Stone Brewing Company - Imperial Russian Stout

Poured very dark black, opaque no light passing through. Golden brown head that hangs around nicely. Aromas of Coffee, malts, chocolate. Taste of coffee and chocolate is what hits first, sweetness comes later. Feel is excellent, good carbonation, lingers just long enough. I found it to be quite drinkable. One of the better RIS I have had, a great example of the style. This one begs me to keep several in the cellar...

Rating: Best

ABV: 10.5%

Samuel Smith Old Brewery - Nut Brown Ale

One of my favorites....

Poured a nice Orangy, Amber brown slightly cloudy with good head and retention. Nutty maltiness aroma with a balanced and flavorful taste that was malty with a nutty finish. Nice light carbonation and only slight aftertaste.Very drinkable and quite sessionable, I could easily enjoy a six pack of these no problem.

Rating: Best

ABV: 5.0%

Samuel Smith Old Brewery - The Famous Taddy Porter

Poured into a standard pint glass a deep dark brown/amber color, very clear, tan head that laced very well and dissipated quickly. Aroma is malty notes of coffee and caramel, with a taste that mimics. Feel is very nice, carbonation lingered and was tight in nature. Very drinkable and quite enjoyable.

Rating: Best

ABV: 5.0%

Great Divide Brewing - Yeti Imperial Stout

Pours a deep dark brown, black with golden brown head that took a vigorous pour to two fingers. Smells of caramel, coffee, chocolate malts and alcohol. Taste is roasted malts that bring flavors of chocolate, coffee, and caramels, some bitterness follows on aftertaste. Thick, oily feel with good carbonation. Overall a better version of the imperial stout, drinks well, tastes good and brings a great feel to the table.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.5%

Abita Brewing Company - Abbey Ale

Poured into a standard pint glass a deep ruby, cloudy color with an off white head nice lacing. Aroma was fruity of bananas, creamy with some caramel malts hiding. Taste was fruity, sweet, balanced caramel malty thickness. Well carbonated, bready and fluffy feel. Drinkability was good but not quite sessionable a little to sweet.

Rating: Good

ABV: 8.0%

Stone Brewing Company - Double Bastard Ale

Poured into a standard pint glass a deep ruby red with one finger of tan head. Aroma was malty with some chocolate hints. Tasted of chocolates, malty sweetness very well balanced with hoppy bitterness. Nice tight carbonation, some thickness to the feel. Very drinkable despite alcohol, almost dangerous.

Rating: Best

ABV: 10.5%

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - 120 Minute IPA

Pours very cloudy, golden amber color, pours with a slight head that sticks around shortly then crowns the beer. Smell is alcohol and fruity. Tastes very fruity and sweet. Alcohol extremely prominent. Feel is slightly chewy with light carbonation, smooth and oily. Drinkable in the sense that it is very enjoyable, one per session, too sweet, and too potent. A beer that is good, but in my mind is meant to be savored on occasion.

Rating: Good

ABV: 18.0%

Boulevard Brewing - Lunar Ale

Poured a deep dark cloudy amber, head off white about one finger high. Smell is malty, creamy some fruity hints. Taste similar, malty, creamy, some fruity hints, rather enjoyable in general, though a little sweet for my taste. Light feel, fluffy thick carbonation. Definitely drinkable and very enjoyable.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.1%

Brewery Ommegang - Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend

Poured into a standard pint glass a deep brown color with one finger of head that was slightly off white and retained well and laced nicely. Interesting smell almost creamy, some fruitiness. Taste was very similar to smell, creamy, some maltiness and fruitiness. Thick and fluffy, good carbonation feel. Overall a good beer but too creamy and sweet to drink a whole lot of.

