Firestone Walker Sucaba Barleywine

 Firestone Walker Sucaba Barleywine 13% 22 oz $32.75

A- Poured and settled a dark cola color. Shows lots of carbonation and a quick sprouting and fading light brown head, otherwise a light brown ring around the sides. Lots of ruby showing when held to the light. Not a lot of head retention to this at all.

S- Carmel, lots of carmel. Undertones of bourbon, vanilla, and coconut. had a bottle in May and the vanilla and coconut nose was much bigger and the Carmel was a bit softer. Still a good nose though. Alcohol is quite well hidden.

T- Syrupy butterscotch, bourbon, touches of oak, vanilla and noticeable alcohol. Gums got numb on first few sips of the beer.

M- Thick, syrupy and slightly jam like. Get some notes of strawberry jam in the mouth. Bourbon and the barrel are really apparent in the mouth as well. Bourbon alcohol finish to this with touches of jam like qualities. Starting to turn into a malt bomb. Medium full body and slightly more carbonation than it needed. A bit prickly at times.

O- The barrel notes far more obvious on the nose than in the tste, which makes this a more approachable barelywine than most. Just starting to develop the jam like qualities that barlewines have.

The Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale

The Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale   Flanders Red   fermented with cherries    5.5%ABV

A: Fizzy-brief tan head. The beer is mahogany and translucent.

S: Gentle scents. Wood ageing is not lost on the nose. Lightly tart, vinegar-sour, and pleasantly fruity-sweet.

T: Oh damn.  This is delicious. Complex and multi-layered. There are three waves of flavour...the first is tart and puckery, heavy on fruit; the second is mature vinegar sharpness, reminiscent of a nice balsamic, carrying the oak barrel influence; the third is a lingering and enduring acidity.   Lightly dry and always engaging. As Lost Abby’s website says, this “is a veritable celebration of Sour Cherries in an explosion of aromas and tastes. Brewed from a brown ale base and aged in our oak barrels for over 6 months, this beer is not for the faint of heart.” This beer lives up to every ounce of its hype.

M: Lively, tart, puckery, smooth, sharp, and dry. All told, a wild ride.

O: The sour cherry gives the first half of the flavor an addicting taste that leaves me wanting more. The latter half of the flavor tempers this, with a more moderate, developed flavor profile. Recommended to drink on its own, after dinner, in celebration, in front of a fire, or even on a nice patio somewhere. Pair with very simple foods so as not to miss out on any of the layers in this beer.

Victory White Monkey White Wine Barrel Aged Belgian Triple

Victory White Monkey  White Wine Barrel Aged Belgian Triple   9.5%ABV

A:  Pours a golden color with a small white head that recedes to a thin white colar.

S: Sweet grains, Belgian yeast funk,

T:  Pale malts, Belgian fruity yeast characteristics blend with big white vinous characteristics.  Lots of pear, apple white grape, oak, and light spice.

M:  Light-medium bodied, medium carbonation, with a dry finish.  Alcohol becomes more perceptible as it warms.

Pairing:  Mussels, Pork chop, Lobster pot pie.

New Belgium Lips of Faith Transatlantique Kriek

New Belgium Lips of Faith Transatlantique Kriek     Lambic    8%ABV

A:  Pours a gorgeous clear ruby color with three fingers of pink head.

S:  Bright tart cherries followed by the light oak and a signature lambic funk.

T:  Dark tart cherries, followed by mild oak and mild grainy sweetness.

M:  Light to medium bodied with

Pairing:  Pork Chop, Cassoulet, Chocolate Crème Pie

Avery Odio Equum

Avery Odio Equum American Wild Ale  7.1% ABV

A:  Pours a dark russet color with ruby highlights and a small off-white head.

S: Bright tart raspberry, dark cherry and red grapes followed by musty barnyard brett characteristics and light oak, and a mild vinegar acidity.

T:  Tart fruit and vinous oaky characteristics blend nicely with lactic sourness, cherry vinegar and light vanilla. 

M:  Medium light body medium carbonation, moderate acidity with a dry tannic finish.

Pairing:  Pork Chop, Chocolate Crème Pie, cheese plate

The Bruery Sour in the Rye

The Bruery Sour in the Rye            American Wild Ale       8.7% ABV

 “Ale brewed with around 40% rye as a base malt and let our sour yeast and bacteria eat away at it in oak barrels for over a year creating a sour ale with a complex character of rye spice, oak and a subtle funk.”

A:  Pours a bright orange color with ruby hues and a bright white head.

S:  Lots of lactic tartness with some oaky sweet vanilla notes and light baking spices.

T: Big lactic sourness with moderate balancing sweetness.  Apricots, lemons, rye spice, and a slight sour cherry taste linger. 

M:  Medium bodied with bright tartness, medium carbonation and a slight creamy

Pairing:  Foie Gras, Crispy Pork Cheeks, Oso Bucco 

Stone Levitation Ale American Amber

Stone Levitation Ale American Amber ABV: 4.40%

A - Amber-brown in color with a toffee colored head.

S - Has a nice caramel malt aroma with some piney and grapefruity hop aromas.

T - Slight malt flavor that is immediately over powered by an intense hop spicyness.

M - Light bodied with a fair amount of carbonation.

O - A pretty good amber ale, but I think it is a little too hopped for the style.

Pairing:  Sausage, brat burger, fishwich, Tri Tip, spatzle, chicken sandwich, and Surf and Turf.