Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd. - Wee Heavy

Belhaven's "Wee Heavy" initially appears dark brown or black, but when held to light is a deep dark red. Solid one finger head that leaves minimal lacing very small bubbles. It is definitely malty on the nose, some fruit apparent as well. A really enjoyable aroma. Taste is similar with fruitiness and maltiness. Balance is the name of the game here. A bit of a creamy feel, with a light and tight carbonation. some dryness on the finish. Overall Belhaven's "Wee Heavy" really doesn't disappoint, a nice drinkable beer, nicely balanced.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.5%

Southampton Publick House - Southampton IPA

Pours golden with a slight bit of copper coloring, head was one finger that stuck around quite a while and leaves ample lacing. Smell is initially yeasts and cakey aromas, followed by some citrus and banana notes. Tastes cakey, with the banana following, some citrus and pine notes. Big feel with light carbonation, oiliness on the finish. Very drinkable, very enjoyable, nice balance.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.5%

Rogue Ales - Chocolate Stout

Pours a deep dark opaque brown, with little 1/2 finger head that laces well. Smell cocoa and chocolate on the nose, some hops crispness in the back. Taste again cocoa and chocolate, with bitterness and crispness on the finish. Feel crisp carbonation, very tight, with some slight oiliness on the finish. Not real drinkable for me due to the sweetness and chocolaty flavors, but good for the designed taste.

Rating: Good

ABV: 6.0%

Lagunitas Brewing Company - 2009 Correction Ale

Pours a golden, slightly amber clear, with an ample head that dissipates slowly to a nice off white crown. Aromas of pine, florals and grapefruit hardly a hint of alcohol. Taste has crisp pine notes with some florals on the finish. Feel is tight, and light with strong carbonation that gives way to the oiliness on the finish. Overall bold, but not overpowering, strong and flavorful.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.33%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Harvest Wet Hop Ale

Initial appearance is a deep amber copper color, with a nice "glow". Ample thick tan head that dissipates to a nice crown. Smell has nice pine and pineapple notes with some alcohol and malts creeping in on the back end. Taste has crisp pine flavors with gentle sugar sweetness on the back. Light oily feel, with crisp light carbonation, nice warming from the alcohol. Greatly drinkable, could easily drink 3 or 4 not overpowering in any aspect but nicely flavorful in most.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.7%

Shmaltz Brewing Company (He'Brew) - Coney Island Freaktoberfest

Pours a very bright red color with a pinkish white color head and a solid two fingers on the pour. Laces nicely and lasts well. Malty on the nose, with primarily caramel aromas. Nice taste, would be very confused given the color, malty sweetness of caramel with a taste of hops bitterness on the end. Feels nice with a medium carbonation and body. Taste is good, not overwhelmingly sweet, drinkable though not quite sessionable.

Rating: Good

ABV: 6.66%

Anchor Brewing Company - Anchor Liberty Ale

Pours slightly cloudy, dark golden color with slightly off-white half finger head that dissipates quickly. Smell is malty, with hops following, floral notes. Taste is dry, crisp, malty, followed by floral flavors. Great feel, very crisp and carbonation is nice and strong, tight. Good, not overly bitter or sweet, yet still bold.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.0%

Boulevard Brewing Company - Saison

Pours a bright golden yellow with a white head of 3 finger that dissipates slowly and laces nicely. Smell has a great yeasty cakey entrance some spiciness in the aroma along with light fruityness of banana. Taste is gentle spiciness with the fruitiness. Great feel with a light soft carbonation and a clean finish. Very drinkable, love the light feel and the gentle spicy flavors.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.2%

Breckenridge Brewery - Lucky U IPA

On tap at Breckenridge Oktoberfest...pours a nice deep copper color with ample head. Smell oozes pine on the nose, crisp and bitter. Taste has great pine crispness and quite dry and bitter. Good feel, really light on the carbonation, some oiliness on the finish, light aftertaste. Nice beer very drinkable and enjoyable, could have kept going on this all day....

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.2%

Alaskan Brewing Co. - Alaskan IPA

Pours an orangish copper color without the "glow" I associate with the best ipas, two finger head that laces nicely. Smell is rather yeasty intially with some grapefruity citrus notes following. Taste is much like the smell, with a yeastiness and a dryness to the flavorings, some pine and citrus mixed in. Feel is dry, medium bodied, with generous carbonation. Overall an average abv and decent taste make it drinkable.

As a fan of most of the Alaskan offerings this left me somewhat disappointed.

