New Holland Pilgrim's Dole Wheat Wine

On tap now, first had in a bottle back in May of 2004. Wheat barley-wine, 11.4 % a.b.v.

"Gorgeous magenta hue, a deep violet, with a solid ring of beige foam reigning atop. Aroma is full of grapes, alcohol, spice, orange zest, cherries, brandy, leather, cognac, a heady crowd to run with, yeah, but a generous mix for those who favor abundance of flavor.
Taste is smooth, yet still a bit spikey, with a brash, bold fruity flavor clanging in, reminding me, really, of Aventinus, more than anything else, and that's a goood thing, let us not forget!
Has it's own character, fruity, spicy, yet stil maintains a connection to the weizen feel to in the taste, as well.
No quaffer here, this is a truly luxurious brew. Wish I had a magnum, and all the best people and the very best time, to chime in some happy celebration, with this most wondrous brew! "

Left Hand Wake Up Dead Barrel=aged Imperial Stout

A funny thing happened on the way to this review. Heard about it, hadn't had it. Saw it at Zipp's. Tyler gave it a solid "meh."
Checked BeerAdvocate, and it gets a disappointing C+, with many dissatisfied comments. And I bought a keg anyway. Tapped it last week, and it's been a hit. Nearly done with this one, already. Personally, I like it a lot, even if it isn't the biggest and thickest (although at 10.2 %, it's definitely big.). The fact that BeerAdvocate or RateBeer geeks don't feel the love for this stout, doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be enjoyed by casual drinkers as well as aficcionadoes.

Here are my notes from Friday night:
"Cast in full-on ebony, sizable tan head drifts down soon enough.
Rich aromatics, cocoa and coffee, with sweet bourbon notes just below, gets bigger and fuller as we go in. Vanilla and oak notes peeping up.
Tasting it: A full blast on the palate, all those flavors promised in the nose board together. There's licorice bumping up against molasses, vanilla hints and oakiness meet chocolate and caramel. There is a nice imperial stout under here, hiding under a cloak of bourbon. Sweet stuff, probably too sweet for some, and potent, for sure. Cloying? Just a little. But for bourbon barrel lovers, like me, there's a lot to like. And maybe love.
It's easy drinking for an imperial stout, never gets near chewy, stays clear of viscous. Goes down smooth and brimming with stout-y and barrel-y flavors.
Here's one that's been unjustly maligned, I think. Maybe it needed a bit more time, or perhaps it's better in the keg?"

Central Waters Peruvian Morning 2011

Central Waters Peruvian Morning 2011

"A bourbon barrel aged imperial stout made with freshly roasted Emy J's coffee. This beer is as complex as it gets. Flavors of vanilla, tannins, and coffee meld together to create a flavor as deep as the ravines of the Peruvian Andes."

Muddy brown appearance, rocky tan head, lovely to look out, delightful to know.

Nose is full of chocolate and coffee, a little peppery spice, some molasses, dark rum, deep, indeed. All the makings of a great imperial stout, plus all the goodness of a coffee stout, but wait, there's more! Vanilla and oak, definitely, and the sweet, vast, ever-so-tempting bourbon barrel feel. Oh, yeah, it's all in here.

Tasting it: Mmmmm! Bourbon hits first, whiskey's all over this one, then the other flavors roll out. They can't sit for long, because with every sip the bourbon whiskey comes roaring back. A bit harsh, a trifle thick, brandy and cherries chime in with vanilla and oak. Blackberry and raspberry, too. Mostly vanilla and oak, though, some coffee hangs in there, somehow, but this is all about the bourbon. You'd have a hard time thinking there was anything else going on.
And, …actually? It's getting a little long with me. Too much too much. Oversoaked in the bourbon. Maybe if I am in Peru my mornings would be spent stewed in bourbon, but if the name means to evoke coffee, it's buried in there.

Full bodied, long finish, but not the flavors I want to soak in. Not so much. I almost don't want to finish the contents of the bottle. I will, anyway, but …eh, maybe I won't. Only a few ounces left, but it's over, it's done, I've been there and done that. Bleh. My tongue is tired already. Meh. Sorry, can't get too riled up about this one.

