Rubbing Elbows with the Local Beer Lovers

I finally met up with some local beer gurus at Brewbakers in Visalia yesterday. (Here’s a link and a caveat: http://www.brewbakersbrewingco.com/, where almost every beer I’ve had tastes exactly like I think it should for the style.  But of course, that’s just my little opinion.) Special thanks to Neil, Dan, Jen, Jim the Flirt, and everyone else who participated in and contributed to the tasting. I had a blast! Started off with the house IPA, which was unfiltered and quite tasty, and as Jen noted, exactly what one would expect a glass of grapefruit juice to taste like. Mmm. I can’t wait to buy growlers of this stuff! Then during the tasting, we sampled plenty of goodies, including the following notables:

SN Glissade: Pleasant, but a little rough around the edges. The hops dominated the hell out of the beer, and as much as I love hops, it was almost too much earthy/grassy/spicy for me. There was a bit of honey malt to balance, but I would have liked a little more. SN’s last bock was much more mellow in my opinion, though I recall it not being a Maibock like the Glissade.

Just Outstanding IPA: I was so excited to finally get a chance to try this one. I only live about 2 hours from the brewery, and I’ve seen bottles in Bakersfield, but just never got around to it. Let me say that I will now be picking up at least one bomber every time I go to Bako from here on out (and I go there a lot). So hoppy. So smooth. An easy favorite.

Bison Chocolate Stout: A damn good chocolate stout. Not much else to say, other than I wouldn’t mind having one of these for dessert right about now.

DFH Sah’tea: Brewed with chai and juniper berries. The chai dominates. This tasted less like a beer, and more like the soy chai lattes I enjoy a couple times a week. I wanted to pour it in my mug and drink it for breakfast the next day.

And, my favorite, Lindemans Gueuze Cuvée René: Sour, horsey, fruity, but very clean. I want this right now. Please, someone, give me more.

I also acquired a Firestone Walker 13 from a lopsided trade with Dan, and I’m going to hold onto it for the rest of my life. Bought a few bottles at Frank’s as well. I imagine Neil and I will take care of those within the next couple of weeks, which I’m looking forward to! Another thank you to local folks and TCHOPS for giving meaning to my Sunday afternoons.

I’ll end with a review. I LOVE stormy days and dark beers:

SMUTTYNOSE BALTIC PORTER – Smuttynose Brewing (Big Beer Series)
8.70%ABV
Serving: 22oz bomber to nonic

A: Two thick fingers of tan head that sticks around for a while after the pour. The brew is pitch black, not a hint of light pulling through. A nice-sized tan film retains over the body, and there’s some great cascading lace.
S: Huge dark chocolate malts on the nose at the pour. Slightly smoky, with oak and wood aromas, and heavily roasted coffee.
T: Flavors are intensely chocolate and coffee, as expected from the nose. There’s a slight acidic tang creeping up from behind to try and balance out the massive presence of the malts. Heaps of bitters, and more with warmth. Plenty of molasses, fig, and overripe berry. This seems right on for the style.
M: Viscous, but be careful…the high carbonation ups the drinkability factor quite a bit. That’s one way to get me to drink a high ABV beer very quickly.
D: Wow, I am definitely a big fan of this one. I usually like to split bombers of big porters and imperial stouts with comrades (like the bottle suggests), but I just made this one last an entire Friday afternoon. Thanks for another amazing beer, Jason.
Baltic Porter - A

Dark beer for a dark day.

A picture of the explosive carbonation. Ka-boom! Out of the glass, and all over the countertop.

The Devil Made Us Do It!! — A Joint Review

Here are two reviews of the same beer, The Devil Made Me Do It! Coffee Imperial Oatmeal Porter, from Tyranena’s Brewer’s Gone Wild! series. ABV and IBUs are unknown.

