Moylan's Brewery - Moylander Double IPA

Moylan's Brewery "Moylander Double IPA" pours a clear copper in color with an orangish tint, ample head lacing is minimal. Smell initial malt aromas a bit of a surprise from an IIPA even given the notes on the bottle. Expected more of the piney and citrusy hops up front. Taste has similar notes, caramel malts are more prevalent than the piney hops. Crisp feel initially, with some oiliness. I guess overall, Moylan's does not disappoint with "Moylander Double IPA", it fits squarely in the style, and drinks well.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.5%

Odell Brewing Company - Mountain Standard Reserve

Deep, very dark brown with a slight off white head that left some lacing on my snifter. Smell is a hoppy citrusy aroma, with some finishing malts on the end. Taste is very similar to the smell with a nice balanced flavor, citrusy hops up front and malt sweetness finishing. Light carbonation, gentle feel, soft finish. Good feel, and taste. Good balanced beer.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.5%

Brouwerij St Bernardus NV - St. Bernardus Prior 8

Deep, hazy, dark brown, with a large off white head that laces nicely. Smells of banana and cocoa with a definite presence of alcohol. Taste is cocoa malts and sweetness up front, banana and alcohol on the end. Feel is very tight up front on the tongue, finishes almost flat, thick, alcohol very warming. Nice beer not overly drinkable or sessionable.

Rating: Good

ABV: 8.0%

Brouwerij Het Anker - Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor

Pours a golden yellow with some haziness, extremely large white head, dissipates gradually, leaves beautiful lacing. Smell has a faint citrus aromas of lemon, grassiness, and the definite Belgian yeastiness, as it warms the strong aroma changes from the yeastiness to the citrus. Taste is again lemony with a cakey aftertaste. Feel is sharp and crisp, tight, with ample carbonation. Definitely enjoyable and drinkable, watch the ABV, though not extreme.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.0%

Ska Brewing Company - Nefarious Ten Pin Imperial Porter

Pours a deep dark ruby almost black, clear when held to the light. One finger of tan head that is barely there before it is gone. Slight bit of lacing left behind as the beer disappears. Smell is chocolate malts and some coffee, with a slight aroma of raisins. Taste is again, chocolate with definite coffee. Slight fruityness on the tail, with the alcohol. Feel has very light carbonation, smooth, slightly oily. Drinkable as any beer at 8% is, taste, aroma worth it, overall a good beer.

Rating: Best

ABV: 8.0%

Bear Republic Brewing Company - Hop Rod Rye

Pours a deep dark amber color with slightly off white head. Initial malts note followed by dry crisp smell of hops. Definitely hoppy on the front, coffee notes in the finish. Feel is light, lazy carbonation some oiliness. Good beer, medium drinkability due to ABV.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.0%

The Matt Brewing Company -Saranac High Peak Series imperial IPA

Poured from the bottle into a snifter a darker amber golden color with an off white head that dissipates quickly. Smell is faint but primarily malty in nature, more like a barleywine. Taste generally is much the same with malts taking the forefront and some slight pineyness on the finish. Feel is amply carbonated and crisp, with a medium body and a dry finish. Overall not a bad beer but not the best IIPA in my opinion.

Rating: Good

ABV: 8.5%

Terrapin Beer Company - Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout

Poured from the bottle into a snifter a deep dark almost black opaque color with little to no dark brown head. Smell is very much coffee malts with little if any hop character. Taste is very similar, very coffeelike with littly hoppiness. Feel has very light carbonation and is very smooth. Overall a great beer and one I will frequent when available.

Rating: Best

ABV: 8.1%

Boulevard Brewing Company - Double Wide I.P.A.

Found this beer to be extremely enjoyable, I was trying several different IPA this night and it fit right in with some of my favorites

Poured from the bottle with lots of head, three to four fingers, settled quickly to a 1/8" cap on an amber hazy color. Good hoppy citrusy aroma, thought I noticed some smokiness but very faint. Taste had nice citrusy flavors, some dryness. Good feel and carbonation in line with the style. Overall very drinkable, alcohol not extremely noticable.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.5%

Brouwerij Huyghe - Delirium Tremens

Poured from the bottle into a snifter a cloudy, golden hue with substantial bright white head that took a good bit to dissipate. Aroma is complex, bready, with some fruity/floral notes. Taste starts with fruity notes, bready in the middle and finishes with the alcohol. Carbonation is good, feels nice, smooth, some dryness. I enjoyed the Tremens though I don't know that I would drink more than one of the 750ml bottles in an evening.

Rating: Best

ABV: 8.5%

Duvel - Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV

Poured a clear and golden color with an ample bright white head into my snifter really very beautiful in appearance. Smell is appealing, fruity with some malty hints. Taste is fruity, hints of yeast and malts, enjoyable balance. Feel is very nice, carbonation tickles, light dryness. Easy to enjoy the 750ml, possibly even two, any more might be a stretch

ABV: 8.5%

Rating: Better

Old Jubilation - Avery Brewing Company

Poured from the bottle into my snifter a nice deep dark ruby color with ample offwhite/tan head. Smells initially of caramel malts and some piney bitterness, with a spicy aftertone. Spiciness is more evident in the taste with the malts and pine notes finishing. Good feel with medium carbonation and smooth finish. Overall a nice winter beverage.

ABV: 8.0%

Rating: Better

Big Bear Black Stout - Bear Republic Brewing

Poured from the bottle into my snifter. Great black appearance with a slight tan head that dissipated quickly to a nice crown. Wonderful aroma of coffee, chocolate, and roasted malts. Bitterness is slightly present in taste with chocolate and coffee primary flavors. Great feel with ample carbonation that tickles. Really a good stout and very enjoyable taste and a great feel.

ABV: 8.1%

Rating: Best

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%

Flying Dog Brewery - Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA

Pours a nice orangy-amber with a slightly off white head that laces nicely and dissipates rather slowly. Aroma is nice and spicy as it should be with ample citrusy hops backing up the spice. Taste is again spicy and citrusy. Feel is crisp and light bodied, with a slightly oily finish. Overall drinkability is good, I'll definitely have a few more of this Belgian IPA.

Rating: Good

ABV: 8.3%

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%

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%

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%

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%

Terrapin Brewing Company - Big Hoppy Monster

Really looking forward to this limited release from Terrapin. Really enjoy most red ales, so this was a special treat.

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass, darker ruby color that was clear and had about one finger of head that dissipated quickly into a crown on the beer. Hoppy aroma that leans toward citrusy grapefruit, roasted malt aromas come out after some warming. Taste mimics the aroma, with a good malty backbone lending some balance to an otherwise very hoppy ale. Good carbonation that tickles the tongue without overwhelming the feel. Very good beer overall that I could enjoy all evening.

Rating: Better

ABV 8.3%