Great Divide, Hercules Double IPA

Great Divide Hercules Double IPA  

Great Divide Brewing Co. Denver, CO.

Double IPA  10%ABV   22oz   Beer Advocate:  A-  RateBeer:  100

A:  Pours a slightly cloudy burnt golden orange with beautiful off white head.  Great retention and lacing.  

S:  Aromas of orange, grapefruit pith, pine, dance with malty caramel and toffee notes.

T:  Sweet toffee and caramel malt flavors followed by a pine and citrus hop bitterness.  There is a long finishing bitter tail to the beer.

M:  Smooth with a med- full body.  Adequate smooth carbonation.

D:  Very drinkable, almost too drinkable.  

Food Pairing:  This beer pairs well with rich foods like bone marrow, brat burger, tri tip, sausages, but also goes well with stilton blue cheese in the Tomato Salad.  

Deschutes, Black Butte XXIII

Deschutes Black Butte XXIII

Deschutes Brewing Co, Portland, Oregon.  

Speciality Imperial Porter 11%ABV  55IBUs  22oz   Beer Advocate:  A-  RateBeer: 97

This beer is brewed with cocoa nibs, orange peels and Pasilla Negra peppers.

A:  Pours a nearly black, deep rich roasted brown color with a mocha head that dissipates quickly.

S:  Dark chocolate and unseasoned espresso and green chiles.  There is also some barrel notes of bourbon and vanilla.  Alcohol is real noticeable.

T:  Dark chocolate, espresso, orange peel, and citrus hops.  A slight anise flavor melds with late flavors of chiles and hops.  

M:  This beer is rich but not overly heavy.  Alcohol and carbonation help cut the viscousness.  

D:  This is a serious sipper but would work well with food also.

Food Pairing:  Tri Tip, Mushroom Poutine with steak, fried bananas, ice cream sandwich, S'mores.

Left Hand, 2008 Chainsaw

2008 Left Hand Chainsaw (Double Sawtooth) 

Left Hand Brewing Co Longmont, CO.  Head Brewer: Ro Guenzel

Double ESB 9.4% ABV  750 ml   Beer Advocate:  B+  RateBeer: 95

A:   Pours a hazy copper orange with a moderate off-white head.  There is a bit of sediment in this bottle. Pour with care.  (do not bring the bottle back to upright between pours)

S:  Sweet malty caramel, toffee, and light cocoa aromas.  There is the remnants of citrusy hops but ever so slightly ( they fall off over time) 

T:  Flavors of nutty caramel, and toffee.  Delicious rich malts steal the show.

M:  Medium to full bodied with a rich, velvety mouthfeel.  Adequate carbonation for a 3 year old beer.

D:  This beer is a great food/dessert, after dinner beer or late night patio sipper.  

Food Pairing:  08 Chainsaw would pair great with the brat burger, cauliflower salad, sausages, waffle ice cream sandwich, funnel cake fried bananas.

Lost Abbey, Framboise De Amorosa

Lost Abbey Framboise De Amorosa 

Lost Abbey Brewing Co, San Marcos, CA Head Brewer: Tomme Arthur

American Wild Ale /Raspberry beer 7.0%ABV  375ml  $42  Beer Advocate:  A- RateBeer 100

A:  Pours a muddy rose color with orange edges and lofty head with minimum retention.  Be aware that there is going to be sediment in the bottle so any agitation will make that more noticeable.

S:  Sweet, seedy, tangy, tart, raspberry aroma with an underlying wine barrel aged oaky funk.

T: A dry bouquet of tart berries.  This is a very complex beer of acid, fruit, age and spontaneity.

M:  Medium bodied with adequate carbonation, and a crisp dry and slightly earthy finish.

D:  This beer is extremely drinkable and should be done so under pristine conditions.  This is a beer to be enjoyed with great friends, for a special occasion, and with only the best food.

Food Pairings:  This beer begs to be enjoyed with richer items.  Foie, Bone Marrow, Cheese plate, boudin noir, pigs ears, and pork porterhouse.

Dogfish Head, 90 Minute

DogFish Head 90 Min Double IPA  9.0%ABV  12 oz bottle

Beer Advocate= A-

A: This beer pours a clear, deep copper caramel color with a moderate white head that recedes to leave with sticky lacing behind.