Kara:
Poured it, but almost no head. It is very, very dark. Can’t see through the glass. Slight hint of ruby at the very bottom edge of the glass. 
Very strong coffee smell; espresso beans, with a hint of chocolate.
Tastes like a strong iced Americano. The alcohol taste is imperceptible. The after-taste is an espresso bean, but without the gritty.

Judy:
A: Almost a finger of tan head with a very aggressive pour. Pitch black with only light brown edges in the light. Some retention but not lacing. 
S: Coffee beans, bitter chocolate, oats, and a toasted aroma.
T/M: Huge espresso flavors — reminiscent of downing a Starbucks double shot. Super viscous with little carbonation but that doesn’t take away from the experience one bit. Silky smooth! I can’t get much more than the coffee, but the burnt really comes out with warmth and overtakes that nice oat characteristic that I enjoy. 
D: Great sipper. Easy to drink and very tasty.
TDMMDI  - A

A Dozen

12 libations. I’ll just cut right to the chase.

Black Wheat – New Glarus Brewing Co.; New Glarus, WI
5.75%ABV
Serving: 12oz to weizen glass
A: Four huge fingers of a creamy and lively tan head over black and dark brown that gets a little lighter at the edges. Head retention is mountainous! Smatterings of lacing on the glass. Truly a beautiful sight.
S: Refreshing aromas of wheat, coffee, and chocolate (in a wheat beer?!). Prominent cloves and other dark spices pull through. 
T: Roasted coffee (?!), with a great wheat and clove backbone. Mostly sweet malts with no real hop bitterness to speak of; the only bitterness seems to come from a chocolate character. A smoky flavor pulls through as the beer warms, and it alternates with a similar but distinct smoked flavor (the former being like an open fire, and the latter as in that which is used to flavor food–that’s just how my brain works). 
M: Crisp and pretty light. Smooth with no residuals. 
D: Wow. This beer is incredible. Tons of character in the flavor. I look forward to trying more dunkels AND more from New Glarus! 
Black Wheat – A

Cheers to Natasha once again for this one! And no, I don't like to crop photos.

Nugget Nectar – Troegs Brewing Co.; Harrisburg, PA
7.50%ABV, 93(ish) IBUs
Serving: 12oz to nonic
Note: I reviewed this one keeping in mind that it isn’t at optimal “freshness”. 
A: Hazy amber and golden. One finger frothy white(ish) head. Bubbly retention and sticky lace. 
S: Piney and floral, reminiscent of SN Torpedo. Hint of spice tickles my nose momentarily. There’s a dirty earthiness about the hops, like the hand on the label picked that hop right off the vine and threw it into this bottle. Definite bready malts in there, too.
T: Mellow florals still, really balanced out by a straightforward malt backbone (more noticeable with age?). Hops are less piney/spicy on the tongue than they are in aroma. Moderate lingering bitterness. An even and smooth flavor.
M: Medium carbonation with not too dry a finish.
D: Ends deliciously. I can’t wait to try this one fresh. I’d get a 6er now, despite it’s un-fresh factor.
Nugget Nectar – A-

Thanks to Mike for this generous extra!

Summer Ale – Brooklyn Brewing Co.; Brooklyn, NY
5.00%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint
A: About a finger of white foamy head that dissipates rapidly to a thin surface. Brew is golden colored.
S: Sweet malty but in a grainy, bready (bordering on yeasty) kind of way. Some fruit comes to the front, but only in passing. 
T: Grainy and bready malts dominate the sip. Some hop bitterness at the very back, but it doesn’t stick around long. As the brew warms even just a bit, a heavy buttery note pulls through, and the sip ends in a lemon twang.
M: Crisp carbonation with a light body that rarely bordered on watery. The finish is relatively dry.
D: Really refreshing. It seems like this beer is true to its style. I’m not a huge fan of the bready/buttery EPA character. But even as I swatted a fruit fly into my glass, I kept drinking. 
Summer Ale – B

