Saint Arnold Homefront IPA ....

Tonight I will have a Homefront IPA from Saint Arnold Brewing Company.  This is a special release to raise funds for Operation Homefront, an organization that provides assistance to families of service members.  1 pint, 6 ounce bottle.  The web site shows 6.5% ABV and 50 IBUs.  

Homefront poured with a small to medium, slightly creamy colored head.  Beer color is a golden amber.  There is a small amount of carbonation.  Aroma is fairly mild, with some citrus (lemon, orange).  The taste has citrus, maybe a little more like grapefruit, as well as some resinous pine.  Some sweetness.  Not overly complex, but a nice hoppy IPA like I like.  Medium bodied.  Slight bitter aftertaste.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Houston, Texas

www.saintarnold.com

Harpoon Summer Beer ....

Today I am trying Harpoon Brewery's Summer Beer, a Kolsch-style seasonal, available April through August.  Twelve ounce bottle.  The web site shows 5% ABV and 28 IBUs.

Summer Beer poured with a thick, bone colored head.  Beer color is a golden yellow.  Aroma has wheat, citrus and spice - seems a little sweet; very nice and not overpowering.  I am getting some bready malt, wheat, spice and grassiness in the taste.  Mild to medium bodied.  Leaves you with a slightly dry and sour/bitter aftertaste.    

Harpoon Brewery

Boston, Massachusetts

www.harpoonbrewery.com

Left Hand Good Juju ....

Tonight I am sampling Good Juju, a seasonal brewed with ginger, from Left Hand Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  The Left Hand web site shows 4.5% ABV and 20 IBUs.

This beer poured with a very thin, off white head.  Beer color is amber.  The aroma has a sweetness to it, and a little spice.  Mild bodied.  The taste is milder sweet malt, with some definite spice coming through, but not overpowering.  Aftertaste is minimal, but leaves you with a little spice.  This has a very interesting taste for a milder beer.  

Left Hand Brewing Company

Longmont, Colorado

www.lefthandbrewing.com

Ass Kisser Porter Pounder ....

Today's beer: Porter Pounder, a smoked porter, from Ass Kisser Hand Crafted Ales.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 8% ABV.  Their web site shows 36 IBUs.

Porter Pounder poured with a thick, very rich brown head.  Beer color is a dark brown with some red highlights.  Held up to the light, very little light shows through the glass - just enough to pick up some color.  The aroma is smoked malt, cocoa and caramel.  Taste is heavy on roasted, smoky malt.  A little cocoa and caramel.  Has a bit of bitter coffee on the finish.  Leaves you with a little smoke in the aftertaste.      

Ass Kisser Hand Crafted Ales

San Jose, California

www.asskisserales.com

Saint Arnold Amber ....

This evening I will have an Amber Ale from Saint Arnold Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  The web site shows 5.5% ABV and 31 IBUs.

This beer poured with a thin, off-white head.  Beer color is a golden yellow, and there is some fine sediment.  The aroma is grainy, with some caramel sweetness and a little floral.  Taste is similar to smell, with the grains being dominant.  Malt, a little sweetness.  Towards the end, I get a doughy taste that fades and leaves you with a general "beer" aftertaste that is reminiscent of this beer's taste.

     

Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Houston, Texas

www.saintarnold.com

Stone IPA ....

Tonight I will be having an India Pale Ale from Stone Brewing Company.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 6.9% ABV.  The Stone web site shows 77 IBUs.

This IPA poured with a small to medium, bone colored head.  The beer itself is a lovely golden shade.  The aroma is not overly intense, with citrus and pine, maybe a little sweetness.  Medium bodied.  The taste is heavy on the hops, with the citrus and resinous pine there pretty much throughout the sip.  I get some malt at the beginning, then again towards the end, which fades into a nice bitter aftertaste.  No real hint of the somewhat higher alcohol, as this one seems like a beer you could drink several of.   

Stone Brewing Company

Escondido, California

www.stonebrew.com

Left Hand Wake Up Dead ....

To start off the holiday weekend I will have a Wake Up Dead Imperial Stout from Left Hand Brewing Company.  22 ounce bottle.  The web site lists 10.2% ABV and 45 IBUs.

This beer poured with a small, rich brown head.  Beer color is a very dark reddish brown/black.  No light shows through when you hold the glass up to a light.  The aroma has some cocoa, a dark fruit sweetness, oak and caramel.  In the taste I am getting roasted malt, cocoa, coffee, dark fruit and a hint of the higher alcohol.  There is underlying bitterness through most of the sip.  Heavy and creamy.  The aftertaste leaves you with a little roasted malt and a slight bitterness.  This has a lot going on, and is tasty.

