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%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Anniversary Ale (2007-2009)

Darker in color than some IPA's, pours a copper/golden/amber color with ample tan head of about 3 fingers, laces nicely on my snifter. Faint notes of pine on the nose, not overly aromatic. Taste is again pine, with some malty presence following, almost caramel. Feel is crisp on the front and oily on the finish. Nice sessionable beer, not super bold on the aromas or the flavors, but enough to keep it good.

Rating: Good

ABV: 5.9%

The Lost Abbey - Avant Garde

Pours a nice reddish brown copper color with an off white head that laces decently and dissipates quickly. Not very strong aromas, but some biscuity malt followed with some apple. Taste is similar to smell with some dryness and crispness. Dry feel with some good carbonation that doesn't stick around long. Drinkable for sure, but not one I'm going after really often.

Rating: Good

ABV: 7.0%

Bear Republic Brewing Co. - Racer 5 India Pale Ale

Poured a hazy(bottle conditioned) golden color, with little head, and not any retention past about a second. Great aromas of hops, specifically citrus and pine did not notice a strong malt presence. Taste is crisp pine notes, with grapefruit finish. Crisp feel, little carbonation, some oiliness. Enjoyable, and very drinkable. Nothing keeping me from downing a sixer of these.

Rating: Best

ABV: 7.0%

Moylans Brewery - Hopsickle Imperial Pale Ale

Pours a nice clear copper color, with an ample tan head that dissipates quickly. Smooth citrus notes of grapefruit, with pine following in the aroma. Taste of pine is most prominent with the citrus as a follower. Feel tight, strong carbonation with an oily finish. Drinkable given the obvious fact of the alcohol content, other than that i could drink these for days.

Rating: Best

ABV: 9.2%

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%

Green Flash Brewing Company - Le Freak

Pours a golden copper color with an off white head of one finger that hangs around quite well. Smell is definitely spicy with a cakey aroma to open with clear hops following. Love the spicy flavors initially with a crisp clear hoppy bitterness finishing each sip. A little light on the carbonation in my opinion, but overall a good feel. Overall very enjoyable and a great change of pace, though these hybrids arent usually my favorite.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.2%

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%

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%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Torpedo Extra IPA

Pours a golden/amber/copper color with an off white one finger head, laced the glass nicely. Great smell, very much piney with some light floral notes on the end. Taste, again very much a piney flavor of the hops, some slight grapefruit notes finishing. Good feel, light carbonation, not to dry. Nice, abv isn't out of this world, but more than a few is a few too many.

Rating: Best

ABV: 7.2%

Green Flash Brewing Company - West Coast IPA

Pours a gentle golden/copper color with a white head. Smell is very strong pine notes initially then some more floral notes that follow. Taste is very bold hop flavors, pine followed by floral notes. Nice light tight carbonation with ample all the way through even on a slow drink. Good, the only thing keeping this from being an all night beer is the ABV.

Rating: Better

ABV: 7.3%

Stone Brewing Company - Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

Pours a deep dark ruby colors with an offwhite two finger head. The oak barrel ageing is definitely apparent in the aromas, though some other maltiness and latent hoppiness is lurking. Ooak barrel aging up front in the taste with hoppiness following. Great mouthfeel, very carbonated with smooth finish. Enjoyable and somewhat stout, limits drinkability, however the alcohol is not out in front and therefore could sneak up.

Rating: Better

ABV: 7.2%

Green Flash Brewing Company - Hop Head Red Ale

Poured a deep reddish copper with a tan two finger head that dissipated to cap the beer, some yeast floating in beer. Definitely hoppy pine aromas, some maltiness hiding in there. Similar to smell, starts, goes, and finishes with hops, but not overpowering. Very nice feel with good carbonation that keeps on coming all the way through, and crisp finish. Definitely enjoyable and very sessionable. A great cross between a red(amber) ale and a IPA, though it is very much skewed toward the IPA.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.4%

North Coast Brewing - Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Poured a deep dark brown, almost black with a very thick (3 finger) dark brown almost golden head. Smell is hazelnut and chocolate, roasted malts, no alcohol odor. Taste is definitely roasted malts and chocolate/cocoa flavors, really seems to be very balanced. Feel has good light carbonation, not tremendous thickness. Overall very good and very drinkable, easily have more than 2 at a session.

Rating: Best

ABV: 9.0%

Russian River Brewing Company - Consecration

Pours into the snfter a deep mahogany with a surprisingly bright head for the color. Smells very much similar to a merlot, a very interesting floral and fruity smell. Taste is much like the aroma, and very much like some merlots, sweet, with a tartness. Feel is nice, carbonation seems just right, with an aftertaste that lingers. Overall rating is good, the bomber was ok, but more would be tough given the sweetness (personal preference) and the alcohol.

Rating: Better

ABV: 10.0%

Russian River Brewing Company - Blind Pig IPA

Poured from the bottle a golden color with ample bright white head, dissipates quickly but laces nicely. Aroma is floral with citrus notes consistent with many India Pale Ale. Taste is very similar to smell, hoppy bitterness and citrus notes. Felt good with ample carbonation and an oily finish. Overall very drinkable and enjoyable.

Rating: Best

ABV: 6.1%

Anchor Steam Beer - Anchor Brewing Company

Poured into a standard pint glass, with a slightly off white head of about two fingers and a orangish-tan color. Smells of some citrus and bitter pine, with some malts as well. Taste is more malty and more piney with the citrus notes taking a back seat. Feel is crisp, with a fairly light body, very carbonated. Good overall beer nice feel, flavor and aroma.

ABV: 4.9%

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