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%

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%

Avery Brewing Company - The Czar

Avery Brewing Company's "The Czar" pours a deep dark black opaque, tannish golden head of one finger that dissipated to a nice crown. It smells of a nice roasted malt aroma, with some hop characteristics finding their way through. The taste is malts again, very prevalent, some crisp bitterness on the finish. Feel has a crisp carbonation, and an oily finish. Overall "The Czar" is as drinkable as the style can be given the sweetness and abv's prevalent. A good imperial stout though I typically prefer a bit more balance of hops to the malts.

Rating: Better

ABV: 11.03%

Bass Brewers Limited - Bass Pale Ale

Pours a deep reddish copper color with a little tan head. Smell is malty flavorings initially of banana, little hops to speak of. Taste is crisp, malty, some late hop notes. Feel has great carbonation, medium in feel, some oilyness. Overall a very good sessionable beer.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.0%

Ska Brewing Company - ESB Special Ale

Pours from the can a nice copper color little haze, with an off white two and a half finger head that laces enough, but dissipated pretty quickly. Smell pine notes initially with some malty sweetness following. Taste is crisp and piney followed with some roasted malt flavors. Feel is crisp yet very oily, good carbonation. Great drinking beer, very enjoyable, not too stout.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.7%

Alaskan Brewing Company - White

Pours somewhat hazy, golden blonde in color with a slightly off white, tiny bubbled head that dissipated quicker than expected given the two fingered amount. Smell is definitely banana and spices with some breadiness. Taste spices and citrus, a lttle graininess. Nice crisp feel, carbonation is just right. Overall enjoyable beer, definitely drinkable.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.3%

Schmaltz Brewing Company (He'Brew) - Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah (13)

Pours a motor oil black with a lighter than anticipated yellowish golden head that dissipates quickly, bubbles are small. Smell initial notes of brown sugar, alcohol presence is noted. Taste is coffee, caramel and chocolate. Full bodied feel, with some oiliness and light carbonation. As drinkable as the style allows, given the ABV, good overall.

Rating: Better

ABV: 13.0%

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 - Double Dead Guy

Nice deep copper color, very clear, pours a nice two finger head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma opens with some caramel malts, followed by some slight pine notes of hops. Taste is very crisp initially, malts sweetness, with some crisp pine notes, overall nice balance. Feel is good with tight and crisp carbonation that transitions to an oiliness on the finish. Overall nice drinkability, very balanced and a good overall beer.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.0%

Deschutes Brewery - Hop Trip (Bond Street Series)

Beautiful glowing copper color. Very clear and bright. One finger head that dissipated quickly not any noticeable lacing on the pint glass. Smell of pine and grapefruit on the nose, some malts balance very nicely. Taste pine and grapefruit again, but again very balanced. Great feel, nice carbonation, ample oiliness and feel. Great taste not overly sweet or bitter, great drinkability.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.5%

Odell Brewing Company - India Barley Wine

Darker copper color, with a light brown head that laced slightly in the glass. Some sweet malts presenting as banana, but the primary aroma is from the hops, grapefruit mostly. Taste is crisp pine followed with sweetness and some alcohol. Initially very carbonated but by the second pour carbonation was mostly gone. Enjoyable beer, abv limits repeatability, though i will drink again. Would like to try this aged several more months.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.7%

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%

Goose Island Beer Company - Bourbon County Brand Stout

Deep dark used motor oil black, poured an abysmal 1/2 inch head, that dissipated quickly with little to no crown in the pint glass. Smell, bourbon is more muted than expected, malts are vary prevalent, with coffee and caramel being the primary aromas. Taste is malty more than bourbon-y, definitely chocolaty with coffee and caramel, some bitters on the tail end. Very tight carbonation, with some crispness and dryness to it. Very sweet, and the ABV don't lend to true sessionablity though I could drink it several nights in a row.

Rating: Better

ABV: 13.0%

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%

Wychwood Brewing Company Ltd - Hobgoblin

I first had this beer in college, when a group of us went across from Johnson City, TN to Boone, NC to get good beer that wasn't available to us in Tennessee. I don't think I appreciated the beer near as much as I should have back then, but it was a cool bottle. This time around I was able to really sip, enjoy and finally review it. Here is what I came up with.

Pours a deep, dark brown/ruby almost black, clear color. One finger of sligtly off-white head that dissipates quickly to a thin crown. Smell is bananas, raisins, sweet malts. Taste is similar to the smell though not quite as bold, a little bit spicier. Light carbonation, with a dry finish, little aftertaste. Drinkable for sure, sweetness is not over powering, very balanced and full flavored.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.2%

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%

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%

Blackwells Neighborhood Pub - Vestavia Hills, AL

All right, here we go! Adding a new feature to the blog, with some reviews of great spots to have a great beer, and many times some great food. After all, what is a beer, but a beverage to be enjoyed in a bar watching the game or eating some food with friends.

First up is one of my favorite joints in Birmingham. Blackwells Neighborhood Pub in Vestavia Hills. A little hidden, it is located on Green Valley Road near the intersection of Crosshaven Boulevard. Close to The Summit and some of Mountain Brook and Liberty Park.

Open for lunch and dinner, it has a great beer selection for the area, both on tap and in bottles. The bottled beer menu is two full 8 1/2" x 11" sheets organized by style. They carry many of the local and regional brews along with a good selection of classics in many of the styles.

The food is excellent, with great appetizers (try the Gator Bites and Crawfish Jalapeno Skins) and the burgers are wonderful. If you have a risk taking compulsion definitely give The Gambler a try.

Sometimes the service can be a little slow around lunch, but, with a beer selection like theirs wating is not that big of a deal.

Rating: Better

Address: 3151 Green Valley Road, Vestavia Hills, AL 35243

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%