Left Hand Brewing Company

Longmont, Colorado

www.lefthandbrewing.com

Brew Dog 5 A.M. Saint ....

New brewery tonight: Brewdog.  I am having their 5 A.M. Saint, an amber ale.  The 11.2 ounce bottle shows 5% ABV.  The web site lists 25 IBUs.

This beer poured with a thick, tan colored head.  Beer color is a darker amber.  Aroma has citrus (orange & grapefruit), some caramel/toffee, and hints of floral/fruit.  Medium bodied.  The taste has a mild underlying bitterness most of the way through.  There is also cocoa, caramel, breadiness and some spice.  Somewhat dry finish.  An unusual beer, but one certainly worth trying.

BrewDog

Fraserburgh, Scotland

www.brewdog.com

Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA ....

Today I will have a Leviathan Imperial IPA from Harpoon Brewery.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 10% ABV.  Their web site lists 120 IBUs!

Leviathan poured with a medium to thick, very creamy colored head.  Beer color is a golden amber.  The aroma has citrus, fruit, caramel sweetness, and a little pine.  It is very smooth and not as intense as I really expected.  The taste starts off with some malt and carbonation, then some citrus/hops/bitter builds pretty quickly.  You also know this has some serious alcohol - there is some in the taste and it is warming going down.  This is actually a smooth, heavy Imperial IPA.  The malt, hops and alcohol all blend and nothing really overpowers.  You don't get any crazy bitterness that the 120 IBUs implied.  There is a little bitter aftertaste.  Another tasty IPA.    

Harpoon Brewery

Boston, Massachusetts

www.harpoonbrewery.com

Saint Arnold Endeavour IPA ....

Tonight I will sample Endeavour IPA, a double IPA available year-round, from Saint Arnold Brewing Company.  One pint, six ounce bottle.  The Saint Arnold web site shows 8.9% ABV and 76 IBUs.

This beer poured with a thin, off-white head.  Beer color is an orange-ish amber.  The aroma has some nice citrus, lemons and oranges, but also some other fruit - perhaps apricots or peaches.  Kind of makes my mouth water.  The taste starts off malty, then builds into some citrus, pine, bitter and a hint of the higher alcohol.  Some fruit at the end.  Dry finish.  The aftertaste leaves you with some dryness, bitter and a little fruit.  Another reason to like IPAs.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Houston, Texas

www.saintarnold.com

Anchor Bock ....

Today I will have a Bock from Anchor Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site shows 5.5% ABV and that it is available February through May.

Anchor Bock poured with a thick, chocolaty brown head - a very rich brown.  Beer color is a darker brown with a lot of red shading.  You can see a small amount of light when the glass is held up to a light.  The aroma has a real caramel/toffee note that gives it some sweetness.  Also some dark fruit.  Roasted malt, caramel, dark fruit and cocoa make up the taste.  There is a mild bitterness, more of a sour than sharp bitter.  The bitter and cocoa linger for the aftertaste.  Creamy mouth feel.  This really isn't overly sweet, but it still seems to me that this would be a good "dessert" beer for after dinner.

Anchor Brewing Company

San Francisco, California

www.anchorbrewing.com

Great Divide Colette ....

Tonight I am having a Colette Farmhouse Ale from Great Divide Brewing Company.  7.3% ABV is listed on the twelve ounce bottle.  The web site says it is available April-July.

This beer poured with a thin, almost white head.  The beer color is that of a cloudy lemonade.  The aroma has wheat, yeast, lemon and some sweetness.  Good carbonation.  The taste has all the highlights from the aroma, but adds in some spice and a fruitiness.  There is just a hint of the higher alcohol, but it goes mostly unnoticed.  Somewhat dry finish.  A bit of grassy aftertaste.  Refreshing.  This would make a great summer beer.    

Great Divide Brewing Company

Denver, Colorado

www.greatdivide.com

Wasatch Polygamy Porter ....

Today's beer is Polygamy Porter from Wasatch Beers.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 4% ABV.

This beer poured with a small, rich brown head.  Beer color is a dark reddish brown.  Very little light shows through the glass when held up to a light.  The aroma has some cocoa, and another unusual something - licorice?  Nice aroma.  Just a little on the mild side of medium bodied.  The taste is malty, with a definite smoky/roasted quality.  Cocoa.  There is a grassy/herbal note as well.  Leaves you with a bit of the cocoa and smokiness for the aftertaste.  Not as strong as a lot of porters, but it has quite a bit going on in the aroma and taste departments, especially with only 4% ABV.  Tasty.    

