New Glarus: Snowshoe Red Ale (American Amber/Red Ale) 5.70%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours hazy brown with porous, off-white head and great lacing. the smell is metallic like a winter warmer. The toasty malt flavors are naturally evident, but unlike some read ales, this doesn't have that strong sourness to it. It has a very smooth medium body that is non offensive. There is just enough sweetness to balance the bitterness. I am not a huge red ale fan, and one of these is plenty for me, but it is a solid beer in its class. 

My Rating: B/3.63

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/590/3239

Negra Modelo: (Munich Dunkel Lager) 5.4%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

Negra Modelo pours brown with minimal head. Like all Mexican beer, it’s refreshing and delicious when it’s super cold. There is a decent malt complexity and a little bit of bitterness to this. I like that it isn’t super sweet. This is a great beer for the style. 

My Rating: B-/3.4

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/75/667

New Glarus: Moon Man (APA) 5.0%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours golden with active bubbles and nice foamy head. The smell is very potent...bitter and hoppy. The taste is most notably fresh, hoppy, and bitter. This almost gives you a sour candy sensation. The body is pretty light, but the crisp bite of this brew lingers and just adds to the refreshment that it provides. It has a strong, effervescent grapefruit flavor. This is the cold shower of beers, a welcome change to the usual over-syrup douchy IPAs that I usually drink. Seriously, this is a great beer with a fresh hop character that I have been craving, this hits the spot. 

My Rating: A/4.38

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/590/56738

Great Lakes: Dortmunder Gold (Dortmunder/Export Lager) 5.8%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

It is no secret that I don’t like lagers, but I do love Great Lakes. I do have a bias, but I feel like they are incapable of disappointing. This beer pours a beautiful golden orange, with a lot of chunky head, great lacing, and great retention. The smell is sweet and malty. This beer definitely gives you that thin bodied bitter feel that makes lagers suck, but adds a nice hint of maple…or honey? The malt complexity is nice, and gives a little bit of a bready taste…but it doesn’t come on as strong as some other German styles. There is a crisp bitterness, but I wouldn’t say that the hops are over-done. This is a Great beer, I will come back to this one. 

My Rating: A-/4.05

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/73/228

Avery: white Rascal (Witbier) 5.6%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours banana colored, with light fizzy head. The smells is the expected yeast and citrus. I really like how crisp and tart this brew is. It reminds me of Hoegaarden but much better. It has a medium to light body that is zesty and refreshing. This is a great beer for the style because it lacks the over-soapiness that Belgium beers often have.

My Rating: B/3.73

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30/9689

Two Brothers: The Bitter End (APA) 5.2%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours a nice dark, hazy orange with a chunky head. There is decent lacing and retention as well. The smell is more potent than I was expecting for a pale ale. The citrus and hops are obvious, as well as the malts and sweetness. This has a very well rounded hop/malt complexity. Before it dawned on me what the name meant, I was thinking to myself that just about when you expect this beer to bring that sweet malt flavor through in the aftertaste, it truly does finish bitter. 

My Rating: A/4.45

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/689/4307

Oskar Blue's: Old Chub (Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy) 8.0%

Drank From: can, poured into a pint glass

This pours very dark brown with heavy tan head and little lacing/retention. I smell a lot of malt, sugar and booze. The taste is toasty and sweet, but not overpowering. I am impressed with the mouthfeel. I was expecting more chew-spit, but this is actually rather medium and drinkable. This has a mild bitter, hoppy aftertaste that adds to the complexity. This isn’t a style that I love, but this beer is a solid representation for sure. 

My Rating: B+/3.95

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2681/14712

Oskar Blue's: Dale's Pale Ale (APA) 6.5%

Drank From: can, poured into a pint glass

This pours hazy pale orange and has big chunky head and good retention. The smell is very sweet and malty, with some hops as well. This taste is well rounded bitter and sweet with a high malt presence. There is a nice bitter bite to this as well. This is a solid pale ale with a medium body. Very good. I have also rated this beer from draft, and I thought it was a little more hoppy...probably better overall from the draft. 

My Rating: B+/4.0

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2681/6518

Oskar Blue's: Mama's Little Yella Pils (Czech Pilsener) 5.3%

Drank From: can, poured into a pint glass

This pours golden and has nice chunky head for a pilsner. There is also a good amount of lacing. Because it is a pilsner, it reminds me of a BMC, but much more crafted. I can smell and taste more hops and malt, and this has some refreshing qualities. Overall I don’t love this beer based on the style. I got it on sale, and it beats any other canned pilsner. 

