Category: Beer Reviews

Posted on: June 16, 2024 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Resurgence Brewing Anniversary IPA (Specialty Series 2 of 5)

Buffalo, New York’s Resurgence Brewing Company has hit their tenth anniversary and has just released their commemorative beer in a brand-spanking-new IPA. The brew, hopped with El Dorado, Simcoe, Nelson Sauvin, and Mosaic varieties, pours with a very hazy yellow to light brown coloration. The El Dorado and Mosaic hops contribute to the juicy and tropical character of the Anniversary India Pale Ale, while the inclusions of Simcoe and Nelson…

Posted on: June 1, 2024 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Bourbon Barrel Aged Loose Cannon IPA

Heavy Seas has ramped up their flagship Loose Cannon India Pale Ale with time spent in bourbon barrels. The resulting brew pours with an orange-brown coloration and a good amount of offwhite head. There’s a goodly amount of wheat and malt notes at the beginning of the beer, with only the smallest astringent notes playing at the periphery of the nose. When one is finally able to experience the brew,…

Posted on: May 16, 2024 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Loud Pack and Chill (BlackStack Brewing)

Loud Pack and Chill, the latest cold India Pale Ale from Saint Paul, Minnesota’s BlackStack brewing, pours with a golden coloration and only the smallest amount of white head. The initial nose emanating from the brew is a bit juicy with only the slightest indication of bitterness.The bevy of hops – Citra, El Dorado, Mosaic, and Australian – create a nuanced flavor profile that is piney, juicy, and dry. The…

Posted on: February 29, 2024 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Hazy Squall (Dogfish Head)

Dogfish Head has dipped their toe into the hazy game with the aptly-named Hazy Squall. The IPA pours with a straw/hay-yellow coloration and a small amount of white head. The initial nose of the beer pits sweet against more hoppy notes. An initial sip of Hazy Squall is bright and effervescent with ample fruit notes (e.g. apricot, tart orange) coming forth. The bevy of flavors that present themselves during Hazy…

Posted on: February 25, 2024 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Vixen Irish Style Red Ale (Old Bust Head)

Old Bust Head’s Vixen is an irish red ale, pouring from a 16-ounce can with a reddish brown coloration with a fair amount of light brown to tannish head. Lacing is ample as one continues the brew. There’s a small amount of bitterness that can be picked up here alongside hints of toasted malt, hazelnut and wheat/grains. I feel that the back and forth between more biting and sweeter elements…

Posted on: February 15, 2024 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Juicy Oasis (Breckenridge Brewery)

12 ounce can, originally reviewed 2/2024. Juicy Oasis is an fruited, hazy India Pale Ale offered up by Breckenridge Brewery. The beer pours with a yellow-brown coloration and a small amount of whitish head. Lacing gradually creeps down the glass as one continues their journey. The initial nose of the brew is a blend of peaches and apricots, coming forth with more sweet notes than previewing the hoppiness that is…

Posted on: February 8, 2024 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Maple Pecan Bligh’s Barleywine Ale (Dry Dock)

Maple Pecan Bligh’s Barleywine Ale pours with a dark-brown to mahogany coloration. The initial nose of the brew provides a solid hit of alcohol burn along with a sugary note (likely from the inclusion of maple syrup). Perhaps most interesting about this effort is how well the burn is hidden through the caramel and pecan flavors at the onset. This “zing” begins to grow as one progresses further in each…

Posted on: February 4, 2024 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

Caramel Macchiato Stout (Old Bust Head)

Poured into a glass from a 16 ounce can. Contains a small amount of light tan head and ample lacing. Nose provides imbibers with a preview about the different sweet elements that they will experience in this stout. The first sips of the brew are well-balanced, allowing for the coffee and caramel elements to start things off before being moderated by a bit of toasted malt and grain. The flavors…

Posted on: January 25, 2024 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Voodoo Ranger Tropic Force (Tropical IPA)

In terms of readily-accessible imperial IPAs, the Voodoo Ranger line is top-of-the-line. New Belgium has created a number of distinct offerings in the line, with the Fruit Force being one of the most innovative IPAs we had tasted last year. The brewery has expanded their line to offer Tropic Force, an IPA that pours with a very light yellow coloration and a goodly amount of persistent white head. Tropic Force’s…

Posted on: January 18, 2024 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Sága Imperial IPA (Summit Brewing Co.)

Summit Brewing (St. Paul, Minnesota)’s Sága Imperial IPA pours with a rich brownish-red coloration and a good amount of tenacious white head. The effort ends up very well-balanced, tying together bold, piney hop presence with a dollop of wheat (the brewery’s mentions a honey malt base). While this imperial India Pale Ale is fairly heady (it clocks in at 9.0%) ABV, the constellation of flavors flows nicely. In fact, Sága…