Wasatch Beers

Park City, Utah

www.wasatchbeers.com

Ass Kisser Double IPA ....

Friday night, and time for a serious brew - Double IPA from Ass Kisser Hand Crafted Ales.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 7.75% ABV.  Their web site lists 62 IBUs.

Today's beer poured with a very thick, creamy colored head.  Beer color is a golden orange, not really a yellow or an amber.  It is very cloudy, with quite a bit of small-bubble carbonation coming up the sides of the glass.  Aroma is a mild citrus, more along the lines of orange and tangerine, not a grapefruit-like bitter.  An underlying sweetness.  Medium to full bodied.  In the taste, the citrus leans a little more towards grapefruit as it has some bitterness.  Malty with a nice mouth feel.  Caramel sweetness.  There is also a hint of a herbal or floral note at the end.  Somewhat dry finish.  The aftertaste is slightly bitter and a little herbal.

Ass Kisser Hand Crafted Ales

San Jose, California

www.asskisserales.com

New Belgium Belgo IPA ....

Today I am sampling a Belgo, Belgian Style India Pale Ale, from New Belgium Brewing Company.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 7% ABV.  The web site shows 60 IBUs.

This beer poured with a medium, bone colored head.  Beer color is a cloudy, medium yellow.  The aroma is more like a hefeweizen than an IPA.  Yeasty, with an underlying sweetness, maybe a little citrus.  The taste hits you with some citrus and a yeastiness at the same time.  Malty.  A little higher carbonation.  Nice hop bitterness towards the end.  Slight bitter aftertaste.  This is a nice mix of a hefeweizen and an IPA - the highlights of each are interwoven.    

New Belgium Brewing Company

Fort Collins, Colorado

www.newbelgium.com

Victory Summer Love ....

Tonight I will try Summer Love Ale from Victory Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  The web site shows 5.2% ABV.  It is a seasonal, available May through August.

This beer poured with a small, almost white head.  Beer color is a light to medium golden yellow.  Almost perfectly clear, with a small amount of carbonation.  The aroma has a nice citrus, probably more lemon than anything.  There also seems to be a floral note mixing in with the citrus.  Medium bodied.  The taste has some lemon, and maybe a little grapefruit as well.  The hops also have a nice floral quality, not cloying, that goes well with the citrus.  Definitely a little more carbonation to the mouth feel than it appeared in the glass.  A little bitterness builds at the end, with a somewhat dry finish, that lingers around for the aftertaste.  A nice mix of interesting, tasty hops!

Victory Brewing Company

Downingtown, Pennsylvania

www.victorybeer.com

Stone Pale Ale ....

Kind of hard to believe that with all the beers I have sampled this year, I have not had a single one from Stone Brewing Company - but I haven't.  So tonight I have the first of the year, their Pale Ale.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 5.4% ABV.  The web site lists 41 IBUs.

This beer poured with a thick, almost tan head.  Beer color is an amber/copper with a little more brown to it - kind of a darker copper.  The aroma has some fruity citrus, caramel sweetness, and maybe a little dark fruit.  Medium bodied.  Up front, the taste hits you with some citrusy, floral hops and a little bitterness that you think is going to build but then the malt kicks in and smooths it all out.  Nice earthy and sweet malt.  The bitterness builds a little at the end and sticks with you for the aftertaste.  Very nice.
    

Stone Brewing Company

Escondido, California

www.stonebrew.com

Ballast Point Pale Ale ....

Tonight I will have the Pale Ale from Ballast Point Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site shows 4.6% ABV and 23 IBUs, and "crafted in the style of the Kolsch beers of Cologne, Germany."

Pale Ale poured with a small to medium, off-white head.  The beer color is a medium yellow, and it is slightly cloudy.  Aroma is bready/yeasty, with a slight fruitiness.  Mild bodied.  Malt, bread, grain.  A little bit of sweeter fruit towards the end, then a tiny amount of bitterness.  A mild beer aftertaste.  This is definitely a milder beer, but has a lot going on if you take your time and give it a chance.      

 

Ballast Point Brewing Company

San Diego, California

www.ballastpoint.com

Deschutes Hop Henge ....

My Sunday night beer will be Hop Henge Experimental IPA from Deschutes Brewery.  The 1 pint, 6 ounce bottle lists 8.5% ABV and 95 IBUs.  This should be interesting!  It is a limited release, January to April, according to their web site.