S: Caramel malts, citrus and floral hop notes with undertones of fruits(grapefruit/mango).

T: Rich caramel/toffee malts followed by piney and citrusy hops.  There is a unique yet faint nuttiness (hazelnut) quality 

M:  Medium bodied with good carbonation.  Smooth, rich and slightly chewy.

D:  A little to much alcohol (9.0%) to be completely sessionable, yet incredibly drinkable.

Food Pairings:  Brat Burger, bone marrow, stilton sandwich, sausages.

Stone, Cali Belgique

Stone Cali-Belgique  6.9% ABV, Belgian IPA 22oz  (this is stone IPA w/ Belgian yeast)

Beer Advocate A- 

A: This beer pours a crystal clear golden amber hue with a lofty, sticky white head. 

S:  Refreshing fruity (hints of peach,mango, and grapefruit) and spice notes with noticeable belgian yeast combine with biscuity malts and citrusy/piney hops.

T:  Grapefruity hops, caramel malts and light spice round out the palate. 

M:  Medium bodied with adequate carbonation.  Refreshing and crisp with a dry finish.  

D:  Very drinkable for a hop head, but just a little high to truly session this belgian IPA.

Food Pairings:  Brat Burger, Sausages, stilton, bone marrow, rocket salad.

Ommegang, Rare VOS

Ommegang Rare VOS  Belgian Amber Ale 6.5% ABV  750ml

A: This beer pours a slightly hazy burnt orange hue with a thick rocky white head.  The head recedes ever so slowly leaving behind moderate lacing.

S:  Bready malts, belgian yeast (banana, clove) with subtle spice (anise, clove, and nutmeg) and floral notes.  There is a little sweetness detected that smells of dried dark fruits (fig/raisin).

T:  Bready malt flavors mingle with lemon zest, peppery spice and belgian yeast.  There is a presence of light and floral earthy notes with hops playing a backseat role in this beer.  Hops appear as grassy, herbal and spicy.

M:  Medium bodied with moderate carbonation (bottle conditioned).  Rather smooth and creamy 

D: Very drinkable and should work well with lots of food.  

Food Pairings:  Grilled Cheese, oyster poboy, pork chop, scallops

Great Divide, Rumble

Great Divide Brewing, Rumble, 7.1% oaked aged IPA, 12oz bottles

A: Dark orange with bright amber hues, creamy white head that fades very fast

S: Woody/oaky, vanilla, and sweet caramel malt with subtle hops. Citrus- lemon, and resinous pine dominate the hop profile.

T: Oak is present but not overpowering, vanilla is present, malt adds a mild sweetness but there is citrus notes of orange and grapefruit and of course that prototypical dry IPA finish.

M: Medium bodied, crisp, sharp, and very smooth

D: Overall it’s a solid IPA. The oak and the sweet malts do a great job of balancing this beer. It resides some where between an IPA and a DIPA with flavor, characteristics, and being 7.1% (7.5% starts DIPAs)

This beer is aged on French and American oak; ie- barrel aged. 

Pairings: Tri-tip add Scallop, Bone Marrow, Burger, and Smores

Odell, IPA

Odell IPA  7%ABV  Odell Brewing Co, Fort Collins, CO

A:  Pours a golden orange color with substantial white head.  

S:  Aromas of grapefruit, orange and lemon with a mild bready caramel malt finsh.  

T:  Sweet citrus followed by resinous pine bitterness and an understated yet rich malty backbone and a tropical fruit herbal hop finish. 

M: Medium-light bodied with adequate carbonation and  slightly thick mouthfeel.

D:  Very drinkable yet a little high in ABV for it to be a true session beer.  

Food Pairings:  This beer will go well with the Brat Burger, Kielbasa, Brat Burger, cheese curds, pigs ears.

Avery, IPA

Avery IPA 6.5% ABV  Avery Brewing Co. Boulder, CO

A:  Pours a clear light copper hue with a thick white head.  

S:  Bready Pale Malts, citrus and spicy hops balance with a little tropical fruit and pine.

T:  Caramel and pale malts dance with floral and citrusy hops, spice and grapefruit round out the finish.

M:  Light- Medium body, with moderate yet understated carbonation.  

D:  Very drinkable and also great with food.

