ipa dipa, another sierra nevada hype and one more from avbc

Since enjoying the Pliny, I’ve been craving big IPAs and DIPAs. I’ve been through a Blind Pig, the mellowed out version of Pliny from Russian River, and Hop Stoopid, from my favorite hit-and-miss brewery, Lagunitas. Also reviewed is the latest Sierra Nevada Hype beer (you know, the one everyone’s talking about), and Deep Enders Dark Porter from AVBC. I enjoyed that beer way more in the taproom, but it was still a treat to crack open!

BLIND PIG IPA - Russian River Brewing
6.00%ABV
Serving: 550mL to pint

A: Beer is a slightly hazy golden orange, featuring a small white head that retains beautifully for quite some time at the top of the brew and hangs around as super sticky lace on the pint glass for the session.
S: Wonderfully inviting bouquet of herbs, florals and hints of citrus rinds.
T: As promised by aromas, taste is herbal and floral on top of a malty backbone that holds ’til the very last drop; this is an incredibly balanced IPA.
M: Medium-bodied with balanced carbonation; a not too overpowering residue hangs out on palate.
D: This IPA contains flavors, aromas and mouthfeel that I would expect from a DIPA–in fact, it’s like a milder/slightly maltier version of Pliny the Elder. I would recommend this beer in a heartbeat. I can’t wait to buy a few more bottles! $4.19 at the co-op.
Blind Pig - A+

HOP STOOPID - Lagunitas Brewing
8.20%ABV, 102 IBUs
Serving: Bomber to large wine glass

A: About a finger of head dissipates to a sticky ring with some froth in the middle; beer is an amber, sappy color; a delicious amount of lacing all over the large wine glass.
S: Great bouquet of slight citrus and heavy sweet floral characters.
T: Big floral hop flavor; a quick, 102IBU intense bitterness at the end of the first few sips; very sweet at the front of the palate; a well-balanced DIPA indeed. 
M: Only drawback of this beer for me was that it was watery and thin at times, which really subdued the heavy (and expected) floral DIPA flavors. Otherwise medium-bodied with great carbonation, going relatively smoothly down the throat with decent bitter residuals. Could have been better in regards to mouthfeel.
D: A good DIPA, but not the first I’d grab from my co-op’s cooler. 
Hop Stoopid - B+
 

BIGFOOT BARLEYWINE STYLE ALE - Sierra Nevada
9.60%ABV, 90IBUs
Serving: 2009 12oz bottle to pint

A: Over a finger of creamy beige head; body is a reddish-brown and amber mixture with copper tones along the edges. Beautiful head retention that refuses to leave me. I’ve been nursing this beer for an hour and the head is still sticking at the very top of the glass. So incredible.
S: Heavy herbal aromas with the pine that is reminiscent of Torpedo. Florals deeper in the aroma though not as strong as the other scents. Some hints of malts on the nose.
T: At first, the flavors include incredibly hoppy and bitter notes, with florals that just dominate my palate. The bitter flavor is someone charred or burnt at different points in the sip. There’s a malty backbone that, in the beginning, provides an intense syrupy sweetness that balances the hop and bitter presence. Eventually this sugar shop sweetness just dominates, leaving the hops crying for attention.
M: Heavy, syrupy body that is carbonated just right and leaves a ton of malty residue in my mouth.
D: This beer is tricky. It starts out so hoppy but the sweetness just completely takes over, making this beer wonderful for dessert. Next time, I’ll split a bottle for after dinner–mostly because of the immense sweetness that pulls through. I’d love to know what this beer tastes like after a couple of years. Limited release. Get it while you can! 
Bigfoot - A+
 

Deep Enders Dark Porter - Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
5.50%ABV
Serving: split bomber

A: Small tan head over an exceptionally dark black/brown and ruby-hued beer; head retains wonderfully and leaves webs of lace on the glass.
S: Not much on the nose other than malts. I’m barely pulling any coffee of the aroma.
T: Roasted coffee with caramel and toffee notes over a barely-there hop presence; nothing too overwhelming on the taste buds, either.
M: Light to medium body, though closer to the former since this beer was pretty thin and watery in moments. 
D: Maybe it was because I split the 22oz, but I was craving so much more beer after having this. I expect my porters to fill me up, but this barely did the trick. Deep Enders was much more enjoyable in the taproom at AVBC. Cheers to the folks in Boonville, anyhow!
Deep Enders - B-
 

Barleywine, Brown, IPA, Stout

It has been a good week for beer. The weather has been alternating between cold/rainy and mild/sunny. Luckily, I’ve had a brew to match each and every element. 