This beer poured with a medium, creamy colored head.  Beer color is a nice golden shade.  The aroma has some citrus, but not nearly as much as I expected.  There is a real scent of fruit, besides the citrus - kind of jammy, like apricots and strawberry.  No real hints of higher alcohol in the aroma.  There is enough malt in the taste that the citrus isn't overwhelming.  Malt, not-too-sour-citrus, a little higher alcohol and some fruit.  Some bitterness comes in towards the middle and end.  Leaves you with a nice little bitter aftertaste.  Very nice.  

Deschutes Brewery

Bend, Oregon

www.deschutesbrewery.com

Breckenridge Summerbright ....

Today I am having a Summerbright Ale from Breckenridge Brewery.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 4.5% ABV.  Their web site shows 15 IBUs, and that this beer is a seasonal available April through August.  Brewed with orange and lemon peels.

This beer poured with a very thin, off-white head.  Beer color is a slightly cloudy, medium yellow/gold.  The aroma is very bready, with some fruit and maybe a little spice.  Mild bodied.  The taste has some wheat/yeast, and a little citrus.  The citrus seems to brighten it up more than it adds a citrus note.  A little sweetness.  Just a small bready beer aftertaste.  
 

Breckenridge Brewery

Denver, Colorado

www.breckbrew.com

Alaskan Summer ....

Tonight I am having Summer, a Kolsch-style ale, from Alaskan Brewing Company.  This is a seasonal release.  Twelve ounce bottle.  The web site shows 5.3% ABV and 18 IBUs.

Summer poured with a very thin, off-white head.  The beer color is a clear, medium yellow.  Aroma has some wheat, a little bready and light fruity/floral note.  Mild bodied.  The taste is malty, with some wheat and sweetness.  Hardly any bitterness.  Slightly dry finish.  Light and refreshing - this is a nice summer beer.      

Alaskan Brewing Company

Juneau, Alaska

www.alaskanbeer.com

Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot ....

Tonight I am trying Wilco Tango Foxtrot Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company - a seasonal.  The 1 pint, 6 ounce bottle lists 7.85% ABV and 59 IBUs.

This beer poured with a thin, not quite tan head.  Beer color is a darker amber/copper.  Aroma is a lighter hoppy citrus and some sweet malt.  Slightly maltier mouth feel.  The taste has sweet malt, mild hoppy citrus and then a light bitterness.  Hides the higher alcohol pretty well.  A mild bitter aftertaste.  Medium bodied.  Nothing over the top, just a tasty, drinkable beer - this is something I could drink all the time.  

Lagunitas Brewing Company

Petaluma, California

www.lagunitas.com

Real Ale Devil's Backbone ....

Back to a Texas brewery.  My beer for today is Devil's Backbone, a Belgian Style Tripel from Real Ale Brewing Company.  The Real Ale web site shows 8.1% ABV and 36 IBUs.  Twelve ounce bottle.

Devil's Backbone poured with a thin, off-white head.  Beer color is a slightly cloudy yellow.  The aroma is primarily yeasty, with an underlying sweetness, and some banana and cloves.  Nice aroma - very balanced and not overpowering.  The taste has mild yeastiness, sweetness, banana and cloves/spice that carry over from the aroma.  There is a kind of sweet tartness that is hard to describe.  Definite higher carbonation to the mouth feel.  A little warmth from the higher alcohol.  Then there is a slight bitterness to the finish.  This has a lot going on, and it really works.  

Real Ale Brewing Company

Blanco, Texas

www.realalebrewing.com

New Belgium Ranger IPA ....

Tonight's sampling is my first of the year from New Belgium Brewing Company, their Ranger India Pale Ale.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 6.5% ABV and 70 IBUs.

This beer poured with a small to medium, off-white colored head.  Beer color is a golden yellow.  The aroma is predominantly citrus, but not a bitter citrus.  There is some caramel sweetness as well.  A good amount of mouth feel.  The taste has a lot of malt, then transitions through some sweet to bitter.  The bitter has a citrus note to it, but I am not getting as much citrus in the taste as in the aroma.  Dry finish and a lingering bitter aftertaste.  Not an overly complex beer, but if you like a bitter-leaning IPA, this might be a good one to try.      
 

New Belgium Brewing Company

Fort Collins, Colorado

www.newbelgium.com

Summit Extra Pale Ale ....

My beer for tonight is Extra Pale Ale from Summit Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  The Summit web site shows 5.2% ABV and 45 IBUs.

This beer poured with a very thick, creamy colored head.  The beer color is a golden honey.  Aroma has some spice, earthy, maybe mild pine.  The taste is malty, with some caramel and a bready quality.  There is an underlying sour bitter note - it is not overly strong or unpleasant, but it has some bite.  Medium bodied.  Slight bitter aftertaste.    

Summit Brewing Company

St. Paul, Minnesota

www.summitbrewing.com