Breakfast Stout – Founders Brewing Co.
8.30%ABV, 25IBUs
Serving: 12oz to snifter
A: A huge head explodes out of nowhere. Super creamy light brown foam isn’t going anywhere for a while. I can’t see many more hues beyond the black. There’s mountainous retention and beautiful lacing.
S: Sweet malt on the pour. Roasted coffee and dark (bitter) cacao. Dark fruit malts and berry esters are also in the game.
T/M: Everything I expected from the aromas. I’ve heard a lot about this beer being huge on coffee, but it definitely has a great balance that holds its own against other big RIS names. Dark chocolate alternates with sweet milk chocolate. Carbonation bordering on crisp brings out spicy characteristics in the beer. There’s something dark and interesting in the back of the aroma and flavor but I can’t quite name it. Medium-bodied (one of the thinner imperial stouts I’ve had), but still great complexities and subtleties. The oatmeal also really comes out with warmth. The last sip ends in bitter chocolate oatmeal. It really holds up ’til the very end!
D: This is easily one of the best beers I’ve ever had. Dangerously drinkable. I highly recommend it to ALL. 
Breakfast Stout – A+

biggest head on an imperial stout that i've seen. awesome!

Star Island Single – Smuttynose Brewing Co.; Portsmouth, NH
5.80%ABV
Serving: 12oz to tulip
A: A finger of white bubbly head over a hazy copper. A little retention.
S: Big citrus esters at the pour. Good malty, sugary sweetness and mellow, earthy hops as well. Very balanced aromas.
T: A surprisingly grainy brew, much like a lager but with more complex citrus and earthy hops. There’s only a light hop bitterness at the back of the sip. A touch of spice tickles my tongue. Biscuity notes come out, and there’s more bitterness with warmth that reminds of me of fruit that hasn’t quite yet had enough time to ripen. Balanced, and different from other Belgian styles I’ve had.
M: Higher carbonation with a pretty light body and a relatively dry finish. 
D: Definite Belgian ale characteristics. Though I’d have this interesting beer again, I don’t know that I’d have it more than once in a single sitting (it boasts itself as a “session ale brewed with spices”). 
Star Island – B

an awesome trade extra from Mike!

Smooth Hoperator – Stoudts Brewing Co.; Adamstown, PA
7.00%ABV, 50IBUs
Serving: 12oz to pils glass
A: Finger of beige frothy head over amber and dark copper. Good retention and some lacing.
S: Big bready and yeasty aromas right at the pour. Sweet malts in there, too. Esters of apple and dried figs come to mind.
T: Very similar to the aroma with those dark, dried fruit (fig and prune) esters coming to the fore. A very bready malt sense dominates. I’m not getting many hop characteristics. Is it just my bottle? 
M: Nearly medium-bodied with some astringency.
D: I’ve never had a doppelbock like this one. I’m almost wondering if it was the bottle that was off? Either way, toning down the dried fruit just a notch would definitely make me like this one a bit more. 
Smooth Hoperator – B

Wipeout IPA – Port Brewing Co./Pizza Port; San Marcos, CA
7.00%ABV
Serving: 22oz bomber to pint
A: Cloudy dark yellow to light golden hues with a small, white bubbly head. Good retention and smatterings of sticky lacing.
S: Aroma is big lemon citrus hops and bready malts to balance. Also pulling out some grapefruit and other ripe fruits.
T: A nicely balanced brew with hops coming out in the front (citrus, just like in the aroma) with a malty backbone that also comes to the fore. Bitter hops really come out with warmth. This is a very straightforward IPA.
M: Good carbonation and medium-bodied that’s smooth but not a ton of bitter residuals.
D: Straightforward and balanced. A pretty solid IPA.
Wipeout – B+