OLD FOGHORN BARLEYWINE STYLE ALE - Anchor Brewing
8.80%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint

A: A somewhat foggy amber tone turns red as I held this beer up closer to the light. Small head dissipates to nearly nothing leaving very little lacing.
S: Sweet malts at forefront, heavy fruit aromas dominated by banana esters. The aromas were inviting and very exciting.
T: Dark and sweet fruits at the beginning of the sip, hints of alcohol in the middle, ending in a pretty strong bitter kick. Leaves a bit of residue clinging to the back of the tongue. The bitters become just a little overwhelming (in an unbalanced fashion) towards the middle of the beer’s life. 
M: Medium body, medium carbonation, somewhat coarse/rough on the tongue.
D: This beer started out really well. The aromas and initial flavors made me crave more, but it all quickly unraveled in my experience. It was like the beer fell apart as time passed. Before I say anything too definitive about this beer fitting (or not) the style, I definitely want to try some more American barleywines (I have a Bigfoot waiting in my fridge). I would recommend more balanced brews from Anchor that I’ve enjoyed before I’d recommend this one.
Old Foghorn - B+
Available now at the Co-Op and Cost Plus, though terribly overpriced at both locations, in my opinion. 
 
ROGUE HAZELNUT BROWN NECTAR – Rogue Ales Brewery/Brewers on the Bay; Newport, OR
6.20%ABV, 28IBUs
Serving: 220z bomber to pint

Paired with my grilled pizza at lunch. It was a great match, though I don’t know if this is a beer I would want without food.

A: Dark brown and ruby hues; small head dissipates but leaves beige froth and eventually a small ring of foam. Very little lacing on my pint.
S: Nutty, especially sweet hazelnut on the nose.
T: Sweet malts with a hazelnut finish and aftertaste; mostly balanced tastes of sweetness and a slight bitter that I couldn’t quite place. The tastes are pretty inconsistent, but some might just call this character.
M: Lighter bodied with moderate carbonation.
D: This beer has pretty good drinkability if you don’t mind the sweetness and, at times, the awkward bitter notes. Not my favorite brown, but I’d recommend it/have another!
Rogue Hazelnut - B

one of the many very amusing label themes on rogue bombers

 
TORPEDO EXTRA IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing
7.20%ABV,  70IBUs
Serving: 12oz to pint

Appearance is solid finger off-white, airy/bubbly head; hues of copper, tan and amber and there is sticky lacing rounding out an everpresent head. 
Citrus and herbal hop notes on the nose with just the slightest sweetness deep in the aroma. 
Tastes of herbs and florals that glide smoothly over the tongue, lightly coating the palate. The beer doesn’t leave the massive amounts of pleasurable residue featured in DIPAs, but it’s still pleasant. There’s a brief sweetness at the front of the sip, rounded out by that piney/forest characteristic. In general, the taste is very well balanced. 
Mouthfeel is my favorite part about this beer. Medium bodied and medium carbonation and smooth as hell. This beer goes down so easily that I polished off the 12oz in minutes. An exceptionally drinkable beer, with the alcohol creeping up on you only at the very end. I’ve already recommended this to friends and I look forward to enjoying some more. 
Torpedo - A
Available in 6-packs at the Co-Op.  

 WOLAVER’S OATMEAL STOUT (certified organic) - Otter Creek Brewery/Wolaver’s; Middlebury, VT
5.90%ABV
Serving: 120z to nonic pint

A: Firm one to two fingers of light tan head over a beer that is black-bodied but brown enough around the edges to remind me more of a porter than a stout.
S: Sweet roasted coffee malts, sweet vanilla and maple syrup.
T: Balance of roasted coffee as promised by the aroma; flavorful maple/oat combo, rounded out by slight hoppiness. 
M: Mouthfeel is more like a stout than the appearance is; heavy body with light but appropriate carbonation; smooth riding down the throat and just the slightest sweet residue coating the mouth.
D: I’d have another, and maybe another. Very similar to a number of porters I’ve tried. This would make a great breakfast beer–maple-flavored oatmeal and a cup of coffee all in one bottle! I recommend this as one of the most flavorful organic brews I’ve had.
Wolaver’s Oatmeal Stout - A
Available now at the co-op.

breakfast in a glass

I have a few great beers lined up for my body and mind to enjoy, and I look forward to writing about them soon!