ALASKAN IMPERIAL IPA (PILOT SERIES)

ALASKAN IMPERIAL IPA (PILOT SERIES)

ALASKAN BREWING COMPANY

http://www.alaskanbeer.com/

JUNEAU, ALASKA

8.5% ALCOHOL

DARK COPPER, PRACTICALLY OPAQUE, ALASKAN’S IMPERIAL IPA PRODUCES ABOUT A QUARTER INCH HEAD WHICH DISAPPEARS SOON THEREAFTER.  IT SMELLS SOFTLY OF CITRUS, THOUGH NOTHING REALLY JUMPS OUT SCENTWISE.  UP FRONT, THIS BREW TASTES OF MILD HOPS, WITH A SOLID MALTY MIDDLE, AND A STICKY RESINOUS PINE FLAVOR ON THE END (NOT OVERBEARING, THOUGH).  WITH A MELLOW AND SMOOTH MOUTHFEEL, SHE’S AN EASY DRINKER. THIS BREW HAS A NICE LEVEL OF CARBS, BUT A LIGHTER BODY THAN OTHER IMPERIAL BEASTS. OVERALL, THIS BREW HAS GOT THAT ALASKAN FLAVOR-FEEL TO IT - ROBUST BUT MELLOW. IF YOU READY YOUR SLED WITH A FEW O' THESE BREW-DOGGIES, THE NORTHERN LIGHTS WILL GET A WHOLE LOT BRIGHTER. NORTH TO THE FUTURE!

DAMNATION

DAMNATION

RUSSIAN RIVER BREWING COMPANY

http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/index.html

SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA

7.75% ALCOHOL

THIS STRONG GOLDEN ALE POURS A HAZY GOLDEN COLOR WITH A BRIGHT WHITE HEAD AND MAKES A LIL’ LACING ON DOWN THE GLASS. A QUICK WHIFF AND YOU’RE HIT WITH FRUITY AROMAS (SOUR APPLES ‘N’ BANANAS) AND A TOUCH OF GRAINS, TOO. THE ALE TASTES OF MILD, SWEET BREADY MALTS, FOLLOWED BY SOFT SPICES AND WET EARTHY HOPS. THE MOUTHFEEL IS LIGHT, MAKIN’ FOR SMOOTH EASY DRINKIN', AND THE CARBONATION IS MINIMAL, LEAVIN’ YOU WITH A BOUQUET-LIKE AFTERTASTE.  THE FINISH IS DRY, YET DEFINITELY FLAVORFUL. DAMNATION IS VERY GOOD, BUT NOT SUPERB. IT WOULD BE WORTH HAVING ANOTHER, HOWEVER, SINCE IT’S FULL OF COMPLEX FLAVORS. OVERALL, THIS IS A WELL-DONE, STRONG GOLDEN ALE FROM THE GREAT GOLDEN STATE.

WAILUA WHEAT

WAILUA WHEAT

KONA BREWING CO.

http://konabrewingco.com/

KONA, HAWAII

5.4% ALCOHOL

POURING A SUNSHINE YELLOW IN YOUR GLASS, THIS WHEAT WONDER HAS VERY LITTLE TO NO HEAD, WHICH DISSIPATES QUICKLY AND PRODUCES MINIMAL LACING THEREAFTER. SHE SMELLS OF PASSIONFRUIT AND CITRUSY GRAINS. QUITE INVITING, REALLY. FROM THE NOSE TO THE KISSER, THESE FRUITY BITS FORGE THE WAY, LEADING TO A SWEET, WHEAT MIDDLE WITH LINGERING FLORALS ON BACK END, TOO.  THROUGH AND THROUGH, THIS BREW HAS A REFRESHINGLY LIGHT AND WHEATY BACKBONE WITH CITRUS FLEXIN’ EXTREMITIES. SHE’S SMOOTH WHEN DRUNK, WITH BUBBLIES THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF ‘ER, AND, AS MENTIONED, IS QUITE LIGHT ‘N’ SWEET WHEN COMPARED TO TYPICAL WHEAT BEERS. WHILE SOME MIGHT SHY AWAY FROM THIS BREW FOR NOT BEING A SLUGGER OF SORTS, MY VERDICT IS: YES, PLEASE! IT’S A GREAT WARM WEATHER WHEAT, WITH ENTICING FRUIT FLAVORS THAT’LL CONVINCE YOU TO STAY ON ISLAND TIME, RELAX, AND CRACK ANOTHER ONE … AND THEN ANOTHER FEW. IT’S ONOLICIOUS. MAHALO!