My Rating: B/3.63

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2681/48139

Schlafly: Kolsch 4.5%

Drank From: bottle poured into a pint glass

This pours hazy, pale yellow with a sudsy white head. There is very little retention or lacy, but I wasn’t expecting any from this style. It’s very clean and refreshing. I hate to say it, but the smell is like a BMC, It kinda has that dirty/sweet pilsner taste, but this is still a craft beer quality beverage. I can taste malt and hops, and this is overall refreshing. I would prefer a little more bitter and a little less sweet, but I’m not going to split hairs, this is easy to drink and pretty good. 

My Rating: B/3.75

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/583/25044

Schlafly: Dry-Hopped Pale Ale (APA) 5.9%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours golden brown with nice chunky white head and some good lacing. The smell is pretty pungent even as you pour this beer. There is a lot of grassy/hops smells, but there is a fresh bready element too. The taste is much more herbal and hoppy than the Schafly Pale Ale, but the bready malts flavors come out even more in this beer. I even get a little green pepper vibe that I will attribute to the crisp, clean bite. There is great complexity in the balance here, and I am thrilled that I’m not suffering through a sweet, heavy bodied, syrupy beer. This is a solidly crafted beer where the flavors sits on the tongue and invokes the next sip, without leaving a mucky gross taste that you find yourself wanting to wash down. This is medium bodied, but definitely something I could have a few of. 

My Rating: A-/4.25

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/583/36290

Schlafly: Pale Ale (English Pale Ale) 4.4%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours a really nice copper color with two fingers of medium white head. I already see a lot of lacing and retention so I am enjoying the appearance a lot. The smell is pretty mild, but it smells like a beer. The taste is pretty crisp and bitter. I have been on a long stretch of strong ales and IPAs, so the lack of sweetness is shocking, yet refreshing. I could almost say that there is no sweetness at all. I’m not getting any sour backtalk from the malt either. This is just a very non-offensive, well rounded, refreshing beer. I particularly enjoy the clean malt aftertaste that is balanced perfectly with a fair amount of hops…exceeding expectations. This is fairly light bodied, and something that you would want to cookout with, take to the beach, etc. 

My Rating: A-/4.2

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/583/1629

Olde Mecklenburg: Fruehbock (Maibock/Helles Bock) 6.1%

Drank From: on-tap, poured into a pint glass

Fruehbock pours golden clear and has nice foamy head. There is a very heavy malt flavor. I taste a little more sweetness than I prefer, but there is a nice bitter bite...maybe some herbal and dirty aspects. I taste a little more booze than in other OMB offerings. This is a solid spring seasonal.


My Rating: B/3.68
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/19247/57056

FIRST FLIGHT WITH THE BEER DOWN PADDLE!

Mother Earth: Old Neighborhood Oatmeal Porter (American Porter) 5.5%

This pours almost black with nice head and good lacing. The smell is chocolate, smokey and dark fruity. The taste very chocolaty, a little smoky. There is a medium body that almost has some sweet fruitiness. This is a great porter that doesn’t leave that sour gross taste in your mouth. Good local variety. 

My Rating: B+/4

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/21193/61736

Victory: St. Victorious (Dopplebock) 8.5%

This pours crystal clear brown, very slight lacing, the smell is brown sugar, but a lot of malt in the smell and flavor as well. It is a nice German style flavor, great malt flavor, really good. There is a lot of sweetness, but for the ABV, there is a decent balance to this. It is maybe a little syrupy, but the medium-heavy body is actually pretty tolerable.

My Rating: B/3.68

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/345/1012

Ska: Buster Nut Brown Ale (English Brown Ale) 5.15%

There isn't a strong smell, but light sweetness and malt is detectable.  pours brown and has very little head and lacing. I taste brown sugar and there is a nice crispness. It is pretty sweet, there is some bitterness, but it finishes nicely. This is a well rounded brown ale with a medium body.