New Belgium Lips of Faith: La Terroir

"La Terroir, Dry Hopped Sour Ale, alc. 7.5% by Vol. La Terroir is a French term meaning "of the earth". Used to reference the environmental conditions that affect the brew, we like to think about the terroir of our folders. These wooden barrels age our sour ale in varying temperatures, humidity and vibrations. The terroir of New Belgium, so to speak. Add in another variable by dry-hopping with peachy, mango-like Amarillo hops, and we created an ale that changes every time we brew it."

Hazy, dusky peach appearance, solid, off-white head. starts big, slims down.

Aromatics cry out from the start, pungent and tart. Wild, funky flavors are matched with under-tones and tropical and citrus fruit. Sour, with traces of cat urine. But, you like that sort of thing, don't you? I love sniffing letterboxes, personally.

Tasting it: Booom-shaka-lacka! A serious thwack on the palate. Twisted, sour, and weird, but also light and refreshing! How about that? Bracingly tart on the tongue, meshed with a further fruit flavor, a more varied hoppy roundness, that caresses and calms the ravaging sourness. A crazy roller coaster ride. Merest malt, just the kiss of the hops, a flavor sensation led by the wicked yeast and the oak of the barrel. The Amarillo dry-hopping is the key, though, with that tropic fruit flavor meshing so well against the sourness of the ale. Lemon, apricot, grapefruit, mango, pineapple.

This is tasty stuff. Light bodied, but with persistent, sour, yeasty flavor, ends on a light note. Starts strong, ends soft, stays pleasantly weird and wonderful.

Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial IPA

One of my favorite Double IPAs, one that pushes bitterness to the edge. Not for everyone, but I certainly recommend it to the hoppiest of hop-heads. Have it on tap now, always love having it on tap. Great to watch people's reactions to the piney-citric hop attack. Here were my notes on first tasting, from a bottle, December 2005:

"Lovely auburn hue, thoroughly hazed, with a sturdy, creamy head, ...nice looking IPA.

Nose is a blistering blitz of hops, big, fat pine resin, slick, dripping citrus, grapefruit and mango, with orange and lemon and lime...rollicking in a pine forest with a cornucopia of fruit rolling through the leaves and the needles...yum...me likey...just the thing for me.

Fresh, and flush with flavor. Huge taste, floods the mouth, and stretches this hophead's lips into a mega-smile, yes, it does. Ample malt carries the thick delicious and bitter hop attack happily along the palate and delivers the drinker into bliss. Yum, again...

Big body, thick texture, long, hoppy, bitter, fruity finish. Non-stop hop attack.

Exactly what you want from a Double IPA. Tomahawk, Cascade and Centennial. 9.2% abv. Dang, this is a great brew from a class act outfit. I would suck this up aplenty if I had easy access to it. You lucky West Coasterers! Damn you to Hell!"

Well, now I can get it easily, so I un-damn them.



Reviewed on: 12-30-2005 10:14:00

Three Floyds Black Sun Stout

Another Three Floyds treat brought back from Hudson, Wisconsin. Label copy: "Black sun has a nose of coffee, roasted malts and piney hops. This medium bodied stout has a broad depth of maltiness and a clean dry finish."
Rather perfunctory, short and sweet and to the point. Way too normal for Three Floyds. By chance, I had been holding onto an old bottle, because I liked the label design so well, and here's how they described it then:

"An inky black stout with a lugubrious brown foam ring in the glass topped by an attractive oil slice. Enticing aromas of deep roast coffee plus touches of vanilla and snake. Flavor is very complex, with chocolate, cherry, and dried fruit dominating.
Creamy smooth mouthfeel, very thick and full-bodied for the style. All this malty sweetness is balanced by the hops up front and the roasted malt bitterness playing against the sweet caramel flavors at the end."