Rating: Good

ABV: 6.2%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale

Pours a deep copper color with an off-white two finger head. Smell is not a powerful aroma, some piney and alcohol notes initially with some slight floral notes following. Not an overpoweringly hoppy beer, piney notes initially with what seems to be a grapefruity finish. Great feel, some slight oilyness with a powerful but light carbonation. Very enjoyable and drinkable beer, good taste, feel and moderate ABV.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.7%

Grand Teton Brewing Co. - Bitch Creek ESB

Poured a deep dark brown in color with little clarity, light brown head, one finger. Smell is malty caramel aromas with bitter hops very evident. Taste has good bitter flavors with the caramel/coffee malts nicely present, overall a nice balance of flavors but each very evident. Very light on the tongue, small tight carbonation. Overall a good beer, sessionable, and enjoyable.

Rating: Good

ABV: 6.0%

Ska Brewing Company - Modus Hoperandi

Poured nice clear copper color, one finger off white head. Smell notes of pine, definite bitterness, some malty hints on the tail end. Smell more aggressive than taste, though similar. Hops present piney tastes, with the aftertaste presenting the malts. Carbonation is light, but tight small bubble feel on the tongue. Good flavor, enjoyable and not killer amount of alcohol all lead to a very drinkable beer.

This is one I really miss after my move from Colorado to Alabama. Will be keeping an eye out for it whenever possible.

Rating: Best

ABV: 6.8%

Rogue Brewery (Brewers on the Bay) - Dead Guy Ale

Pours hazy with a copper color and two finger head when poured more gently. Complex smell with the malt out front presenting a grainy nose, some hop notes but overall very balanced smell. Taste is similar to smell though the hops are more prevalent on taste than smell. Carbonation disappears quicker than most, though not terrible. Good beer, definitely drinkable, overall I enjoyed the beer.


Rating: Good

ABV: 6.5%

Oskar Blues Grill & Brewery - Dale's Pale Ale

To me presentation is as much a part of the appearance as the color and head, the can presentation is great, I Love It. Pours a darker than expected copper, some haze. Head is about two fingers and sticks around quite a while. Smell is interesting my nose first picks up the malts, then the hops. Taste has citrusy hops with a nice balance of malts to finish. Very enjoyable light carbonation. This has become a staple in my beer fridge as what I go to when I just can't decide what I want. Very sessionable.

Rating: Best

ABV: 6.5%

Odell Brewing Company - St. Lupulin

Pours a beautiful golden/copper color with a one finger bright white head. Smell has piney notes followed with some citrus (grapefruit), very clean, crisp smells. Taste is outstanding gentle hoppiness, not overwhelming but very present. Again, piney notes with some citrus aftertaste similar to grapefruit. Feel has some oiliness, gentle carbonation, very smooth. Extremely enjoyable and definitely sessionable.

Rating: Best

ABV: 6.5%

Odell Brewing Company - Red

Poured wit a very appropriate appearance, deep dark red/amber color with nice one finger head with an off white color. Smell was initially yeasty, malty aroma, followed by very heavy hops smell. Taste has some initial malty notes with the hoppy bitterness in the aftertaste. Gently carbonated but very nice feel in the mouth, some light oilyness in the end. Extremely, very enjoyable beer, moderately high alcohol content but still on the border of sessionable for some, definitely for me.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.5%

Victory Brewing Company - Wild Devil Ale

Poured from the bottle an amber/copper color with an off white three finger head. Nice balanced smell with some malts up front, bitterness of hops is still very evident. Taste strong flavors from both ends of the spectrum, malts evident with some hop bitterness as well. Yeast really transforms flavor of the original. Enjoyable feel no great distractions. Drinkable and even sessionable, enjoyable beer though not anything outstanding.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.7%

Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV - Maredsous 6 Blonde

Poured from the bottle a golden copper color with some very slight haze. Capped by a 3 finger white head. Smell is yeasty, malty, with some floral notes. Taste some cakiness, nice light taste very balanced. Light feel nice carbonation. Very good and definitely a tasty beer, drinkability is high with moderate alcohol content and a light feel.

Rating: Best

ABV: 6.0%

Terrapin Brewing Company - So Fresh & So Green, Green

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass a nice deep orange color. Good citrus notes on the nose, some sweetness present. Taste is balanced with an initial tinge of hoppy citrus bitterness. Feels amply carbonated with some hop oil and a medium body. Overall a good representation of an IPA with a fresh hop flavor.

Rating: Better

ABV:6.6%