My Rating: B-/3.43

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/923/3315

Stone: Levitation (American Amber/Red Ale) 4.4%

This is really tasty, light brown-slightly amber, nice head, a little lacing, there is a sour hop smell that comes through slightly in the taste…but pleasant. I really love the smooth graininess that this beer has. It has a distinct malt taste but it isn't overly toasty or sweet. The light body would make having a few very easy. 

My Rating: B+/3.9
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/6301

Dogfish: Aprihop (IPA) 7%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This seasonal from Dogfish pours a really nice dark brown with two fingers of head, nice retention, and sticky lacing. I was expecting something overly peachy and fruity, but this beer is so much better. There is some mild apricot on the nose, mixed with hops. The taste is a very smooth IPA, with a great balance of bitterness, citrus hops, and a mild apricot aftertaste. I am picking up a little more apricot flavor as it warms, but the bitter bite and good carbonation are keeping this from being a sweet, syrupy beer. I had no problem blowing through this beer and could have another. It is medium bodied and fairly refreshing. 

My Rating: A/4.5

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10099/3951

Left Hand: Chainsaw Ale (American Strong Ale) 9%

Drank From: bomber, poured into a pint glass

This pours murky brown and has nice fluffy off-white head. The smell is malty and sweet with some citrus. The flavor has a unique dark raison flavor, but unlike other beers similar to this one, it isn’t dominated by an overly sweet, syrupy aftertaste. There is a nice bitter balance that keeps you coming back for another drink. I will say this is one of the more complex and mysterious tasting beers that I have had, there is a spicy brown sugar taste that is interesting. I cannot get over the drinkability. I really thought that this 9% ABV would overtake this beer. Instead, it is a well balanced bitter beer that is a welcome change from the usual overly hoppy and sweet beers that I tend to choose.  

My Rating: A/4.45

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/418/28814

Victory: Helios (Saison/Farmhouse Ale)

Drank From: bomber, poured into a pint glass

Pours pale, hazy yellow with active foamy head and some sediment…virtually no lacing. The appearance reminds me a wheat beer. The smell is yeasty and has that bottle aged Belgium smell that stings your nose. The flavor is similar to wheat beer, but this is super crisp and fruity. The down side is that it has the mucky aftertaste that I don’t love about wheat beer. Previously I haven’t noticed beer tasting like lemongrass, but this beer really does have that lemon/herbal grassiness. The body is really light, even at a 7.5% ABV. This is something that I could have a few of easily. When super cold, this is refreshing goodness. For being pretty similar in style (vaguely), I prefer Oberon from Bell’s Brewery. 

My Rating: B/3.68

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/345/47776

Victory: Yakima Glory (American Black Ale) 8.7%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a tulip glass

This pours very dark purple with medium tan head. There is moderate retention and decent lacing. The smell is pungent dark fruits and hops. The flavor is robust raison and citrus hops. I like this because the complexity relies on fruit rather than spice. I’m most impressed with the amount of detectable hops and bitterness in the taste, and the lack over over-sweet syrup qualities that sometimes come with ABVs over 8%. The body is heavy, but well balance, so 1-2 of these would be pretty painless. 

My Rating: B+/4.0

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/345/46385

Lagunitas: Hop Stoopid (American Double/Imperial IPA) 8%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

Hop Stoopid pours hazy light orange with 1 ½ fingers of chunky head and some moderate lacing. The smell is heavy hops, sugar and malt. The taste is really tolerable and citrusy, but as it warms its gains thickness and tastes a lot like honey. For being an 8% ABV, it does have a nice balance and a crisp bite. However, this is pretty heavy and leaves that sour/cereal aftertaste that is often indicative of the high percentage IPAs. 

My Rating: B+/3.78

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/220/35738

New Belgium: Pale Ale (APA) 6%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

Mighty Arrow pours a hazy light copper with active bubbles and two fingers of head. There is some moderate lacing, and the head sticks around like on an IPA…so the appearance is great. The nose is slightly hoppy and malty. The taste is very smooth and well rounded with a warming/bitter flavor that reminds me of a winter warmer;  there is a nice crisp bite to this as well. I was expecting something more fresh and hoppy, but was surprised to find a more dirty and malty taste with some herbal spiciness. This is a late winter/earlier spring seasonal (for me) because it lacks the refreshing qualities of a typical spring or summer seasonal. This is a solid beer though, I’d love to try it on tap. 