That doesn't sound like a brewery talking. "Lugubrious?" Well, maybe it sounds like Lagunitas or Stone. ..."for the style", though? That definitely sounds like an online critic talking. And it reminded me of the situation when 3F first bottled Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout. The description on that label was lifted word for word, with some editing, from a review by a prolific BeerAdvocate user whose online handle was named either after a Spider-Man villain, or his acerbic nature. I remember asking him how he felt about that, and he said he was honored. I'd be, too, but also a bit miffed that I wasn't asked or even told about such appropriation. To each their own. This could have been from his review of this beer, but I have no way of knowing, since he had his 2000+ reviews deleted from the site, at his request, after a quarrel with the site's owners. I didn't see any other revews that speak of lugubrious brown foam rings. Not mine, no, sir.

Speaking of me, here's what I wrote about the Black Sun on first review, January, 2007:
"Solid black, with a nice, creamy tan, espress-tinged head.

Aroma: nice stuff in here! Licorice, spice, dark fruits, grape, raisins and plums,...quite a treat!

Taste: smooth, clean, and silky, lean-bodied, some darker fruit, slight syrup, mild molasses. Easy-drinking, classic for the style. Full flavor, though I'm a bit let down that the intriquing aroma didn't follow through in the flavor as much. It's not supposed to, and it's quite excellent for what it ought to be...in fact, this would be a regular treat for me, if I could get it around here.

Another treat from the Floyds!"

So, that means I liked it. Still do.

Dave's BrewFarm Bumbled

Dave's BrewFarm Bumbled

Don't remember exactly what Dave told me about this one, but it had something to do with honey, bees, flowers,…other than that, I've got nothing else. Gonna just open it up and dive right in.

(Edit: Dave has since revealed to me his description of Bumbled, from when it was on the menu, here it is: "This is a well-hopped American Ale that emanates subtle honey flavors. Also includes a healthy dose of Magnum, Chinook and Amarillo hops for balance. Brew-Wife says it is NUMMY. 9.1% ABV"
Like most of what I brew, it doesn't "fit" into a nice neat style.")

Clear, pale crimson, deep amber coloring, prodigious foaming, creamy-white, lacy and lovely.

Aroma: sweetness, minor hops, nice and malty, and, yeah, I can pick up on the honey.

Taste: a little fire, here, but just a taste. Very smooth, bright, fruity malt is forward, and hops are hidden, as is alcohol, unless these are famous last words. Don't I wish I had all kinds of info at my disposal, like what yeast or malts, or hops went in? Sure, but, whatever it was, the result is easy drinking and awesome-tasting.

A new sensation comes through, it's the rise of the alcohol, very warming. Getting sweeter and delicious-er, as well. Some chocolate chiming in. How about that?

The Bruery Trade Winds

Famille Rue The Bruery Unfiltered Bottle Conditioned Trade Winds Tripel, Belgian-style ale, brewed with rice and thai basil. This Belgian and Southeast Asian inspired Tripel brings spice from the East and yeast from the West. Choc-tee! (Cheers in Thai) Orange County, CA. Alc. 8.1% a.b.v.

Clouded, rusty gold, showing a bit clearer at the edges. Triumphant, exuberant head, snowy white, lacy.

Beautifully fragrant, lightly spicy, floral, airy, with lemony traces. Gorgeous.

Drinking, the loveliness lives on. Lean-bodied, snappy, plenty of spicy tricks playing on the palate. Very lively, with marvelous Belgian yeast flavor adding another dimension of deliciousness. Citrus fruit factor grows larger, and candy sugar sweetness climbs in to match it. Just stays vibrant and tasty all the way through the bottle.

Great match for thai food, I'm sure. Don't know, I had it with Chinese. Worked there, too. Excellent tripel. Is simply everything they make this good or better?