Dead Reckoning Porter – Troegs Brewing Co.
5.80%ANV, 53IBUs
Serving: 12oz to mug
A: Unfiltered dark caramel colored with a bit of bubbly tan head. There are “floaties” in the foam…could it be yeast? There’s a ring of retention in the glass with just a bit of lacing.
S: Bready malts, slight metallic. Not a ton discernible on the nose, to be honest.
T: Roasted barley with very subtle coffee and dark chocolate flavors (the subtlety is a nice break from most big porter flavors). A bit of bitter chocolate residue lingers. Not a ton of hops to balance out.
M: Medium body with a creamy and low to medium carbonation.
D: Very different from others in the style. I liked it a lot more as it warmed and really brought forth the subtleties. Tröegs has been a great brewery so far!
Dead Reckoning – B

Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema – Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
5.60%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint
A: Relatively clear amber with over one finger of dark beige and creamy foam. Some retention, but not a ton of lacing.
S: Sweet malts with some honey and bread. Refreshing, spicy aromas on the nose.
T/M/D: Honey and spices offer contrasting but complementary malts and hops. A little watery at moments in the sip (light body). Drinks like a lager with medium carbonation and great drinkability. I’ve had this one twice now and there is definitely metallic note upon each sip. Caramel sweetness comes out with warmth. This beer is great for a summer day, but also worked surprisingly well as a dessert drink. I look forward to the rest of this 6er. Well done, AVBC! 
Cerveza Crema – B

Cappuccino Stout – Lagunitas
7.99%ABV
Serving: 22oz bomber to snifter
A: Tiny beige head dissipates quickly, retaining only as a small ring around the snifter. Beer is dark brown with ruby hues.
S: Big bready malt aromas. Not a ton of coffee on the nose, but there’s a slightly citric hop character that pulls through.
T: Toffee malts really come out in the sip. Bitter residuals and a big cappuccino sense (milky and sweet) is there too. Hops provide balance and bitter chocolate lingers.
M: Light-to-medium body. A bit thin for the style. Carbonation is medium.
D: Very easy to drink, especially with the lighter mouthfeel. Reminds me a lot more of a coffee porter than a stout. The alcohol isn’t noticeable at any part of the session (during OR afterwards). Another Lagunitas goody, though not my absolute favorite.
Cap Stout – B+

Shoal’s Pale Ale – Smuttynose
5.00%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint
A: Hazy amber and orange with a finger of off-white, bubbly head. Some sticky lacing and good retention.
S: Citrus and hops, sweet bready malts to balance. A big, fruity bouquet to boot.
T: A good dose of bitter, slightly citric hops at the front. Woody, almost piney hops are trying really hard to dominate. Metallic notes.
M: Great carbonation, a creamy light-to-medium bodied mouthfeel. A decent amount of bitter residuals caking my palate.
D: Refreshing, and downright delicious. A wonderful session beer. I look forward to having more of the Shoals to help wind down after a long day. 
Shoal’s – B+

a great beer from a great trade!

Mirror Pond Pale Ale – Deschutes
5.00%ABV, 40IBUs
Serving: 12oz to pint
A: Two thick fingers of beige, creamy head over an amber ale. Beautiful retention and some sticky lacing.
S: Sweet malty goodness with a firm hop backbone. Grapefruit is discernible, and is a bit of orange zest. Some spices on the nose. Really powerful hop aromas.
T/M: A very balanced brew right off the bat. Citrus hops, a dark fruit and bready backbone to balance. Very smooth with medium carbonation. Residuals leave mild bitterness behind. Some notes of metallic, which I often find in APAs. Citrus comes out even more with warmth, and that’s a darn fine characteristic.
D: Balanced. Smooth. Refreshing. Definitely one of the best APAs and session brews available. Just another day for Deschutes!
Mirror Pond – A-

thanks to chris for reminding me how great Deschutes' flagship beer is!

 Ugh. I’m full. But pass me another!

This Week’s Goodies

It has been a superb new beer week:

LONDON PORTER - Meantime Brewing Co. Limited; London, UK
6.50%ABV
Serving: 750mL to my new imperial nonic (thanks, El!)