My Rating: B+/3.8

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/192/40418

Samuel Smith: India Ale (English IPA) 5%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours dark orange with nice chunky head. I hate to sound non-specific, but it has that European nuttiness in the smell, possibly yeast. The taste is fairly hollow on the first impression. It isn’t sweet or particularly malty. I don’t pick up on an abundance of hops. I think it smells like a Guinness, and it has the same cereal maltiness in the taste. I will say that this has decent drinkability and a good, medium mouthfeel. It is nice and bitter and has a pleasant bite. “Old world beer” is what I keep thinking in my mind. There is a metallic flavor that I don’t care for. This just does not have to fruitiness or hoppiness that I crave in an IPA. For me, this is more like a brown ale or an ESB…or an English Bitter for that matter. This beer makes me want to eat cheese. 

My Rating: B-/3.35

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/113/573

Bell's: Oberon Ale (American Pale Wheat Ale) 5.8%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours yellow orange with one finger of head and a lot of sediment. I smelled yeast and malt. This is a high quality wheat beer that has some spice to it. Oberon is a wheat beer/pale ale hybrid that is a refreshing take on the wheat beer, a style that do not usually prefer. I tasted very subtle spice...perhaps clove, but certainly not any gross coriander or banana Blue Moon nonsense. The medium body makes it drinkable, but its a little sweet and malty, I would stick with one or two of these. 

My Rating: B+/3.9

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/1094

Bell's: Two Hearted Ale (American IPA) 7%

Drank From: bottle, poured into pint glass

Two Hearted Ale does not disappoint. I heard a lot about this beer before I tried it. I understand why it carries such a likable reputation. To be widely accepted, I think you have to have a fairly non-offensive taste. This leaves out any wacky nuance that you might find in other beers. I think this is a crowd pleasing staple. I liked the golden orange pour and two fingers of head. The flavor was hops and citrus, but not overpowering. This could almost be described as an aggressive pale ale. All of the quality that you expect is in this beer, and I will be coming back to this one. 


My Rating: A/4.28
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/1093

SweetWater: Happy Ending Imperial Stout (American Double/Imperial Stout) 9%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a tulip glass

This pours black with dark tan head. It doesn’t smell over chocolaty or coffee-y. I think I faintly smell hops, but definitely dark malts and sugar. The taste is pretty mild for being a 9%. The aftertaste is where most of the flavor hits you with a lot of bitterness, burnt coffee, and woody toastiness. I don’t consider myself to be overly versed in imperial stouts, but I like this much better than the sweeter versions, i.e., Samuel Adams Imperial Stout. The body is pretty heavy, but there is a surprising amount of carbonation and bite; I was expecting this to be more syrupy. One or two of these would be my limit. 

My Rating: A/4.28

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/273/19488

Terrapin: Hopsecutioner IPA (American IPA) 7.3%

Drank From:  bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours golden orange with a nice 1 1/2 fingers of head. The smell is rich with malt and citrus hops. The taste is malty, crisp and hoppy at first. There is a little bit of bitter booziness that follows. The alcohol taste in this is a negative for me since it is only a 7.3%...i’ve had many other beers with ABVs in that range that aren’t as obvious. It also has some cereal flavors that I don’t love. I would call this a medium body, and not my favorite IPA. 

My Rating: B/3.53

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2372/53886

Saint Jame's Gate: Guinness Extra Stout (Irish Dry Stout) 6%

Drank From: bomber, poured into a pint glass

This pours black with chunky, light tan head. It isn't as creamy as it is on tap, but still good. I’ve always liked Guinness. The taste is toasty and sweet with a little bite, you can almost taste the creaminess. The low carbonation makes it one of the easiest beers to drink, in my opinion. Medium body and good for a few. 

My Rating: B/3.58%

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/209/650

Terrapin Takeover: Charlotte Craft Brew Week @ The Flying Saucer

I was able to sample a few side projects/rare beers that Terrapin offers at The Flying saucer in Charlotte, NC as part of a week long craft brewery event. I jotted down some notes on my cell phone, so they are rudimentary at best. 



Substance Abuse (American Double/Imperial Stout) ?%
This was very heavy and boozy. It poured black with tan head. Actually, this is simply Wake-n-Bake aged in whiskey barrels. To no surprise, the whiskey came right out to bite your face. It was almost overpowering on the nose, but more tolerable on the tongue. In addition to the strong alcohol presence, there was a surprising amount of carbonation. Other flavors included chocolate, Irish Car Bomb, and coffee. This is a one-and-done for sure. 


