The Scotch Ale style blends the bitterness of hops with the fullness of malt. The MacBubba hits all of the high notes of the style while providing enough unique flavor to make it a go-to beer. The amber / brown pour provides a nice cream colored head, while the initial sip yields hints of caramel, raisin, molasses and just enough burn to keep things lively. The inclusion of peated…
Odyssey is an oak-aged (to the tune of 6 months conditioning) ale, which tops the scales at 10.4% ABV. The beer pours incredibly dark and brown, yielding a lighter tan shade for the head. There is a strong flavor that yields hints of vanilla, bourbon, oak and bits of hop towards the end of each quaff. Subsequent sips will provide imbibers with fruit (berry) and chocolate notes. As the beer…
Vampire Slayer is a dark elixir, one that blends equal parts chocolate and cream
For those that have access to the Alaskan Stout, they should immediately search out a bottle. This is due to the smooth mouthfeel, absolutely dark color ,and full head that pours from each beer. The slightly heavier ABV (5.7%) allows for a hint of burn to moderate the coffee and caramel flavors that are present. With subsequent sips, bits of smoke and toasted malt become evident. Makes the beer…
While there seems to be a desire for individuals to want the lighter and more fruit-flavored beers during the summer months, I feel that porters provide a perfect counter-point to a big meal or long day of work. Summit’s Great Northern Porter is a rich brew that pours with an intimidatingly dark head and body. The lacing that remains stands in stark opposition to the dark coloration…
Brownstone is an amazing brown ale, blending sweetness with a bite. Sixpoint is pegged at 6.0%, a shade higher than most brown ales. I feel that the additional alcohol works nicely with hints of fruit and bitterness provided by the hops. There is a decidedly more creamy feel to Brownstone that makes the beer eminently drinkable, a hint to the complexity that is present. As one begins on the second…
This imperial stout is one of the most memorable that we have experienced; Bear Republic has created a delectable array of styles and flavors with the Big Bear Black Stout. Served cold in a 22 ounce bottle, the beer pours incredibly dark, with a small, tan head sitting on the top. As one continues to drink the Big Bear Black Stout, a light amount of lacing will occur. When individuals…
Goose Island is celebrating their 25th Anniversary, and has brewed a special beer to commemorate the occasion. This beer – their 25th Anniversary Ale – is Goose Island’s take on the ESB style. What results in this Anniversary Ale is something that is a complex and intricate experience. The bottle pours nicely, with a large head that sticks around; the beer has an orange / copper hue that makes the…
ParadoX is an interesting beer – a Session IPA, the sharpest sides of the IPA style have been rounded off by a bit of cream and floral flavors. The 5.30% ABV of ParadoX is perfect to maintain the fruit (grapefruit, lemon) flavors while providing an imbiber with a filling and refreshing body. The immediate IPA bite that is encountered rapidly dissolves, allowing the sweet side of ParadoX to shine…
80-Acre is a beer that will be at home in countless bars across the United States, but has a decidedly more complex mouth feel than anything that would be on tap. The intersection of biting hops and more smooth wheat notes create a complex flavor that will showcase distinct elements with each subsequent sip. A pour yields a fairly thick head along with a slight bit of carbonation; the…