Harriet Dark Abbey Dubbel

Harriet Brewing opened their front doors to the public for the first time on Saturday, February 26, 2011, also the release of the Dark Abbey dubbel. I didn't have time to hang out and listen to Lonesome Dan Kase, but I did visit my records. Jason transferred my LPs from the bag I brought them in, to their own box, the Al Box, isn't that awesome. Chatted a bit, with J. and other folks, then off to work. Had the growler (the entire one, if I remember right) that evening after work, and these were the notes:

"Harriet Brewing Dark Abbey Dubbel, 64 ounce growler. And now, an orange growler. Now matter what color, I firmly believe that they have the brewing world's coolest, trippiest logo. It's like those hops are in 3-D, comin' at ya!

Starts with a head, but it goes down a bit quickly. Mahogany hued, reddish-brown around the edges.

Slightly sweet, caramel malt aroma, toffee, then the dark fruits turn up, some raisin and rum, a bit of fig.

Taste: Sweet malt is full in charge, toffee flavors mix with dark rum, molasses, dark fruit. Very balanced, clean, with a well-rounded, judiciously sweet finish. Well-rounded is what I want to come back to, again and again. The IBUs are low, but the bitterness makes a mark. Very nice little buzz on the palate. Yum. I take another sip, and the flavor roars back. There's fullness here, but it never spills over. Begins sweet, stays clean and lean, finishes very moderated. Is it strange that I'm applauding a beer for being restrained? It's just right.

I'm having a crisis of conscience. Have to recalibrate my recollections of what I like in dubbels. Do I really like them bigger and fatter and richer than this? Do I need them beefier and bolder? Is that truly my preference, or am I imagining it? Maybe it's time for a little sit-down with some great dubbels and toss this one in the mix. I know it will hold it's ground. All in all, I'm thinking …what was I thinking? All misgivings are over and through. I am utterly and thoroughly happy with this brew. It has everything I want, and lacks nothing. It has nothing superfluous, and contains no unwanted elements. There is no lack of satisfaction in consuming this beverage.

The growler is empty, the remains are in my glass. And it is excellent. It is exactly what is should be, and nothing of what it shouldn't. This should make any beer lover happy. It's doing it for me, that's for sure. "

I guess I did finish it, didn't I?
And a week later I did that blind tasting, matching Dark Abbey against Westmalle, North Coast's Brother Thelonious, and Ommegang. I idntified them all correctly, and the Harriet brew fell in last place. It's fine, just doesn't compare to those others, brewers that have been around for decades, mind you, when it comes to body, mouthfeel, and fullness of flavor.

Hey, this was my 200th post. Awesome.

Dave's BrewFarm The Bruiser Smoked Scotch Ale

Growler #2
Dave's BrewFarm The Bruiser, Smoked malt Scotch Ale.

Dusky brown appearance, with ruby highlights at the edges, very slim and soon gone head, nothing to speak of.

Aroma: yep, there's the smoked malt, there's the bacon-y feel, no, more like salmon, actually. with dark malt below that.

Tasting it: Bitter hit at first, bracing blast that mellows a bit, all is calm some caramel malt feel comes in. Smoke remains king, however. And it's damned tasty. Also, boozy, …halfway in it's ringing loud and proud. (If I recall, it's about 9%)

Tasting it, delicious. Really, honestly, yum, yum, yum. Smoked malt meets sweet malt, and it all comes together in beautiful harmony. What's in a name? I ain't bruised…yet. Nobody bruised me…lately.

Oh, wait…

Schell's Stag Series # 3: Rauchbier

Schell's Stag Series #3: Rauchbier

Clear, dark amber coloring, under a slim beige head.

Big smokey aromatics. Bring on the bacon. Pale and caramel malt aromas below it.

Taste: Beefy bite of smoke smothers the palate at first sip, then fades back and mellows. Brisk and sprightly at first, then soft, smooth. Medium bodied, sweet malty flavors, fading smokey finish.

Tasty stuff, easy drinking, …yeah, I'll have another. Maybe not two, though.

Founders Double Trouble

Hey, why not do another double IPA, this one a most enjoyable example from Founders. They call it Double Trouble.

Is it possible I tried it for the first time in May 2010? Apparently....