Rating: Good

ABV: 9.8%

Avery Brewing - Ellie's Brown Ale

Poured a deep dark amber, that is clear and pours a 1/2" off-white head. Smells of chocolate, and nuts, with some hoppiness. Taste is similar to smells with the hoppiness a little more present along with the alcohol. Feel is light to medium bodied with a light, tight carbonation. Very drinkable have had a few longer sessions with this beer at a local pub.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.8%

Russian River Brewing - Damnation

Poured into a standard pint glass a golden slightly murky color with 3 fingers of head that retained well and laced nicely. Sweet fruitiness, hints of orange in the aroma. Taste is similar to smell, virtually no aftertaste. Feel has ample carbonation some initial thickness and a bit chewy. Very drinkable, this may be come a favorite of mine, I really enjoyed it and the alcohol is not so prevalent to mask the other characteristics.

Rating: Better

ABV: 7.75%

Grand Lake Brewing - Plaid Bastard

This one is a good strong scotch ale/wee heavy. Very enjoyable and drinkable with nice flavors. A good example of the style.

Poured with virtually no head, deep amber almost black color. Smoky smell, some fruity notes tucked behind. Smoky taste as well, roasted malts evident, almost chocolatey. Even with no head carbonation is tight though feel is heavy and thick. Good drinkable beer with the alcohol not overpowering along with smokiness not being to overwhelming.

Rating: Good

ABV: 8.0%

Stone Brewing Company - Arrogant Bastard Ale

One of my favorite beers of all time, just love the magnificent flavors of the malts and hops, so bold and big.

Poured into a standard pint glass a deep dark amber with cream colored head and medium sized bubbles, 2 fingers of foam that sticks around well. Very balanced with caramel hints of malt sweetness and bitter pine notes of hops. Taste followed smell very closely, initial caramel sweetness, followed immediately with the hoppiness and pine notes. Finishes with hint of malts, very balanced flavors. Oily feel with fine textured carbonation. Medium full body & alcohol isn't over the top.

Rating: Best

ABV: 7.2%

Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV - St. Bernardus Tripel

Poured into St. Bernardus goblet a cloudy deep golden color with two fingers of pillowy white head that retained well and laced nicely. Aroma is initially fruity lemon/orange and spicy with a yeastiness creeping in on the tail. Taste is fruity and spicy but less defined than the smell. Feel is light to medium bodied with a crisp carbonation. Good beer very enjoyable and an example of the style.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.0%

New Belgium Brewing - Trippel

Poured into a goblet a deep golden yellow color with a finger and a half of white head that retained well and laced pretty well. Aromas were of banana, spicy and some alcohol. Taste was a bit grainy with some spice and the fruitiness. Feel was a slightly chewy medium bodied beer with some crispness. I enjoyed this beer very much as a beautiful local option for the style.

Rating: Good

ABV: 7.8%

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu - Spaten Optimator

Poured into a chalice with only one finger head that was tan . Colors a deep dark brown with ruby hints. Aromas are faint and malty. Tastes malty in general a light chocolate flavor followed with some very faint fruitiness and alcohol spiciness. Feels good on the palate with a light tickling of carbonation and an oily finish. Overall a nice drinkable beer.

Rating: Good

ABV: 7.2%

Left Hand Brewing Company - Fade to Black Volume I

Poured in my St. Bernardus Chalice a dark nearly opaque black, with a tannish yellow head that faded quickly to a light tan crown and film. Aroma is primarily of coffee malts with a slight presence of alcohol. Taste is the same coffee malts with some alcohol spiciness on the finish. Feel is lightly warm and gently carbonated. Definitely drinkable with great flavors and very enjoyable. I really enjoyed this beer and will definitely be putting this on my shopping list in the future.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.5%

Paulaner Salvator Thomasbraeu AG - Salvator Doppel Bock

Poured into a chalice, pours an orangish, brown color with a light tan head that dissipated quickly to a crown around the top. Aromas were somewhat faint but malty. Taste is slightly stronger but still malty, with little hop presence. Feel in the mouth has a little bit of light crisp carbonation, with some alcohol warming. Drinkable for sure with about average flavoring, nothing says overpowering about this beer.