My Rating B/3.75
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2372/41883


Hoptaneous Combustion (American Double/Imperial IPA) 9.3%
This poured orange with a little head. It had a strong sweetness, I tasted fabric and band-aid glue. It also had dark cereal flavors with heavy maltiness. Let's be honest, you order a beer like this knowing that it is a rarity. This isn't something that you keep on hand. I've tried it once, and that's good enough for me. It was a tolerable double IPA. 


My Rating: B/3.75
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2372/60685




Big Daddy Vlady's Russian Imperial Stout (Russian Imperial Stout) 10.25%


This poured black with tan head. The smell and taste was chocolaty and sweet. There was Strong alcohol flavor that didn't try to hide, but it's presence was pleasant ant expected from a Russian Imperial. I am really starting to like this genre of beer, and I'm blaming this for that new found interest. It was a solid imperial stout that had surprising carbonation and a body that was drinkable. 


My Rating: A-/4.1
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2372/63164

Great Lakes: Conway's Irish Ale (Irish Red Ale) 6.5%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours copper with one finger of light head and active bubbles. The nose is sweet barley malts and fresh hops. The taste is light and grassy, but the sweet malty flavors come on strong. There is a nice bite from the bitterness. There is a graininess that sticks around on the aftertaste longer than I prefer. I would classify this as a crowd pleasing easy drinker, for those who like craft brews anyway. Great pick for a spring cookout. 

My Rating: B/3.68

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/73/5096

Terrapin: Rye Pale Ale (APA) 5.3%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours orange and has some sediment. The head is one finger with champagne-like bubbles, it goes away rather quickly and leaves a little lacing. The smell is really unique because of the rye. The whole feel of this beer is different than any other pale ale that I’ve had, which makes it interesting. The toasted barely flavor is replaced by a bitter sweet rye flavor. It still has hop presence and a nice mild bite that makes it an easy drinker, which isn’t so unlike other pale ales that I’ve tasted. It has a lighter body and is something that I could have a few of. 

My Rating: B/3.75

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2372/5948

Oskar Blue's: Dale's Pale Ale (APA) 6.5%

Drank From: on-tap, poured into a pint glass

Dale's poured light copper with a finger of head. I had this after a beer tasting, so the intricacies of my taste buds were dulled. I remember it being very hoppy and crisp with a solid bite to it. It could have been an IPA, even though it's classified as a pale ale. The smell was the usual hoppy goodness. I would like to have this out of the famous can that its known for, and hopefully i can have a more detailed breakdown at that time.

My Rating: B+/4.0

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2681/6518

Sprecher: IPA2 (American Double/Imperial IPA) 8.4%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

IPA2 pours cloudy orange. There isn’t a lot of smell, just typical citrus and hops, but nothing outstanding. The taste was surprisingly better than I thought it might be. It definitely has a very quality, rounded out taste. There is a dark/nutty aspect to this beer that I am really enjoying. The aftertaste is a little boozy, but there is a nice balance between the sweetness and bitterness. There is a little bit of apricot in the aftertaste as well. There is a bad mucky aftertaste. Medium body...drinkability is lowered because of the aftertaste that builds as you work your way through this one. 

My Rating: B/3.58

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/144/37308

Left Hand: 400 Pound Monkey (English IPA) 6.7%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours hazy light orange with 1 1/2 fingers of foamy head and some lacing. The nose is light hops with a stronger sweet malty smell to follow. The taste is very bitter with a hint of honey up front.This reminds me of an English bitter. 400 Pound Monkey is tasty, but pretty bitter. I would like a little more malt balance. The body is medium but overall easy to drink. This is a good beer for a change, I usually like American IPA. This is similar to Goose Island Honker's Ale, only more bold. The box says "earth and herbal". I would agree with that...maybe aged, wet hops...very earthy.


My Rating: B+/4.0
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/418/44706

Victory: Hop Wallop (American Double/Imperial IPA) 8.5%

Drank From: bomber, poured into a pint glass

This beer is fantastic. Pours yellow/light orange and has a lot of active bubbles…two fingers of chunky head and good lacing. Smell is fresh and hoppy. The taste is a great balance of cereal malt flavors and a big bite, the bitterness is also large in the aftertaste. There isn’t too much sweetness, and I can’t believe this an 8.5%. I’ve had 6-7 ABVs that were much thicker and harsh. Half way through, I started to notice the body to be medium-heavy, It gains some weight as it warms up. Pouring this from a bomber, could probably put down two. 