A: 2 pretty solid fingers of dark beige head over a dark cocoa and semi-ruby brew. Head retains wonderfully.
S: Chocolate malts explode on the nose with a coffee backdrop. Toffee aromas pull through as well.
T: Chocolate and coffee malt sweetness provide the crux of the flavor. A slight hop bitterness to round out and balance. A smoky intensity pulls through, and a dark fruit is hiding beneath all the while.
M: Light body but not light on carbonation. This beer is crispy and refreshing, which is something I find quite endearing in a porter!
D: I can drink, and drink, and drink. This is a complex brew with plenty of beautiful subtleties. I look forward to trying the coffee version.
London - A
 
FOUNDERS IMPERIAL STOUT - Founders Brewing Co.; Grand Rapids, Michigan
10.00%ABV, 25IBUs
Serving: 12oz to my new large snifter (Thanks, El!)

A: Roughly a finger of dark tan head over a jet black brew. A bubbly head retains well and leaves mesmerizing vertical lacing on the glass.
S: Sweet malts of coffee and chocolate, smoky on the nose as well. There’s a sense of burnt or bitter. Dark fruits and a hearty oatmeal aroma pull through.
T: A well-balanced stout with sweet malts reflecting the aromas, the emphasis being on a very dark, bitter chocolate (maybe pure cacao?); sip ends in a slightly sour/citric tang at the back of the mouth.
M: Big, chewy, and full-bodied to boot. This keeps my mouth busy.
D: Another RIS sipper, but absolutely fantastic and superb drinkability. I’ll be trading in near future for more from Founders.
Founders Imperial Stout - A
I received this incredible stout as an extra in my first trade. Thanks, Kyle!

 BLANCHE DE CHAMBLY - Unibroue
5.00%ABV
Serving: 750mL to my new weizen glass (Thanks, El!)

A: One finger of white head over a pale golden, lightly-hazed beer. Almost zero retention on the head, which made it less aesthetically appealing.
S: Fresh wheat and citrus (orange zest, more specifically). Very light coriander spice under the citrus. 
T: Big citrus flavors and refreshing wheat. Spices try to pull through but must suffice as a subtlety. A hint of metallic, and a touch of hop to round out and balance. 
M: Crisp, but not in the lager sense. Relatively light-bodied and little to no residue.
D: Clear, refreshing and simple. Not the first witbier I’d turn to, but an incredible take on the this satiating style!
Blanche - B+

don't let the color fool you. this brew holds its own against H2O as a pleasurable thirst quencher!

 
BULLY! PORTER - Boulevard Brewing Co.; Kansas City, Missouri
5.20%ABV, 47 IBUs
Serving: 12oz to the buffalo stein (Thanks, K!)

A: Three fingers tan head forms quickly, nearly overflowing out of my stein. Dark brown with ruby and copper edges. Creamy head hangs around nicely and there’s a frothy lacing that becomes sticky with time. It takes a good 10 minutes before the remaining finger of head dies down, but not completely.
S: Sweet malts of chocolate and coffee. Metallic hints in there as well. Some fruitiness at the back of the aroma.
T: Bitter dark chocolate coffee kick with the strong bitterness really lingering. Slightly fruity and that citrus finish that I look forward to in my porter! As the beer warms, it takes on a big roasty flavor that lasts until the end.
M: Light-bodied. The only real downside to this beer was that it felt a bit watery at times.
D: So pleasant and easy to drink. I love a good porter during a long afternoon! Roasty and warm for the winter, yet crisp and refreshing for my hot afternoons. I look forward to having this again.
Bully! - A-

bottle conditioning makes for an explosion out of the glass

 

 

Sierra Nevada Brews, to go

It’s Picnic Day, and I’m having a swell time sitting on my porch (with some great beers, of course) watching the drunkards fall off their bikes and yell obscenities. It’s a perfect day for a blog post! Thank you, Sierra Nevada, for the following:

 

