and complexity of its many competitors. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/354 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:26:18 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/354 Sip through swallow, this bright American pale ale delivers bucket-loads of unhindered yellow citrus bitterness. All manner of fresh lemon and spritzy grapefruit notes effervesce in the aroma and blossom on the palate. The nose actually reminds me a lot of a brilliant citrusy American pale ale called Daisy Cutter by Chicago brewery Half Acre; aromatic high praise indeed. May the abundant canning of flavorful but uncomplicated beers like this continue. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/353 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:43:11 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/353 The chatter surrounding the bottle release of this beer was deafening. With so much hype and hysteria it can be hard to keep expectations in-check when tasting such a hard-fought beer; even for a seasoned and serious beer writer. I've tasted many vintages of Canadian Breakfast Stout's peers and I'm happy to go on the record as saying that it stacks up favorably with the best of them; in some instances betters them. Whether you like CBS will depend largely upon your like or dislike of beers that taste like heart-stopping dark chocolate and dairy laden desserts. CBS is a robust imperial stout brewed with various kinds of chocolate and coffee, before being conditioned in oak barrels used first to mature bourbon and then Michigan maple syrup. The resulting pour has the color of crude oil and the aroma of an ice cream sundae. The beer is not as viscous as Surly Darkness or Three Floyds Dark Lord, or as sweet; surprising given CBS' additions and maturation conditions. In many ways, CBS has a lot in common with Portsmouth's Kate the Great; being robust, rather than gloopy, and sweet, but not cloying. It also has similarities with Goose Island's Vanilla and Coffee Bourbon County Stout's; if you have tasted those. CBS triumphs as a beer that is as decadent as the labels ingredients suggest. The maple, the bourbon, the coffee and the chocolate are all present. There is also a strong nutty profile; peanut butter like. It's remarkable. There isn't another beer that I've tasted as of October, 2011, that tastes anything like it. I've stated categorically many times before that I don't believe in perfect as a concept; hence no, 100/100 ratings. CBS exceeded my expectations, and for any beer with as much buzz as this one, that is a phenomenal achievement. This expectational beer is worth chasing down; believe me. Founders and Michigan are right to celebrate and to be proud of this sensational creation. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/352 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:35:02 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/352 This big and biscuity American brown ale was brewed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Abita Brewing. It is a larger version of the brewery's well-known Turbodog brown ale and was matured on whole vanilla beans. Despite all of the pomp and circumstance, the beer is actually quite a restrained affair. The vanilla is respectfully present; more so in the flavor than the aroma, the alcohol is a tidy 7.0% abv., and the finished beer still tastes like an American brown ale; rather than something more shouty and style-defying. In a sense, Doubledog is the perfect summation of Abita's approach to brewing over the past 25 years. It is the product of a brewery that is targeted and careful when experimenting, and of a business that places a great emphasis upon delivering quaffable beers that do not tire the palate. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/351 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:29:01 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/351 Harvest Pumpkin Ale was introduced in 2010 and is one of the dizzying number of beer styles that Samuel Adams routinely tries their hand at; it is also one of the best. Aromatically and on the palate, the beer eerily evokes the smell and taste of pumpkin pie; including the buttery crust. Despite that indulgent descriptor, the beer is not overly rich or robust, and lends itself to easily drinking a full pint of. Pumpkin beers now come in many shapes and styles. If you're in the mood for one with a lighter body and low bitterness, but one with the robust pumpkin pie flavor of some the heavier imperial examples on the market, this is a good choice. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. It is available in the Samuel Adams Harvest Collection Variety pack. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/350 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:18:04 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/350 After two decades of brewing their award winning Irish red ale, Red Trolley, Karl Strauss decided to run with the recipe in an entirely different direction. The resulting beer is called Off The Rails, an experimental and extremely amped up version of Red Trolley. Or Red Trolley on steroids if you will. The press release for the beer describes it as an imperial red ale. On my tastebuds it has a lot more in common with an English barleywine than an imperial red. It is very sweet in both aroma and flavor. Aromatically the beer smells of sticky candied fruit and sugary jam. In the drink, chewy toffee, brown sugar and caramel flavors coat the palate. There is a thick strawberry jam like residual sweetness to the finish. There is certainly a lot happening in this robust and desserty beer, but it all fits and compliments. It's not scruffy or disjointed. If you're in the mood for a beer with a sweeter flavor. Something for after a fruity dessert course. Or maybe a beer for a chilly autumn night. This one is a winner. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/349 Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:36:45 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/349 Rye beers are an infinitely interesting breed of beer. Unlike most beer styles, rye beers are bound less by a set make up, taste, color or aroma, and more by what the peppery grain might bring to preexisting styles of beer. In the case of Boardwalk Black Rye, Karl Strauss decided to bring rye's spicy personality to bare on the black IPA style. Aroma wise, the beer has a smokey bonfire quality. Like burning Christmas trees. A potent roasted bitterness dominates the palate in the drink. Ash, anise and spicy cracked black pepper being the most noticeable flavors. This is a bitter beer for sure. Both in terms of hop derived bitterness and black charred malt bitterness. As with a lot of rye beers, it's a curious creation. And as with a lot of rye beers, your like of it will be determined more by your love of spice than your love of earthy hop flavor. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/348 Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:42:27 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/348 Stone, named this beer as a taunt to those in the Pacific Northwest that would lay claim to the black IPA style, as their own - the Cascadian dark ale. I think there's something a lot more interesting going on with this beer though. You see, myself and quite a few other well read beer drinkers and writers have viewed the black IPA or Cascadian dark ale with a skeptical eye. BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) judges will happily tell you that there exists no black IPA categorization. This is partly by design. By BJCP definition, the black IPA, can be described almost to the letter by their established definition of an American porter. Next there's the, now, little known fact that heavily hop bittered porters were being brewed in England in the nineteenth century. These often went by the name, India porter. Which is pretty self explanatory. Might then, the black IPA simply be a case of an industry reinventing the wheel to suit its own acclaim and marketing needs? Possibly. Enter Stone 15th Anniversary. An imperial strength "black IPA" so bitter and botanical, and yes, pitch black and roasty, as to be almost unrecognizable as a common garden IPA or an American porter - even a robust one. Blindfold anyone with a semblance of beer knowledge, and you would be unlikely to hear them describe this as a porter of any shade, shape or form. Neither would they suggest that it's simply an IPA. So what then is it? By modern measurements this beer clocks in at 100 IBU's (International Bitterness Units). That's basically has high as is reasonably measured. Add to that, the utterly savage roasted bitterness and you end up with a beer that might actually be the first bona fida black IPA. It's something so bizarre and new tasting as to be otherwise unrecognizable. So who is this beer for - besides, Stone devotees? Well that's hard to say. If you've tasted "black IPAs" before and enjoyed them, you might like this. But the bitterness will still likely shock your palate. Though it isn't palate wrecking like an overly hopped IPA. Flavor wise it strongly evokes Marmite, that spicy bitter black tar like substance, that people of my descent like to spread on buttered toast. Marmite is yeast extract for the uninitiated - originally a byproduct of the British brewing industry. Like Marmite, I get the sense that Stone 15th Anniversary will be an immediate love or hate invention. There isn't really much of a learning curve to a beer like this. It just is. It's just that oddly bitter, but not in a tastebud stomping way. So then, I end by posing these questions. Is this the first true black IPA? Has this style come of age by sheer will? *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/347 Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:59:10 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/347 This is a recreation of a Burton ale, one originally brewed by Fuller Smith and Turner of Chiswick in London in 1891. If you are not familiar with the Burton style of beer, that's not a surprise. Burton ales are a long forgotten style of English strong ale that were popular in various guises through the 1960's when their popularity rapidly declined. A few examples of Burton beers do still exist in the U.K. today, or at least beers that quietly echo the Burton style. The most readily available is Fuller's own 1845, a beer first released in 1995 to celebrate the brewery's 150th anniversary. Another beer that uses a strong traditional Burton ale as a base is Greene King Old Suffolk. In that example, a young pale ale is blended with 2 year old oak aged Burton. The blending of Burton ales with lighter fresh beers was once common practice in English pubs. Both 1845 and Old Suffolk, while not Burtons as such, are intriguing glimpses into the style's past. Deep ruby to mahogany in color, Burton ales were appreciated for their noticeably bittersweet, even sticky, mouthfeel and warming strength. A handful of Burtons were brewed in the U.S. Most famously, Ballantine of New Jersey produced a strong Burton ale that was aged in large oak vats for upwards of 20 years before being bottled and gifted to friends and acquaintances of the brewery at Christmastime. I've been lucky enough to try a Ballantine Burton Ale brewed in 1946 and bottled in 1960. The beer was 8.6% abv. and around 60 IBU's. Despite being brewed 60 years ago it tasted much like the Burton ales described by British beer historians, and even still possessed a potent hop derived bitterness. The special edition Fuller's Paster Masters XX Strong Ale reviewed here was a pet project of beer historian Ron Pattinson, the author of the blog, Shut Up About Barclay Perkins. Ron has been instrumental in researching and bringing to light the history of the Burton ale. In brewing Past Masters XX Strong Ale, Fuller's went to great lengths to recreate the beer as it was originally brewed in 1891, even commissioning the growth and malting of a barley called Plumage Archer, which was no longer produced. Aromatically the nose is ablaze with sweet fruit cake notes. There is an undercurrent of peppery spice too. On the palate, brown sugar, pithy citrus bitterness and harvest fruits are the main profiles. The finish is a hair dry. The complexity of the deeply fruity malt foundation is the most exciting element of the beer. It has an uncommon and changeable depth. Besides the two cited examples by Fuller's and Greene King, Fuller's Past Masters XX Strong Ale is not immediately comparable to any other beer produced today. If Fuller's ever decides to produce this beer on more than a limited one-off basis, a case will definitely find its way to my beer cellar. The Fuller's Past Masters series are not available in the U.S. sadly. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/346 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:07:53 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/346 This is an interesting curio from a small brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado. The beer is brewed with wheat and rye, and two varieties of organic fruit puree. The nose is extremely floral. Like a florist packed with spring flowers in full blossom. On the palate, the beer is tart, and has the crispness and freshness of an undressed summer salad. There is a clean vegetal quality to the beer that really sets it apart from a common fruit wheat beer. Sweetness is minimal. The beer is lightly filtered and the fruit character is robust and ever present. Lady Moon is definitely a beer worth seeking out when in the Fort Collins area. Not a throw away recommendation given the amount of high quality local beer available in that region. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/345 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:58:58 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/345 As fruit wheat beers go, this confidently meets all of the criteria I look for in the style. The nose is immediately fresh and fruity. The mouthfeel is smooth - almost creamy. Most importantly, the significant raspberry addition gives the beer an undeniably refreshing personality and a sparkly dry finish. This beer is in no way sweet. The bitterness derived from the fruit is noticeable, and on my palate, welcome. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/344 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:29:38 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/344 This double IPA from New Zealand is herbaceous in the extreme. It's like an herb garden in full bloom. The beer has absolutely the greenest nose of any IPA I have ever encountered. Out-greening even Schlafly's AIPA and fresh Russian River Pliny the Elder. In the drink the green-theme continues. Concentrated and cooling leafy mint, bitter pine, and wintergreen notes are ever present, but not palate blowing. Hop Zombie is less bitter than most American double IPA's, but somehow greener. More botanical. The definition of the word, drinkable. Hop Zombie is on par with the very best IPA's brewed in the U.S. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/343 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:31:00 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/343 Stone, Baird and Ishii brewed this collaboration IPA to aid and honor the relief efforts, victims and survivors of the horrific earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011. The beer was finished with a second dry-hopping of whole leaf Japanese Sorachi Ace hops and Sencha green tea. The resulting beer is deeply green and herbal in aroma and flavor. The botanical character is monumental. Secondary, bright and bitter, yellow citrus peel and grapefruit flesh notes lend the drink a distinctly Californian (read: Stone) personality. Despite its leafy green and bitter fruit flavor, the beer is not a palate wrecker. The finish is precise, clean and uncommonly refreshing for a 9.2% abv. IPA. The creative addition of green tea and the unusual combination of hops make it one of the more interesting IPA's to have appeared of late. It is also one of the best. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/342 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:29:05 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/342 Too few beers brewed with exotic additions like cocoa and weighty amounts of fruit, deliver an aroma and flavor in line with our demanding expectations. This beer does. In spades. Cherry Chocolate Stout is an entry in Stone's ongoing and ambitious three-way collaboration series. The participants this time are winning homebrewer's Jason Fields and Kevin Sheppard, and Troegs brewing company of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (soon to be Hershey, Pennsylvania - yes, of the chocolate fame.) Brewed with cocoa, cherries and vanilla beans, this stout presents an immediate chocolate nose, with hints of sea salt, sparked flint and gravely minerals. The base taste from sip to finish is black cherry and bitter baker's chocolate. Make no mistake. Cherry Chocolate Stout tastes like ripe cherries and dark chocolate. It is neither overly sweet, thin in texture or light in flavor. It is one of the finest examples of a "chocolate beer" released to the wider market in the U.S. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/341 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:23:02 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/341 Over the past three years Deschutes Black Butte anniversary release has become one of the more buzzed about and awaited annual American beer releases. I reviewed Black Butte XX and XXI for Hoptopia after they had been cellared for almost three years and two years respectively. To put it mildly, I was impressed with their depth, complexity and desserty character. 2010's XXII never really saw the light of day as the batch didn't pass muster with Deschutes or drinkers when fatty cocoa coalesced in the bottled version. So we arrive at 2011 and XXIII. The base for these big birthday beers is an imperial strength version of the brewery's widely adored Black Butte porter. XX and XXI were brewed with the addition of cocoa nibs and coffee and the beer was partially aged in bourbon barrels. XXIII eschews the coffee and is instead brewed with orange zest and chilies. As you might imagine this changes the overall personality of the beer quite dramatically. XXIII is less sweet than its predecessors. Bitterness is forefront. Bright orange aroma and pithy bite aren't far behind. The chili addition is subtle, but its heat is unmistakeably present on the finish. The malty semi-sweet chocolate backbone is more muted in XXIII and that will ultimately be the determining factor in your deciding which version of this elegant smorgasbord of a beer you like the best. For me XXI remains the Black Butte to beat. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/340 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:21:35 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/340 It's not everyday that you pour a beer with the deep ruby hue of a claret wine. It's not everyday that you pour a beer that has as much in common with an expensive fruit preserve as it does a beer. But then this beer is not an everyday beer. Blushing Monk is one of Founders much demanded taproom beers. A raspberry Belgian ale first produced in limited quantity in 2007 and not since, until now. The brewery has chosen the beer to kick off its new Backstage series of occasional 750ml bottlings. The amount fresh of raspberries used per batch is not stated, but one can only imagine it was extreme. Be under no illusions. This is not a sweet, raspberry syrup added beer. Belgian yeast derived esters and spice tussle with a potent and concentrated acidic raspberry flavor for tastebud supremacy. There is a slight underlying phenolic aroma, but no more so than you'd find on any number of other Belgian imports. There isn't another beer available on the market in the U.S. that's like Blushing Monk. New Glarus Raspberry Tart uses probably a similar amount of fruit, but tastes very different. For that reason and the fact that it is an impressive slow sip, is enough of a reason to buy a bottle. It's an unparalleled and eyeopening experience. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/339 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:18:16 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/339 This big IPA in a little can is brewed with a heady assortment of bittering and aroma hops. It is then matured on oak spirals. The oak maturation imbues the otherwise very bitter beer with a softly sweet aroma and smoother than normal mouth feel for the style. If it were not for the IBU's (international bitteness units) being clearly emblazoned on the front of the can, I would have never guessed this beer clocked in at a heady 94. In the drink, semi-sweet berry and cooling botanical flavors provide much of the beers character. The finish is somewhat sticky, but is far from cloying. Hop Crisis is a winning alternative to the swathes of brutishly bitter palate wreckers on the market. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/338 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:41:04 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/338 44 breweries in New Zealand were involved in the brewing of this beer; claimed to be the world's most collaborative, collaboration beer. The beer is a pale ale, but differs significantly from any British, American or Belgian examples you might be familiar with. Bitterness and aroma is derived exclusively from New Zealand grown hops, and more specifically in the case of Southern Cross and Riwaka, New Zealand hop varietals. The aroma of the beer evokes a Victorian garden in full sun-drenched bloom. Floral sweetness, and breezy botanical greenness reign supreme. The initial sip is sweet and citrusy. The middle has a strong savory herbaceousness and quiet cereal undertone. The finish is uncluttered and moderately bitter. Less bitter than most American examples, but more so than typical British and Belgian pales. Everything about the beer feels flush, complimentary and in its place. It's a beautiful drink; original, without being bombastic. If the goal of this beer was to showcase New Zealand's vibrant and fertile beer industry, the brewers succeeded. Given the abundance, uniqueness and variety of New Zealand hops, I think it's time to begin properly discussing these beers as their own style. This beer, alongside the likes of Thornbridge Kipling South Pacific Pale Ale are proudly Kiwi in construction and execution, they and other of their ilk are without question, New Zealand pale ales. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/337 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:17:52 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/337 Alaskan have brewed this beer since 1997 - surely, making it one of the most drank and enjoyed American examples of the kolsch style. The beer is sold under the seasonably prolific and appealing, "Summer" banner. The beer checks all of the traditional kolsch boxes. Bitterness is low to moderate. Sweetness is present, but integrated. The finish has a wisp of dryness. Summer fruit flavors pop and breath abundantly. In traditional German kolsch I often detect a hint of sheep-y farm funk on the aroma - imagine, cooked liver. Alaskan Summer does have the mildest hint of that sort of aroma, but don't let that scare you. Kolsch are perfect for hot summer days, especially when you're in the mood for something more complex than a light bodied lager, but still crave something refreshing and pint-to-pint sessionable. This beer confidently fits that bill. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/336 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:32:37 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/336 This unusual entry in the American kolsch category, is aged for a period on jasmine flowers. I wasn't able to overtly detect their contribution, but that is often the case with cleverly chosen special ingredients - their presence instead subtly contributing to the greater symphony. Kolsch is a pretty, often overlooked style of German ale born in Koln, Germany. Aromatically floral, salad fresh, and a hair "farmyard-y," they have a moderate bitterness and a mouthfeel akin to a Bohemian pilsener. Dryness and sweetness can vary, but is usually quite restrained. On the palate, this example has a clean fruit salad sip, a pithy citrus middle and noticeably dry finish. Thanks to Samuel Adams strong distribution, East-West Kolsch has instantly become one of the most readily available kolsch in America, and while it is not the best, it is a serviceable introduction to the style. I believe the beer would have benefited by being a little sweeter and a little less dry. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. It is available in the Summer Styles Variety Pack. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/335 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:37:19 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/335 Sweet Action has always been somewhat nebulous - read: intriguing in a good way. The beer is listed on Beer Advocate and RateBeer as simply a Cream Ale, but is something wholly more captivating. Layers of ripe exotic fruit flavor, both sweet and bitter, mark its aroma and body. Vigorous dry-hopping with simcoe hops serve to amplify its robust "tropical" character. Like all Sixpoint beers, Sweet Action has long been a draft-only favorite in the New York metro area. The fact that this style-defying beer is now available in freshness friendly 16oz nanokegs (the brewery's jocular name for its fetching cans) means a lot more beer lovers will undoubtedly now have the opportunity to try this fascinating American ale. Quality beer in the hands of more people, need you ask, is in my opinion a fantastic thing. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/334 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:14:33 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/334 To drink The Crisp is to be transported to a German biergarten while enjoying a litre of the freshest pilsner imaginable. Simple in make-up, of crystal clarity, bright and quenching - The Crisp leans more towards the direct clean bitter body and dry finish of the established German pilsner style than the any traditional Czech pilsner you might be familiar with. It's often stated, and rightly so, that the more simple a beer is in its construction, the less forgiving the finished product is of even the smallest flaws. This is especially true when brewing brilliant lagers like The Crisp. With that in mind, Sixpoint should be doubly proud of this luminous achievement. It is truly a beer to be celebrated. To be drunk by the litre. After all, that is exactly what most German pilsner aficionados would do when presented with a lager of this caliber. Why should America should be any different. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/333 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:30:02 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/333 This beer is dank. Think moist leaves, moss and fresh bitter botanticals. If you're a beer drinker that loves the sensation of hop oil wrestling your tastebuds, this is a beer for you. Don't for a minute think that this brew is all single minded bitterness though. It's an American Amber with a firm malt backbone. It's an overused adage, but this beer is balanced. Bitter fruits are the predominate flavor, with a ginger cookie kick present on the finish. Pacific Northwest breweries are known for their liberal and proud use of locally grown hops, while that ethos is evident in this beer, so to is an element of restraint. There is a sessionable air about Proletariat Red despite it's unsessionable abv. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/332 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 10:12:27 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/332 I find a lot of single hop IPA's inherently one-dimensional. This one though, is not. It has oodles going on. The aroma is sweet and vibrant, like a mixed bag of fruit candies and breezy summer flora - think rose, honeysuckle, gladioli, iris, fuchsia and so on. On the palate orange and yellow fruit flavors rule. The bitter breakfast marmalade character being the most prominent and appealing. If I had to compare it to another beer in the broadest terms it would be Bell's Hopslam. While this beer ultimately lacks that beers layered complexity and richness, it's a brilliant Imperial IPA nevertheless. Get it fresh though. Like Hopslam, I very much doubt this will fair well a couple months out. Available in Flying Dog's The Alpha Collection, a 12-pack that also contains Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, Snake Dog IPA and Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/331 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:26:27 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/331 Until the release of Latitude 48 IPA, Samuel Adams; the largest craft brewery in the U.S. did not have an IPA in its range, a fact that certainly raised an eyebrow given the brewery's reach and popularity of IPA styles in the American market. Latitude 48 IPA has proven quite popular since its initial release, the beer is bitter but approachable, and balanced without tasting dull or flat - it has a significant hop bite from the first sip. The beer is brewed with a mix of Hallertau Mittelfrueh, Simcoe, East Kent Goldings, Ahtanum and Zeus hops. Fresh cut grass, pine needle, and a hint of sage dominate the aroma. On the palate, the beer delivers clean peppermint, eucalyptus and piercing quinine notes. In the spring of 2011 Samuel Adams released the Latitude 48 Deconstructed variety pack containing five single hop variations of the regular Latitude 48 IPA. Each of these single hops used one of the five hops in the core Latitude 48 IPA. I should state that the rating of 92/100 above is for the standard Latitude 48 IPA, which is the most elegant of the series. The following are my tasting notes and ratings for each of the five single hop variations. HALLERTAU MITTELFRUEH - 91/100, NOSE: Cherry Juice, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Grape Nuts. TASTE: Tangerine, Raspberry, Strawberry, Lemon Pith. The Hallertau Mittelfrueh is the least bitter of the five single hops and more resembles an English ESB than an IPA. A very palatable beer for sure, but not if you're craving an IPA. SIMCOE - 89/100, NOSE: Fresh Cut Grass, Asparagus, Thyme, Parsley, Menthol. TASTE: Lemon Sherbert, Lime, Kiwi, Boiled Kale, Lemongrass. The Simcoe oozes green. Green aroma and green flavor. The beer is bitter and botanical, it's also a hair one-dimensional. EAST KENT GOLDINGS - 89/100, NOSE: Golden Syrup, Brown Sugar, Oatmeal, Coconut. TASTE: Toffee, Caramel, Lemon Verbena, Lemongrass, Copper Penny. The East Kent Goldings variation is biscuity, brassy and earthy, and for my palate, is quite delicious. Again though, it alone does not scream IPA. AHTANUM - 86/100, NOSE: Nougat, Peppermint Cream, Chamomile, Wet Stones, Plum. TASTE: Spearmint, Wildflower Honey, Lemon Peel, Eucalyptus. There are a lot of different flavor profiles at work in the Ahtanum variation, not all of them working in harmony. In this example at least, Ahtanum presents itself as a hop better used in conjunction with others. ZEUS - 79/100, NOSE: Seaweed, Salt, Basil, Pine. TASTE: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Menthol, Quinine. The Zeus variation falls flat. It barrels across the palate in unrelentingly inelegant bitter fashion. The finish is much the same as the start, mean and bitter. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/330 Tue, 24 May 2011 13:12:04 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/330 This distinctly American Saison from Nebraska, brewed with the addition of apricot puree and black pepper, rivals the best from Belgium. Beneath the beers lively pungent farmyard and slightly tart aroma, lies a bright sparkling golden body, rich with the flavor of sweet sunshine colored fruit. The third-use French oak chardonnay barrel aging, adds a soft vinous character to the beer, and serves to enhance especially its sweet fruit notes. The finish is a touch earthy, brilliant and floral. Pair this beer with a bright spring day or breezy summer picnic - it's that sort of drink. Another well executed and creative reserve release by Nebraska; it's pricey, but worth every penny. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/329 Wed, 11 May 2011 09:01:05 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/329 Definitely the first Lager Braggot I've ever reviewed, this bright, crisp and thoroughly refreshing exotic treat, deliverers a rush of floral, yellow citrus and honey covered sweet summer fruit flavors to the palate. The brainchild of Shmaltz brewery and Colorado's highly regarded Redstone Meadery, Meadusa threads together the radically different characteristics of the brewery's spiced white lager with those of a lush traditional honey mead. The resulting braggot is to be commended for its creativity, and for demonstrating that braggots have a relevant place in craft beers future. This draft only batch was brewed specifically to coincide with the 2011 Craft Brewers Conference in San Francisco. Meadusa though, is a flush fit for Shmaltz line of product and I would be surprised if it doesn't get rebrewed and bottled for wider distribution at some point. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/328 Mon, 09 May 2011 08:38:54 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/328 Friek is a tasteful and tart nod to the traditional cherry (Kriek) and raspberry (Framboise) lambics of Belgium; a nod with a distinctly American swagger. Over a period of three years Odell brewed various batches of lambic base beer to which naturally occurring wild yeast, present at the brewery, was allowed to marry. Doses of the bacterias lactobacillus and pediococcus, and two house strains of brettanomyces yeast were also introduced. This lively brew was then put into oak barrels and a significant weight of cherries was added. Throughout the maturation process fresh local raspberries were also added. The final bottled blend is a genuine hybrid born of an appreciation for tradition and an unquenchable American drive to explore new ground in brewing. The result is recognizably lambic; farmyard-y in aroma, sour on the palate, but with a noticeably heightened fruit character. Acidic fermented-out fruit sharpness, tangles intriguingly with bright fresh fruit notes. Further batches of this beer are already in progress at Odell. Friek is a brilliant addition to America's blossoming sour beer landscape, one I intend to cellar as new batches become available. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/327 Fri, 06 May 2011 17:39:13 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/327 QUICK REVIEW: Tasting like a hybrid of a Saison and a Tripel, this beer pops with vibrant floral aromas and spiced sweet fruit esters. There is a little heat on the finish. For me this beer evokes a perfect spring day - it's literally bursting with inviting life. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/326 Wed, 04 May 2011 17:00:56 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/326 QUICK REVIEW: This English style Stout has a heavier weight and presence than its sessionable abv. suggests. Mouthfeel is silky smooth; flavors of melted milk chocolate and earthy dark roast coffee dominate. Above par, available all year where sold - a rock solid purchase. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/325 Wed, 04 May 2011 16:18:58 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/325 QUICK REVIEW: Bitter from the sip, with an immediate botanical greenness. The finish is breezy, pithy and refreshing. Super sessionable and of a very high quality. If this was local, I'd drink it on a regular basis. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/324 Wed, 04 May 2011 15:48:41 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/324 QUICK REVIEW: Beautiful aroma - floral, sweet and breezy botanical. On the palate, bright citrus notes and notable hop bitterness are harmonious. Perfectly uncomplicated. Very nicely executed. Introduced to celebrate the brewery's 150th anniversary. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/323 Wed, 04 May 2011 12:41:09 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/323 QUICK REVIEW: Brings to the palate the complexity of a rich fruit cake without being cloying - with hints of charred red meat. This is an unfussy, vibrant and evocative example of the style. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/322 Wed, 04 May 2011 12:30:12 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/322 QUICK REVIEW: This late winter seasonal has a cluster of big contrasty flavors sip to middle. The finish is dark and malty, with a touch of spice. Not entirely coherent. I can't get my head around this one, it has too many disparate things happening at once. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/321 Wed, 04 May 2011 12:11:14 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/321 More bitter than 2008's Black Butte XX, 2009's XXI has a thicker body and a more noticeable charred meaty aroma. For my palate, Black Butte XXI betters the already exquisite XX. The beers dank gravely earthiness balances its bittersweet iced coffee profile perfectly. Subtle notes of dark chocolate and dark berries are as present, complimentary and enjoyable in XXI as they were in XX. XXI finishes leafy, botanical and tea like, were XX finishes more desserty sweet. Throughout the drink, definite pops of the cocoa, coffee and whiskey sodden wood that went into the beer, make their presence felt. You really do get a sense of all of the ingredients that went into XXI, and it tastes absolutely fantastic. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/320 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:25:55 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/320 Strong, sticky molasses laden sugar and roasted malt flavors are the keystone characteristics of this much desired onyx colored Imperial Porter - brewed to mark Deschutes 20th anniversary. Add to that richness a thick black espresso bitterness and an earthy baseline grit, and it soon becomes very clear why this hefty cocoa nib and coffee added, and partially bourbon barrel aged Porter, has become so sought-after. Sweet anise and bramble berry notes are the icing on the cake. It is hard to see how Deschutes might have improved this beer, it's that good. Released in June 2008, this bottle has been cellared for almost three years and the results are spectacular. Deschutes has since released a tweaked version of this beer ever year; 2009 saw the bottle release of XXI and 2010 a tap only release of XXII. If beers of the darker malt are your taste, this is definitely worth the hunt, be it to drink now or to cellar for another year or two. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/319 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:41:42 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/319 Choklat is one of the most "chocolate forward" beers distributed for sale in the U.S. The aroma is barely distinguishable from that of a creamy chocolate fudge covered chocolate cake. In the drink, the chocolate theme continues unbroken, but is more bittersweet cocoa powder and high percentage cocoa chocolate bar, than the sweet cakey aroma suggested by the nose. There is a good amount of residual sweetness, but no more than that of a good English Barleywine. If you're looking for a truly eye-opening example of how tastefully and accurately the unmistakable characteristics of chocolate can be integrated into a beer, there are few better examples than this. Choklat is part of Southern Tier's seasonal Blackwater series of Imperial Stouts, the others being Jahva, Mokah, Creme Brulee and Oat. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/318 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:43:19 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/318 Bursting with milk chocolate aroma and flavor, this widely distributed effervescent English Milk Stout, differs from most of its U.S. chocolate beer brethren, by being sessionable. More often than not, U.S. chocolate beers tend to be thick imperial strength sippers. Throughout, mouth-feel is light, not cloying, with notes of ash, lactose and dark berries. The beers weight is comparable to that of an Irish Stout or English Porter. Modest in body, and balanced in taste, Double Chocolate Stout is a versatile food pairing beer; think appetizers and entrees, not just dairy based desserts and cheese plates - the norm for chocolate beers. While the beer is available in nitro powered cans and on nitro taps at some venues, I'm of the opinion that the nuances of the beer shine brighter when served from a bottle or regular tap. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/317 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:49:33 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/317 Box of Chocolate takes the concept of a Chocolate Beer in an entirely fresh direction, bringing together the decadent sweetness of Belgian chocolate and blue, black and red fruit character of the traditional Belgian Quadrupel. The beer is not particularly complex, having an overall flavor that is akin to gourmet chocolate covered blueberries and cherries, or a dark chocolate and fruit granola - there are some secondary notes of coffee and pink bubblegum. The aroma is strictly in line with the taste. There is a nudge of heat on the finish that hints at the beers possible cellarable durability. How a beer like this ages exactly, is a good question, one I think folks interested in aging beers will be eager to explore. Only 600 bottles of this beer were released in 2011, so be prepared to go the extra mile if you're interested in tasting this delightful desserty creation. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/316 Sat, 23 Apr 2011 13:18:28 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/316 Black, is the 4th in Troegs very limited Splinter series of reserve releases. The beer is a hefty pitch black imperial stout aged in oak barrels with abundant cocoa nibs and vanilla. Liquid high cocoa chocolate and a cold earthy astringency mark its aroma. Black treacle sodden wood and dark fruit cake notes dominate the palate; juicy black forest fruits coming through more pronounced on the finish. This is a defined example of how barrel aging can bring complimentary complexity to an already complex beer. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/315 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:29:46 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/315 Laden with Cocoa and Cayenne Pepper, this delicious and lively incarnation of Great Divide's celebrated and successful Yeti Imperial Stout series, eschews some the base beers inherent bitter bite in favor of a more exotic desserty profile. The beer does retain its characteristic dank, bitter earthy aroma, but erupts on the palate with distinctive strong coffee shop and hot spice market flavors. Any beer with prominent Mexican Hot Chocolate inspired additions is destined for palates that crave or have already acquired that taste. If the idea of such beers is appealing to you, this is one of the very best and should definitely be on your radar. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/314 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:04:23 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/314 Less than 1000 bottles of Kate the Great are released each year. The beers scarcity and it being consistently ranked as one of the very best beers in the world, have made it one of the most sought-after on the planet. Kate the Great is an Imperial Stout brewed with Brown Sugar and aged on Port Wine soaked Oak. It is a recipe that has been perfected over a period of 15 years by Portsmouth head brewer, Todd Mott. The resulting tar colored stout has a moderate roastiness for the style, a lush and lasting baked black fruit sweetness, with distinct echoes of unburnt cigar Tobacco and Cola. From its seductive aroma, to its definite rich bittersweet Chocolate finish, the beer is a showstopper in every regard. Is it better than its closest and obvious peers? - Surly Darkness and Three Floyds Dark Lord. It is, by tiny and arguable increments, but better none the less. Kate the Great is a God-like beer; Imperial Stout as apotheosis. It's as close to perfect as I can imagine anyone brewing a beer of the style. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/313 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:51:29 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/313 The first thing that immediately impresses about this black as night, Russian Imperial Stout from Denmark, is its unavoidably desserty aroma - it smells like a German Black Forest Cherry Chocolate Cake. In the drink, powerful notes of artisanal roasted cold pressed coffee, dark fruits of the forest and bitter bakers cocoa prevail to the swallow. There is a beautifully soft level of effervescent conditioning to the beer that gives it a decadent velvety quality. This is an extremely well executed Russian Imperial Stout that anyone with a cellar, and a taste for the style, will want to stock up on. Those of a religious persuasion should note that this beer was brewed in conjunction with the Danish Atheist Society and a portion of the sale of every bottle of this beer goes to that organization. Gudelos means, 'Godless.' Bryggeriet Djaevlebryg, means 'Devil's Brew.' http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/312 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:12:21 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/312 Hello, My Name is Ingrid, is one of the best beers BrewDog has ever produced. The main ingredients were selected by the readers of the popular English language blog, Beer Sweden. 1720 bottles of this double dry-hopped, Double IPA were produced for that country and subsequently sold out in less than an hour. The showcase addition is a copious amount of tart Swedish Cloudberries. The native fruit brings something really unique and entirely complimentary to the beers big English, New Zealand and American hop forward profile. The sunshine colored fruit lends a juicy sun-blessed fruit cocktail flavor to the beer; a pitch perfect Ying, to the beers bitter Yang. This IPA is a triumph for the continued experimentation of what's possible when brewers boldly step beyond traditional style guidelines. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/311 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:02:53 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/311 For an IPA with such a high bitterness rating, this has a decidedly balanced biscuity body. With that said, the focus of this beer remains its shining yellow citrus bitterness - there are many layers of different lemon and grapefruit flavors present in the drink. The finish is earthy, not lingering and to the point. This isn't a complicated Double IPA, and it's all the better for it. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/310 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:46:03 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/310 This American styled IPA reminds me of Mexican and Indian food, or rather the spices, relishes, chutneys and sauces that are inherent to much of those cuisines. Mikkeller has brewed many, many IPA's; this is one of the best. It bursts with zesty green citrus flavor and a spicy bitterness, while never sacrificing the underlying sweetness that the malts impart. The finish has a frosty cooling effect on the palate. Mikkeller, is a ceaseless brewer, always exploring, always creating. Green Gold is a testament to that never ending drive to brew something new, and the positive results that such boundless experimentation often delivers. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/309 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:15:39 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/309 "Green" is the word that comes to mind when drinking this beer. Green in the best, leafy, fresh salad and herbaceous sense of the word. Hoppyum delivers a pleasant razor sharp jolt of bitter fruitiness to the palate that lingers. This is not an overly complicated India Pale Ale, it delivers what most drinkers expect from the style, a pleasant floral aroma and unhindered, lush bitterness from the sip, to the swallow. This is a robust, above par American IPA. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/308 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:19:26 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/308 In late 2010, BrewDog decided to do the unthinkable. Convinced it could do better, it significantly reworked the recipe of its best selling beer - Punk IPA. In early 2011, bottles and cans of this new recipe Punk are available and have replaced the previous incarnation. The major changes; the beer is now double dry-hopped, much less filtered, the IBU's have been reduced from 70 to 45, and the alcohol has dropped from 6.0% to 5.6% abv. The beer still uses the same hops as before, but a lot more of them, and in a very different manner. The results are startling, the difference between the previous beer and the new version are extremely noticeable. Punk now has a much brighter and fresher aroma and has an altogether cooler, bitter fruit and spicy taste. The beer is an easier drink, but with bag loads more flavor and character. The fact that BrewDog has seen fit to showcase this beer as their first canned offering, is shrewd and a nice tip of the hat to its customers overseas - who often have to contend with Punk that might not be as brewery fresh as we'd all like it to be. Cans will definitely aid preserving the freshness of this beer on its Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific voyages. BrewDog should be commended for not resting on their laurels, and for seeking to perfect a beer no one had any major quarrel with. This Scottish born, American styled IPA gives the best of its U.S. brethren, a serious run for their money. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/307 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:28:22 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/307 There's a lot of bright tropical and orchard fruit flavors in this new experimental batch Imperial IPA from Alaskan. The nose has a classy cocktail sweetness, and bristly evergreen kick. In the drink, the beer presents everything from juicy freshly sliced Pineapple and Kiwi to spritzy Kumquat and sticky Passionfruit. There is a restrained bitterness sip to swallow, but it never threatens to quash the wanted and delicate fruit flavors. So much clean fruity goodness has been drawn out of the various hop additions in this beer, it's really quite remarkable. Drink it fresh and this IPA will raise an eyebrow. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purpose of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/306 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:28:59 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/306 Straight out of the gate, this is bitter to the bone. Unchecked bitter yellow citrus rind flavor dominates the palate. This IPA lacks complexity. There isn't much going on besides the bitter citrus from sip to swallow. Unfortunately the beer is also very aromatically challenged - it's just dank and very flat. I get no sense of late addition or aroma hops at all, none. Maybe some dry-hopping would have helped? It needs something. I taste hundreds of IPAs a year and this one just doesn't cut it. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purpose of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/305 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:25:38 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/305 Silky and quite ashy on the palate, this beer makes no bones about being a big malty beer. It has a nice bitter hop backbone, a minty middle, and a good thwack of heat on the finish - a desired attribute of this hefty export style of Porter. Fresh pops of stone ground bitter cocoa and vanilla on the nose are perfectly inviting. Lacking from the beer is an acute tartness, a quality that for me, is one of subtle traits that distinguishes the Baltic Porter from the Russian Imperial Stout. It's quite a weighty beer as it stands and could easily be mistaken for an Imperial Stout. It's possible that some slight acidic attributes might develop with some careful cellaring. Either way, this is a big satisfying beer, one with a distinct air of quality about it. The bottle reviewed here was one of 720 released on August 13, 2010. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/304 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:21:56 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/304 This bottle conditioned vintage American Double Stout has possibly the most bourbon heavy aroma and taste of any beer I have yet come across. Its oily black body has layers and layers of sweet and boozy dark fruit, red spice, Maple, Leather and Vanilla Bean flavor. Immediate comparisons with Goose Island's massively popular Bourbon Country Stout are inevitable and justified. While texturally thinner than that beer, it has an even stronger bourbon character. For my palate this is a bourbon bomb, with simply too dominant a bourbon character. That said, if you really appreciate that flavor profile, there is a lot to enjoy and celebrate in this rare offering from Cincinnati. This bottle was 1 of 950, 2009 vintage bottles released by the brewery in February 2011. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/303 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:04:34 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/303 This is an earthy and quaffable, by-the-numbers Coffee Stout. The complimentary bitterness of hops and roasted coffee beans, is by now a well rehearsed, profitable and much enjoyed combination. Bitterness in this example is even, with a clean cold pressed coffee flavor throughout. With so many coffee added beers on the market these days, competition is stiff and this effort ranks somewhere around the median. It's serviceable, but not specifically memorable. My one major complaint about this beer is that it tastes a touch boozy. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purpose of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/302 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:17:10 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/302 The second of a planned series of four collaborative beers by Tampa's Cigar City, Vermont's Hill Farmstead and Denmark's Grassroots Brewing, Or and its companions, Either, Neither and Nor, are Imperial strength Black IPA's brewed with Honey, and aged on medium toast wood - in this example, Spanish Cedar. The main idea behind the collaboration is to highlight the differences regional brewing practice, ingredients and approach can have on the same beer. Or, differs significantly from Either in that's very much sweeter and fruitier. The bitter earthy, herbal character is still ever present, but is an equal factor, not a dominant one. Delicious chewy dried fruit flavors and cracked spice add yet another layer to the already bold character of the beer. The Two-Row base malt used in Either, is replaced here by Pilsner malt. The result is a massive beer, packed with appealing sweet, spicy and bitter flavors from sip through swallow. Or, was brewed at Cigar City by brewers from Hill Farmstead and Grassroots. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/301 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:59:03 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/301 The first of a planned series of four collaborative beers by Tampa's Cigar City, Vermont's Hill Farmstead and Denmark's Grassroots Brewing, Either and its companions, Or, Neither and Nor, are Imperial strength Black IPA's brewed with Honey, and aged on medium toast wood - in this example, Spanish Cedar. The main idea behind the collaboration is to highlight the differences regional brewing practice, ingredients and approach can have on the same beer. Either is very dark, bittersweet and roasty on the nose and palate - imagine herb wrapped or infused high cocoa chocolate. There is an underlying spiciness to the beer. The bitterness is lingering, the alcohol surprisingly integrated and unassuming. Robust in every sense of the word, Either is not immediately comparable to any other Black IPA or Black Barleywine that comes to mind, its earthiness is quite the distinguishing quality. This is a very busy and very unique beer. Either, was brewed at Cigar City by Cigar City brewers. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/300 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:51:24 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/300 This Triple IPA smells and tastes like a hop marmalade might. It is bittersweet, sappy and sticky-lipped delicious. There are a handful of breweries that tout Triple IPA as a standalone style. The line between these excessively hopped beers and the only slightly less hopped, but more commonly sold, Imperial or Double IPA, is a fine one, even a debatable one. I've tasted quite a few of these self styled Triple IPA's and there is really only one obvious quality that differentiates them from Double IPA's. More bitterness. They might have similar malt bills to your favorite Double IPA, but it's usually nowhere near as apparent - they are truly bitter focused beers. It's all about the hops and nothing but the hops, so help your palate. Hop'solutely is a prime example of what I'm talking about, it's an unrestrained showcase for its seven varieties of hops, regardless of whether they were used for bittering, flavor profile or aroma - or all of the above. This beer is a celebration of hop flowers and all they add to India Pale Ales, be they single, double or triple. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/299 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:08:23 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/299 This is a very special English Stout. The beer is the product of what was touted as the first British - New Zealand brewery collaboration. The breweries in question are in my opinion two of the very best in their respective countries - Epic of Auckland, New Zealand and Thornbridge of Bakewell, England. The version of the beer reviewed here is actually a special barrel aged version of that collaborative effort. There is an overall spicy quality to this stout, a spiciness that permeates the aroma and flavor. Notes of dark robust bitter grains, tart English apples and cold pressed coffee all contribute to an immediately complex profile. Complexity, best sums up this beer. There is so much happening, it's a challenge to take it all in. Think of this beer like a symphony, one with many disparate parts all coming together under confident orchestration to create something truly awesome. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purpose of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/298 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:37:58 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/298 Brewed in November 2008 at BrewDog in Scotland, this first collaborative effort by the Danish gypsy brewer Mikkeller, and the colorful anarchic Scots, is an appropriately heady barrel aged, warming winter "wine." At heart specifically, this is an English Barleywine, and the sweetness is there to reiterate the fact. After more than a year in the bottle, the chewy, Quadrupel like body of the beer has taken on an even richer, Christmas Pudding evoking quality. Think whiskey soaked dried fruits and sticky dark sugars. This sipper really hits the mark for what I look for in the style. Cellared correctly it should continue to mature and develop for many years. An unidentified single hop variety was used in the bittering of this beer. In 2010 a second batch of Devine Rebel was released, clocking in at 13.8% abv. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/297 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:01:56 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/297 This is a wonderfully bright and angular IPA using among its hop additions, a newer German hop variety called Herkules. The flavor of freshly busted open citrus fruits dominate the beers beginning, middle and end. Hints of dewy green savory herbs like Thyme and Basil come through prominently in the aroma, but not on the palate. The bitterness is definite, but is far from unbridled - this beer is balanced. If you like the yellow fruit flavor and clean bitterness of Californian IPA's, this is a beer well worth your time, money and attention. This appealing beer was brewed at BrewDog in Scotland. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/296 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:42:28 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/296 I Hardcore You is a heavily dry hopped blend of Mikkeller's I Beat YoU and BrewDog's Harcore IPA. Punchy fruit sweetness and strong citrus flavors are this epic amalgamations calling cards. There is a lovely spicy quality to the body of the beer and the bitterness is direct and significant. You will be left in no doubt that you are drinking an Imperial IPA. For all its bombast though, this beer has balance, a balance that contributes a very moreish character to the beer. It bares stating that this heady, and hoppy collaboration by two of Europe's rising craft brewing stars is best treated with a modicum of respect - it's very, very drinkable. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/295 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:33:12 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/295 The array of flavors and aromas in this beer aptly reflect the 10 different hops that went into the making of it. Picture a tropical fruit salad, garnished with freshly torn sweet green herbs and you'll have a good idea of what it's like to appreciate a glass of this hop-podge of an IPA. 10, was brewed as a complimentary bookend to Mikkeller's initial series of 10 separate single hop IPA's. This series has since been rebrewed and now consists of some 15 different single hop IPAs. It remains to be seen if Mikkeller will brew a "15" edition IPA, using all 15 hop varieties. As it stands, 10 was brewed as a curiosity and the resulting beer while full and flavorful sip through swallow, is ultimately a bit muddy. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/294 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:25:46 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/294 My appreciation of the beers of Firestone Walker is well documented. The brewery is, in my opinion, one of the most consistently good in the United States. Velvet Merlin (known better to some by its previously draft only moniker, Velvet Merkin) is another bright feather in the breweries much lauded cap. The beer is an Oatmeal Stout with a sweet milk chocolate body, a crusty dark fruit pie nose and a cocoa butter finish - a portion of the beer is aged in bourbon barrels, and perhaps that's where some of the welcome buttery character is developed. One of the nicest things about this beer is its versatility, being light enough to enjoy back to pack pints of, and decadent enough to enjoy slowly with or after dessert. A percentage of Velvet Merlin was also used in the final blends of Firestone Eleven and Thirteen anniversary beers. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purpose of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/293 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:12:23 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/293 This is one of the best Saison I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. It has a bright and recognizable Saison character, it is dry, clean, perfectly effervescent and slightly peppery. Unlike traditional Saison though it has a hint of toast on the nose and a deep and roasty underbelly and finish. This beer is earthy, but without sacrificing the lift and palate appealing food friendly freshness of its much loved and highly regarded Belgian counterparts. At the time of writing, I've had the pleasure of trying a good handful of self-described dark farmhouse or Black Saison styled beers. Pepe Nero by Goose Island and Stillwater Existent are notable standouts. This one by Southampton head brewer, Phil Markowski though (the man who literally wrote the book on the style, "Farmhouse Ales: Culture and Craftsmanship in the Belgian Tradition") is simply a work of art. Alongside the previously mentioned dark farmhouse ales, this beer genuinely forges new ground for the style. My hope now is that this very limited brewery only beer sees a wider release. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/292 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:28:01 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/292 This beer tastes exactly like you'd expect a Key Lime Pie flavored beer to taste. Unfortunately for my palate, this is a really off-putting combination of flavors. It simply does not work. There is a lot of residual sugar flavor in this beer. It is syrupy and cloying. It almost tastes like fermentation stalled. The aroma is not in line with the overly sweet Key Lime Pie flavor at all. While there are subtle hints of lime, the dominant aroma is flat out stinky - pond scum stinky. I understand that the practice and effort behind a beer like this must have been significant and that much I can commend - there aren't many people bold enough to brew with marshmallows and graham crackers, especially at a commercial level. I cannot however recommend this beer and have to award it my lowest rating. This beer is shockingly under par from a brewery that I know can do much better. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/291 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 14:49:07 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/291 With a warming dark orchard fruit laden body, aroma and flavor, this creative kick-off for Karl Strauss new "Twelve Days of Christmas San Diego Style" series of holiday beers, is easily one of the most palatable and immediately impressive Baltic Porters I've tasted. Boldly striding beyond the traditional guidelines for the style, the brewery ups the ante of the already robust nature of the beer by aging it in port wine barrels for upwards of two months. The resulting barrel sebatical has imparted the beer with a pronounced dark fruit juice finish. Less ashy and bitter than its heavier cousin the Russian Imperial Stout, this New World styled Baltic Porter really takes on those deep vinous fruit flavors seamlessly. This beer is a brilliant showcase for the versatility of this often overlooked big beer style. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purpose of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/290 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 13:50:50 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/290 This interesting beer from Australia sits comfortable at the center of a triangle of classic yeast forward Belgian beer styles - the Saison, the Belgian Strong Pale Ale and the Tripel. This creative broad homage bubbles with expected traits of all three styles, possessing a lively soft white effervescence, a bright floral aroma, fruity middle, a nudge of light farm funk and a noticeable amount of heat. The real differentiator is the modern level of hop spice in the expectedly dry finish. If I had to pin the style down, it leans most toward Tripel than anything else, so that's where I'll happily list it for the sake of discussion. Punk Monk, is yet another example of Australia's undeniably quality and quietly snowballing craft beer industry. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/289 Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:09:20 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/289 This malty - and I mean malty - Australian curiosity is made with the addition of an ingredient I'd never come across before - wattleseed. This native Australian seed is often used in cooking and here clearly has the effect of amping up the earthy flavor of the beer significantly. Having a palate that really appreciates off-center earthy flavors and textures, this interesting adjunct addition is my opinion, a lovely thing. Imagine the rich sensation of drinking a lightly sweetened double strength chocolate malt shake or malted chocolate egg cream - this is the beer equivalent of that. More importantly, Black Wattle Original is mildly desserty without being cloying. Unique to be sure, this beer is genuinely exciting and further proof that there remains plenty of border regions of brewing territory that invite exploration. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/288 Sun, 27 Feb 2011 11:36:37 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/288 This unfiltered American style Pale Ale from Australia has a lots of bright yellow flavor and aroma. This is fruity, feathery light, and refreshing sip through swallow. The beers light, almost salady quality should in no way suggest a lack of flavor or body. Its all-Australian ingredient base lends it spades of both flavor and character. If I was an Australian resident, this would be a regular in my fridge. It's lovely, easy drinking stuff. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/287 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:47:01 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/287 Good pale lagers are all too often overlooked by beer lovers, burdened by the unfortunate tarnish of being too easily associated with the globally produced beer brands we are all too familiar with. That's not to say they don't sell, but rather they never seem to get their day in the sunshine. Black Star Lager is one such lager that deserves some sunshine. Soft, cerealy and food friendly, with a pleasant dry and bready finish. This is the kind of simple, clean and serviceable lager that is instantly distinguishable from the aforementioned insipid global lagers. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purpose of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/286 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:48:40 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/286 Gandhi, by most yard sticks was a great man. This Imperial IPA called Gandhi-Bot, is by most standards a great IPA. This is an IPA from the East Coast by way of some Californian big angular fruity hop schooling. There is little that is complicated in this equation. The flavor is fresh, direct, bitter and at once refreshing. If there's one glaring thing that would improve this beer in my mind, it would be the addition of more "green" bitterness, more sage and thyme evoking hops. If you enjoy the likes of Green Flash West Coast IPA, enjoying this, is all but a given. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/285 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:37:12 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/285 A sweet New Zealand tree tomato called Tamarillo smoked over a native wood of that country might seem like a truly bizarre beer addition, unless that is you happen to be Dogfish Head brewery of Deleware. Dogfish Head's inherent fearless welcoming of the exotic combined with the open mindedness of New Zealand's world class Epic beer company, lead to the creation of this truly unique collaborative strong and smoky fruit Porter. The aroma is evocative of a pepper jelly or jam, it's sweet, but also roasty. Lots of dark red and blue fruit come through in the drink and there's a hint of happy funk about the flavor too - think a creamy blue cheese. Being a lover of more askew dark beers, I think this came together beautifully. It's different, balanced and the off-kilter flavors work together towards a common and enjoyable end. Given the opportunity, I'd buy this as a seasonal every year. *This beer was brewed in Auckland, New Zealand at Epic beer company and was provided by Epic for the specific purpose of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/284 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:37:47 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/284 The second of Sixpoint's inventive Mad Scientist Series of experimental beers, Berserker Bock is a distinctly fresh take on the traditional Bock beer style. Spicing up the proceedings, the brewery adds more than a dash of American craft beer ingenuity and finesse to the styles usual flavor profile. The special ingredient is cold pressed Stumptown Guatemalan El Injerto coffee. The resulting lager is then dry-hopped with more of the coffee beans and Warrior hops. Dank wet earthy notes dominate the aroma; a soft desserty sweetness underpins it. There's a barky, bitter green herbaceous quality to the taste, the hop additions coming through in a predominately minty way. The addition of a fine coffee to a Bock is certainly something that had never occurred to me before and it works a charm in this complimentary instance. Earthy, quaffable, morish, and something new that works without tasting like a novelty, this is highly recommended - if you can find it. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purpose of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/283 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:25:32 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/283 This is an explosive tropical fruit salad of a beer. It's spicy with a kick of oakey bourbon elegance. There's a beautiful fresh clean cut to the flavor - think a cucumber and dill salad. In fact, despite this ales boozy backbone, I can see this pairing very well with any number of breakfast-y brunch dishes - Eggs Benedict immediately comes to mind. This is a large beer, but one with a sweet and polite grace about it. It doesn't barrel over or blow the palate. I like this beer and so will the Belgian golden ale lover in you. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/281 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:30:44 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/281 This beer reminds me truffles - both kinds. The rich creamy chocolate sort infused with all manner of sweet, savory and off-center ingredients and the valuable fungal kind that pigs forage for in the forest. This beer is askew and rich in a creative and interesting way. Experimental tasting, Gunga Galunga will definitely hit a fair number of palates oddly, even in a negative way. It has a nudge of funk, a roasty body and some residual exotic fruit sweetness. It has a taste that will very quickly be acquired or rejected by the the drinker. I like this beer, but it's not going to be for everyone. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/280 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:24:48 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/280 The third in The Bruery's one-off series of annual 12 Days of Christmas beers, 3 French Hens certainly packs a Christmas-y punch. The dark Belgian styled beer is ripe with the rich smells and succulent tastes of a British Victorian Christmas dinner - imagine steaming Christmas Pudding and sweet Roasted Goose condiments, sauces and sides. It's a big beer, designed to age proudly alongside its siblings Partridge in a Pear Tree and 2 Turtle Doves, and until all twelve beers in the series have been released. The beer is a blend, 25% of which has been aged in French oak barrels. The barrel has imparted a mild buttery quality to the beer, a flavor that can sometimes run amok and ruin a beer, here though it's just right. The traditional British dish, Beef Wellington, would seem a brilliant pairing for this robust and fruity creation. The 12 Days of Christmas series has thus far been sincerely captivating and the beers themselves, horde-worthy. Roll on 4 Colly Birds. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/279 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:24:32 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/279 This Lambic styled beer is wonderfully gamey in aroma and enamel cleansingly acidic in body. In other words, it fits the traditional Belgian Fruit Lambic archetype pretty convincingly. To make Pinotlambicus, The Bruery added the runnings of fresh pressed Pinot Noir grapes to a year old batch of their house Lambic, Cuvee Jeune. The beer was then aged in wine barrels for 10 months. The end product packs a searingly tart and refreshing wallop - the flavors and sour sensation makes me want to pair this with some robust, citrus and caper dressed fish. A limited release for Bruery Reserve Society members, this is the first to be released under the Vitus Series banner and suggests perhaps that other versions of the beer using different grape varietals might follow - great stuff. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/278 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:04:24 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/278 The 18 months this Flanders styled Red Ale spends in red wine barrels, shows. The beer is very sour, and geometrically angular. Tart by name and tart by nature. Quite simply this is a pitch perfect rendition of the style. It's is everything sour beer aficionados looks for in the Flanders Red style and will take the breath away of any drinker unfamiliar with the puckering effect such beers can induce. Much is often made of beers that might appeal to wine drinkers. This is one such beer. Oude Tart stands as one of the very best sour beers America has produced. It's an outstanding achievement. This bottle was one of 2400 released on January 16, 2010 and was reviewed on January 10, 2011. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/277 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:54:57 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/277 This beer has a nose of summer flowers and citrus blossom, and it's a conversation stopper. Loakal Red is The Bruery's take on the often quoted, and somewhat ambiguous, hoppy Southern Californian beer - referring to the citrus heavy Pales, IPAs and Ambers of the region. An American Amber Ale at heart, the brewery softened the beers backbone by blending an older oak aged batch of the beer with a larger dry-hopped fresh batch. The result is still hoppy, still "SoCal," but unlike any commercial beer you have likely tasted before. Loakal Red has a distinguishing nudge of funk - aromatically and on the palate. This beer will certainly throw some for the loop. But if you like The Bruery and their particular bent towards the character imparted by "the barrel," then you'll want to try this. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/276 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:43:28 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/276 This beer tastes exactly like British Christmas cake. Chewy, dark and suffuse with the flavor of brandy soaked dried fruits. This once a year treat from Oregon was known in previous incarnations as The Perfect Storm. The beer is a sweet English Barleywine made from a blending of batches of the beer that spent between three months to more than a year in first, second and third fill 22 year old Evan Williams bourbon barrels. The result is decadent, rich, and most surprisingly it tastes great young - the norm being to drink these sorts of beers after some years of cellaring. Not to say that Mother of all Storms wouldn't fair equally well and evolve with correct cellaring - the beer clearly has strong legs. This unique Northwest rarity is unquestionably worth the effort it takes to acquire - it's only sold by the case on one day of the year at the Pelican brewpub in Pacific City, Oregon. Drink alongside creamy blues cheeses or traditional British Christmas pudding for pairings of ground shaking proportions. The bottle reviewed was one of 2880 released on November 19, 2010 and was reviewed on January 7, 2011. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/275 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:25:43 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/275 There is something enticingly shadowy and autumnal about this dry-hopped American Strong Ale. Its weave of late season orchard fruits and bitter licorice root are the perfect bedfellows. The beers body and sensation on the palate sit comfortably between the increasingly malty beers of autumn and the soul warming Barleywines of deep winter. The deliciousness of this one-off brew is comparative to eating a piping hot slice of home baked fruit pie. I'd be pleased as punch if Bell's decided to bring this beer back to celebrate their 26th Anniversary and so forth. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/274 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:41:03 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/274 Double Jack is the logical next step from Firestone Walker's extremely drinkable and much awarded Union Jack IPA. As expected, it carries over many of the traits of that smaller IPA, but in a more concentrated form. It's amped up, but is no less balanced. This beer is gorgeous, from its sticky pine, citrus peel and oily sage body to its floral patchouli like nose. On the palate the beer belies its significant hopping with a lovely soft sweetness. It's nice to have another IPA in bottled form from Firestone, and another fantastic one, at that. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/273 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:32:50 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/273 As green as a dewy English pasture in the springtime. This beer drips with the aroma and flavor of grass, bitter fruit and savory herbs. Knuckle Sandwich is definitely in the greener-than-green category. The same category of beer commanded by Russian River's Pliny the Elder and Schlafly's leafy American IPA. This is a hefty Double IPA. Caution should be taken when burning your way through a pint of it. Its high abv. is craftily masked. It's not like California needs another bitter than bitter IPA feather in its sticky hat, but thanks to the good brewers at Bootlegger's it has one regardless. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/272 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:27:57 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/272 Straight alcohol and bourbon flavors come through prominently in this freshly bottled 2010 vintage. The nose and body is a punchy maelstrom of green herb and spice notes. Black fruit and sooty charcoal flavors have their say too. The honey and cocoa additions provide some complimentary, but not overly chocolate-y flavors. As my review of the year old 2009 vintage attests, cellaring this beer encourages its desserty side to develop and its bitterness to mellow. This is an impressive bourbon barrel aged American Double Stout, and like many of its ilk, it only improves with age. This bottle was one of 1000 released on December 6, 2010 and was reviewed on December 19, 2010. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/271 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:41:45 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/271 Olde Rabbit's Foot is a collaborative bourbon barrel aged American Double Stout brewed with honey and cocoa nibs. This 2009 vintage was cellared for one year prior to reviewing and was reviewed back-to-back with a fresh 2010 vintage - see accompanying review on Hoptopia. The most striking difference between the fresh 2010, and this cellared 2009 version, is the chocolate liqueur and red vinous qualities that have developed with the aging. The bourbon flavor is sweeter and less boozy in the 2009 also. Richer and decidedly more desserty, the year old example has the edge on the fresh vintage for my palate. It has more going on, is a smoother drink and is a more cohesive experience. This bottle was one of 684 released on December 12, 2009 and was reviewed on December 19, 2010. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/270 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:32:21 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/270 This is the second vintage of this coffee added American Double Stout. Like its 2009 brethren, this 2010 vintage is chocolatey; very much so. As for differences between the years; the most noticeable is the coffee flavor - it's cleaner and more pronounced in this version. The body in this batch has a little less viscosity too. I cannot speak to how well Big Hugs ages, all indicators are though, that it would cellar gracefully. Half Acre have also released select amounts of a draft-only Barrel Aged version of Big Hugs. Again, the beer seems like it would lend itself favorably to some time in a noble Bourbon, Brandy or Whiskey barrel. This remains a standout big stout and is worth the hunt if you're into big stout "game." Please see my review of the 2009 vintage of this beer for further general tasting notes. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/269 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 16:27:45 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/269 Aged for two months in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels; freshly bottled Silent Night has a real touch of the wild about it. The beer smells like freshly emptied bourbon barrels and the body has more than hint of unruly distilled licorice astringency. It's all there; the barrel, the spirit, the heat, the thick black Russian Imperial Stout body. The molasses and coffee additions play their part, giving the beer that "new world" something extra, something extra bittersweet, flavors US palates now seem calibrated to. For all the modern additions though, there is still something very old fashioned about this beer. It reminds me more of the British Russian Imperial Stouts that are still being made - more so than their ballsy American Double Stout addition laden counterparts. I wonder if this how those original Russian Imperial Stouts of old London tasted? Beers that lived in, and very much died by the barrel. This stout, despite the modern trappings, is a nice change of pace. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/268 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 08:33:16 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/268 Dark Lord casts a long shadow. If you're of the hundreds of thousands of people getting interested in craft beer, Dark Lord is one of the first hard-to-get beers you'll hear tale of for better or worse - mostly better. Having tasted all but one vintage of this truly massive, highly regarded coffee and vanilla infused Imperial Stout, I can confirm that the hype is justified. Dark Lord is an impressive beer in every regard. It's boozy, as thick and smooth as heavy crude oil and is suffuse with the extremes of bitter and sweet. Once you've tried Dark Lord, regardless of whether you like it, you'd be hard pressed to confuse it with many other beers. In the cellar, is where Dark Lord really shines; aging a bottle for a few years allows some of the tongue wrangling meaty bitterness to lull and lush malty chocolate flavors to bloom. Dark Lord has the power of pilgrimage for a few reasons, mostly though because it's so damn good. Dark Lord is to America, what some of the classic Belgian beers are to that country. The beer is only available at the brewery on a single day in April every year. This 2010 vintage was released on April 21, 2010 and reviewed on December 15, 2010. Vintages of Dark Lord thus far have been sealed in the following colors of wax - 2004 - Red Wax, 2005 - Orange Wax, 2006 - Gold Wax, 2007 - Silver Wax, 2008 - Black Wax, 2009 - White Wax, 2010 - Olive Green Wax. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/267 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:19:49 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/267 Thick, sweet and biscuity, Behemoth's shadowy layers of encroaching bitterness pepper perfectly its golden dewy sweetness. This bottle, a January 2009 vintage, was cellared for two years and it has a definite and developed hint of oxidation about it - of a level that benefits its hulking malty backbone. Like all great barleywines, this one, shoulders its share of wanted booziness, but it doesn't overdo it. It's hard to imagine many people familiar with barleywines, not liking this beer - especially those of us that live in places that battle a few solid months of subzero temperatures in the winter. Behemoth is like one of those big loyal St. Bernard dogs of Alpine legend - the ones that carry a barrel of rum trussed around their necks. This beer is yet another feather in the hallowed cap of Three Floyds. Vintages of Behemoth thus far have been sealed in the following colors of wax - 2005 - Pink Wax, 2007 - Yellow Wax, 2008 - Purple Wax, 2009 - Blue Wax, 2010 - Green Wax. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/266 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:53:04 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/266 Ironically, of the three Samuel Adams Barrel Room Collection wild beers, this is the one that the brewery immediately claims "defies traditional beer style definition," when in fact it's the most on-style of the three - go figure. Essentially an American made Flanders Red Ale, Stony Brook Red balances its ambition, jammy red fruit flavors, tart bite and mild sour finish, confidently. Like all three beers in the series, this received an addition of the brewery developed Kosmic Mother Funk wild ale to crazy things up a little. Unlike the other two beers in the series though - American Kriek and New World Tripel - the funk here works to the advantage of, rather than clashes with, the inherent complex nature of the beer. Of the beers in the Barrel Room Collection series, this is definitely worth trying if you enjoy the style. If you've never had a Flanders Red before, but are curious, I'd begin at the source with a Belgian offering instead - Duchesse De Bourgogne and Rodenbach Grand Cru being the most readily available. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/265 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:38:54 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/265 If you're at all familiar with the classical Belgian Tripel style of beer, be forewarned, this beer veers far off style and not in a fun and experimental way. The foundation of this beer is a wild house developed yeast and beer called Kosmic Mother Funk. The funk part is absolutely key here because this beer is super funky. The glaring problem with this beer is the unpleasantness of the funk - which for whatever reason does not gel with either the hop bitterness of the beer or the significant boozy sweetness. Everything is out of whack - it blows the palate and nose and is really quite an unpleasant and unbalanced drink, start to finish. I rarely rate a beer below 80/100 - 80 being my cut off for beers that are at least enjoyable on some level. This is a sub 80 beer for me though, and I simply cannot recommend buying it, especially if you like wild and funky beers. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/264 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:26:39 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/264 In the winter of 2009, Samuel Adams got funky, releasing three very different beers under the Barrel Room Collection banner. The beers were all were aged in second use Portuguese brandy barrels and dosed with a wild house developed beer - lovingly referred to as Kosmic Mother Funk. American Kriek is probably the most funky of the three beers. It is also the most misleading, style wise. Yes, the beer is brewed with cherries, but the resulting beer is more fruit Saison, than tart Kriek - big difference. The funk is also a little too unbridled, overriding any other interesting characteristics the beer hints at. The aroma is very cherry, but overpoweringly so. The overall vibe of the beer is unbalanced and is perhaps proof that deep pockets and unlimited resources is no guarantee that you can create delicate wild beers at will. There is no indication that this beer was bottle conditioned. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/263 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:11:12 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/263 Originally released as a strictly limited beer in 2003 in 750ml bottles, Chocolate Bock made its return in 2010 in more widely distributed 12oz bottles in Samuel Adams Winter Classics Mix Pack. The 2003 version was aged on a custom blend of Scharffen Berger chocolate made with Forastero cocoa. The 2010 version was aged on Ecuadorian cocoa nibs by TCHO. The teasing aroma is that of entering a high-end chocolatier store - not a bad thing at all. The flavors do not disappoint either, matching the lush sweet nose, sip through swallow. This beer is cocoa laden and desserty without being heavy in body or alcohol content - rare in a beer market saturated with dessert friendly, but boozy barrel aged Russian Imperial Stouts. This is highly recommended, especially to those that normally avoid flavor enhanced, extreme or "novelty" beers. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/262 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:17:04 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/262 Any luxury beer that arrives so handsomely packaged it wouldn't be out of place in the window of a Louis Vuitton store is going to be met with an initial air of skepticism. This is Samuel Adams Infinium. The beer is the product of a 3 long year collaboration with Weihenstephan of Germany. The world's oldest continually operating brewery. Weihenstephan will celebrate its 1000th birthday in 2040. The concept of a beer marketed and styled like a sparkling wine is nothing new. Belgian breweries Bosteels and De Landtsheer, pioneered the niche biere de champagne style some time ago. Those breweries achieved the desired results by brewing beers that used careful and involved Champagne finishing techniques. DeuS Brut Des Flandres and Malheur Brut are the most well-known and available examples. Infinium, while definitely sold with the same idea in mind, is quite different in flavor and personality to those Belgian beers and doesn't really seem to fit the biere de champagne style. For the sake of sanity though, I'll categorize it as a biere de champagne for Hoptopia. Infinium is crisp and effervescent in a, yes, discernibly sparkling wine way. The dominant flavors are similar to that of a traditional German Hefeweizen. Texture, mouthfeel and finish have more in common with a classic Belgian Tripel. The beer is very clean, not bitter, a hair too sweet, and is in the end, a delicate, different and quite enjoyable drink. If you really want to blow the mind of a sparkling wine lover, I recommend spending the extra for the Belgian biere de champagnes mentioned - they run $5 to $15 more. Those are beers you really feel you can hoist a toast with. If you're a beer lover always looking to expand your palate though, Infinium is a no brainer once or twice, sharable purchase. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/261 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:49:23 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/261 There is a famous Voltaire quote that says, "the perfect is the enemy of the good." I like this quote as it suggests that to attain perfection is near impossible. Possibly undesirable. I don't believe anything can be perfect. Neither food. Not wine. Not beer. And definitely not people. In fact, the very characteristics that make great beers, truly great, can also be seen as their flaws. The most obvious examples in beer are the many natural "imperfections" that make sour beers, acidic, funky and sour. The beer in question here is called Vlad The Imp Aler. It is flawed to incredibly desirable imperfection. A heavenly maelstrom of sweet, tart and spicy exotic fruit flavors, bookended by an exquisite dry finish. This is a beer you can share with wine devotees and non-beer drinkers. In most cases it will have their jaws dropping because of its difference and naturally orchestrated chaos. Vlad the Imp Aler is a blend of tripels, quadrupels and Belgian pale ales that is aged for over 18 months in various oak wine and bourbon barrels. The word complexity, does not do this beer justice. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/260 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:13:06 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/260 Surely one of the most buzzed about and ingenious sour beers ever conceived, Bourbonic Plague is a blend of Imperial Porters lacticly fermented in oak wine and bourbon barrels, reblended with an Imperial Porter brewed with vanilla beans and cinnamon before being aged a further 12 months in oak barrels on dates. The result is rich, dark and bittersweet with a moderate sourness and a finish that's as dry as dessert asphalt. It plays with every sensation of the palate without dominating any one area. This is mighty impressive, is without much comparison style wise and simply speaks to the very high level of fervent creativity and talent at work in American craft beer in 2010. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/259 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 09:59:56 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/259 The savory bite of roasted red peppers really shines in this inky black Porter. The heat is apparent throughout the drink, lingering and continuing to build long after swallow. Secondary flavors of dark chocolate and charred plant matter provide a robust base, working to muzzle some of the heat. Any beer with a chili pepper addition is, in all likelihood, going to be received with an air of skepticism. This beer is no gimmick, though. Chocolate and chili have for thousands of years been the happiest of bedfellows. The combination in this beer is not dissimilar and the result is just as appealing. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/258 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:06:42 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/258 This beer is green, not in a short toothed young and inexperienced way, but in an abundant herbaceous kind of way. The drinker is greeted with a mushroom cloud of pungent aromatic dried herb and colorful flower petal scents. On the palate the beer acts exactly as you'd imagine a dry-hopped coming-together of Stone's bitter bad boy's, Arrogant Bastard and Double Bastard, might taste - the beer being an unholy fermentation tank mix of those two beers. I rarely, if ever, use the term "extreme beer" to describe a beer, but that does seem to aptly describe this volatile bottle of hoppy ruby red bliss. If you like either of the two beers that went into making this dyslexic 13th birthday celebration of the release of Arrogant Bastard, then chances of you not liking this, are very slim indeed. This is very good... very, good. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/257 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:33:12 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/257 For its 14th anniversary special release, Stone drew inspiration from the fascinating origin and ground zero flavors of the very first IPAs born of a thirsty and far flung British Empire. These very bitter and very dry beers were designed to weather up to a six month ocean voyage to the far flung British colonies without spoiling; to this end, these beers saw massive hop infusions to aid preservation. This twenty-first century rendition was brewed using British hop and malts varietals, and water treated to ape that, originally used. The beer has a powerful pucker inducing citrus peel bite and a tastebud shriveling dry back. There is an unexpected softness to beer, a softness that allows more of the sharp fruit to shine, without dulling the palate. Indicators are that Stone nailed this "old fashioned" incarnation of this now, re-beloved style, and in doing so created a truly unique and thoroughly enjoyable IPA, one void of much, it any modern comparison. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/256 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:08:31 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/256 The fifth annual Jewbelation American Strong Ale release, 12, like every beer in the series, is brewed with a matching number of hop and malt varietals and has a matching final abv. After my significant disappointment with 11, the previous release in the series, 12 is an absolute revelation. Tasting vertically 8 to 12, it is by some length the most complex and rich. None of the big flavors run amok and dominate - no mean feat with a beer of this build. Neither is it muddy. All-around, this is a curiously interesting beer that I highly recommend - especially to people that like American Barleywine as a style. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/255 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:31:38 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/255 The fourth annual Jewbelation American Strong Ale release, 11, like the guitar amplifiers in the movie This is Spinal Tap, ups the ante across the board to 11 - it's a beer made with 11 different malts, 11 different hops and has a matching abv. of 11.0%. The first thing that strikes the palate is bitter and "booze" - the alcohol coming through way more crystal clear than I'd like. The bitterness is initially interesting, but come swallow it has blitzed any and all of the beers secondary and thoroughly enjoyable dark fruit flavors. 11 misses the mark for my palate, I find it bullheaded, unrefined and lacking depth. Tasting the vertical chronologically it is easily bettered by 8, 9 and 10. This is a loud beer, but not a rocking one. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/254 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:59:16 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/254 The third annual Jewbelation American Strong Ale release, 10, follows the pattern of its predecessors to include a matching name and number of core ingredients - 10 different malts and 10 different hops - and possessing a final alcohol content of 10.0% abv. For my palate, 10 bests 8 and 9 by some margin. The aroma is thick and sweet, reminding me immediately of some of my favorite Russian Imperial Stouts. On the palate, 10 has a creamier and heavier fullness about it. The flavors are all black and toasty, but not quite approaching the roasty bite of a hefty stout or porter. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/253 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:30:12 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/253 Taking an immediate departure from its straight Tripel sibling, this bourbon whiskey barrel confined version explodes with buttery brown sugary aromas. Really, this beer has one of the most prominent dark spirit noses I've ever experience on a beer - toffee and vanilla flavors rules the palate. The Belgian Tripel base is still present, but now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the equally strong and noble American bourbon character. Needless to say, if the mention of bourbon amped beers cause you to prick up your ears, this is a Tripel for you. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/252 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:19:38 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/252 This delightful Tripel tastes like a late summer fruit salad sprinkled with freshly cracked rainbow peppercorns. It has an equally peppy aroma too. Starting as it means to go on, this beer belies its not insignificant 9.0% abv. - so enjoy with a smile and a note of happy caution. It's drinkable. This is a Tripel that doesn't stray far from the Belgian traditional and hits its marks. If you're looking for a Tripel that goes AWOL from style, Tripel Overhead has a bourbon barrel aged counterpart which should do the trick. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/251 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 20:46:04 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/251 The second annual He'Brew Jewbelation American Strong Ale release, 9, ups the ante across the board to include 9 malts and 9 hops, with a matching abv. of 9.0%. Immediately, for my palate, this has more life and personality than its predecessor. The overall profile is more bitter and evolved from the straight Porter taste and body of 8. Hops too in 9 are more apparent; in 8 the hops played a quiet second fiddle to big malt bill. If a big, dark fruity beer, with a backend hop kick sounds appealing, 9 is likely for you. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/250 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:20:05 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/250 Certain beers smell exactly like certain foods, this one smells not unlike a chocolate and mashed banana sandwich on whole wheat bread. In the drink, some of that dark bread character carries over, blending with a raft of other inky black notes. The finish is a little drier and flatter than I'd like, especially for a chocolately Schwarzbier with so much upfront pizazz. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/249 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 22:54:23 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/249 This spritzy peppery take on the traditional Witbier is positively Champagne like on the palate. Bursting with pithy fruit aroma, bite and crispness, it would seem a perfect and lively companion to any number of breakfast foods you care to name. Colorado has no shortage of fantastic breweries - both upstart and established - doing noteworthy things with every beer style imaginable, and thanks to this extremely good beer it now has one more in my book. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/248 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 21:38:13 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/248 Striking an immediately pleasing balance of old world maltiness and new world citrus kick, it's not hard to see why so many beer drinkers rank this IPA among their favorites wherever Smuttynose is sold. It's an IPA with everyday appeal. It's not clumsily bitter and has an approachable nuance of flavors that make it appealing to those who are virgin or infrequent to the India Pale Ale style. For my palate this is a great tasting and great value IPA, it is however definitely a few paces behind Smuttynose spectacular, albeit pricier, Big A IPA. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/247 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:21:42 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/247 Establishing the archetype for the annual Jewbelation releases, 8, contains 8 different malts, 8 different hop varieties and has a matching abv. of, you've guessed it, 8.0%. With such an expansive use of ingredients, the natural assumption might be that the resulting beer could so easily be a turgid muddy mess. Happily, it isn't. Dark flavors and aromas dominate, the core is bitter, the finish a touch tart, but the final drink is smooth, Porter like, unhindered and clean. If the idea of a well-rounded Imperial Porter is appealing to you, you'll probably enjoy this solid, if unspectacular dark concoction. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/246 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:38:56 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/246 English Pale Ale is a true workhorse beer style. For me, English Pale Ales epitomize the kind of beers a majority of us really appreciate at the end of a long day - a touch bitter, full yet refreshing and light enough in alcohol to soberly enjoy a few pints of and still be able to go about your evening. In Shoals, New Hampshire brewery Smuttynose created exactly that kind of reliable workhorse companion beer; a robust English styled Pale with added American hop clout. The result is a bedrock multipurpose six pack buy for Pale Ale drinkers and beyond. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/245 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:06:41 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/245 This Pale Ale from Indiana is yet further proof that great beer also comes in cans, in fact, this example is significantly better than many of its bottled brethren. The aroma is extremely sunny and floral, with lush sweet herbaceous notes - certainly aided by dry hopping. Drinking, the palate is awash with concentrated evergreen and strong yellow citrus flavors; a refreshing palate priming menthol sensation definitively marks the finish. This ranks among the best hop forward American Pales. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/244 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:11:41 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/244 Jet black and flinty, this Imperial spin on the rapidly gaining ground Black IPA style, marries masses of big sticky Northwest hops and charred earthy malts, and does so seamlessly. The resulting pitch black beer is of course, big and hoppy, but is also surprisingly smooth, creamy and easy drinking. Attaining this fine, yet palatable balance was obviously no mean feat, especially considering the breadth and scale of ingredients that must have gone into the brew kettle. This is a standout Black IPA, one that will be appreciated by hop heads and malt bomb lovers alike. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/243 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:09:36 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/243 Tasting like a hybrid of a friendly American Amber Ale and an English Old Ale, this spruce infused winter seasonal hits all of its presumably, desired targets. It's warming, has a wintery bite about it thanks to those green spruce tips, and it leaves the palate dry enough to encourage continued sipping - cozy fireside chair, optional. If you are looking for a winter ale that is as easy to drink as your weekly Pale or Amber Ale, but with some added depth, add this to your holiday shopping list. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/242 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:00:12 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/242 This is coffee mead. It seems coffee has found its way into almost everything in the past decade, and with an aggregate of success it has to be said - so why not mead. On paper, rich honey and roasted coffee seem like a match made in heaven, one earthy and bitter the other dark and sweet. Here they do indeed come together to create something new and very special. Think of this mead in the same manner you would a great English Barleywine, a Port or a Sauternes or Tokaji dessert wine - it can go toe to toe with the best of them. Mead is sadly a beverage of minority interest in 2010, strange as it offers so much in terms of flavor, complexity and adaptability - strongly evident by this progressive and delicious example. *This mead was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/241 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:27:52 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/241 Pumpkin beers have become unquestionably the most popular seasonal releases for craft breweries and now come in all shapes and styles. Who better to venture forth into Sour Pumpkin Ale territory than masters of the funk, Jolly Pumpkin - they do after all, owe the characterful gourds half of their namesake. 30lbs of fresh pumpkin, "spices" and cocoa nibs are used per 300 gallon batch in making this beer. The mysterious and defining ingredient however is the naturally occurring wild yeasts which contribute a very special fruity pull to both the flavor and aroma of the beer. The cocoa addition is noticeable, but not in a mallet-to-the-palate kind of way, instead it provides a soft milk chocolatey soda quality to the finish. Sour beer lovers now have a Pumpkin Ale to call their own in La Parcela and an enjoyably quaffable one at that. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/240 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:31:00 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/240 This single varietal still cider is sour, masterfully blended gueuze sour. The rare, old English bittersharp Kingston Black apple variety used to make this cider is renowned for its acidic charm and noticeable tannin levels, both of these traits come through boldly in the drink. Sweet skinned heirloom tomato and razor edge tart berry flavors dominate the palate. The finish has the grip of a fine dry white wine, but with more swagger and funk. This Farnum Hill cider is only made when the Kingston Black apples at their orchard show particularly well. The bottle reviewed here is a 2008, a vintage that yielded approx. 100 cases. This cider is truly exceptional, a must taste for those that revel in the delights of sour beers. *This cider was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/239 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:19:32 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/239 This GABF award winning, bottle conditioned treat drinks with the effervescent pop and brightness of a fine Champagne. Every fruity flavor and sweet aroma is sustained in perfect balance. A sixth month sojourn in French Oak Chardonnay barrels has imparted the vibrant Belgian base with a truly unique vinous character. This magnificent beer is in a league of its own - jump on it if you see it, regardless of your usual preferences. Serve this as you would a white wine. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/238 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:38:47 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/238 I enjoy a massively hopped modern American IPA as much as the next leafy hophead, but it is nice to drink an IPA occasionally that pays equal homage to the richness of the malts. This robust and flavorful offering from Kansas is one such IPA. Bitterness is tempered by a soft mouth filling sweetness that blunts its hop addition just a touch. The resulting beer is a morish American IPA that won't exhaust the palate after two pints. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/237 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:30:34 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/237 Smooth and creamy, velvety soft and viscous; dark, decadent and bittersweet. This stout is bursting with the flavors of black fruit, chocolate, butter cream icing and sweetened coffee. All this is to say nothing of the incredible nose, which exudes the sinfully good - the rich aromas of sweet rum, vanilla pods and fresh pipe tobacco. This beer is a magnificent throwback to the massive winter proof British stouts of old and one the modern American craft beer movement should be rightly very proud of. This vintage was one of 4200 bottles produced, it was released on 25th, October 2008 and was reviewed on 23rd, October 2010. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/236 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:10:28 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/236 Fusing the direct citrus sharpness of a Californian IPA with the crispness of a classical Bohemian Pilsner, this experimental creation seeks to amplify the inherent bite of hops with the bitter resinous quality of Spruce buds. The resulting beer is fresh and cooling on the palate with the desired greenness the brewers were presumably aiming for. This is certainly one of the more enjoyable and interesting Imperial Pilsner I've had. Lovers of bitter Imperial IPA's will also find lots to chew on here. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/235 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:48:28 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/235 This limited release Dubbel mirrors its Belgian archetype in all but bitterness. The more pronounced hop character in this beer works to temper some of the inherent sweetness the style is noted for without dulling any of the equally traditional dark fruit qualities. This is a great off style Dubbel for those that often find these beers to be cloying. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/234 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:40:14 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/234 The aroma of bleeding pine needles and dank menthol on this massively hopped beer is quite something. The bitterness upon drinking is, as expected, bitter in the extreme. Balancing all the bitterness is a malty American Barleywine like sweetness that effectively cushions the palate, allowing more of the complex and pretty hop profile to show. In flavor and aroma Devil Dancer compares favorably to BrewDog's 41% abv. headline making quad Eisbocked IPA, Sink the Bismarck - while of course being more affordable and more consumable. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/233 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:40:51 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/233 Aromatically this is very similar to Stone Vertical Epic 08.08.08. - a similarly styled Belgian Golden/Tripel like beer. The tart pull of the white wine grapes comes across prominently upon first sip, but it's the classical Belgian spiciness that dominates through the drink. A musty aftertaste echoes that of a full bodied white wine, with a hair of Riesling sharpness and touch of Sancerre dryness. The bitter chamomile addition is present, but more in the aftertaste. In keeping with the generally impressive annual Vertical Epic series, this is a worthy experiment, is enjoyable to drink and is definitely worth purchasing a few bottles of - especially if you enjoy spicier or dryer than normal Belgian Golden ales or Belgian styled IPA's. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/232 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 23:19:08 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/232 A nod to the concept of estate wine and Champagne, this bold wet hopped organic American IPA uses only hops and barley grown at the Sierra Nevada brewery estate in Chico, California. Pretty sweet green aromas dominate the nose; a hint of animal funk lingering long enough to remind you of the garden-to-kettle, leafy origin of the beer. Unmistakable bittersweet herb and root flavors evoke freshly plucked plant matter. I preferred this at room temperature and imagine it would taste even better on cask. Reviewed here is the 2010 vintage, a couple of weeks after bottling. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/231 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 01:06:51 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/231 This beautiful golden Tripel pops with spicy fruit effervescence and an air of 'the old.' There is something musty and noble about this beer. Any nobility may well be largely due to the eight weeks this beer spends in Jim Beam barrels prior to finishing. Something about this beer makes me want to immediately pair it with freshly baked crusty bread, sour olives, cured meats and course pate. The bourbon twist here is complimentary, enhances and is anything but a novelty. This is a tremendous beer with a debt to Belgium and to the New World. This review bottle was bottled in March 2010 and reviewed in October 2010. *This beer was provided by the producer for the specific purposes of review on Hoptopia. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/230 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:04:22 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/230 Great Divide's Yeti Imperial Stout series is extremely popular, each variation in the seasonal line-up has its fans - be they for the regular, Oaked, Espresso or Chocolate editions. Reviewed here is the 2009 vintage of Barrel Aged Yeti, the rarest and most decadent of all Yeti's. After 9 months in Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey barrels and some bottle fermentation, this hulking and hoppy stout emerges with the complexity of an earthy, peaty, bittersweet Tiramisu. Pair this after dinner with an unadulterated dairy heavy dessert, good blue cheese or artisanal chocolate for an experience unlike any other. Needless to say, if you can get your hands on enough, cellar it. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/229 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:55:34 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/229 The Black IPA style is somewhat nebulous and quite possibly not even new. This interesting variation from Australia seeks to put a Belgian spin on the style. Compared to the many Belgian style IPA's on the market in the U.S. this has somewhat muted Belgian characteristics. It is balanced, buttery and surprisingly refreshing - possibly a byproduct of the lively bottle fermentation. There are a few characteristics that I ultimately look for in a Black IPA - prominent earthiness, robust Porter evoking mouth feel, fresh hop bite and floral aroma and this example meets those criteria with style. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/228 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:43:51 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/228 This IPA is more piney than Pliny (the Elder by Russian River, that is.) The aroma of this IPA is so incredibly green, the bitter sweetness of damp sappy leaves floods the nostrils. On the palate, the bitterness is powerful, but not overpowering; the finish packing a pleasing herbaceous heat. This for me is one of those American IPA's to end all others, a moist, dank and sticky journey to the very heart of the beautiful hop flower. This beer was bottled on 6/26/10 and reviewed on 7/6/10. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/227 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:12:48 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/227 Proclaiming to have approximately 42 hops in every 500ml bottle, this much buzzed about American IPA from much buzzed about New Zealand brewery Epic, is flat out one of the absolute best beers I have ever tasted - certainly one of the very best IPA's. It has a sweet floral aroma; all lush and green at the periphery. Through the entire drink the bitterness has a dewy freshness about it. There is something so perfect, so simply balanced and approachable about this beer. As distribution for this beer grows in the U.S., I'd be severely remiss if I didn't urge you all to try it. The bottle reviewed here was bottled in Auckland on 9/30/10 and reviewed in NYC on 10/4/10. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/226 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:07:11 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/226 This ornately waxed IPA is borderline imperial strength in terms of hoppiness and weight. It has a buttery, bready nose; a touch musty, a touch sweet. On the palate it's bold, bitter and means business, with a clean citrus bite that is tempered just enough by a dark cereal backbone. The finish is bitter and full and the lasting sensation of drinking this beer is one of a rounded satisfaction. The bottle reviewed here is from the 2nd batch released July, 2010. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/225 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:28:24 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/225 Stinky, green and citrusy are pleasing descriptors to many hopheads. This collaboration American IPA between Chicago's Half Acre and Indiana's Three Floyds will please many a hophead. It's about as direct and to the point as you could ever wish a refreshing American IPA to taste. Leaning more towards Half Acre's super hoppy Daisy Cutter Pale Ale than the hoppy Three Floyds beers I've had, it is simply quite stunning from sip to swallow. The finish is pristine and razor-sharp. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/224 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:54:20 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/224 Different, is the key word with this collaboration fruited IPA. The guava addition adds a sweeter, almost pre-dinner aperitif liqueur quality to the beer; a slight funkiness too. The bittersweet tropical backbone makes this a standout choice if you can find it. In my mind, this tastes exactly like a Half Acre and Short's joint effort should taste, summing up well the ceaselessly creative approach both breweries have to traditional beer styles. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/223 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:21:23 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/223 Like its highly rated smaller brother, Furious, Abrasive Ale's malts go toe to toe with its hops in terms of aroma and flavor. This beer is big and boozy, but balanced. Highly concentrated bitter citrus comes through on the mid palate, thick cereal maltiness on the finish. For all its massiveness, this is a startlingly easy drink, so respect this like you would a very tame and friendly Rottweiler. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/222 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:49:55 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/222 This thick sunshine colored IPA is bitter beyond belief, yet silky smooth. The complexity present within the bitterness is quite something - imagine a hopwine, if the style existed. The finish is bitter to the core with lots of angular fruity tangents and an unusual softness. This unique heavily hopped IPA is for experimentally inclined palates - in other words, a large proportion of Three Floyds existing and future fan base. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/221 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:42:49 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/221 This amped up British inspired IPA mellowed on oak, has a razor sharp hop bitterness that tempers its sweet malt foundation perfectly. A dryness on the mid palate works to draw all of that bittersweet goodness together coherently. Three Floyds is often cited as one of the premiere breweries in the world. Unexpected, above par efforts like this only solidify its reputation as a brewery of quality and significance. I could drink this every day. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/220 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:10:48 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/220 Aromatically this has the bouquet of sweet wood chips and melted butter. The first thing that impresses on the palate is the dry fruit tannin quality. Spicy Stranahan's Whiskey barrels provide plenty of seasoning, complimenting well the expected molasses like bitterness and thick texture of the beer. This is a great example of how different a beer aged in whiskey barrels can taste versus the more common bourbon barrel treatment. At the time of review, this 2009 release had been cellared for 11 months. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/219 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:20:51 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/219 The bittersweet flavor of dark chocolate is unmistakable and immediate upon first sipping this 2010 Sexual Chocolate - reviewed here 8 months since bottling. A deep herbaceous green bite sits comfortably behind the heavy cocoa profile. A boozy warmth on the finish provides a kiss of sweetness and balance to the overall bitterness of the beer. This tastes creamier and more complex after 8 months of mellowing than it did upon its release and is noticeably better for it. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/218 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:17:16 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/218 Rich, velvet smooth, pudding sweet and a splash bourbony, this 2009 release - being reviewed here 1 year since bottling - is one of the most impressive beers I've ever had. Few stouts have so uniformly impressed me in terms of aroma, mouth feel and complexity of flavor. This beer is not traditional and it is not balanced. This stout is more comparable to Goose Island's Bourbon County series, a stout for those that appreciate the additional depth and decadence heavy bourbon barrel aging can add to the styles base characteristics. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/217 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:14:14 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/217 Alongside Russian River Pliny the Elder, Schlafly AIPA and Brooklyn Blast! this might possess the greenest aroma I have ever smelled on a beer. The texture and flavor can also and appropriately be best described as lush. Unlike the majority of Double IPA's in the U.S. this doesn't forego the warmth and sweetness of malts in favor of neutron bomb strength hop radiation. Balance is the order of the day. Yes it's cynically bitter, but more impressive is how cleverly restrained and eminently drinkable it is. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/202 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:33:22 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/202 Aromatically dark and earthy, it's the smooth Louisiana Chicory Coffee flavor that most impresses about this stout from the Lone Star State. More bitter notes show deeper in the drink, a bitterness that builds to a sooty but palatable finish. This is definitely a canned curiosity if you aren't a resident or frequent visitor to Texas, a curiosity I wholeheartedly recommend grabbing a few cans of should you have the opportunity. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/201 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:37:16 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/201 Roasted tea and sticky tropical fruits are definitely not the kind of nose you'd normally come across on a cider, but this is no ordinary cider. Lansdowne is the third in the Crispin Artisanal Reserve series of experimental ciders. Each cider in this series seeks to take the venerable apple drink in new and curious directions. This release blends organic molasses into a semi-sweet cider brewed with Irish Stout Yeast. The result is a wide-bodied, Scrumpy textured cider with sweet fruity dessert flavors that flourish through the finish. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/200 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:14:41 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/200 As the name suggests, seven different kinds of grain go into the brewing of this Oatmeal Stout. If seven grains weren't already enough to give the beer the porridge like muscle of an Imperial Stout, Hopworks ups the ante with the addition of some exquisite locally roasted cold press coffee. The charred bitterness of the coffee, weight of the grain mix and Dry Irish Stout style finish make this a standout session beer by any yard stick. The fact that all of the components in this beer work so well together without producing a 10.0% abv. monster, is simply impressive. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/199 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 03:20:43 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/199 A significant thread of Firestone Walker 13, this massive barrel aged imperial stout has breathtaking depth and breadth on the palate. The beers heavy cream viscosity, bitter warmth and pudding sweetness come together to create an overall flavor that is both indulgent and complete. A literal earthiness born of the soil from which the trees to yield the wood used to produce the wine and spirit barrels that this beer was blended from, marks the finish adding further nobility and decadence to the drink. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/198 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:26:10 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/198 This beer leaves Godzilla sized footprints on the palate; it is massive, it is awesome. Somehow Half Acre was able to preserve all of the refreshing and balanced qualities that I cherish in an American Pale Ale in the process of making this double dry hopped Imperial Pale monster. This has a prickly bitterness, ultra fresh hop profile and a cool finish. In my mind this is up there with the very best beers made in the U.S. in 2010. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/197 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:45:31 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/197 The first thing that impresses about this massive stout is the ashy coffee aroma. On the palate it's all about the coffee; a rich dark roast espresso flavor is prevalent sip through swallow. So strong and definitive is the coffee core of this beer, it might even out-coffee Surly Brewing's Four Double Espresso Milk Stout and Coffee Bender. A substantial hop backbone is the super structure to all this caffeinated action, providing a solid bitterness. Secondary notes of chocolate liquor round out and compliment. Speedway Stout is truly a beer for coffee lovers. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/196 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:01:36 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/196 Beneath the breezy salty aroma lives and breathes a hefty but thoroughly refreshing double IPA. This hop saturated Summer iteration of Yulesmith Winter - an Imperial Red - is bright with an even peppery bitterness, a dry fruitiness and an green herbaceous freshness. On paper this is boozy, in practice it is not; tasting deceivingly less than its almost 10.0% abv. Quite different from its Winter release cousin but sharing many of that beers highly rated hoppy attributes. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/195 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:02:25 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/195 This 2009 barrel aged vintage greets the palate with a definitive smack of dark distilled alcohol, followed by a significant dryness and finish that's brutally bitter. Dark fruit and rough herbal flavors dominate; this is a pitch black beer. One of the nicest components of muscular imperial stouts is their abyss like aromas. The nose here is a blend cake shop sweetness and post rainstorm soil. This barrel aged biggie is far from a revelation but it does have some curious depth and character. The only barrier to your enjoyment of this stout, is its extreme rareness. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/194 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:57:24 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/194 This 2009 vintage, reviewed here 8 months since its release, has a very upfront bitterness on the palate. The bitterness subsides only a hair and runs right to the beers core. It's very dark and ashy overall, with a carbony grit and graininess to its body and texture. Some dark fruit flavors come through on the finish, but these play second fiddle to the overwhelming bitterness that ultimately brands this beer. 8 months out, this is a just too one note and unrelentingly dark for my tastes. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/193 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:40:06 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/193 This beer is a treat on every imaginable level. Enjoy this like a fine brandy, sherry or rare cigar; even with a rare cigar. This has a sweet viscous body that coats the palate confidently, without overpowering the tastebuds in any way. This 2007 vintage is drinking sensationally smoothly in 2010, with nary a hint of jagged burn present at any point during the drink. I paired this with some very rich blue cheeses and the combination was absolutely divine. Three years out this beer is luxurious and simply breathes quality; this is an eyes roll back in your head kind of experience. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/192 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:08:25 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/192 Sour and effervescent, this cider is a wake-up call for those that very wrongly assume cider is simply easy drinking alcoholic apple juice for folks that dislike beer. Its lengthy dryness unfolds sip through swallow with a tart apple flavor always at the forefront. The start to finish sourness is reminiscent of a dry white wine or clean sour beer and this will thusly appeal to palates that enjoy those. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/191 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:06:06 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/191 The deep honeyed fruit flavors here make for a dangerously drinkable cider. Try pairing this with almost any vanilla heavy dessert for a match made in heaven. Beneath the sweet whole sits a nice sharpness that prevents the cider from becoming too weighty. Extremely refreshing and clearly well produced, this is a very approachable cider, especially for those new to the drink. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/190 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:01:32 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/190 Apples, apples, apples! Name almost anything appealing and apple in nature and it's likely a flavor or aroma present in this cider; big emphasis on appealing. The unmistakable flavor of fresh pressed honey sweet apple juice initially pleasures the palate before sugars subside to reveal a clean sourness that effortlessly counters the upfront sweetness. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/189 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:38:26 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/189 This cider's most striking aspect is its effervescent palate cleansing quality. Its immediate crispness makes it the perfect companion to everything from light salads to big hearty meat and potato meals. The finish is tart and refreshing; the bite of sour apple provides a memorable and morish snap. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/188 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:30:29 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/188 One of the most vibrant and busy American witbier's I've tasted; this extremely smooth, hot weather friendly beer sings with fresh cut salad aromas and genuinely refreshing vegetal flavor. The session-happy ABV only elevates this beer among the best wit beers available in the U.S. The only hurdle facing wanton drinkers, is the brews Delaware only availability. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/187 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 03:41:07 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/187 This gamey beast of a mead is juicy, ominous and unusual, and I like it, a lot. From the get go, this grips the palate like a complex earthy Bordeaux wine; light fruit tannins giving a bitter balance to all that honey. The best single word I can use to describe this huge mead is, confident. Lovers of massive red wines and pitch black stouts will find bucket loads to appreciate here. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/186 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:23:40 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/186 This plum infused mead's soft desserty nature makes it a very friendly and inviting drink to those with a sweet tongue. The sweetness is balanced by a tartness that builds to a clean green finish. Prominent and punchy red fruit own the nose and make for an appropriate introduction to mead infused with ripe plums. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/185 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:17:58 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/185 Slightly smoky and tea like on the nose, this has the cleanliness of crisp white wine on the palate. There is a bump of alcohol on the finish which likewise, echoes a typical wine characteristic. The buttery sweetness present is definitely appealing and the overall dryness makes this a solid bet for folks that enjoy Saison, Bière de Garde and Sahti. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/184 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:10:47 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/184 The aromatics of this mead are simply magnetic; a heavenly meeting of sweet floral perfumes and sugared almonds. In the drink the mouthwatering flavors of just about every ripe sun bathed tropical fruit imaginable gently engulf the palate, sip through to the finish. The depth and deliciousness of this mead is impressive and is yet another reason why more beer drinker should give this dynamic and hugely overlooked style of wine a first or second look. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/183 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:37:23 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/183 Pollen rich wildflower, tart orchard fruit and cured white meat make for an unusually inviting nose. On the palate taste buds are immediately alive with the pucker of green veggies and bitter herbal flavors. As a gateway mead, this is stellar, with many approachable white wine characteristics, while retaining the wanted thick, bittersweet floral profile of a good mead. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/182 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:46:55 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/182 This is a gigantic Double IPA with the weight and viscosity of a Russian Imperial Stout. It is Barleywine sweet and blossoms on the palate like a stunning hybrid of Dogfish Head's '90' and '120 Minute' IPA's. If someone created a creamy hop flavor dessert, it might well taste a lot like this shockingly impressive, citrus monolith of a beer. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/181 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:38:41 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/181 Hopped to high heaven, this session happy American Red sits comfortably alongside big brother Imperial Red kindred's like Troegs 'Nugget Nectar' and Ballast Point's 'Tongue Buckler.' While not as wow inducing and palate assassinating as it ultimately could be, this is still a very bright and enjoyable example of the American Amber reinvented for Generation-IPA. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/180 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:14:03 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/180 Beneath powerful aromatics of warm peat, fresh anthracite and old fashioned coal tar, threads of heavily smoked red meats, peppery coffee and charred red vegetables converge on the palate in show stopping fashion. The influence and wisdom of the whisky barrel here is unquestionable and bolsters the inherent depth of the base 'Black Hole' stout significantly. This is the best, most complex and unique release of this eye-opening series of experimental stouts. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/179 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:44:34 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/179 Cocoa and dark leafy greenness dominate the nose of this version. On the tongue a spicy, almost curry heat and chewy bitterness really differentiates this from the base, non-barreled stout. On the finish, the heat of alcohol, not spice comes through. This is the choppiest flavor wise of the series but is intriguing all the same. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/178 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:56:51 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/178 The aromatic warmth of exotic spices provide the perfect invitation to drink this decadent and desserty stout. The rum barrel aging of this version imparts a fire in the belly and sweet peppery flavors that amplify the coffee, vanilla and honey additions to the beer extremely well. This particular barrel aging works so well, you'll be left wondering why more breweries don't go the rum route. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/177 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:26:30 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/177 The differences between this wine barrel aged version and the stand alone stout are many, immediate, and quite jarring. If you need proof that beer put into good wood can mellow and evolve radically, then taste this and the standard 'Black Hole' side by side for a truly eye opening experience. The nose here is all sorts of delicious earthy vegetables and dank mustiness. On the tongue, the dryness and bitter grip of red wine tannins are unmistakable. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/176 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:27:44 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/176 Aromatically sweet and extremely earthy, this big stout is expectedly bitter, warm, slightly smoky and quite a bit chocolately. Despite its obvious weight, this is actually quite a clean drink. There is nothing overly complex or bombastic about it. The black coffee gnarl is ever present, but the overall vibe is one of balance, taste and appropriateness. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/175 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:24:01 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/175 With the aroma of a freshly opened bag of Tropical Trail Mix, this Belgian IPA gets off to a delicious and mouthwatering start. A rainbow of fruit flavors burst on the tongue, some tart, some sweet, and a lot dry. The dryness blossoms through the drink. The kick of sour citrus provides a focused and eyebrow raising wake up on the finish and with it, sums up exactly the kind of 'ride' a good example of this exciting style can take the drinker on. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/174 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:29:42 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/174 This fruity stout is curiously creamy and deceptively big. Beneath the ashy and sweet fruit and nut aromas, black chocolate covered fruit cake flavors and a thick tongue coating texture place this beer firmly in the Imperial Stout category, but with a twist. A lengthy dryness grips the palate on the finish, yanking the taste buds in the same way a good Saison might. The dryness, prominent fruity nose, and Quadrupel evoking flavor profile confirm this beer's 'Belgian-style' labeling. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/173 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:42:57 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/173 This IPA breathes delicious rich fruit and pretty floral notes. On the lips it bursts with sticky bittersweet fruit flavor, malty warmth and an appropriately venomous hop bite. The one word that immediately comes to mind when enjoying this IPA is 'complete,' it is full bodied, satisfying and very nicely balanced. This is another hop happy year round homerun from Nebraska. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/172 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:17:08 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/172 Sweet malt and desserty fruit aromas make for an appealing, if not typical IPA nose here. On the palate though, concentrated no-nonsense citrus bitterness leave you with no misunderstanding that you're drinking an IPA. There is an even Bière de Garde like friendliness about this beer that leads me to believe it would pair easily with a Smörgåsbord of foods - not a common quality among IPA's and something to keep in mind for sure. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/171 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 02:50:30 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/171 Popping with the aromatics of an exotic fruit salad, this IPA gets off to a flying start for my tastes. The first thing that impresses on the palate is how light, thirst quenching and almost Pilsner like it feels; bitter yet smooth before the arrival of a nice dry finish. This is approachable without sacrificing the bite that lovers of India Pale's crave. While it doesn't have the hop volume to satiate every IPA-head, it's nevertheless an undeniably drinkable and even American IPA. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/170 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:46:20 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/170 Big leafy aromas abound on this canned India Pale. Expected tongue wrestling bitterness initially dominates before a surprising minty softness becomes the focal point of the drink; still bitter but more silky and herbaceously so. Fresh and grassy through the finish, this delivers enough uncluttered green bite and even bitterness to satisfy the most hop faithful. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/169 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 03:49:16 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/169 Pleasant spicy aromatics greet the hophead on this IPA. I often cite the 'spicy' biting nature of IPA's on the tongue; this example is actually spicy on the nose. Light in texture, but not in taste; sharp, bitter fruit salad and clean fruit juice flavors rule the palate. This is by far one of the more refreshing India Pale's I've tasted. Cold cans of this would vanish in an instant on a hot summer day; it's so easy and enjoyable to drink. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/168 Fri, 28 May 2010 15:58:01 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/168 Intoxicating and pungent; this IPA literally sedates with a brilliantly aromatic nose of concentrated citrus oil. On the palate, sappy pine needle and bittersweet golden fruit flavors dominate through the entire drink; there is little if any unnecessary complexity or diversion in flavor. If a text book definition of an easy drinking California IPA could be settled upon, it would probably taste a lot like this beer. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/167 Thu, 27 May 2010 14:52:52 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/167 Extremely well balanced, fresh and hoppy - this Pale Ale satisfies and satiates on every single level. Pale Ale's vary so much in their malt and hop profile and general make up that trying to get a firm handle on the style can make you dizzy. My palate happens to lean heavily towards 'modern' American Pale Ales; golden, saturated with hops to almost, but not quite, IPA levels and breezy enough to drink pint after pint, after pint. For my tastes, Nebraska's 'Cardinal' delivers in spades and is just about as spot on an example of the style as you could ever wish for - near perfection. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/166 Wed, 26 May 2010 05:20:07 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/166 Delicate and sweet in aroma, this straightforward bitter American pale has an uplifting tart lemonade middle and remains uninterruptedly bittered from sip to swallow. Feathery in texture, there sadly isn't enough happening on the palate for me to commit to an evening of drinking this and nothing but this - for me, the hallmark of any truly great APA. This is unquestionably great for a couple of pints though. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/165 Wed, 26 May 2010 04:45:39 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/165 A pronounced cool bitterness and beefy malty backbone sets this IPA apart from its very well received Ballast Point IPA sibling, 'Sculpin.' Like the majority of California India Pale Ales, this puts its best hop foot forward by being unapologetically bitter sip to swallow. Comparisons with the much lauded 'Sculpin' are unavoidable. 'Big Eye' isn't in the same league as that incredible hopocalyptic creation, but is, nevertheless, above par in its own right; championing less nectar qualities in favor of a balanced warmth. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/164 Tue, 25 May 2010 03:39:25 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/164 The distinctive bitterness of juniper berries adds an eye popping depth and richness to this syrup. The overall boldness and sweet vanilla edge suggests this will hold its own and properly enhance weighty meat dishes and complex dairy based desserts. Dogfish has done an astounding job here of emulating the flavor of their maple infused Immort ale in this cleverly crafted product. Needless to say; if you like maple syrup and Immort Ale, this is a must purchase. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/163 Sun, 23 May 2010 19:04:51 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/163 Bittersweet unburnt moist cigar tobacco and worn leather make for a magnetic and very sniffable nose on this maple syrup. The common wit beer additions of orange peel and coriander ensure that the incredibly sweet profile of the syrup is balanced, approachable and morish enough that it can be poured generously over waffles, pancakes, sausage, bacon or ice cream, without risk of sugary overload. This syrup is a very impressive creation. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/162 Sun, 23 May 2010 18:58:39 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/162 An aroma of charred leaves, grains and soft fruit sweetness align this appropriately with its popular British model. Not overly complex, not too bitter, not too sweet - this is Goldilocks' session beer, with all of beers common flavor profiles present and in equal and balanced measure. Some drinkers will baulk at this beer's subdued, initial unremarkableness, but to do so is to simply not see the romance and subtly this beer and style of beer possesses. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/161 Sat, 22 May 2010 03:47:32 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/161 An attention grabbing carnival of aromatics distinguish this vibrant Witbier. The aromas of spritzy citrus, sticky toffee and spiced pastry meets a sunny grove of ripe tropical fruit flavors on the palate; and a very amicable and complimentary combo it is. This beer is an undeniably thirst quenching and silky smooth wheat beer, after only a few sips it is almost obnoxiously likeable. This might be the most underrated beer this well respected brewery produces. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/160 Fri, 21 May 2010 01:00:29 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/160 This chocolatey porter's undeniably sniffable dark earthy aroma is complimented by a pitch perfect dry hoppy bitterness, soft pudding sweetness and cabinet full of sweet and savory red fruit jam and jelly flavors. The overall sensation of drinking this balanced and thoroughly satisfying beer is not dissimilar from enjoying cocoa powdered dark fruit filled chocolate truffles: pair accordingly. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/159 Wed, 19 May 2010 03:46:53 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/159 The first thing that shocks and impresses about this extremely strong beer is that it retains the flavor, texture and bite of a very hoppy Double IPA. Yes, it's hot; yes it's a little raw on the nose, but it also possesses an intricate complexity - a complexity more comparable to noble French spirits like Chartreuse, Benedictine and Absinthe than any beer that comes to mind. The real excitement with this beer isn't found in this roughly hewn and ballsy first incarnation, but in what BrewDog and other progressive breweries might create as they finesse and experiment with this dizzying new chapter in the history of our beloved beverage. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/158 Tue, 18 May 2010 01:53:46 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/158 The aroma of juicy tropical fruit and sappy basil mark this muscular IPA. On the tongue sweet citrus and leafy menthol are balanced by the pucker and clean tartness of a crafted Gin and Tonic. There's no shortage of quality imperial IPA's in the world - such has been the seemingly unquenchable demand for this once fringe style of beer - and this impressive offering only serves to further complicate the discerning hopheads buying options, also known as a happy problem. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/157 Fri, 14 May 2010 05:20:00 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/157 Fresh, grassy and slightly cakey on the nose, citric and sweetly tart on the palate; this American golden ale has a depth of flavor often lacking in promising session brews. The initial sip is refreshing, minty and a little dry, sweetness is more apparent as the beer warms through the drink. This is the definition of a solid 'year round,' flavorful and robust enough for ample cold weather imbibing and light enough for carefree hot weather quenching. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/156 Wed, 12 May 2010 02:32:53 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/156 The beer smells exactly like barrel aged beef stew. Ok, so the aroma is a little more complex than that, but the aroma is unmistakable and meaty, and I like it. Definitely one of more unusual brown, brett'ed or barrel aged beers I've tasted. The level of dank earthiness this ale brings to the tastebuds is something else, like both the hops and the soil they grew in were used to concoct the brew. Those with a palate for the more earthy things in life are strongly encouraged to capture and befriend this otherworldly Kraken sized monster; the rewards are quite epic. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/155 Tue, 11 May 2010 01:50:32 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/155 The honey profile here is so raw, sweet and flower petal floral that the effect is not dissimilar from sucking honey from a fresh honeycomb. Likewise, the hop profile is so present and uninhibited that it's more direct and bitter than anything you've likely tasted before in even the most hopped up IPA. Nestled ever so comfortably between these two towering robust flavors is a potpourri of deep herbal greenness that works to temper and refine this meads otherwise Goliath sized boldness. This is a lush drink and a no brainer try for folks that like honey and hoppy beers. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/154 Sun, 09 May 2010 22:46:04 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/154 The aroma of dark leafy woodlands and soft autumnal orchard fruit are immediate on this uniquely still and long dry cider. Clean refreshing vegetable flavors and the cut of tart berries rule the palate. A little tropical fruit sweetness is present mid drink before a lengthy arid white wine dryness unfolds, priming the taste buds for the next satiating sip. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/153 Fri, 07 May 2010 02:45:53 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/153 One of the more complex, perplexing and all around delicious ciders I've tasted, this wears its Belgian yeasts and maple syrup addition on its sleeve with glowing pride. There is something wholly fulfilling and comforting about this cider - think mouthwatering handcrafted artisanal candy and freshly baked fruit pies. On the nose notes of green and breezy countryside and a little farm funk are the spice to all that desserty goodness. Folks with a dull sweet tooth may want to give this a pass, me, I love this. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/152 Fri, 07 May 2010 02:17:51 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/152 Definitely reminiscent of the Cider and Black still whipped upon request in any British Pub worth its salt; this cider manages to cram an impressive array of sweet and tart aromatics and flavors into its seemingly simple make up. On the palate a floral tea nuance makes itself known adding neatly to the overall English garden in bloom vibe the drink has. This cider is pretty and probably more interesting than you might at first assume. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/151 Fri, 07 May 2010 01:49:12 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/151 This gigantic imperial IPA has a towering sappy pine needle nose, a deep bitter bite and an unexpected rainbow of sticky tropical fruit aromas and sweet palate pleasing flavors. Quite unlike any imperial India Pale I've had before, this is so cloyingly beautiful that the only beer drinkers I can see not liking it are folks with an utter distaste for hop dominant brews. One of the nicest IPA's I've ever tasted. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/150 Mon, 03 May 2010 04:21:28 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/150 Sharp citrus candy and fresh creamy dairy make for an appealing nose here, a nose made all the better by the cooling flavors of freshly washed salad and sliced green apple - all present on first thirst satiating sip. The bittering warmth of dark candied fruit peel and rich green olives bookends the drink and provides a very nice contrasty finish. This is a quaffable, balanced and busy pale ale. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/149 Mon, 03 May 2010 02:28:37 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/149 The aroma of leafy and dank sage oil literally kicks your nostrils when pouring this resiny IPA - for hopheads, this can be the gateway to hoppy beer nirvana. Sipping the beer, the palate is enveloped by the clean and concentrated sharp bitter yellow citrus flavors that have come to define the most popular American IPA's. Not as overwhelmingly weedy, bitter and grassy as a lot of its very well received competitors, this is nevertheless an outstandingly 'fresh' evoking and even drinking IPA. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/148 Mon, 03 May 2010 01:59:44 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/148 Slabs of basalt were heated to more than 1000F to create the boil for this bold, true steinbier. While maintaining a fresh hop presence, it's actually the warm sugared nut flavors that become the most pleasing, prominent and robust aspect of the beer. A refreshing vegetal greenness plays second fiddle, but provides balance and added complexity. A seldom produced and fascinating style of beer, this example was made by using intensely authentic and labor intensive methods and succeeds as a standout beer in terms of taste and homage. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/147 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:29:20 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/147 This beer makes a watertight case for justifying the use of the word 'culinary' in beer reviewing. The dizzying additional ingredient list for this heavy American stout reads more like a grocery shopping list for a decadent and complex mole sauce than a beer. Traditionalist will baulk and headache about this creation - their loss. This ambrosia moment stout has the deep viscosity of crude oil and the seductive taste and aroma of a thousand luxury chocolate desserts - a beer to be applauded, shared and savored. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/146 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:20:38 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/146 Any beer brewed with cocktail bitters will stand askew from the competition, that much is sure. With the exception of a definite sour red berry note, the aroma here is desirably dark and sweetly Belgian, on the tongue however things take that expected tangent. More tart and unusually salty than the Dark Belgian standard - roasted tea leaf and green fruit dominate before a dry bittersweet finish drags the palate kicking and screaming to pastures oddly fruity and new. There's no way to easily recommend this well made experimental ale, it's an experience regardless of your beer preference and that's sort of the point of 'extreme' beer at the end of the day. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/145 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:31:44 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/145 This is a very pretty and unusual west coast leaning American IPA brewed using the less common Nelson Sauvin Hop, it's bursting with ripe summer fruit and soft floral aromas and refreshes the palate with a cleansing minted citrus bite. Clean, buttery and bitter sip to swallow, the overall sensation is significantly less resiny than a lot of its equally hopped American IPA brethren. An underlying and cooling spearmint flavor makes this a fine companion for hot summer days. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/144 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:00:24 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/144 This classic Kölsch masterfully balances a light refreshing effervescence with a unique, yet balanced flavorful body. A sweet and citrusy initial sip fades away to reveal a bold leafy herbaceous, almost sweet chutney like pungent middle that paves the way for the beers unmistakable barnyard scented kiss goodbye. There really isn't another style of beer that tastes quite like an archetypal Kölsch and this is a brilliant starting point if you've never had one. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/143 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:55:10 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/143 This American Kölsch does a first class job of capturing the core flavors and overall vibe of the German original without coming across as faceless carbon copy or hollow clone. Between the light palate cleansing bubbles, a handful of fresh fruit and savory salty flavors work to create a smooth refreshing drink that tips its hat confidentially to the traditional Kölsch style while adding a gentle twist of its own. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/142 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:44:05 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/142 The pretty nose of this beer is immediately apparent; beneath it lies a solid, if not entirely earth moving Kölsch, one that's long on bitterness, tartness and cool summery 'Arnold Palmer' drink like sweetness. What this effort lacks is the underlying quiet funk and boldness of a classic Kölsch, that boisterousness that constantly reminds you that despite all appearances, it's a beer as big on flavor and presence as any other style of beer you care to mention. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/141 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:15:02 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/141 This is an echo of what a Kölsch should taste like, a distant clone, one lacking any of the oomph present in its classical German model. Here the drinkers' palate is awash with the inoffensive flavors of plain breakfast cereal, 'from concentrate' citrus juices and mild green salad leaves. A true Kölsch is a beautiful construct of evolving and building flavors, this on the other hand is simply boring. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/140 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:07:37 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/140 This bitter red devil rips across the tongue and nostrils with the peppery ferocity and concentrated sappy hoppiness you'd expect from a beefy Imperial Red. The warmth of cinnamon and balmy eucalyptus add a nice twist and heat to the finish. While this doesn't quite stack up against my favorite examples of this style - see, Troegs 'Nugget Nectar' and Ballast Point's 'Tongue Buckler' - it is nonetheless a very respectable and spicy effort. I'm not sold on the cutesy 7oz bottle size though, it feels like something you'd be handed on an airline. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/139 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 02:16:44 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/139 This standard bearer English stout has a beautiful dark berry effervescence that lifts its musty bitterness perfectly. Tart ripe fruit flavors might not be the first thing you'd associate with a black earthy stout, but in this traditional example they blossom and make for an extremely refreshing drink throughout. To appreciate this stout is to better appreciate why stouts were once such common session beers. There are layers of delicate subtly and flavor to be enjoyed here by those willing to keep in check their bombastic expectations of what a stout is, or has to be. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/138 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:56:47 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/138 This stout has an earthy root vegetable and flowery complexity that puts it in quiet contrast with the deeply desserty vibe that so many special release American stouts posses in 2010. A rich ashy bitterness is the foremost flavor sip through swallow, imparting the beer with the dominant characteristics of a sooty Black IPA more than a modern American imperial stout. While this stout is clearly well made in the more Old World style, its dominant and uniform bitterness ultimately leaves my palate wanting for a little more - especially for a premium priced limited release beer. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/137 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:13:03 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/137 Not as commanding and monstrous as you might expect from a limited release imperial stout, this is a surprisingly easy drinking stout with a strong cocoa backbone and a gnashing spicy bite. This stout doesn't rewrite the modern American big stout recipe book, it isn't over the top, shockingly viscous or super concentrated and that's precisely why it succeeds. This monster is silky smooth, understated, very malty but even and effortlessly consumable - all cornerstone qualities no true stout lover would ever decry or protest. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/136 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:39:57 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/136 This coffee and vanilla infused oil slick of a beer oozes the unmistakable aroma and flavor of a weighty dark chocolate sauce and warm coffee liquor. Few beers so confidently satiate and pleasure the bitter and sweet receptors of the palate. The word luxurious isn't one often associated with beer, but in this example the word couldn't be more appropriate. A damp earthiness and ever so slightly boozy finish make this one of the most irresistible and yes, exaggerated porters imaginable. If like me you fiend for dark chocolate and bitter coffee on a regular basis, you will likely fall head over heels in love with this beer. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/135 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:26:11 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/135 This very limited, brewery only release sour ale tears across the palate with such razor sharp vinegary ferocity as to leave the drinkers head and palate spinning. Fermented with red wine grapes and aged in oak barrels for 26 months, tart pickled fruit and wet oak flavors rule the roost and cause the mouth to pucker and constrict in a way that will shock those unfamiliar with the pleasures of a beautifully crafted sour beer. This would be the perfect beer to tempt that white wine loving friend. A phenomenal achievement and a rare beer well worth the sweat and effort to acquire each and every year. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/134 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:14:36 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/134 Extremely sticky pine sap aroma and bitter salady herbaceousness dominate this decidedly off center and beefy single hop IPA. Huge in the mouth, this beer packs an unusual and complex smörgåsbord of savory food notes in every concentrated resiny sip. The simply off kilter and unbalanced nature of this beers intense flavor profile will divide both casual and hophead opinion directly down the middle - this is definitely a love it or hate it affair. For my palate, this is an extremely tasty leftfield option. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/133 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:02:59 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/133 Being the first Sea-Aged beer in more than 200 years and being another high concept BrewDog release, the chatter surrounding this IPA is well documented, but what about the beer itself? As British IPA's go, this is above par. Concentrated deep citrus notes, an oily black bitterness and - I'm not making this up, I swear - a briny ocean saltiness and warm menthol vapor smolder and excite the palate throughout the drink. The price tag is cost prohibitive for what is essentially a novelty beer, but that said this does have some genuine and unique merit and if you're curious enough to be reading this far, you're curious enough to pony up the dollars to buy a bottle. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/132 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:56:44 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/132 This extra ordinary beer of the collaborative kind - the result of an unearthly meeting of the twisted minds at Dogfish and Beer Advocate (Todd and Jason Alstrom) - shattered the Hoptopia delish-O-meter and broke my heart (read: palate) in the process. You see, this gorgeous beer is rare; a super special release never to be seen again. I knew this the entire time I was falling in love with it. I was seduced by its sweet buttery body and nutty brown American take on the traditional rauchbier, all the while knowing that there were no six packs, no four packs, not even a limited annual release of more of it in my future... ever. This beer is a one of a kind harlot that will leave you wrecked and wanting more - don't say I didn't warn you. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/131 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 05:34:09 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/131 Surprisingly light and effervescent, this darker than dark experimental brown ale has a rich, sweet and even meaty aroma, prepping the drinker for a taste experience altogether larger and more interesting than it actually delivers. Not to say that this is a subpar beer, on the contrary, it's very enjoyable with nice amounts of fruit flavor and dryness sip to swallow. Stacked against this release though are far more interesting recent releases in this series, including 'Manhattan Project,' 'Backbreaker' and Cookie Jar.' This release just seems ordinary by comparison. Those looking for a well made and flavorful brown ale could do much, much worse than ordering a glass of this - just don't go in expecting something over the top or shockingly unique, and you'll walk away satisfied. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/130 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:38:20 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/130 A big brown ale is not a fashionable seasonal offering for a craft brewery and for that reason Bison deserves kudos for doing one. There is nothing flashy or verbose about this beer, it doesn't try to wow you with incredible feats of palate bruising bitterness, cloying sweetness or wine strength booziness - it's actually quite understated. It belies its 'imperial' stature convincingly, it's quaffable and could easily be mistaken for a multi-pint session beer. Simplicity is too often overlooked in our modern world of extreme and niche craft beers, but not apparently by Bison - this is the definition of solid. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/129 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:29:32 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/129 Chewy dark fruit cake flavors and a bitter molasses wallop herald the arrival of this significantly aged, Belgian styled limited brewery release by Brooklyn's 'other' brewery. Cellared for more than 4 years before sale, this smooth and deceptively complex ale is an excellent choice for both a fledgling craft beer explorer and the craft sipping aficionado. This is only the second bottling of a beer by Sixpoint and is definitely worth tasting should you have the opportunity. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/128 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:59:23 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/128 This potent little misnomer of a beer is the first release in Pretty Things curious historical recipe, 'Once Upon A Time' limited series. Clean tropical fruit and lacquery scents are an odd, yet enticing combination on the nose, while beneath sticky British hedgerow fruit cling to the taste buds, backed by a warming and velvety smooth herbaceous liquory flavor. One of the more unique releases in extreme craft beer - the scope and possibility of future release in this series boggle even the open mind. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/127 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:19:44 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/127 If you are lucky enough to see a bottle of this in the wild you should jump on it like a starving Lion would a peppy Gazelle! Cellared for 4 years, this very limited 2006 bottle release by Sixpoint is unbelievably chocolatey, dairy like and decadently desserty on the nose - it's a shockingly good aroma. Malted chocolate shake and ripe black fruit flavors ooze across the palate with balance, length and surprising drinkability - this is not a weighty or viscous stout. On the backend things get really dark, with muscular notes of pitch black cocoa and tart red berry providing the perfect counterpoint to the rich sweetness present upfront. There's a rare complexity at play in this beer, the sort of complexity present in a crafted Mexican mole sauce. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/126 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:41:59 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/126 As Imperial Red ales go, this one dwarves even the heady hopititude of Troeg's 'Nugget Nectar,' it literally cluster bombs every single taste bud in the mouth as soon as it hits the palate, leaving the mouth a ravaged hop fueled bush fire. For those not properly hop acclimatized this beer is a scary and beastly proposition. For those constantly on the prowl for that next shark toothed hopsperience though, this is borderline nirvana. I love this beer, it's just a real shame it is so hard to get. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/125 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:17:25 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/125 Big Hugs deep, dark chocolate character immediately please the nose and palate. This big coffee infused American Double Stout has an almost cooling dairy texture, bolstering and drawing together the gourmet chocolate box flavors of bitter cocoa, jam-y black fruit, espresso and butter cream fondant. The finish is long, shadowy and quite dry. The dryness is a nice counterpoint to all the desserty bittersweetness that dominate the bulk of beer. All in all, a very nice weighty stout from a noteworthy new Chicago brewery. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/124 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:50:13 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/124 Existing in a hoppy netherworld somewhere between American Amber and resiny West Coast Double IPA's, 'Nugget Nectar' is an intoxicating and uniquely American beast. Despite its loud aroma and hulking flavors, it's not overly complex and actually makes for a surprisingly sessionable beer - albeit a 7.5% abv. one - so easy does it, because pints of this evaporate. Possessing just about all the elements that give the best golden American IPA's their pizzazz and the highly palatable soft malty foundation of an English Mild, it comes as little surprise that this knockout brew has become quite the cult late winter release for hopheads in the know. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/123 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:53:38 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/123 Released as part of Deschutes hoppy 'Bond Street Series,' this herbaceous and peppery monster tempers a viscous and extracted bitter hop resin base with a kiss of burnt sweetness and a long, warm leathery finish. Imagine a fifty-fifty blend of new world west coast IPA and its darker, more traditional seafaring British cousin and you'll have a solid approximation of what this tastes like. A bold, respectable, tasty and clearly well produced Double India Pale. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/122 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:22:54 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/122 Transporting its drinker to hop Valhalla, this hoppy siren is prickly enough and pretty enough to induce genuine chills of appreciation and anticipation. Sporting a jaw-droppingly attractive aroma of sticky pine sap, soft milled pepper and freshly squeezed lemon juice, it's unavoidably drinkable and what a drink it is. Kicking like a mule from sip to swallow, mouth is awash in a balmy oasis of super leafy methol, diamond sharp tree ripened yellow citus peel and an easy breezy saltiness. On the finish it dry's cleanly, encouraging repeated swirling, sniffing and blissful savoring. Not as good as fresh 'Pliny The Elder,' but not far off the mark. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/121 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:05:40 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/121 Uncharacteristically rich and Brandy like, this imperial India Pale caught me totally off guard, my expectations being correctly amped for something entirely more fresh, golden and 'American' in tone. While rather tasty, balancing as it does extreme resiny bitterness with a fairground treat sugary sweetness, this unorthodox effort ultimately falls short because of its simplicity and distinct lack of breezy freshness so prevalent, upfront and appealing in its peers. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/120 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:47:10 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/120 Supremely bitter and very much to the point, this tongue numbing unfiltered IPA simulates the sensation of having a bushel of barbed and bruised hop flowers dragged firmly across your taste buds and cheeks. I'm not entirely sure how the brewmaster responsible was able to do it, but this single India Pale has more buck, growl and bite than any number of Double IPA's you care you mention. If you like razorblade sharp hoppy brews and you find yourself in NYC, you should stop by a Heartland and give this a try, heck buy a growler to take home. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/119 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:05:44 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/119 Maintaining bold and carefully balanced flavors throughout, this IPA evokes the traditional British India Pale style a lot more than its does its flowery and citrus juice laden American cousin. An underlying worn leathery and nutty earthiness softens the robust bitterness just enough to make this an absolute beauty to drink. If you like session IPA's, but fancy taking a little vacation to a place closer to the styles historical origins, this Brooklynite could be just your ticket. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/118 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:45:54 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/118 This has an aroma more befitting a funky washed rind cheese than an IPA and it's anything but typical on the palate either. Notes of roasted tea leaves and charred pine needles garner much of the palates attention sip through swallow, it's just so out of step with the fresh leafy hop character more commonly befitting an India Pale Ale. An intrusive, musty woody aftertaste does little to improve my opinion of this odd interpretation of an IPA. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/117 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:22:18 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/117 Buttery honeysuckle aroma and pine syrup flavor abound in this extremely enticing and oft overlooked gift to hop addicts. There aren't too many IPA's on the East Coast that vibe the pure spruce and sweet pollen characteristics of Russian River's phenomenal India Pale Ales or the sweet honey bee boosted joy of fresh 'Bell's Hopslam,' this though is an example that possesses both in equal measure while never straying from it's generously malted and robust British heritage. If you haven't already, you should seriously consider this next time you're prowling for New World hop bombs. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/115 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:41:09 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/115 Significantly maltier and less hop forward than I like my IPA's, this is nevertheless a rotund brew deserving of attention for what it does bring to the table. This being an IPA, hop character remains at the heart of this ale but it's of the unrelentingly bitter kind not the increasingly popular sunny over-the-top hop nectar variety. Fans of traditional English Bitters and English Pale Ales will likely find a lot more to appreciate in this beer than the average twenty-first century hophead . Try pairing this with overtly salty dishes. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/114 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:29:42 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/114 Potent botanical flavors cut and compliment a weighty white pepper hop leaf burn in this pretty double IPA from British Columbia. More floral than citrusy on the nose than the bulk of its west coast American brethren, this gets extra points from my taste buds for standing a little askew of the crowd without veering off into odd and quizzical 'extreme IPA' territory. On the close it's as bitter and piledrivingly bossy as you'd expect and desire from an honest to God DIPA. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/113 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:25:26 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/113 Want to educate your palate in the differences between the common India Pale Ale and the emerging - some say alleged - new Black IPA style? If you do, then simply get your hands on a bottle of this archetypal Black IPA from British Columbia. With little pomp and circumstance this fairly off the radar Canadian effort demonstratively and in an appealing way, melds the floral scents and biting hop character of a serviceable session IPA with some of Black IPAs' most obvious and defining characteristics - an earthy rasp, smoked cocoa smoothness and an ashy finish. This is solid and interesting from every angle. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/112 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:57:08 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/112 Ever had a beer that smelled like a sweaty locker-room filled with meadowsweet flowers and ripe Italian cheese? That's what this divine India Pale Ale smells like. Taste wise, flavors are an epiphany of sea water, breakfast pastry and unmistakable leafy hop and peppercorn burn. The delicious factor here is off the charts and ranks this with the best IPA's money can buy. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/111 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:39:25 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/111 Malted and hopped to delight those seeking that 'really huge' India Pale experience, this ale is something akin to IPA 'gone to the gym.' There is absolutely nothing coy about this ripped Imperial monster. If you're the sort of IPA swooner that openly invites a hop flavored wrestling match onto your tongue, then you've found your perfect battle in 'Dreadnaught.' This is an ale of niche and connoisseurial appeal to be sure, a professional IPA drinkers beer and as such the hop unenlightened will without question find this overly abrasive - you have been warned. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/110 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:17:16 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/110 This is a little earthier and complex than a lot of its sub-Imperial strength peers, possessing an interesting and unexpected musty swagger from sip to finish. Those with a taste for IPA's with obvious and dominant hop nectar like characteristics, will likely find this effort a little ill-defined. The broader of palate though should find plenty to savor and enjoy in this stand up hoppy offering. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/109 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:56:31 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/109 This monosyllabic, cinder bitter ultra hopped IPA is nothing short of obnoxious, it's like trying to drink a cocktail of pureed coal slag and burnt herbs. This has no redeeming, noteworthy or pleasing attributes whatsoever and should be avoided at all costs by everyone, but especially those who truly appreciate the intricacies, subtleties and extreme complexities of real Imperial IPA's. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/108 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:48:42 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/108 The word 'robust' aptly describes every single characteristic of this liberally malted and generally ballsy IPA. The flavors of jet black treacle toffee and charred caramelized pork fat smolder on the tongue with a presence and weight not common for India Pale Ales. On the back end, a pitch perfect pine forward citrusy pucker continually works to prime the palate for that next inevitable and satisfying sip. This IPA is playing in a smoky league of its own. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/107 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:45:55 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/107 Bitter to its hopped-up heart, this exponentially herbaceous hop bomb strides confidently across the palate spreading some of the richest and most defined leafy green hop character this side of actually making a cauldron of fresh hop bud soup. The aroma is more than a match for the ale itself, oozing the kind of concentrated spruce and damp forest fauna notes that do for hopheads, what catnip does for felines. As straightforward India Pales go, this is anything but and commands attention ASAP if you're of the hoppy beer persuasion. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/106 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:35:36 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/106 This IPA possesses an incredibly 'tropical' vibe - imagine adding a splash of freshly squeezed pineapple juice to your regular West Coast IPA and you'll be spot on. Under its breezy beach-side cocktail aroma breathes a refreshing and medium bittered India Pale, one that succeeds not by going for the more typical hop overload, but by amping up the lighter, naturally sweet characteristics associated with the style instead. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/105 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:22:42 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/105 Hoptea would also be an apt name for this ridiculously refined bottle conditioned IPA. Pouring a fresh bottle of Hopslam into a glass unleashes a literal mushroom cloud of distilled pine needle and citrus peel aromas the likes of which most noses have never experienced. Upon first sip the mouth is overtaken to the point of numbness by possibly the most domineering pure hop character this side of actually chewing a handful of freshly plucked hop flowers. It's easy to see why this ale of utter excellence and limited availability, is considered a rite of passage for hopheads proclaiming their love of the hop juice. Rightly mythologized, revered and exulted, this to my palate comes but within a hair's-breadth of the truly blissful and equally heralded, Pliny The Elder by Russian River. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/104 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:34:31 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/104 This tart and woody session IPA from one of craft beers most beloved and idolized breweries, maintains a morish bitter hopped drinkability to the last drop without being the slightest bit boring. On the palate, white and green fruit flavors compliment hints of musty wood and fresh uncomplicated herbal notes. In the finish, an almost lagery texture, weight and feel alleviates the load on the taste buds and invites much further drinking. There is a lot to like about this IPA, if this were my breweries session India Pale I'd be quite the satisfied man. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/103 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:58:57 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/103 This not so straightforward, not so simple IPA, bathes the palate in unique malted dairy and concentrated juicy red fruit flavors before bitterness swells, overwhelms and powers the ale to a big rubbery finish. Surprisingly complex and leftfield, this is not going to be everybody's idea of a quaffable, multi pint IPA, those with a nose and eye for more off center beers though will find lots to appreciate inside one of these little yellow cans. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/102 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:34:36 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/102 This incredibly well defined IPA slams the nostrils and taste buds with a kinetic buzz of fresh floral hoppage and razor sharp spring and summer fruit notes. A refreshing coolness engulfs the mouth upon initial sip, followed by an encroaching scorched earth dryness that fingers its way to the very corners of the cheeks. The cumulative effect of these contrasting textures is a finish that perfectly preps the palate for the next mouthwatering and cooling hop seasoned sip. Quite different from its hoppier sibling 'Pliny The Elder' and only a hair less impressive within its milder single IPA category. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/101 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:59:13 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/101 This beer packs a brutish hop fueled punch, one powerful enough to acid wash almost any preexisting memories of IPA's you loved and cherished prior. The dark bite of extracted hop essence is pine needle wet and citrus sour. Drinking fresh Pliny The Elder could easily ruin your enjoyment of other great IPA's, indefinitely. This bottle of Pliny The Elder was bottled on 12.08.09 and reviewed on 01.10.10. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/100 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:42:15 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/100 If there were a hop flavored hard candy, it might taste like 'Vortex I.' With IBU's pushed into off the scale theoretical computer model territory, this ales hop character has a unique melted butter oiliness and musty complexity about it, something more akin to a heavily hopped dark Belgian ale than a standard American IPA. Outré and boundary destroying this captivating 'extreme beer' doesn't command your attention, it hijacks it. If you're remotely interested in hulking India Pale's, your date with this friendly hop suffuse behemoth has been predetermined, enjoy! http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/99 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:12:49 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/99 The inviting scents of meadow fresh wildflowers and sharp citrus fruits welcome the drinker of this extremely sessionable India Pale. Following initial sip, the ales delicate honeycomb sugar and spritzy yellow fruit juice flavors fall back providing space for a well balanced and increasing muscular hop bite to build momentum towards a satisfyingly bitter conclusion. This is another perfect 'steppingstone' ale to tempt your macro brew hugging friends with. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/98 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:49:48 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/98 This unfiltered, bottle conditioned version of Dogfish Head's hoppy stalwart 90 Minute IPA, smells like a springtime flower garden dusted in confectioner's sugar. Beneath the colorful floral bouquet bubbles a surprisingly mellow and biscuity beer - not very IPA like at all. Washing across the palate with the presence of a morish malted mocha milkshake, it's not until the dry cider like finish that any sense of significant hoppage comes through. Through most of the drink, this to my palate has more in common with a quaffable French or Belgium table ale than an IPA. This is decent, but for what it isn't. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/97 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:53:51 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/97 Deliciously aromatic, it's the sticky sweetness and ripping butter fried hop bite that immediately distinguish this lean, mean and clean double India Pale. The level of archetypal IPA citrus and pine character present here is hard to ignore and hard to resist. Don't expect any apologies from this ale and you'll be fine, this ale knows you're a hophead and is unrepentantly bone dry bitter to the bottom of its last hop stuffed IBU - it has 102 of them. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/96 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:47:33 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/96 A plush forest of leafy and kitchen rich aromas, bold and unique flavors, construct every ounce of this woodsy and insanely hopped'n'aged brew - the unoaked version of this triple strength IPA clocks in somewhere around a theoretical 150 IBU's. At such levels, hop flavor becomes less about mouth burning bitter bite and more about oily aromatic hop essence. In this offering, extreme hoppage is a rich and beautiful thing, though light-years removed from your common IPA varietal. This rare elixir would be fantastic sipped and savored towards the end of an epic meal, as the accompaniment to a second-dessert course, an artisanal cheese plate or if you're so inclined - an after dinner cigar. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/95 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:48:38 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/95 Strictly sour and vegetal in aroma, this turbo charged, oaked-up (in French Foudre oak tanks) version of Two Brothers seasonal IPA 'Heavy Handed,' blossoms on initial sip with a beautiful biscuity sweetness before a shower of hop pepperiness begins softly raining down on the taste buds. Warm and full, hop bite builds evenly until optimum and seasoned bitterness peaks with a most satisfying and surprisingly smooth finish. Lacking a lot of the prickly pear, Pine-Sol edge common in big IPA's, this should please the tongues of hopheads and imperial strength India Pale Ale newbies alike. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/94 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:15:43 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/94 This stellar American Pale screams peak of freshness hop character from the heights of Everest. Rarely have I tasted a Pale that oozes such 'cut from the vines' balanced hop flavor sip through luscious pitch perfect swallow - seriously, I've had Wet Hop ales that don't taste this fresh and citrusy. Chicago would be right to be loudly proud of this hometown beverage of the Gods - the rest of us can only hope that Half Acre begins shipping this further afield, promptly. This is a brilliant beer to tempt your macro beer sipping friends with, a 'conversion' or 'steppingstone beer,' as I like to think of them. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/93 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:58:04 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/93 Naturally flavorful and integrated, this feathery espresso stout harmoniously balances seemingly contradictory attributes, uncompromisingly dry roasted bitterness and the effervescence of a chilled coffee soda. The result is a coffee beer that is actually session worthy - far from a given with this style. If there's a caveat with this brew it's that your like or dislike of it ultimately boils down to how you 'take' your java stouts, if you prefer them on the sweeter side then this will likely be a little too triple espresso bitter for you. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/92 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:19:58 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/92 Hopped up to an almost IPA degree, this winter-skewed American amber plows the palate with a comforting malty warmth and an unmistakably thorny hop gnash. A dry and cooling herbal freshness on the backend balances out the tangible hoppage and tethers the beer nicely. This ale doesn't exactly jump up and down screaming 'I'm wintery' but it has quality genes and broad appeal tattooed all over it. It's crisp, robust and hoppy - but not so hoppy that non IPA drinkers will feel sidelined, its balance and fullness make it a wonderful steppingstone beer - in other words, a brew to share with folks that don't yet drink craft beer by default. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/91 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 04:12:54 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/91 This is a roll up your sleeves and get involved kind of lager, wonderfully complex and extremely lively. Following a sweet and musty tickle of the nose, an incendiary device of bitter grassy herbaceousness and concentrated citrus fruit engulf the palate. Do not, I repeat, do not let the 'lager' name mislead you into sharing this beverage with amateur craft beer drinkers, this is one toned brute with a big set of strong teeth. The clean bitterness and background acidity make this big ass lager a wonderful match for tart seafood dishes, astringent pastas and sour salads. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/90 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 03:47:02 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/90 This is one seriously hopped and complex American winter seasonal, the power of biting and bitter hops tears through its pounding west coast heart like a cluster of supersonic rockets. This is beer as hostile takeover - lean, confident and unashamedly dominating, a blisteringly fresh take on the the more traditional, cozy by the fire style more associated with winter ale releases. If you're at all scared of the 'The Hops,' i.e. you dislike medium to strong IPA's, then you will need to find your chilly weather beer fun elsewhere. If the idea of a winter beer with some fight in it piques your interest however, you'll want to dive on a bomber of this posthaste. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/89 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:51:49 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/89 Possessing a lot of what can only be described as 'old fashioned' charm, this Belgian Xmas release softly warms with an abundance of bitter herbal and forgotten European garden fruit flavors. Pair this with almost any rich game meats, accompanying chutneys and well cooked root vegetables for a rare old world experience. This excites my palate on just about every level, it's a brilliant example of a Christmas ale suitable for and worthy of year round enjoyment. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/88 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:39:50 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/88 This small batch production tastes like an intriguing amalgam of a Strong Belgian Ale and a Baltic Porter, an odd couple pairing that in this scenario is a happy one and immediately serves to set this Christmas offering apart. The aroma of charred bananas and flying pork on the nose opens up on the palate to a smooth weighty avalanche of sooty chocolate and pucker inducing sour dark fruit flavors. A jostle of tropical fruit, hinted at on the nose, comes through prominently on the finish and is one more reason you should find a bottle of this unique Xmas release. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/87 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:20:18 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/87 Lying beneath the somewhat dusty and subdued nose of this festive Belgian emigrant is a fairly conservative dark Belgian ale. Like many of its well produced ilk it belies its not insignificant alcohol content with a caressing, but not cloying sweetness. This beer hits all of its expected marks dead on, balancing its weighty fruit notes and bitterness carefully from sip through swallow. Pair this with almost any straightforward hearty meat and potato meal with ease. This is decent by all accounts, but for my adventurous palate it colors far too neatly within the thick black lines of its established style. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/86 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:38:29 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/86 The first thing that grabs you about this festive Amber is its pretty earthy floral aroma. On the tongue this 2009 vintage is elegant and complex yet light and quaffable, attaining a captivating balance of sweet dairy smoothness and bittersweet boldness. A sneaky freshly brushed minty pop marks the finale, which for my palate just adds to this lithe winter ales charm. Seek this out and enjoy it fresh - despite the 2009 moniker, my review of a year old 2008 discovered that this beer doesn't age in a coherent fashion. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/85 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:38:24 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/85 A year in the bottle has changed the overall profile of this beer, tenfold. Tasted versus a fresh 2009 vintage, this 2008 is sour and astringent by comparison, possesses a rich underlying sweetness that gives it a dense baked dessert weight in the mouth. There is also a nice subtle cooked red fruit flavor not present in its younger 09 sibling. This matured bottle holds its own in the tastiness department with the 09 at almost every hurdle, almost... sadly it takes an unbecoming tumble down a jagged and bitter crevasse in the final furlong. This ale just wasn't built for aging. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/84 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:13:11 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/84 Initially inspired by a Honduran beverage first drank somewhere around 1200BC this attention grabbing beer quakes the tongue with toasty eruptions of nutty, floral, chocolate and fresh red chili pepper flavors. Possessing less a beginning, middle and end and more of a rocket ship trajectory, this brews super exotic layers build one atop the other until full and unique flavor atmosphere is achieved. Brewed as part of Dogfish Head's limited Ancient Ales series, this chili beer is not necessarily the easiest beer to get your hands on, but is definitely worth your going the extra mile to do so. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/83 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:57:58 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/83 A sugar glazed pillar of leafy green vegetation, black soil and dried dark herbs stands tall at the center of this much heralded collaborative creation. Aromatically, it's a little more challenged than I expected, citrus spritzed black licorice candy and black fruit escape the brew like slowly creeping ivy. On the palate the backbone profiles seem to dance to different beats, out of step bitter, sweet and savory flavors skate around awkwardly on a cloying slick of woodsy syrupy. Brewed with some epic decade style cellaring in mind, it should be kept in mind that given enough time Life and Limb could evolve significantly in the bottle. A month or two after bottling though it is too messy and lacking in cohesion for my palate. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/82 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:31:45 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/82 This beer reminds me a lot of the local beers I would drink in the UK before I had a clue what an IPA was or what exactly one was supposed to do with an Imperial Russian. It's as clean as a whistle and as tasty as a Christmas hamper stuffed with gourmet foods awaiting devourment. In the drink, a rush of freshly torn tropical fruit smacks you square in the mouth while a breeze of wild flowers and wood polish teases your nose. Balancing well, the mid and rear profiles are a pleasing craft cocktail of golden fruits, spent aviation fuel and powdery white pepper. I will be sad when the taps run dry of this old world pub beer, it's yet another super solid effort by Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/81 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:04:24 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/81 Pucker up, sour and biting bittersweet fruit juice rule this tart and unusually shadowy winter style saison. A pleasant parcel of dryness marks the exit - for me one of the many enjoyable characteristics of this style of beer. This brew has a uniqueness about it, standing out among the noisy rabble of 12oz winter seasonal six packs. I am always interested and happy to support breweries that do their part to take new or forgotten styles to the masses. Definitely locate a few bottles of this to share with some folks that have never heard of a saison or farmhouse ale. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/80 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:53:09 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/80 Bold, viscous, fiery and thoroughly enveloping, this dense barrel aged West Coast beast blankets the entire palate in belonging and stylish fashion. Mashed dark red fruit, liquid Belgian chocolate and bittered mocha flavors caress the mouth in hypnotic fashion before this well groomed monster takes its leave with an herbaceous wave and bitter tip of its black hat. This is an extremely impressive and coherent Russian Imperial, no small feat in a category not exactly lacking in noble and worthy contenders. Do not make the regretful mistake of only buying one bottle of this limited top flight release. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/79 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:35:46 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/79 Massive, is the first word that comes to mind when sipping this curious Colorado creation - and it is curiously eyebrow raising. I swear this literally tastes like a godly fusion of a bulky IPA and your favorite hot chocolate. Not sure I'd classify this as an Old Ale, it doesn't taste like any brew of that ilk I've ever tasted before, it's playing a different game, with a different ball, in a different park, but whatever crazy new sport it's playing, I'm a flag waving convert.... a die hard one. Just drink it. That's all I have to say. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/78 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:12:47 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/78 The aroma of salty malt on this beer is stronger than an ox on steroids. Taste wise this is foot to the floor darkness all the way to the finish flag, the bitterness of roasted malts dancing occasionally with the mealy texture and warming sweetness of jet black fruit and melting dark chocolate. This is a decent stepping stone Russian Imperial - a good beer for those beginning to dip their toe in expansive, crazy and brilliant world of dark beer. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/77 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:48:04 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/77 Thumb prints of ash and sticky black fruit are tangible all over the initial and mid flavors of this zipped up winter porter. The pucker inducing pickle juice bite that marks so many ales of this style is definitely present here but plays second fiddle to a gritty clawing bitterness that forges a direct path to the brews appropriately dark, and appropriately dank finish. Not a standout recommendation for those looking to try porters for the first time, but worth a pour if you already enjoy the style. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/76 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:28:57 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/76 This handsome canned creation seductively slips its fingers under each and every one of your tastebuds. It effortlessly tiptoes the tricky tightrope that delicately connect the sweet, sour, bitter and spicy receptors of the palate. Imagine biting slowly through a freshly beer battered donut drizzled with warm honey and dark candied fruit, dusted with white chocolate and black pepper - that's what this tastes like. Monk's Blood is the perfect curtain raiser to 21st Amendment's new Insurrection Series of 'once-in-a-while' special ales. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/75 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:27:19 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/75 Exploding at its pungent pitch black seams with savory bite and razor sharp sour flavors this bulky Belgian leaning winter cheater is hardy enough, meaty enough and satisfying enough to help you ward off even the most foreboding winter storm. An unusual pickle jar of complex woodsy, off kilter sour and lively fructose characteristics, this is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, the more adventurous among you however are well advised to tackle a bottle of this unusual triple fermented, bourbon barrel aged, 320 case vintage... if you can find it. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/74 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:17:20 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/74 This smooth winter warmer is actually more akin to a porter style beer with its light sour pucker and subdued creamy charcoal bitterness. Textures coat the palate seamlessly with nary a flint spark of heat. On the flipside, the ales complimentary ash and alkaline profiles annoyingly pull a Houdini and vanish in the third and final act, the result, a less than stellar watery taste on the finish. This ale is hardly flawless, it's nowhere near as bombastic as I prefer, but I like it, it has upstanding merits and an uncommon wintery character. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/73 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:46:49 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/73 Sitting comfortably behind this ales decidedly sooty chimney of a nose is a fountain of spritzy fruit juice flavor, a hessian sack of heavily roasted malty bitterness and some passable hoppage. Backstage however things go a little awry on the finish, hops and malts retreating in the intimidating and long shadow of naked and awkward alcohol burn. This beer is disappointing, more so given its initial promise. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/72 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:10:04 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/72 Beefy, boisterous and biting, this snowy windy city sipper blends light floral, spiked dairy and unabashed cheek puckering hoppage with balanced intensity. Brewed with 5 years of aging in mind this 2009 vintage (the brewery changes the recipe every year) was bottled on October 30th and screams inflated and shouty newborn. This drinks beautifully now and should evolve confidently given its muscular legs making for an exciting pour in 2014. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/71 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:34:37 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/71 This mild winter warmer is tart, leafy, herbaceous and bubbling with spicy effervescence. It's the bulky green vegetable flavors on the mid palate that capture the most attention though, the bold, crisp and savory crunch sitting proudly and in complimentary fashion against the backdrop of recognizable and concentrated dessert spices that cluster on the finish. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/70 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:21:33 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/70 A plethora of deeply aromatic and flavorful tart and sour goodies adorn the clean bitter structure of this Belgian winter season Saison. Complex and nicely integrated piquant and peppery flavors excite the mouth front to back and work to cut through the considerably pungent - but welcome - dusty old barn meets animal skin mustiness of the initial taste and nose. Gift this to any beer lover you know with unwavering confidence; at the very least they'll give you kudos for unusualness. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/69 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:41:20 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/69 This fiery and full bodied little Belgian winter brew packs a heap of concentrated sweet fruit, coal charred pepper and nutty protein textures and flavors in its noisy effort to delight. Beneath the ambrosia aroma of freshly broken honeycomb lays a strata of warming, gritty, tickling and smoky profiles that keep buds and overall palate buzzing and interested from sip to swallow. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/68 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:23:22 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/68 Tart, sugary and a smidgen ammonia like in bouquet, this ale is intensely citric and clawing upon first sip. Treacle toffee bitterness and a raw capsaicin heat provide solid structure on the mid palate before the ale waves a surprisingly soothing elixir smooth goodbye. This will hold most appeal for those with a palate preconditioned or tempered by more approachable barley wines. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/67 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:20:16 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/67 This chilly season brew is sedate and tight on the nose, warming, flavorful and bitter to the core through its complete flavor arc. A firebrand of peppery heat ultimately inspires the most taste bud popping curiosity, agitating and elevating the taste experience through to the beers intentionally pithy and bitter crescendo. Like logs for your winter fire, this is seasonal and solid. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/66 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:15:14 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/66 This beer is damn frisky, like a cat that should annoy the heck out of you but wins you over with its utter persistence and general adorableness - sweet and ballsy, but only when it needs to be. Beneath the attractive floral nose lives a thriving riot of heated hops, gravely malts and samurai sword sharp bursts of acidic tartness. This is a very pretty, well balanced, warming and yes, 'wintery' beer - an easy buy for folks of all palates. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/65 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:34:09 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/65 An enticing wave of sugary meat relish and sticky fruit preserve aromas mark the nose of this Belgian leaning winter special. On the palate big sweet tropical fruit, crispy salad and refreshing light pepper flavors all have their say and work to complement each other nicely. If you're not a fan of sweeter Belgian beers, this may be a little much for you. Everyone else, pop the cork with confidence. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/64 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:15:58 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/64 Smooth and extremely herbaceous, this is an expansive and unique take on the traditional Baltic Porter. Behind the dark fruit and pollen laden nose sits an apothecary of flavors - proud savory and sweet green shrubbery, and the sprigs from a thousand complimentary roots and herbs. This is winter beer brewing as orchestrated cold weather countering alchemy, and it approaches the perfect balance for my particularly earthy and herbal leaning palate. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/63 Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:02:27 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/63 Hulking, rambunctious and brooding, this ale is something of a lovable gentle giant. The immediately intimidating aroma packs everything from the scent of syrupy cocktail spirits to animal leavings and gearbox lubricant. On the palate the intense nose quickly gives way to a stew of morish flavors, the essence of biting spices, freshly cut salad herbs and creamy cocoa dusted chocolate truffles all jostle for the attention of your tastebuds. A lingering chili pepper bite closes out this rich and above par cold weather table ale. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/62 Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:46:29 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/62 The Bruery claims 2 Turtle Doves is suitable for cellaring for up to a decade - one sip and you will believe them. This beer is a big boy; shadowy and muscular with the flavors of concentrated black coffee, ashy cocoa and dark red fruit all vying for palatical supremacy. The toasted pecans give the beer a polite peanut butter vibe. Drinking 2 Turtle Doves at anything but a regal snails-pace and in measured pours seems uncivilized and wholly unnecessary. Cellaring will surely only contribute a further nobility and decadence to this rich and colossal beer. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/61 Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:38:00 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/61 This French winter seasonal opens with a subtle earthy nose reminiscent of root vegetables just yanked from the soil combined with the aroma of freshly baked whole grain bread. On the palate malty flavors roll back and forth with the lapping consistency of waves in an oceanside tidal pool. Balancing out the ales roasted malty bitterness is a spiced fruit salad of tart acidic pops. Table this with hearty meat and potato meals for full satisfaction. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/60 Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:06:38 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/60 This bold Norwegian Christmas beer is a very classy affair indeed. Decadent, delicious and extremely crafted tasting, its dark and intoxicating flavors caress and seduce your palate from the moment it touches your lips. A zooming comet of warmth purrs its way through the ales backend and cements this brews place in the upper echelon of global winter beers. This Scandinavian cold weather warrior is a solid recommendation for everyone, not just dark beer junkies. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/59 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:18:19 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/59 The nose this ale brings to the winter ale table is super delicious. Imagine the many sweet aromas you could inhale stood in the middle of a Victorian kitchen while a thousand winter desserts baked quietly in the ovens around you - that's what this beer smells like. On the palate this 2009 vintage (Anchor changes the recipe of this ale every year) is a mouthwatering avalanche of morish bitter and cozy 'holiday' flavors. The finish is dark, firm, direct, but as smooth as a freshly frozen lake. I cannot recommend this 2009 incarnation highly enough. This is to be tried by everyone. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/58 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:23:05 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/58 This Xmas tongue teaser has a very processed soupy, condiment like nose. Tastewise, evergreen, worn leather and light candy sugar flavors fill out the gerth of its body, on the backend a slender straight razor of freshly cracked pepper and black olive juice tartness slices across the tongue - not a bad thing. Unfortunately, while not bad at all, this 2009 vintage (Abita changes the recipe of this brew every year) is just too flat and stationary for my palate. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/57 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:18:26 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/57 The inviting aroma of high-end sugary desserts postmarks the nose of this little New England snowflake ale. A perfect tangle of complimentary root vegetable, dark green leaf flavors and a dusting of luxurious sweetness dance just below the ales bubbles. This is above par and deserving of a careful pour into your favorite glass this or any other winter season you happen across it. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/56 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:13:36 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/56 Beloved by many, this belly warming chilly weather 'classic' pops with chewy walnut, dark fruit and lovely winter seasonal tartness, a subtle underlying sweetness and balanced lingering dryness bind the satisfying flavor parcel together. Now in its twentieth vintage of availability in the U.S. this might not rewrite the winter ale cookbook, but it doesn't need to, it's structurally sound in all of the ways a winter beer should be. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/55 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:27:42 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/55 This boozy winter scallywag is explosively fruity to the point of being sticky on the lips - a good thing. Now while tasty fruit is one thing, schizophrenia is another and this beer is schizophrenic. You see, drool-inducing fruit salad flavors are awesome, but the taste of cheap Halloween candy doused in moonshine is definitely not and this ale also tastes of that. Beer should never be confusing or for that matter confused, this is both. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/54 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:00:32 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/54 This malty, slightly off kilter icicle-melter has the bold taste and texture of a honey and rum drenched fruit cake. Bittersweet and mouth filling it curiously pleases right up until its distinctive flavors annoyingly unravel in a heap on the backend. The end result is a muddled and decidedly bland finish. This beer just pisses me off, it teases and promises and then fails to deliver! http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/53 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:38:29 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/53 This malty brew has a beating heart studded with cloves of dark chocolate and a rainbow of peppercorns. A sweet spot winter ale, it's just spicy enough, just warming enough and just smoky enough. Rounded out with a smidgen of Demerara cane sweetness and some pops of hearty harvest fruit flavor, this is an upstanding chilly seasonal worthy of your attention, lips and hard earned. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/52 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:58:53 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/52 This snowy season version of Belgium's infamous year round Elephant stomper Delirium Tremens, has a pretty floral nose, is tart and tight on the palate and packs a quick thermal blast of flamethrower heat as it waves goodbye. The kink in the chain of this otherwise enjoyable experience is that everything happens at lightspeed, you get a blitz of yummy flavors, warmth, then nothing except the buzz of flatlining alcohol burn. Fun, but only while it lasts. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/51 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:04:17 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/51 A soft sweetness blossoms on the nose and the initial sip of this Californian winter seasonal. Sweetness dissipating, the ale quickly opens up to reveal its dark malty and burnt leaf laden biceps, the warming and bitter intensity building like the exciting trundle to top of a tall roller coaster. The brews last word is stolen by its fresh and satisfyingly hoppy tiger tail. This beer is an 'absolute' in the realm of modern winter ales and this 2009 vintage is no exception. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/50 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:17:52 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/50 Sweet and desert like on the nose, this is a sour and astringent little devil on the tongue. Rubber dominates the palate initially before tart and fresh salad vegetable notes sprout mushroom like and takeover. On the backend, the warmth and peppermill bite definitely place this brew in the 'winter ale' category, but this is just too askew and nose crinklingly odd to be anything more than a try once curiosity. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/49 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:05:27 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/49 This flavorful dark winter ale from New Jersey packs enough harvest fruit and powdery warm spicy essence to bake a dozen delicious pies. A tart pop in the ales fruity tail is the perfect finish to this comforting chilly season satisfier. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/48 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:28:33 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/48 This tastes like someone poured a pound of sugar and a measure of Sherry into a glass of lighter fluid. Not much more to say really...pretty wretched http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/47 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:15:05 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/47 Announcing its presence with the smoke of a roaring log fire, this earthy, herbal and yes, deliciously Chicory infused stout is a seductive, Egyptian cotton smooth thing of brewing witchcraft beauty. Gloriously balanced sour and creamy textures tingle and mingle sip through swallow. This winter seasonal is a drink now and must stash for later sorta' purchase. Get it, enjoy it and wave your Dogfish Head flag in the general direction of Delaware. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/46 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:42:09 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/46 This enjoyable Long Island cold weather seasonal arrives with just a pinch of dried spice jar heat and lots of juicy dark red and splashy tropical fruit flavors. A rolling bittersweet 'fructosey' fueled dryness in the rear powers this fairly bombastic little winter drink to a happy close. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/43 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:41:18 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/43 This November seasonal has the vibe of a citrus and spruce infused Starbucks Iced Coffee - if ever there was such a brilliant offering. A sweet spicy breadyness on the backend rounds out the overall flavor and softens the heat of that 7.2% abv. just a hair. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/42 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:19:32 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/42 Funky, fishy and unfiltered, this ale is a pungent pickle jar of tart unfolding crunchy vegetable and unusual warm cooked rice flavors. Distinctive and yes, odd, odd enough to make it a must taste for those of a hardcore experimental tongue - you know who you are! Everyone else, well you should try it too. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/41 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:23:19 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/41 Bold, bitter and fiery, this brew from Baja is anchored by and remains memorable for its explosion of Bunsen burner heat and lightning strike of astringent citrus fruits in its mid section, bumpy unrefined bitterness bookends these dominant characteristics in the 'hello' and 'goodbye.' http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/40 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:50:36 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/40 This seriously thick and syrupy elixir packs a thunderous wallop; its complex cobweb of sweet, desiccated and bonfirey flavors ride the palate like an unbroken mare. This will be far too much for some, but if loud sweet beers are your thing, this is a winner. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/39 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:08:15 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/39 This brew sings with blissful and brewphoric flavor harmony. Sip and prepare to have your mouth packed to the creamy rafters with splashes of chocolate, vanilla, mocha, cherry, macadamia nut, maple and a thousand decadent essential herbal oils. This is a ripplingly noble brew for noble thinkers and noble drinkers. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/38 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:14:57 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/38 This is a truly spectacular and muscular beer, warming like a duly spicy dark spirit and as decadently sweet and smooth as liquid vanilla ice cream. You can savor this now or bury to age like a fine wine - folks are still aging the first batch of 'Adam' brewed in 1994. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/37 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:29:31 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/37 Spiced, sour and clean, this left of leftfield Italian brew is packed with a kitchen of off kilter ingredients. The unusual palate of flavors build to create a symphonic and classy drinking experience that is anything but the awkwardness you might expect. The beating heart of this ale though is its acidic center and the way that it lends the beer to being paired with a plethora of spicy Asian dishes, robust red meat plates and carb heavy sweets. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/36 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:02:17 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/36 A hefty brew by most standards, packing some seriously steroid induced hopage. On the palate this brew is bitter... and then bitter some more with a peppery, razor sharp bite and a mischievously sweet and enticing nose. Needless to say, this is not a beer for IPA virgins. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/35 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:48:18 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/35 A truly, truly beautiful IPA, fresh and hoppy with an Olympian perfect balance of magnetic pine essence, citrus spray and light woodsy aftertastes. Simply put, this is canned American IPA perfection. This beer has the power to make an IPA lover of the most Hop resistant person you know. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/34 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:02:05 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/34 This ale opens with the pop of bitter citrus fruit before quickly and unexpectedly falling away to reveal a much softer and creamy dairy textured and tasting center. The finish is sweet and buttery and a little nutty. The unexpected dairy and sweet components of this brew make it a very strong candidate for pairing with earthy desserts and nutty sweet treats. One a side note, the Peak Organic label designs are horrible and need a massive artwork and design overhaul, emphasis upon 'artwork.' http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/33 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:35:59 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/33 A robust Brown Ale possessing a slightly jagged, uneven bitterness. Thankfully the rough around the edges bite is rounded out by some welcome bready vanilla cake like flavors in the mid section. Finishing on a strong note, sweet caramel malt and yeasty flavors blossom on the back end. This middling brew is unlikely to blow your socks off or even cause a raised eyebrow, but a six pack would evaporate without nary a grumble under most circumstances. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/32 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:21:40 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/32 This curious Norwegian-Swedish collaborative brew, a variation of a traditional Finnish Sahti style ale, literally erupts with the blissful aromas of freshly punctured honeycomb and an overstuffed florist shop. The floral theme is carried over to the Sahti's body too. One sip and your palate will be awash with the bouquet of a hundred sugary wildflower petals, pollens and warm honeys. A pleasant and unique drink to say the least, my only complaint is that it pulls a bit of a Houdini act in the last quarter and disappears. Pair this with authentic Richter scale hot Thai, Indian and African dishes. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/31 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:08:21 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/31 Tart and laced up corset tight, this acidic Saison packs a host of laser focused sour fruit and clean spice rack flavors. Fascinating in its overall 'differentness,' it demands repeated, puckered savoring. If you have a palete that is sour inclined you'll want to get your lips on this early summer seasonal as soon as it is next available. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/30 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:26:11 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/30 This barely categorizable molasses brown transatlantic collaborative brew is a mischievous devil indeed. Oozing with unusual dark ashy aromas, what you actually get on the palate is an explosion of distinctive floral, cocoa and earthy herbal flavors. To my taste buds this has the vibe of a noble Italian amaro liqueur - in other words, it's unique in a good way. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/29 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:07:43 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/29 This impressive beast of a beer has a very bitter oak aged heart, a heart pierced with shards of tart red fruit and splinters of damp wood. The brews wonderful musty aroma only amplifies its decidedly dark and earthy vibe. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/27 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:36:59 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/27 This bold and beautiful New England craft Saison has a boatload of adorable and well balanced characteristics. Lively is the word with sour, dry, fruity and smooth profiles and a perfect snap of sweetness in the rear. Being well crafted and being the kind of ale you find on the table of many country eateries in France and Belgium; this beer will happily pair with an almost infinite Smörgåsbord of sweet and salty foods - spicy, not so much. You need to taste this proud beverage. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/26 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:36:10 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/26 This stout greets you with a nose that smells like a combination of a German chocolate factory and a mysterious musty attic. In the mouth its rich dark chocolate, juicy dark fruit and delicious spicy chili pepper flavors beautifully compliment a caressing dairy like texture. This is a must grab winter seasonal, especially if you've yet to sample its magic. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/23 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:07:07 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/23 Lovingly crafted to emulate the classic Manhattan cocktail in beer form, this brew is simply gorgeous. Sweet and cider-like with concentrated fruit and deep herbal flavors, it's a brew with an overall luxuriousness that just demands your attention and leisurely enjoyment. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/22 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:02:29 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/22 An operatic blending of two different craft breweries ales that happened to share the exact same name! - the result is a heavenly whirlpool of sweet, tart, biting and bitter flavors that mingle, swirl and conjoin to create a brew that tastes quite unlike any you have likely tried before. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/20 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:56:13 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/20 Brewed with the nobility of a fine Port wine, this Old style ale is velvety, sweet and properly decadent. Enjoy this 2009 vintage now or bury for a few years and allow it to evolve a little, either way, 'delicious' is the word. In addition to food pairing, try pouring some over your favorite Vanilla Ice Cream! http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/19 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:24:51 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/19 An extremely fresh and 'dry-PA,' with a clean but ever so slightly creamy body, some surprising pops of sour and minty herbaceousness and an arid finish two miles long. A welcome late harvest seasonal that will more than appeal to the majority of IPA sippers. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/18 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:06:47 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/18 Beneath the perfumey woodys exterior lies a not unpleasant medium bodied - slightly fruity APA, sadly though all flavor and with it my interest, disappear Houdini style on the back end. Not a terrible ale, but seriously unbalanced. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/17 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:54:31 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/17 Luxurious, warm, sweet and absolutely delicious. This is an after dinner elixir to be savored in good time, a stout initially infamous because of its not insignificant alcohol content, but now better known for its pure and luscious flavor. To be tried once by everyone. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/16 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:03:34 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/16 Burnt wood for days (seriously, picture a forest fire) and briney acidity dominate the nose and flavor of this special barrel aged ale. Rich, charcoal bitter, a tad sour and packing some heat, there is little, if any sweetness... yet - some sweetness may come with aging. This brew comes wax sealed and really does have the muscle to last for many years. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle or two, stash one away for at least five or six years and see what happens. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/15 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:37:54 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/15 A seriously intense brew with an atomic flavor profile and gorgeous, caressing mouth feel - definitely not a beer for the faint of tongue. IPA lovers are urged to seek out this spectacular canned creation. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/13 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:12:03 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/13 Light and drinkable with a velvety smooth texture from sip to swallow. A really unique release that will drink as well in the chilly months as it does in the juicy Watermelon ones. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/12 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:00:20 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/12 An intriguing 'Chocolate' lager that erupts with biting peppery and hot chocolate flavors before exiting with a yummy, lingering high cocoa count chocolate aftertaste. This beer will have you smacking your lips eager to scrutinize the next unique, light and chocolatey sip. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/11 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:10:45 -0700 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/11 This fruity Pumpkin Ale packs a sniff worthy flower bouquet of a nose, a biting peppery taste and a silky smooth finish. This special one-off 2009 brew has the legs to easily survive and thrive until Halloween 2010, so stash a bottle away for a year and see how it evolves. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/10 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:24:21 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/10 With an aroma to die for, a morish sweetness and a perfect spicy bite, this beer is autumn ambrosia in a bottle - without a doubt the best Pumpkin Ale I tasted in 2009, period. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/9 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:59:47 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/9 Not as Pumpkiny and spicy tasting as some of its more thunderous and muscular peers. The slightly more subdued Pumpkin flavor of this brew makes it an amicable partner to a broader variety of foods than a lot of Pumpkin beers. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/8 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:31:00 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/8 Packs the nose of a harvest vegetable garden, a clean texture, a meaty Pumpkin middle and an herbaceous bitter backend - autumnal, quaffable and dependable. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/7 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:12:32 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/7 This distinctive Pumpkin seasonal possesses an easy lagery mouth feel, obvious hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom and allspice and has a tart citrusy nose. The overall 'freshness' of this brew is what ultimately lifts it above some of the competition. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/6 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:27:20 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/6 One of nicest drinking and more unique Pumpkin ales on the market, possessing an intriguing Russian Doll like layering of flavors that reveal themselves through sip, taste and swallow. http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/3 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:58:48 -0600 http://www.hoptopia.com/reviews/3