Port Brewing Company/Pizza Port - High Tide Fresh Hop IPA

Poured from the bottle into a snifter a nice clear golden brown with a slight orange tint and a white head of about two fingers that lingered nicely and left some slight lacing. Aroma was a pretty well balanced hop profile with some definite pine and citrus notes prevailing. Taste was much the same with the ctirus taking a little bit more of a forward position than in the aroma. Feel was smooth with some oiliness on the finish for this medium bodied India Pale Ale. Extremely drinkable and enjoyable, this will be making its way back into my beer fridge soon.

Rating: Good

ABV: 6.5%

Stone Brewing Company - Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

Poured from the bottle into a snifter. Dark brown, slightly opaque. Tan head of about 3 fingers, laces nicely throughout. Initial malt tones in the aroma followed by peppery spiciness, with some slight citrus notes. Taste is peppery and spicy, with the malts balancing nicely. Feels smooth with a crisper finish, and light carbonation. Very drinkable and enjoyable.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.9%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

2010 Vintage poured a golden brown into a tumbler, head was average with minimal lacing. Aroma is very well balanced, with sweet malts and citrus hops leading the charge. Taste is nicely balanced as well, good sweetness from the malts with some citrus flavors on the finish. Medium to full bodied feel, little syrupy, with some oilyness to complete. Very drinkable Barleywine with great characteristics.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.6%

Brooklyn Brewery - Black Chocolate Stout

Poured from the bottle a blackish brown with a slight tannish head. Smells of bitter chocolates and roasted/burnt malts. Taste is similar with slightly more chocolate flavors. Good feel with light carbonation, very smooth and thick body. A food drinking Imperial Stout.

Rating: Better

ABV: 10.1%

Bells Brewery - Two Hearted Ale

Poured a nice orangish golden from the bottle into a tumbler. Head was ample, though it laced minimally. Smell was citrus in nature with a nice malt backbone. Taste was orangy and grapefruity with some bitterness. Malts played a strong part. Feel was average with a nice crispness. Overall a better than average Imperial Pale Ale.

Rating: Better

ABV: 7.1%

Magic Hat Brewing Company - #9

Pours a clear strawish yellow color from the bottle into a tumbler. Ample head that laces well. Crisp fruity smell with some grassiness. Flavor is similar with a fruitiness that leads followed by the grassy flavors. Feels good and crisp, a nice drinking summer-time ale.

Rating: Good

ABV: 5.1%