SN PALE BOCK
7.00%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pils
A: White finger of good looking head over a semitransparent light golden/orange brew. Head dissipates relatively quickly but at least lingers over the surface of the beer for the session.
S: Crisp lager freshness on the nose with malt sweetness delicately balanced out by hops. Honey and grains on the nose.
T/M: Crisp, light and perfectly carbonated mouthfeel brings out a balanced but seemingly basic malt and hop profile. Honey (as on the nose) with a semi-dry, bitter hop finish.
D: No overwhelming flavors or aromas…nondescript brews are necessary now and then! This is great for the style, and it’s a perfect beer to welcome the hot Cali sun. This beer is easily sessionable.
Pale Bock - B+

SN WHEAT BEER
4.40%ABV
Serving: 12oz to weizen
A: FOUR huge fingers of white, thick foam over a somewhat hazy dark orange to light copper color. There is a respectable amount of lacing and head retention.
S: Fresh wheat and spice under a crisp aroma of (vaguely) damp grains.
T: Not the hugest flavors, but those discernible include citrus and wheat. The flavors are not as spicy as the aromas would lead me to believe. The sip ends in a bitter fruit character. There is also a delicate perfume sense about the beer that I quite enjoyed.
M: Water at some moments, but mostly crisp and refreshing. 
D: I’m more than happy to finish the 6er of this brew and make room for the Kellerweis! But I do want to point out that this beer is great to pair with a salad.
Wheat - B

 

SN PORTER 
5.60%ABV, 40IBUs
Serving: 12oz to stein
A: Three fingers of a huge, bulbous head that almost spills out of my stein. The brew is a dark brown with ruby hues. The rocky head sticks around for a while and leaves some sticky lacing.
S: Chocolate, coffee beans, and oatmeal. These are absolutely inviting aromas for me.
T/M: Big sweet malts of semi-burnt chocolate and roasted coffee. Rounds out to a citrus/tangy finish. A great bitter residue sticks around from this nearly medium-bodied brew. Roasted flavors really pull through as the it warms in my glass.
D: This is exactly what a porter should be. Will it replace Black Butte as my go-to beer?
SN Porter - A+ 

look at the head on this beer! and no, I don't spend all my time on beeradvocate.com...

 

Great Lakes

Here are the two Great Lakes beers I traded for last month. Worth every penny of packing material, shipping and Pliny’s from my end. The brewery, out of Cleveland, has a great website that ya’ll should be sure to check out. http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com

EDMUND FITZGERALD PORTER
5.80%ABV, 37IBUs
Serving: 12oz to nonic
A: About two fingers of beige/tan head over a dark mahogany and black. This libation looks so good in my nonic.
S: Great big aroma immediately at the pour. Coffee and chocolate, smoky, oats, syrup and dark fruits. Reminds me of a campfire. And maybe some pancakes.
T/M: Bitter burnt dark chocolate, espresso notes to boot. Balanced smokiness with a touch of hops to round out. Light mouthfeel with great carbonation that leaves a pleasant tingling bittersweet note on the palate. Hops contribute to the bitter left behind.
D: Amazing. Props to Great Lakes for having an “Enjoy By” date. This will definitely be a favorite.
Edmund Fitz - A+ 

BLACKOUT STOUT
9.00%ABV, 85IBUs
Serving: 12oz to snifter
A: Totally and completely black. No light pulling through at all. A small head dissipates quickly to a tan ring. Very little webbed lacing.
S: Strong espresso notes and dark chocolate with a hint of notes.
T: Huge dark chocolate and massive coffee notes. These sweet malts are balanced out by a wonderful (and subtle) hop flavor. Burnt flavors round out the sip.
M: Incredibly full-bodied with a slick mouthfeel; bitter residuals coat the mouth.
D: This beer is great to sip on for an hour. I recommend this beer to anyone into complex, balanced and hearty brews.
Blackout Stout - A

named after the "great blackout of 2003", where folks gathered outside and shared cases of beer with their neighbors. my philosophy: that should happen regardless of the electricity situation

No Theme In Particular

A beer a day brings more blog entries your way! 