Rating: Good

ABV: 7.9%

Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV - St. Bernardus Abt 12

Poured from the bottle into standard pint glass very dark brown and murky, pours one finger of head that dissipates quickly. Medium size bubbles, no apparent lacing. Balanced smells, with just a hint of sweetness (berries?). Noticable sweetness to taste with hints of blackberries and chocolate. Alcohol not as noticable as expected given the ABV. Feel is very carbonated, some thickness. Drinkable but would probably be tough to drink more than the bottle.

Rating: Better

ABV: 10.5%

Deschutes Brewery - Inversion IPA

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass with a slight cloudiness, copper color with cream colored head. Poured a finger width's head. Hoppy smooth smell, moderate alcohol, very light fruitiness. Taste yields prevalent hops, bitter, moderate alcohol. Feel is light, tight carbonation, smooth, enjoyable. Very drinkable, moderate alcohol.

Rating: Good

ABV: 6.80%

Odell Brewing Company - 90 Shilling Ale

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass a dark copper color with amber tones and a tan head that retains well and laces nicely. Aromas are malty with hints of hoppiness, alcohol evident. Gently malty taste, light hoppiness with caramel overtones. Good fell, thick w/ light carbonation. Very drinkable, not too heavy and filling, alcohol is not so strong to hinder drinkability.

Rating: Good

ABV: 5.50%

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - 90 Minute IPA

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass a nice copper color and clear with a slightly off-white one finger head. Aromas of caramel, malty and some fruity notes. Taste is well balanced hops are striking but expected. Fruity notes are present, alcohol is noticeable but not overwhelming. Nice feel, carbonation tingles, light aftertaste. Very drinkable and enjoyable. Not super heavy or filling.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.00%

Stone Brewng - Old Guardian Barley Wine Style Ale 2009

Poured a nice caramel/amber color with a light tan head and good retention. Laced pretty well, with the head dissipating to a nice crown and a bubbly island in the middle. Sweet malts on the nose, with some fruity hop presence. Tasty sweet maltiness gives way to some alcohol spiciness. Feels well with light carbonation tickling the palate, and some oiliness on the finish. Drinkable for the style though the ABV prevents mass consumption.

Rating: Better

ABV: 11.3%

Bear Republic Brewing - Red Rocket Ale

Poured into a goblet with a ample two to three fingers of light tan head, good retention, with nice lacing. Color was a dark garnet/ruby color, relatively clear. Citrus hop aroma with grapefruit primarily, roasted malt presence as well. Taste is very balanced with a good bitterness provided in a more piney flavor, with some chocolate/coffee hints on the finish. Feel has some chew to it, with good carbonation and minor alcohol warming. Very enjoyable and drinkable, would be easy to put a few of these back in a session.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.8%

Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery - XXX Pale Ale

Amber gold color with some cloudiness, nice two finger head, piney hops notes with some yeastiness. Taste is similar with the piney hops a little more pronounced. Feel is somewhat chewy. Good drinkable pale ale, very sessionable.

Rating: Good

ABV: Unknown

Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery - Colorado Kind Ale

On tap at the Vine Street Pub. Slightly cloudy darker amber/orange color with a tannish two finger head. Citrusy hop bitterness with some malty backbone in the aroma. Taste is more malty but the citrusy bitterness persists. Feel is medium bodied with a crisp finish.

Rating: Good

ABV: Unknown

Russian River Brewing - Temptation

Light yellow golden color, with quarter inch white head that laces well. Some licorice on the nose along with a white grape. More grape in the taste than the aroma. Feel is very light and crisp. Drinkable in that the abv is not overpowering, though the taste is different and might take some getting used to.

Rating: Good

ABV:7.25%

Deschutes Brewery - The Abyss (2009 Vintage)

Held on to this as long as I could (which wasn't very long) before I had to crack it open. Poured a deep dark opaque brown with a golden dark khaki head that changed into a lighter tan as it sat. Creamy, tiny bubbles and a solid two finger height on a less than vigorous pour. Head retention is excellent and it laces well.