IMPERIAL IPA

IMPERIAL IPA

GREEN FLASH BREWING CO.

http://www.greenflashbrew.com/

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

9.4% ALCOHOL

POP THE TOP AND POUR GALORE, THIS IMPERIAL MASTERPIECE IS PLAYIN’ FOR KEEPS! IT PRODUCES ABOUT A HALF-INCH, FROTHY, YELLOWISH-BEIGE HEAD, LEAVIN’ A LITTLE LAYER ON THE SURFACE THEREAFTER, WHICH MAKES FOR LOTS O’ LACING, TOO. ITS COLOR IS A HAZY, GOLDEN YELLOW - ALMOST AMBER AT A GLANCE. THERE ARE NOTES OF WET HOPS AND A CITRUSY FRESHNESS ON THE NOSE.  THOUGH, THE TASTE IS INITIALLY OF INTENSE HOPS, WITH VERY MILD MALTS DOWN THE MIDDLE, AND A STICKY PINE FLAVOR ON THE END, ALL WITH A TWIST OF CITRUS ZEST WOVEN IN THERE. THE MOUTHFEEL IS SMOOTH, WITH MILD CARBONATION (HIDDEN BUBBLIES LOST IN THE HAZE), RESULTING IN A FULL-BODIED AND WELL-BALANCED BREW. WELL DONE, GREEN FLASHERS! THIS IS A SOLID IMPERIAL IPA THAT’LL HAVE MANY A FOLK BACK TO DRINK ANOTHER.

OLD CHICO BRAND CRYSTAL WHEAT

OLD CHICO BRAND CRYSTAL WHEAT

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO.

http://www.sierranevada.com/

CHICO, CALIFORNIA

4.8% ALCOHOL

OLD CHICO POURS A STRAW YELLOW, ALMOST GOLDEN, WHEAT COLOR. IT PRODUCES ABOUT A ONE INCH HEAD WITH LITTLE LACING THEREAFTER. WITH GRAINS AND LIGHT HOPS ON THE NOSE, IT HAS AN EARTHY, BREADY AROMA. THIS FILTERED WHEAT HAS A REFRESHING ZING TO IT, WITH SMOOTH HOPS AND A NICE CRISP FINISH. IT'S VERY WELL BALANCED, NOT SYRUPY AT ALL, WITH DEFINITELY NO HARSH BITE LIKE ITS UNFILTERED COUNTERPART. FLAVORWISE, THE WHEAT AND GRAINY NOTES REALLY COME THROUGH, WITHOUT ANY REAL FLORALS OVERPOWERING ‘ER. THIS BREW HAS A REALLY EVEN LEVEL OF CARBONATION, YIELDING A LIGHT ‘N’ FLAVORFUL MOUTHFEEL. SHE’S A REAL EASY DRINKER! - A SOLID SUMMER BREW. THROW ONE BACK FOR OLD CHICO! IT MIGHT MAKE A GROWN MAN CRY.