Food Pairings:  Cheese curds, Hopwurst, Kielbasa, Brat Burger, Tri Tip Steak

Odell, Levity Amber

Odell Levity Amber Ale 5%ABV Draft

A:  Pours a clear golden amber with an adequate white head.

S:  Caramel malt is the first aroma, followed by mild grassy and floral hops. 

T:  Caramel and biscuity malts, slight sweetness and a hint of citrus on the finish.  I've heard it likened to honeysuckle and clementine.

M:  Medium bodied with a crisp carbonation and mild dryness on the finish.

D:  This may be one of the most drinkable beers on the planet.  This will certainly go down easy.

Food Pairings:  Brat Burger, Po Boy, Hopwurst, Keilbasa, Chips and Dip

The Bruery, Trade Winds Tripel

The Bruery, Trade Winds Tripel. 750ml, 8.1%, Tripel brewed with Thai Basil

A - Emerged from the bottle as a hazy orange, effervescent liquid with a minimal off-white cap that reduced to some stringy lacing but flared up each time I swirled my glass.

S - Aroma suggests an Eastern inspiration with citrus flavors, grassy and herbal notes, while Asian spices offer a hint of exotic flair to the nose. 

T - Zesty citrus notes mingle with crisp rice-like malt and herbal and grassy hops, giving the flavor a light, almost airy quality for a Tripel. There is also a hint of exotic spices that adds complexity to the flavor profile.  The basil and lemongrass are perceptible yet rather nuanced and delicate.

M - Light to medium bodied with a crisp, effervescence and a light syrupy texture. Finish is bittersweet with very little alcohol warmth on the palate.

D- Really different take on a Tripel, traditionally speaking. The Thai Basil and Asian spice notes adds a really complex nose and body to this beer and is more an Asian Tripel in nature than a Belgian.

Food Pairings: This should go incredible with our mussels or scallops.  This could also pair nicely with the chicken schnitzel sandwich and veal schnitzel or daily fish possibly.

Jolly Pumpkin, La Luciernaga FireFly

Luciernaga, The Firefly. 750ml, 6.5%, Belgian Wild Pale Ale

A: Pours a pumpkin orange color with as much frothy white head as you care to pour. These Jolly Pumpkin beers are always crazy carbonated. Nice lacing.

S: Smells of sour apple, brett funk, oak barrels, and a nice delicate hop presence. This has some nice fall spices going on, very cool. This is the hoppiest smelling Jolly Pumpkin by a landslide.

T: This tastes very funky- hay, horseblanket, pears, grain, and some rotten apple. This has some nice use of spices- nutmeg, coriander, and some pepper are all noticeable; These all add some very nice warmth and depth to this brew. Its almost as if the finish isn't there on this beer, the flavors fade fast in your mouth until a light amount of hop bitterness shows up. There is a citrus quality to this(from the hops?), maybe clementines. The hoppiness builds and seems slightly out of place in this beer.

M: A little thin here but not too bad. Lively carbonation and Brett with Lingering bitterness.

D: Really an interesting beer that shows us wild funk and bitter finish. Can age for at least two years.

Food Pairings:  Another incredibly rare beer in our cellar, serve it to advanced drinkers with appreciation for rarity and craftsmanship in beer.  Pair this beer with a funky cheese platter, grilled cheese, veal schnitzel, weisswurst or kielbasa.  

Timmerman, Oude Gueuze

Timmermans, Oude Gueuze LE, 750ml, 5.5%, Gueuze

A: Sustained pop from the cork, wispy gunsmoke from the bottle. Pours a hazed glowing orange, tinged with pastel yellows on the outer edges. Frothy white suds around the rim, not especially sticky, settling to a thin ring at the edges. Second pour, a finger of white foam seemed to last for a bit longer. Swirling brings a momentary congregation of sparkly, soapy bubbles, that leave as quickly as they came. This stuff is charged like champagne, nonstop streams of carbonation.

S: Lactic aromas of Greek yogurt, also white wine, lemon, and minerals. Slightly funky but seemingly mild in that department. Second pour yielded some wet hay and musty barn blanket notes.

T: Sharp lemon sourness, wet stone minerality, crabapple, some tannic oak dryness in the finish. Nothing off about this, it's clean with prickly champagne carbonation, feels somewhat light, not far off from Boon Oude Gueze with a bit more lemon sharpness to it. Easily drinkable and particularly quenching in hot summer weather.