Brilliant, bright amber/golden appearance, nearly orange, with a lovely, lace-leaving, long-lasting cap of snowy foam above.

Lime and orange peel aromatics, some lemon, pine, very fresh and lively. very vibrant, buzzing with hoppitude.

Taste: more of the same and then some. Simply delicious. Medium bodied, non-stop hop bitterness delivered on the palate, awash with citrus fruits, and pine needle. Brisk and bitter, zesty and refreshing, as well.

The high alcohol content is well hidden, doesn't reveal itself at all in the taste, until you get near the end. Then it quietly reveals itself, but never becomes a deterrent to drinking. For the first glass, at least.

One of the most balanced, elegant, and profoundly enjoyable Double IPAs I've ever had, and more proof of Founders' incredible winning streak. "

Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA

Visiting Wisconsin on a Sunday means one of many things. My favorite is buying beer at a liquor store. On a Sunday, can you imagine it? And beers we don't get here, like Three Floyds. So many favorites to reacquaint myself, as well as the new and untried.

Here's what Dreadnaught looks like in 2020.

In 2003, I was bitten by the trading bug. Not just content to try brews for far away, I was determined to knock out the entirety of the BeerAdvocate Top 50 (it's now the Top 100, and it's nearly impossible to do. Think I've got a little over half.) I set the goal to meet this task by my 500th review as well as my birthday that year. And Dreadnaught was one of the last of them on my list.
An Indiana trader offered to help out, and his wish in return was a growler of Masala Mama as soon as growlers became legalized a few months later. What a guy, what a heck of a guy.

Here are the notes from the first taste, back in June, 2003:


Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA. 9.5 % ABV. 100 IBU.
Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN.

I've been a fan of Three Floyds since my taste buds first became acquainted with the flavor of Alpha King. Now, I am happy to have concluded a 22oz. server of another of their fine, over-the-top, wham-bam-thank-YOU, ma'm brews, the delicious, the delirious, the damnedfine Dreadnaught IPA.

On first cracking the crown, a heavy waft of fruit invades the atmosphere, though the bottle and glass are both held at arm's length.

Appearance: a bright, beautiful ruby red, with a good, fluffy, creamy head.

Aroma: bows to no one. Sharp pine resin, grapefruit, spruce?, tar, citrus fruit, and that's it, but that's quite an it, and IT'S in full effect, y'all.

2011 bottling.

An invasion of flavor, an armada embarking it's onslaught upon every sensory receptor open and ready to receive. Tasty fruitiness recurrs with every sip, rewarding the drinker anew, long-lasting finish, almost sticking in the throat and taking up residence permanently on the palate. Malt is nearly an even match for hops, almost, barely, but at least they provide quite sufficient ballast and body that makes this quite a drinkable brew.

Fruit factor turns a trifle sweet after a time, but hop bitterness is always at hand to combat it.

This would count among the list of beers to spoil myself to death with, if I were so inclined, and were capable of...I'll have another, and another, and a..whoops! too much! But, to quote Louis Jordan, "I'll die happy!"

An Imperial India Pale Ale with an intense citrus hop aroma, a huge malt body and a crisp finish.

Town Hall Honey V

All the hubbub at Town Hall last week was over Czar Jack, a mighty fine barrel-aged imperial stout, and the culmination of Barrel Aged Week. But, I, alas had none. No worries, for I've had enough and will have more in the future. As mentioned earlier, I took one growler home that week, and it was this:

Honey V, Town Hall Brewery, Triple Vision Belgian Abbey Tripel-style ale, aged in honey wine barrels.

Cloudy, dusky deep amber-y colored, very minor head, gone if it was ever there.

Sweetness and oak, honey and spice, enormous aromatics. Not any ordinary triple aroma, this is honey taking over, emboldened by the booze.

Taste: huh. weird. interesting. unusual. hard to nail. gonna try anyway. oak. grit, woody texture on the tongue. So strange, this bears little resemblance to what I had at the pub last Tuesday. It's just been sitting in my fridge for a week. Could it have changed that much, or do I not remember correctly?

