AleSmith Speedway Stout

Imperial Stout – San Diego, CA – 12% abv

25.9oz Dark green bottle. No freshness date.
Inky, oily black, with a smallish tan head on top, along with some sticky lacing.
Rich, potent aromas of coffee, bitter chocolate, dark malt and piney hops are released upon first pour. A whiff of dark rum lingers in the background throughout.
A strong earthy dark malty body lays a solid foundation for a variety of complex and distinct flavors. Espresso, dark chocolate, buttered biscuits, cherries, white grapefruit, spruce, burnt caramel, vanilla, cream, and rum all mingle quite separately, then, as it warms, blends into a wowingly balanced Imperial Stout extravaganza.
Almost anyone can make an extreme beer. Many brewers lose sight of the purpose of their extreme creations by concocting a sea of over-the-top flavors and aromas with no clear direction in mind. AleSmith Owner/Brewer, Peter Zien understands the complex art of brewing beers that are full flavored and highly drinkable while maintaining high-quality beer-related foundations. Simply put; He gets it! And when a brewer "Gets it" we all get it. Get it?

Wolaver's India Pale Ale

Tonight we're eating organic chili. So the appropriate thing to do is to have an organic ale to wash it down. Later, I'm going out to hug a tree.

Wolaver’s India Pale Ale - Organic - Middlebury, VT 6.5% abv
Brown bottle. No freshness date.
It pours a deep shiny golden coppery color with a firm white head on top along with lots a sticky, trailing lacing.
A hoppy citrus aroma is upfront but fades rather quickly. A light smell of cut oak and fresh cut hay lasts throughout.
Nice citrusy bitter hop tastes mingle with a hint of pine and copper. A slightly sweet malt flavor inches forward as the ales warms. The hop to malt taste balances very well at about the halfway point. A mild pepper spiciness and slight alcoholic taste are noticed with little effort.
I’m glad to see more organic beer choices popping up. The more the merrier!

St. Bernardus Abt 12 60th Anniversary Special Edition

Belgian Quadrupel - 11% abv
Watou, Belgium

25.4oz dark brown bottle. Best before 03/05/11.

Pours a lovely ruby-hued mahogany with a big fluffy, slow-fading beige head and lots of sticky and patchy lacing.

The first smell out of the gate is cow barn-like (not in a bad way) with a nice dark rum background. Smells of hay, cloves, pepper, orange zest and hops all vie for attention.

The deep malt body is home to a wide range of tastes. Sweet caramel, rye toast, honey and brown bread are upfront.

The big maltiness is balanced nicely with a tart lemon zest bitterness and a faint metallic tang. Tastes of bitter oranges, spicy cloves, rum-soaked raisins and candi sugars are all quite active. A dose of white rum provides some alcohol kick and fuminess.

This is a well-made brew. I look forward to reviewing it in a year.

Harpoon Leviathan Series – Imperial Red Ale

Boston, MA - 9.2% abv - Bottled by date 02/12/10

Pours a ruby-hued amber color with a firm rocky beige head, with some patchy lacing.
Smells of pink grapefruit, cut wet hay, lemon zest and white rum vie for attention. The aroma fades rather fast and blends into a malt-based mealy smell with traces of rum lingering.
Bold tastes of grapefruit bang the palette from the start. Sweet lemons with a slight metallic tang follow. Malty caramel and doughy bread flavors gain some ground, as does the warming alcohol fuminess. A pleasant taste of orange Lifesavers comes to mind.
The mouthfeel is well-rounded and slightly slick. The flavors are all large with very few subtleties to consider.

Sinebrychoff - Baltic Porter Finland – 7.2% abv

A nice winter beer (or any other season). Dark Rich Coffee flavors. Full Bodied. Very Hoppy

Flavored. Hint of Sweetness. Rich, yet Drinkable. Bit of an Alcohol Kick!

Sinebrychoff, or Koff as it is called in Finland makes a variety of beer styles, but in this researchers opinion, only their Porter really stands out as a "craft" brew (this brew becomes a "Vintage" or aged style Porter in time). In the past, silly governing bodies of the state regulated the brewing industry and generally frowned upon interesting or varietal styles. Fortunately, brewers and beer lovers across the country have developed awareness and lobbying groups to help promote a wide variety of Finnish brews. This Baltic style Porter, although it had long ago passed muster with state regulators, is a prime example of a beer crafted with care, attention to detail and love. The color is like strong, dark coffee. The full and rich body envelopes an abundance of sharp-edged fresh hops. This powerfully flavored brew contains an alcohol kick, yet it remains very drinkable. It ages very well. Pair with wild game. Goes very well with creamy desserts and rich chocolate.
Kiipis! (Cheers)

Great Divide Denver Pale Ale - 5.6%

12oz brown bottle. Freshness date etched on label.
It pours a dark coppery amber color w/ a smallish beige head along w/ some patchy and trailing lace.
It has a dry hoppy aroma with a solid malty grain background.
A sweet caramel malty taste gives way to a potent hop concoction. Grapefruit, citrus zest, metallic and floral hop bitterness prevail.
A mild sugary taste vies for attention, throughout. Like a kid sister; she's cute but doesn't belong with the big guys.

Eisenbahn Organic Pilsner – Brazil 4.8%abv

11.2oz light brown bottle. Freshness date stamped on bottle.

It pours a shiny golden yellow with a firm snow-white head on top with lots of sticky and trailing lacing.

It smells mostly of fresh cut dry hay with a nice whiff of sweet malt. A mild lemony citrus aroma comes and goes, forcing me to continue sniffing at the glass.

The malt has a light caramel sweetness and a little nutty taste, which lays a balanced platform for the edgy citrus and mildly metallic hop bite. A taste of sweet limes is noticed in the finish. Mild balancing herbal notes are just the right touch.

This is a world-class Pils. I’ve heard it has entered the US market but have yet to actually see it.