BACK IN BLACK - BLACK IPA

BACK IN BLACK - BLACK IPA

21^ST AMENDMENT BREWERY

http://21st-amendment.com/

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

6.8% ALCOHOL

21^ST AMENDMENT’S BACK IN BLACK IS WELL … BLACK. IT GLOWS A VERY DARK BROWN, ALMOST CRIMSON RED WHEN HELD UP TO THE LIGHT. POST POUR THERE’S A TAN BROWN HEAD, FOLLOWED BY MODERATE LACING.  THE AROMA HAS A VERY LIGHT TOUCH OF HOPS BURIED BENEATH HEAVY, ROASTED MALTS. IN TERMS OF TASTE, THIS IPA BOASTS FLAVORFUL MALTS UP FRONT, SWEET TOASTED CARAMEL DOWN THE MIDDLE, AND ROASTED CREAMY GOODNESS OUT BACK. IT KINDA TASTES LIKE A PORTER AND A STOUT HYBRID - QUITE INVITING. THE MOUTHFEEL HAS A GOOD LITTLE ZING FROM THE HOPS, BUT THE REAL STRENGTH IS IN THE MALT MADNESS.  HAVING SAID THAT, IT’S FAIRLY BALANCED. THERE IS WELL-LEVELED CARBONATION, AND IT’S RELATIVELY SMOOTH - A BIT SYRUPY, THOUGH. WHILE I HAVEN’T TRIED MANY OTHER BLACK IPAS (IF ANY) TO COMPARE THIS WITH, SHE SEEMS LIKE A WINNER.  BACK IN BLACK HAS A GREAT ROASTED FLAVOR; IT MALTS IN YOUR MOUTH; AND, IT’S SMOOTH LIKE A STOUT YET POPS LIKE A PORTER. WHAT’S MORE, IT’S CRAFT BEER IN A CAN! THAT MEANS YOU CAN THROW ‘ER IN THE KOOZIE, SADDLE UP ON YOUR CYCLE, AND HIT THE STREETS FOR SOME FUN IN THE SUN. MOUNT UP!   

GORDON BIERSCH HEFEWEIZEN

GORDON BIERSCH HEFEWEIZEN

GORDON BIERSCH BREWING COMPANY

http://www.gordonbiersch.com/

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

5.5% ALCOHOL

THIS BAVARIAN-STYLE WHEAT BEER HAS A HAZY, DARK YELLOW COLOR AND IS BASICALLY OPAQUE ONCE IN THE GLASS. IT HAS A VERY THIN HEAD AND VERY LITTLE LACING THEREAFTER. THE SMELL IS OF GRAINY, WET HOPS, AND A TOUCH OF ORANGE ZEST. ON THE PALATE, THERE ARE GOOD BUBBLIES ON THE TONGUE AND ON THROUGH THE SWALLOW (MAYBE MORE THAN A TYPICAL HEFE). HOWEVER, THERE IS NO CARBONATION VISIBLE OTHERWISE, SINCE YOU CAN’T SEE THROUGH ‘ER! THIS BREW BEGINS WITH A CITRUS BOUQUET THAT LATER BLOOMS IN THE MIDDLE AND ENDS WITH A TASTE OF WET HOPS AND SEMISWEET FLAVOR, SPECIFICALLY OF CLOVES ‘N’ BANANA. THE MOUTHFEEL IS KIND OF THICK FOR A HEFE AND QUIET SWEET. THERE’S NOTHING TOTALLY EXCEPTIONAL ABOUT ‘ER. WHILE SHE’S NOT OVERLY HOPPY OR MALTY, SHE’S NOT TERRIBLY COMPLEX EITHER. IN THE END, THIS HEFE IS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD -- A BIT ON THE HEAVY SIDE, FRUITY SWEET, BUT NOT MEDAL WINNING MATERIAL. THIS BREW WOULD PROBABLY BE GREAT IF PAIRED WITH SOME SAUSAGE OR MUSTARDY PRETZELS. PROST!