A bit of citrus and spice, a kiss of hops, but the oak and the honey are firmly in charge. Mmmm, this is very nice, if incredibly unusual. Incredibly complex and deep, and sweet, and oaky, and yum.

I like this. I feel it is good.

Tyranena Shaggin' In The Wood

"Tyranena Brewers Gone Wild Shaggin' In The Wood, 70% Scotch Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels, 30% Scotch Ale. A complex blend of flavors, The rich caramel and toffee flavors of Sheep Shagger Scotch Ale symphonies with the oak, bourgeon, and vanilla flavors bestowed by the barrel."

Lightly hazed, caramel-colored in appearance, slim head.

Sweetness in the nose, vanilla, oak, hints of bourbon, caramel malt. Toffee, yep. Some espresso, even.

Taste: rich and complex, deep and delicious, dense flavors of whiskey, vanilla, oak, caramel, toffee, sweet and decadent. Woody malt bomb. Butterscotch and bourbon bonanza.
Sleek and succulent. Totally tasty.
Mmm, mmm, good. Nicely done, Rob & Co.

De Dolle Extra Export Stout

More De Dolle goodness!
Was it way back in December 2004 that I first had this wonderful Belgian stout? Yes, it was, actually. Here are the words I wrote then, and, look!, a picture of the bottle I drank the other day.

"Appearance: tawny, beefy brown, impenetrable, but for a nutty, almond-y bottom, with a big, blooming, gloriously fizzy creamy-toned head, slowly settling into a modest 1/2"...vibrant nose, yeasty, cocoa and cookie dough, slight cola tinge, nuts, and dark fruits, dates, prunes, with alcohol peeking through, and flavor comes off as very inviting, urging my my lips forward...
Taste...whoa! Bam-sham-a-lam! Forward flavor, hot and heavy, big on entry, and never ending...dark fruits, heavy molasses, anise, rich, almost syrupy, long, fiery finish. Brandy, cognac, whiskey, dark rum...delicious, deep, thick, massive, magnificent... I've got to get the local bottle shop to carry this...or do I? I can see this becoming a difficult, expensive addiction...yum...the strength is showing, and doing what it does...time to call it a night, but what a lovely way to close it...this is something else, a Belgian Imperial Stout, or so it feels...I've got to stock up on these, now that I've tasted it's glorious goodness, and have become an instant affirmed fan!"

St. Bernardus Abt. 12

April 2003 was that joyful time that I first wrote about a bottle of St. Bernardus Abt. 12. Savored a bottle Tuesday night, the fourth in the sample set. The purchase turned out to be superfluous, as Brad the Beerguy gifted me with a six-pack of those same glasses tonight. Oh, well, we needed them for the bar, anyway.

"The jovial monk on the label seems the perfect host, holding his chalice aloft, and, after drinking down this deliriously delectable ale, who can argue his happiness? Not I, not I!!

Color is a dark russet brown, and head is enormous, majestic, utterly awesome!

Aroma hits you right off: earthy, nutty, and not merely deep, but cavernous. Incredibly complex, and utterly gorgeous: cocoa,plum, port wine, and a very apparent alcoholic character, plus anise, pepper, and more, so much more!

On first sip, I can't help but think that "complexity" is a shallow term with which to circumscribe the many aspects of this amazing brew. So much to contend with, so much going on!
I need to take a breath and reel from the feeling, and seek relief from the rush! Extraordinary!

Integration is perfect: there are hops aplenty, and massive malt, but nothing sticks out above or beyond, it all joins forces to create this amazing masterpiece.

Was this only 10%? Oh, they must be happy monks, indeed!"