Smell is very complex with multiple aromas with bitter chocolate leading the way, but a citrus sweetness follows with the licorice and bourbon notes as well.

Taste is equal in complexity to the smell with the bourbon more prominent, chocolate bitterness presents afterward along with some alcohol.

Mouthfeel is excellent, creamy and chewy with the extremely tight carbonation and alcohol warming.

Overall drinkability is limited by ABV only, but consistent with the style. If not for the potency, this balanced brew could be enjoyed for days.

Rating: Best

ABV: 11.00%

Flying Dog Brewery - Gonzo Imperial Porter

Poured into a standard pint glass. Pours a deep brown with golden highlights and a yellowish golden one finger head that dissipated quickly though it initially left some decent lacing. Aroma is of coffee and chocolate with the alcohol playing a small part in the smell. Flavor is primarily of the malt sweetness and coffee, with a chocolate malt presence. Mouthfeel has a good tickle of carbonation with some slight oiliness on the finish. Overall a very good example of the style, and definitely a drinkable beer'

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.80%

Brooklyn Brewery - Brooklyn Lager

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass. Poured a great amber color with a slightly offwhite head of about one finger that lingered and laced fairly well. Definite lager aroma initially, with ample hops aromas of citrus/floral variety, balanced by a good malty base. Taste is has a good malt flavor with the hops balancing well. Carbonation is about medium, with a good crisp feel and a slight oily afterfeel lingering. Overall a good drinking beer with a sessionable ABV. Definitely one to keep at the ready.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.20%

Yazoo Brewing Company - Sue

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass. Pours a very dark alomst opaque brown with an off-white head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing. Smell is of coffee and roasted malts, smokiness is evident though almost closer to mesquite in aroma. Taste is definitely smoky, again more mesquite-like in flavor, with some smoothness of coffee. Feel has ample carbonation, very tight and crisp. Excellent beer with great characteristics, very enjoyable.

Rating: Best

ABV: 9.00%

Rogue Ales Brewery - Shakespeare Stout

Pours a very dark, mostly opaque brown with a two finger golden brown head. Aromas of chocolate primarily with some hints of citrus blending in. Taste is definitely the roasted malts and chocolate though I thought I detected a bit of a metallic zing at the very end (not sure what that was about). Very nice feel for a stout carbonation was not over abundant and the hops added some oiliness on the finish. Overall a very good, drinkable beer.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.0%

IBU: 69

Meantime Brewing Company Limited - India Pale Ale

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass. Poured a slight brown with some cloudiness and a light tan head that dissipated quickly and left little lacing. Aromas revolved more around the malty sweetness than the hoppy bitterness. Some alcohol also in the aroma. Taste was sweet as well, almost a hint of brown sugar detected. Light to medium bodied, with appropriate carbonation and some slight oiliness on the finish. Good beer though the sweetness could limit drinkablility some.

Rating: Good

ABV: 7.50%

Bières de Chimay (Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont) - Chimay Grande Reserve (Blue)

Poured from the bottle into a small goblet. Pours a dark brown with a slightly red tint and some cloudiness. Golden tan head that dissipates quick and leaves little to no lacing. Spiciness is the first aroma noticed followed immediatley by the alcohol and the sweetness of the malts. Great flavors with the sweet malts and spicy tastes combined with the alcohol warming and tickling. Feel in the mouth is great with an abundance of carbonation and a clean slightly dry, though medium to full-bodied feel. A very drinkable beer but the ABV limits.

Rating Better

ABV: 9.0%

Erie Brewing Company - Misery Bay IPA

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass. Initial appearance is a nice golden brown/amber color with a slightly off white head that dissipates quickly and leaves little lacing. Aroma is initially of piney hops with slight malty hint trickling in. Good bitterness and piney hops flavors and a medium body in the mouth lead to a good, drinkable IPA.

Rating: Good

ABV: 6.5%
IBU: 75