TORPEDO EXTRA IPA

TORPEDO EXTRA IPA

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING COMPANY

http://www.sierranevada.com/

CHICO, CALIFORNIA

7.2% ALCOHOL

A DEEP, GOLDEN STRAW COLOR, TORPEDO PACKS A MEAN TWO-FINGER HEAD THAT RETREATS SLOWLY AS IF BOTHERED BY NOTHING. ONCE THIS SUBSIDES, A THIN FOAMY SURFACE LAYER REMAINS FOR THE LIFE OF THE BEER, ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG LACING DOWN THE GLASS. WITH A MIX OF CITRUS ON THE NOSE, THIS BREW SMELLS OF HERBAL NOTES AND MUTED HOPS – A GOOD LITTLE SMORGASBORD OF BEEFY BREW. IT TASTES FLORAL AND HOPPY WHEN SWILLED AROUND THE KISSER AND ENDS WITH A RESINOUS FLAVOR ON DOWN THE GULLET. IN TERMS OF MOUTHFEEL, TORPEDO HAS AN EVEN CONSISTENCY, LOW TO MEDIUM CARBONATION, AND IS A BIT SYRUPY BACK OFF THE AFT.  OVERALL, SHE’S A VERY GOOD AMERICAN IPA – LARGE CALIBER HOPS AND STEADY DRINKIN’. AFTER ONE, YOU’LL BE QUICK ON THE TRIGGER AND READY TO PUT ANOTHER IN YOUR SIGHTS. BUT AFTER A TORPEDO OR TWO, YOU’LL BE WISHIN’ YOU HADN’T LEFT YOUR SEA LEGS ASHORE. “YOU SUNK MY BATTLESHIP!”

HOP STOOPID ALE

HOP STOOPID ALE

LAGUNITAS BREWERY COMPANY

http://www.lagunitas.com/

PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA

8% ALCOHOL

THIS BREW DOG BOASTS A BRIGHT COPPER TO LIGHT AMBER HUE.  THERE’S A SHALLOW WHITE HEAD, BUT THAT DISSIPATES RAPIDLY WITH HARDLY ANY LACING (SURPRISING FOR SUCH A HOP HEAVY POWERHOUSE).  NEVERTHELESS, THIS ALE SMELLS OF ROBUST HOPS, A TOUCH OF CITRUS, A TAD OF MALT, AND PINE.  IT TASTES SOFTLY OF THAT SAME CITRUS FLAVOR, PLATEAUING WITH A MILD MALTY MIDDLE, AND ENDING WITH A BITTER BACKBONE OF HOPS.  THE BODY IS LIGHT AND SMOOTH.  CARB LEVEL IS OK.  AND, THE FINISH IS CRISP.  A VERY DRINKABLE BREW, EVEN WITH MORE THAN 100 IBUs, THERE IS SOME GREAT VALUE IN THIS LITTLE BOMBER.  POUR YOURSELF ONE AND GET STOOPID!  

OBSIDIAN STOUT

Obsidian Stout

DESCHUTES BREWERY

http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/

BEND, OREGON

6.4% ALCOHOL

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF AWARDS BEHIND THIS BEAST, AND RIGHTLY SO!  IT POURS A VOLCANIC BLACK, SO OPAQUE EVEN A SQUINT CATCH PEER THROUGH ‘ER.  THERE’S MINIMAL HEAD WHICH DISAPPEARS QUICKLY AND REALLY NO LACING AFTER THAT.  BUT FEAR NOT!  WAFTS OF ROASTED MALTS & COFFEE FILL THE NOSTRILS, WITH A TINGE OF DARK CHOCOLATE, TOO.  THIS STOUT TASTES AS GREAT AS IT SMELLS - INTENSE, OAKY ‘N’ SMOKEY.  LOTS OF BIG ROASTY GOODNESS AND BALANCED TO A T.  IT HAS A PRETTY LIGHTWEIGHT MOUTHFEEL FOR SUCH A DARK BREW, BUT THIS FULL-FLAVORED BREW IS NOTHING SHORT OF SEXY.  WITH MEDIUM CARBONATION & BODY, IT HAS A TOFFEE-ESQUE FINISH, YET NOT SYRUPY.  OVERALL, OBSIDIAN STOUT IS SMOOTH AND DRINKABLE, WITH RICH, MUSCLE-FLEXIN’ FLAVOR.  YOU BEST TOUT THIS STOUT, ‘CAUSE SHE’S A WINNER!