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