PIPELINE PORTER - Kona Brewing Co.; Kona, HI
5.40%ABV
Serving: 12oz to stein
A: Finger of frothy, sticky tan head; body is pitch black with some ruby hues in the light. Great head retention and lacing on the stein.
S: Sweet malts; coffee and slight oatmeal aroma.
T: Coffee and sweetness dominates at first but is rounded out and balanced with a nice hop presence. Small amount of bitter chocolate residue left on palate. Beer tastes “watery” at times, like there is a gap in the flavor that can be filled in with…something. Chocolate/nut/coffee would fit well.
M: Creamy, medium-bodied beer. 
D: A sessionable porter. Good drinkability. I’ve already sent this beer off with some friends. I look forward to having some more!
Pipeline - A- (available in 6ers at the co-op for under $7)

ERDINGER WEISSBIER KRISTALLKLAR - Erdinger Weissbräu; Erding, GER
5.30%ABV
Serving: 12oz to nonic, for lack of proper weizen glass
A: Clear light golden brew with a HUGE 3 finger white head that retains well for the whole session.
S: Inviting fresh aroma; metallic and a grainy/wheat smell.
T: Banana, metallic, and crisp wheat right off the bat. Wet grains, some light spices in and out of the glass, and sometimes, there were flavors of absolutely nothing. 
M: Lighter-bodied with tons of great, refreshing carbonation.
D: This beer is so pleasant to drink. Though I prefer unfiltered wheat styles, I look forward to buying a few of these for the hot California summer.
Kristallklar - A- (available at Cost Plus)

the massive head would have looked even better in the proper glass!

STONE RUINATION IPA - Stone Brewing
7.70%ABV, 100+ IBUs
Serving: 22oz bomber to large wine glass
A: Amber and orange slightly hazy body with a finger of a very creamy off-white head. Sticky webbing of lace all over the glass. Head retention could be a bit better.
S: Nice bouquet of floral with a sweet pine aroma in the back.
T: Smack of bitter hops is most present on the palate; herbals and florals that are expected in a DIPA. A yeasty/doughy flavor weaved throughout. As the beer warms, the bitters die down significantly and the perfumey hope flavor dominates.
M: Medium body with a huge perfume residue clinging onto the palate after each sip.
D: The head needed a somewhat aggressive pour to create. Could have used a bit more citrus to balance out the heavy floral/perfumey flavors. Overall a good DIPA, but nothing overwhelming.
Ruination - B+ (available at the co-op as well!)

I love the stone gargoyle!

Sam Smith

Warning: The beers seen here come highly recommended!!

imperial stout, organic lager, taddy porter

THE FAMOUS TADDY PORTER - Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster); North Yorkshire, ENG
5.00%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint
A: Two fingers of frothy tan head over a black beer that allows the slightest bit of mahogany come through in the light. Not the most head retention I’ve seen.
S: HUGE malty aroma explodes out of the glass. Simple chocolatey malts.
T: Immediately notice the great balance of malts and hops in this beer. There’s a bit of a burnt flavor behind a bitter chocolate malt kick. Ends in a slight tangyness that ends dryly. 
M: Good amount of carbonation that mellows out after a few minutes. Medium body and an incredibly smooth/creamy mouthfeel.
D: Easy and pleasant to drink. Unlike many American takes on the style, this porter does not overwhelm the palate with the coffee/toffee malts. It’s well balanced and was quite a welcome change of pace. An absolutely magnificent session porter!
Taddy Porter - A 

IMPERIAL STOUT 
7.00%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint
A: Two fingers of a firm, whipped head over a pitch black beer with the slightest hint of light brown at the bottom of the glass. A small head sticks around.
S: Sweet roasted aromas, milk chocolate; heavy and sweet “cream”/dairy smell, like smelling the top of a cupcake (for lack of better comparison); dark fruit aromas.
T: Surprisingly fruity character; dark, ripe berries and other fruits and a creamy malty flavor topped with bitter chocolate.
M: Incredibly thick and creamy; smooth, but leaves a good amount of residue on the palate.
D: One of the best stouts I’ve had. A pretty toned-down version of an RIS, but still an absolutely brilliant take. I can’t wait to grab another of these!
Imperial Stout - A 