My Rating: A+/4.58

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/345/14916

Rust Belt: Old Man Hopper's IPA (American IPA) 6.0%

Drank From: bomber, poured into a pint glass

This pours cloudy brown with a little head, but some lacing. The smell is sweet and malty. The flavor is not complex or bold, but not bad either. It has a craft brew quality to it that makes it more tolerable than piss. The dominance is malt rather than hops. I like the bitternes, but It has some trashy fermented tastes. I like the rust belt and I like craft beer; I like that this is different than the rest, and I’m not hating. However, this just isn’t an A beer. Medium body, I will be tired of it by the end of this bomber. 

My Rating: B-/3.28

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/19190/55708

Sierra Nevada: Torpedo Extra IPA (American Pale Ale) 7.2%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This pours very cloudy orange with 2 fingers of chunky head with a lot of lacing. I smell some malt and hops with some booziness, but the taste doesn't reflect the alcohol.  It has pretty nice malty bitterness balance, but not near as good as Celebration. I don’t get the fresh hop impression in Torpedo. There is a dirty/earthy pine taste, which I do enjoy as a variety in an IPA. As I drink through this beer, I notice dark fruits that are represented in the smell and taste. The body is mildly heavy, I think I will stick with just one of these. 

My Rating: B+/3.8

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/30420

Redhook: Mudslinger Spring Ale (English Brown Ale) 5.8%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

Mudslinger pours medium brown and pretty clear, with about one finger of head. The smell was sweet and malty. The taste was mild but nutty. I was surprised in its bitterness; for me, it made it more drinkable. I don’t prefer overly sweet brown ales. It had a medium body, and I could have another. 

My Rating: B/3.65
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18134/55264

Great Lakes: Commodore Perry (English IPA) 7.5% SECOND REVIEW

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

This is great beer. Pours light orange with one and a half fingers of head and some moderate lacing. The smell is hops and citrus, specifically some grapefruit, with a mild floral presence. This is a good balance of sweet malts up front and bitter hops to follow. This has always been one of my favorite IPAs, and one of the first for me. My only criticism is that it is pretty sweet, but at a high proof and strong amount of malt, that is expected. It is medium bodied, and im down for another…but the 7.5% will sneak up on you.

My Rating: A+/4.53

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/73/1575

Foothills: Hoppyum IPA (American IPA) 6.3%

Drank From: bomber, poured into a pint glass

Hoppyum pours transparent amber with thin chunky two fingers of head. The nose is citrus and metallic. The taste has some bitter metallic too. I taste some malts right away, but the bitter bite dominates, but then malt again in the aftertaste. This isn’t as sweet, hoppy, or citrusy as some IPAs; the body is on the lighter side too. However, there is a good balance of malt and hops. Drinking this bomber wont be a problem at all, and I will defiantly come back to this brew. If I were selling it to someone, I would say that it is a great pale ale with an IPA presentation. The bottle claims that it’s a session beer, I would agree. 

My Rating: A/4.33

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/11036/27571

Victory: HopDevil Ale (American IPA) 6.7%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass

Pours dark peach with one finger of foamy head that doesn’t last too long, but there is some lacing left behind. Fist thing I notice is the graininess in the nose, along with some some dark sweet smells. The taste is heavier on the malt than hops, but this beer also has a nice bitter bite to it. For the heavy malt variety of IPA (as opposed to citrusy), this is excellent. The taste is better than the smell. Medium bodied, give me another. 

My Rating: B+/3.9

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/345/1005

Pyramid: Outburst IPA (American Double/Imperial IPA) 8.5%

Drank From: bottle, poured into a pint glass 

Pours deep orange with two fingers of foamy head, some lacing. The taste is big citrus and hops. It is suprisingly bitter up front with the sweetness that you should expect from 8.5. Had this beer chilled from a bottle first. It is much better right from he fridge, poured into a glass. Medium body, which is pleasant for its ABV. The bitterness last through the after taste and leaves a bit on your tongue. Good beer, I could have two.


My Rating: B/3.58
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/403/57934