Dave's BrewFarm, Hurrah!(Rye Knot Saison)

One of my all-time favorite episodes of The Simpsons is "Selma's Choice" from season four, 1993, wherein Marge's sister learns to curb her maternal longing after a series of traumatic and psychedelic misadventures at a theme park based on the Duff Beer brand, and learns to love a lizard. We meet the Seven Duffs, including Queasy, Remorseful, and Surly. (When Omar Ansari first told me he would name his brewery Surly, I thought of this instantly.) Homer was excited to visit Duff Gardens as well, but his affection for a moldy hoagie turned his health in a downward spiral. He was certain to prevail through illness, until finally collapsing with a triumphant, then defeated, "Duff Gardens, hurrah!"
Whenever I think of heading out to Wilson, Wisconsin for Farmer Dave's ever-changing panoply of ales and lagers, I mimic Homer's determined cry, without the faltering finish.

Sunday afternoon, I made the trip with Jason, Jonathan, and Chelsea. Not just beer, but puppies! And tilopia! (Succelent, tender African fish grilled up by Farmer Steve.)Comraderie and good cheer! Of the eight offerings, I had seven of them, skipping the Wheatless Wonder, and dipping into Svengali twice. Went home with a case of Matacabras, enough to last me...a month, maybe? And four growlers. Only intended to swap the two I got last time (back in late November, but just couldn't resist. There were six available. Here's the first of those four that I cracked open, Rye Not Saison, a Belgian-style farmhouse ale, with Rye malt.

"French saison yeast coupled with both pale, German Rye, and Cara Red malts. Well-hopped with Palisade, Aurora, and Vanguard varieties." 6.1% a.b.v.

Clouded amber appearance, nice, lasting, lacy head, bone white.

Zesty, spicy aromatics, peppery, citrus fruit, orange and apricot. Rye malt comes through, a bit bready, big yeast and malt.

Taste: Bold saison hère. Big malt, fresh and flavorful, zesty citrus taste. Spicy rye malt adds an added tingle to the tongue. And then it's smooth and malty and tasty. "Well-hopped", says Dave, and it does a tantalizing fandango on the tongue, but doesn't stick out too much.

Getting very clouded and yeasty at the end of the liter. But, I like that.

Malt-tastic, yeast-errific, and yummalicious, or something like that "

New Belgium Lips of Faith: Dunkel Weiss

New Belgium Lips of Faith Series Dunkel Weiss, 1 pint, 6 fl. oz., Alc. 9% by vol.

Very dark appearance, nearly black, complete and utter opacity, lovely creamy tan head, large and lasting, looking great.

Aroma: banana cream pie. Boom, there it is. Soft, sweet, slightly spicy. A little bubble gum.

Taste: Big malty flavor. Dark and deep. Great little texture, dark fruit flavor coming through, a little fig, some grape, and then nicely dry. Some bits of cocoa, a beautiful mix of chocolate and dark fruit, rich and malty. Deee-licious. Tast-eeeeeee!
Can't dispute that. One flaw? That 9% a.b.v., it's roaring in now, and I wish it wouldn't. This tastes just delicious, and could have still been, without being so strong. Whoa.

Avery The Czar Russian Imperial Stout

A keg from 2009, tapped in 2011. And it's drinking really nice. Here's what I wrote in January 2004, when I had my very first bomber:

"Appearance: vastly black, thorough and complete in it's darkness and opacity, with a fine, toasted tan coating of froth atop.
Nose sticks out from afar, and is rather distinct from other IS's, in it's creaminess, like Bailey's and ice cream with an extra dollup of whiskey, and a hint of rum. Quite appealing, maple and mollasass and more.
In the taste, all that and then some, but basically, sweet, dark, sticky, and strong. Commandeers the palate, conquers and coats...rich is an understatement, warm is a redundancy, for it's all those things times a thousand, with the alcohol riding high in the saddle as the flavors thicken and coalesce into a wondrous mix, twisted, thick, delicious!
Licorice flavors peek in, too, mingling with dark rum, and meeting up with charcoal and smoke as well, rising handily from glass into mouth.
Full bodied? Duh! Rich texture? Uh, huh! Long, luxuriant, rewarding finish? ...um, ya think???
This was a great Imperial Stout, though it didn't upseat any of my previous favorites, it ably made a case as a stand-in, and that's pretty damned good!"