ORGANICALLY PRODUCED LAGER BEER
5.00%ABV
Serving: Victorian Pint to Pils
A: Small, bubbly white head over a body of dark, clear yellow.
S: Sweet, honey-like malt character with notes of washed/wet grains, aromas of wheat and the smallest hint of herbs deep in the aroma.
T: Not a ton of overwhelming flavors, but a lot of subdued ones. Slight hop struggling for power with the grain flavor that was promised by the aroma. Average bitterness in the sip, balanced by sweet malts with grassy, metallic notes throughout.
M: Light and crisp mouthfeel that cries for a hot summer day.
D: Stays true to its style, which is definitely towards the bottom of the list for me. I might have one this summer as it’s easy to drink, but I can’t say I’d reach for this over a wheat beer in the California heat. If you’re into Euro Pales, this one is definitely for you.
Organic Lager - B

Porter and stout are available at the co-op for a reasonable price. I look forward to picking up and reviewing the nut brown ale and oatmeal stout very soon!

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-
 

pacific porters

I’m a huge porter fan. These beautiful dark beers are good before, during, and after a meal. My mom calls them “bottom of the barrel” beers, which provides me with some imagery that I find rather amusing. Here are a couple of my favorites from Oregon and California. Cheers, ma!

BLACK BUTTE PORTER - Deschutes (have I mentioned that this brewery and I have quite the love affair going?)
5.20%ABV, 30 IBUs
Serving: 12oz to pint

This is, hands down, my favorite anytime porter (anytime = when I’m in need of a beer that I know won’t let me down). 

Three fingers of heavy, creamy tan head; the beer itself is dark black/brown with some red hues in the light. Lace sticks around, which is mandatory in my porters. Smells of chocolate malts. Flavors include chocolate malts, coffee and oatmeal, with the coffee lingering heavily (and enjoyably) on the palate. Balanced hops, malts and carbonation. The brew is a tad light in body, but the flavors/aromas/even appearance easily make up for it.

Always buy this one in a six pack! Available at the Co-Op .
Black Butte Porter - A++ 

ANCHOR PORTER - Anchor Brewing Co.
5.60%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint

Considering how close I am to SF, and how much I love me some porter, I can’t believe how long it took for me to try this beer. After expressing interest in Anchor’s other beers after trying the flagship steam beer, Kara went out and bought me a six pack. What a gift.

A: Black/brown beer with ruby hues; two fingers of light brown/cream head that has exceptional retention, leaving beautiful lacing throughout the pint glass.
S: Aromas of toffee and coffee malts dominate in the nose.
T: Sweet malts finishing in burnt, bitter dark chocolate/cacao
M: Heavy body, like smooth molasses coating the mouth
D: Thick and powerful. Filling and flavorful. One of my favorites and an easy recommendation for anyone!
Anchor Porter - A

MAC’S BLACKWATCH CREAM PORTER - MacTarnahan’s Brewing Co.; Portland, OR
?%ABV
A: pours less than a finger of tan head that dissipates quickly. Deep black color with dark browns on the edges. Looks vaguely like pop.
S: roasted coffee, sweet malts dominate
T: heavy coffee flavors with oatmeal, ending in chocolate and slight alcohol
M: almost too carbonated, which masks the flavors; light to medium bodied
D: easy to drink and I’d have another, but this wouldn’t be at the top of my list of american porter recommendations
extra note: It is unclear to me what the deal is with this beer in terms of who brews it. It looks like MacTarnahan’s does it in Portland, but there is also talk of it being brewed by Pyramid in Walnut Creek. Maybe it’s both? Can anyone clear up the mystery??
Mac’s Blackwatch Cream Porter - B