M: Feels light and effervescent with a strong lingering finish

D: Overall fantastic Gueuze that’s lively, bright, and explodes with flavor.

Food Pairings:  This funky, complex gueuze is not for everyone.  We recieved only 6 bottles so getting this to the right people is key.  Think to pair it with delicate yet complex foods like the mussels, scallops, grilled cheese, cheese plate, and possibly veal schnitzel.

Great Divide, Espresso Oak Aged Yeti

Great Divide, Espresso Oak Aged Yeti, 22oz, 9.5% - Bitter Imperial Stout

A: Pours a Pitch black with a frothy mocha head that rests like a blanket over the beer and doesn’t diminish quickly.

S: Lots of faintly nutty oak that gives into a bittering note of espresso. The beans give off a very creamy note of rich roasts. The coffee in here really is reminding me of Kopa Luwak, I've had this before and most certainly didn't get this strong of a note. The bean derived creaminess is pretty overwhelming, but marries with with the oak. Incredibly creamy and rich, not unlike Kopa Luwak Coffees. 

T: Once again, nutty oak that gives into the Kopa Luwak-like coffee notes. Other notes of cocoa nibs, bitter bakers chocolates, and almonds come to mind. However, all of this takes a backseat to the espresso qualities. It's a bit overwhelming with some awkwardly bitter lingers and woody acidity. Good, but it tastes young and underdeveloped. 

M: Creamy and gentle on the tongue, but a bit powdery and drying from the wood. The wood of the oak isn't too acidic, but it does enough to give you a sensation in the back of the throat. All in all it's currently at a medium body, and is a bit dissonant in the mouth. Time will round this one out. 

D: This is a perfect bitter stout and replaces any and all means for coffee. It’s rich, robust, and full of character. This is not a tame beer and it’s not for the faint of heart. Enjoy.

Food Pairings:  This is a perfect finish to any night time meal.  Replaces coffee and serves with desserts equally well.  Smore's, bananas, ice cream sandwich, red velvet cupcake.  This is a beautifully rich coffee stout that works with rich, complex food.  It could possibly pair well with pork chop and tri-tip under the right conditions.

Avery, Out of Bounds Stout

Avery, Out of Bounds Stout, 12oz bottle, 6.3% - American Stout

A: Astounding dense and rocky terrain of a head, a shade or two lighter than pitch black. 

S: Faintness of licorice is mostly masked by a mellow charcoal and berry fruitiness. 

T & M: Smooth and slick in the mouth with a medium body, solid yet lightly rounded charcoal flavor. Hints of licorice and a mild berry twang, a ghost-like minty and woody hop bitterness rolls with the growing char-malt character. 

D: Quite robust for a smaller stout, hefty yet not huge. The long lingering roasted barley flavors really shine.

Food Pairings: Great with tri-tip steak, duck/mushroom poutine, brat burger, waffle ice cream sandwich, and funnel cake fried bananas.

Avery Ellie's Brown

Avery Brewing, Ellie’s Brown Ale, 12oz can, 5.5% - Brown Ale. 

A: Pours a grand beer with a massive off-white/tan head that stick and retains very well. Beer colour is deep brown/chocolate with mahogony stained edges. 

S:  The aroma is absolutely wonderful. Perfumy, floral, malty, toasty, bicuity with freshly milled grain powder aromas and loads of caramel flavours that force the anticipation of a rather sweet brew. 

T: Silky smooth mouthfeel with a medium body. Malt flavours are very even. Caramel, earth, a bit nutty, touch of roasted, toasted and biscuit followed by a near sugary sweetness, but not too sweet. Hop flavours are perceived, but not dominant ... providing balance and thin bitterness that seems to team up with the touch of roasted malt. Hint (hint) of raisin that mingles with the hops. Finish goes a tad dry with some grain notes. 

D: A very tasty and well-executed American brown ale. If you're a brown ale fan, this is a must. Malty, balanced, tamed hop character and a wonderful aroma. 

Food Pairings:  This beer is awesome by itself but also pairs well with food.  Think about mushroom poutine, sausages, tri tip steak, pork chop, grilled cheese sandwich, or funnel cake fried bananas or waffle ice cream sandwich.