Buy ‘Em. Now.

Before leaving Davis, I had the pleasure of trying two great beers, one of which was maybe the most exceptional and complex beers I have ever enjoyed, Trappistes Rochefort 10. I am not worthy of such a libation! But first, an IPA you must buy NOW, while it’s fresh.

SIERRA NEVADA ANNIVERSARY ALE, 2009
5.90%ABV, 46IBUs
Serving: 12oz to pint

A: 3 fingers creamy light beige head over a fine looking amber. Great retention and sticky lacing. 
S: pine to boot. Heavy herbal and huge florals from the hops. All Cascade hop on the nose with just an inkling of a caramel malt undertone. The pine and grapefruit are so inviting. 
T: really hop heavy. This is an intensely fresh IPA. Tons of the hop characteristics promised to me by the aroma. The spices really hit this one home. I can’t get enough of these citrusy hops! <3 Cascade Hops <3
M: medium body, good carbonation and lots of bitter residuals. 
D: the addition of organic hops to this sustainable brewery’s newest anniversary ale proves that organic beers can have flavor. This is a tremendous beer in my opinion, the little cousin of Torpedo. I look forward to finding a 6er asap! 
SN Anniversary – A+
 

And the Rochefort 10. Worth every penny of the $7+ price tag. I cracked this one open for my 200th BeerAdvocate review.

TRAPPISTES ROCHEFORT 10 – Brasserie de Rochefort (Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy); Rochefort, Belgium
11.30%ABV
Serving: 330mL to tulip

A: a great big head erupts out of my tulip. It’s beige, frothy, and gorgeous over my ruby red and mahogany ale. Incredible retention and wonderful lacing. There’s not a thing about the appearance that could be improved. 
S: massive aromas out of the pour. Fruits like figs and berries, dark spices, and candied sugar. Heavy on malts with some hot alcohol in the back. Also peppery and is that a hint of banana?
T: wow. More complexity here than I have the palate for! Huge sweet malts are so present with dark fruits and berries gracing my taste buds with their presence. Spiciness tickles my tongue. I get very subtle hints of coffee but they come and go so quickly. Anise is light but surely present, as is a thin caramel-like flavor. There’s probably a better way to describe it, but all I can think of is “the flavor of candy you’d want to suck on all day.” Stone fruits get stronger with warmth. The alcohol is there, but in passing for now. One more note here is the oak/wood. This is a flavor that is an anchor for all other flavors that combine to make this sublime quad. Apples pull through with even more warmth. I am floored. This is truly brilliant. 
M: medium body and carbonation. Sweet residuals coat my palate and even dry it a bit. 
D: though it’s a sipper, I’d drink it before the alcohol rears its head (the warmth seems to really bring the heat out). I’d love to try this with 2 years on it! 
Rochefort 10 – A+ 
 

Anderson Valley, +2

I was really craving a filling stout this week, and I knew exactly which brewery to turn to. Picked up a Hop Ottin’ IPA as well. I nearly forgot how solid these beers are! Try the AVBC year-round line, available at the co-op.

HOP OTTIN’ IPA   
 7.00%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint
A: Thick two fingers of creamy, off-white head over a relatively clear amber and dark copper brew. Great retention and sticky lacing all over.
A: Good hoppy presence on the nose with some florals and pine standing out. Discernible malty backbone.
T: A hoppy kick to the mouth, rich in that pine I love so much. Sip mellows out to a balanced brew with a malty backbone offering support but not taking away from that perfumy hop bitterness.
M: Barely medium-bodied with good carbonation. Leaves an oily residue of bitters throughout. 
D: This is a solid IPA from one of my favorite breweries. Right up there with Torpedo (in the extra IPA sense).
Hop Ottin’ - A-

BARNEY FLATS OATMEAL STOUT
5.70%ABV
Serving: 12oz to nonic
A: This brew fills my nonic perfectly with two fingers of creamy/bubbly tan head. Black and dark brown hues at the edges. There is some sticky webbing, though not a whole lot. A good-sized ring of foam sticks around for the session.
S: Malty aromas with dark fruits at front, oatmeal and molasses to follow.
T: Coffee, and a bowl of oatmeal smothered in sweet maple syrup. Definite coffee malts lingering (not quite espresso, but something milder). A slight perfumy, hop note rounds out the beer, and the sip has a bittersweet finish.
M: Medium to full-bodied, creamy mouthfeel and carbonated perfectly.
D: Easy and filling. I want to drink this for breakfast…over and over. This brewery is excellent.
Barney Flats - A

This beer gets its own image. The head was essentially a huge dome of goodness.

Some other good beers from the week:

WEIHENSTEPHANER HEFEWEISSBIER
5.40%ABV
Serving: 12oz to weizen
A: Big four fingers of frothy white head that seems to grow out of the weizen glass. Brew is ever so slightly hazy golden.
S: Spices of mostly clove. Heavy wheat that already makes my mouth water. Citrus zest cuts through, but the spice is really dominating the nose.
T/M: Banana, spices (again, the cloves), and wheat flavors. Mouthfeel is light, and not as crisp as I want from a hefeweizen (despite my decent pour). Bitter hops are present to balance, and the sip ends dryly. 
D: Not my favorite Hefe in the world, but not bad either. I thought it was a little undercarbonated, but refreshing and spicy nonetheless.
WeiHef - B+

from the makers of Vitus (which I would choose over this one any day)

And finally, thanks to Elliott and Elise for their generosity in giving me a chance to try this next one:

THE REVEREND - Avery Brewing Co.; Boulder, CO
10.00%ABV
Serving: 22oz bomber to snifter
A: Beautiful amber color with a finger of off-white head that decreases in size to a layer, and then fades off into a ring around the glass.
S: Pungent ripe citrus. Apple cider and vanilla bean as well. There’s discernible yeast on the nose. The alcohol hides well for the most part.
T: Very sweet beginning of apples and pears. Ends in alcoholic bite and hoppy bitterness. Sugar sweetness and metallic grain.
M: Medium bodied with balanced carbonation, teetering on crisp. 
D: A definite sipper. I look forward to enjoying more from Avery.
The Rev - B