Fat Head Green Grunge IPA

 Fat Head’s Green Grunge IPA. 

6.5% ABV, 65 IBU, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

Clearish, bright golden hue , hearty white head on top,

In the nose: super dank, pine and citrus, right on the money. 

In the mouth: vibrancy hop flavors explode in the mouth, powerful bitterness on display on the palate, nice and dry. Beautifully drinkable, if you’re a hophead in need of their fix. And I often am. Fierce hop delivery in this one, thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks, Ed!

This heavy hitting IPA goes against the grain to give you a raucous hop experience. It’s loaded with Chinook and Citra hops lending grungy notes of grapefruit, berry, and citrus rind with a smooth piney, spicy bitterness that invokes classic American “C” hop character. 

Great Lakes Dank Demon Imperial Dank IPA

Great Lakes Dank Demon Imperial Dank IPA.

8 % ABV, 70 IBU, Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, OH. 

Clear, amber/crimson colored, slim white head. 

In the nose: Dank and resinous, deep and sticky. Citrus splash with candied fruit.

In the mouth: Big, juicy malt commands the palate for a bit before hops take over. Prominent hop bitterness, but not too much. (Coming from me, though, others may be undone by the dankness.) Slightly sweet and succulent, flavors of grapefruit, and lime mesh with apricot and peach. Alcohol comes raining down. And I'm digging it. 

Leafy layers of heady hop aromas lurk in every wicked whiff of Dank Demon's hauntingly full-bodied brew.

Great Lakes Tripel Dog Dare Belgian Style Triple Ale

Great Lakes Tripel Dog Dare Belgian Style Triple Ale. 

9% ABV, 30 IBU. Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, OH. 

Clear...-ish. There are floaties about. This is not an old bottle. I purchased it in December, I believe. Or, early January. 

Color, a bright amber. Not quite the color I desire in this style, which would be a brighter gold. They can't all be Tripel Karmeliet, I guess. Slim white head. 

In the nose: Citrus and spice. Slice of funk. Banana and clove? Bubblegum. Touch of floral. 

In the mouth: Starts out pulpy and sweet. Not as clean and lean as I like from this style. Big, boisterous fruit and side of spice. ABV rises up to greet with a quickness. Bubblegum bubbles over the fruit. Much malt, minor hop bitterness. Full flavors.

This may not be the best American-brewed Belgian-style tripel, but I sure do enjoy the heck out of it. 

It’s the coup de grace of all beers! Brazenly bold with spicy clove and citrus aromas, Tripel Dog Dare is fodder for the rabble-rouser and mischief-maker in all of us.​ 

Brew Dog Elvis Juice Grapefruit IPA

Brew Dog Elvis Juice Grapefruit IPA.

6.5 % ABV. 40 IBU. BrewDog, Columbus, Ohio. 

It's been over nine years since BrewDog has appeared here in the Nib. I only tried out two of their beers imported from Scotland, one of those on BeerAdvocate, and the other both there and here, each one Scotch barrel-aged, one an Imperial Stout, the other an IPA. At some point, import to the US stopped and I could not continue to review them. I'm not sure when they opened their Ohio brewery and started distributing here in Minnesota, but the bug never bit me to buy a six-pack of cans and give them another go. Until Gabby gave me a couple of cans last week. And now I'll get to try them. First, Elvis Juice, and next Punk IPA. After that, maybe more? 

Clear, bright orange color, large, lacey, ivory-toned crown of foam.

In the nose: yeah, there's your grapefruit. Nothing else emerges from its dominion. 

In the mouth: More grapefruit. A touch of sweetness, a twist of tart. Some hop bitterness comes up through the fruit. It blends well, and lingers on the palate. Light-bodied, easily consumed. Grapefruit and hops never quit their delicate tango. Quite nice. Would definitely drink again. 

This is an IPA like no other. BrewDog Elvis Juice puts grapefruit centre stage. Primed with tart pithy grapefruit peel for a citrus assault on the senses. This zest zenith delivers intense US hop aromas.

Great Lakes Hazecraft Hazy IPA

Great Lakes Hazecraft Hazy IPA .

Great Lakes Hazecraft Hazy IPA.

6.7% ABV, 40 IBU, Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, OH.

All hazy-like, bright golden, large, lush and lasting white head. Looking lovely.

In the nose: lightly hoppy, mostly mute. Some citrus.

In the mouth: nice hoppy play on the palate at first sip. Just enough bitterness to grab me. Citrus notes combined with a twist of the tropical, a touch of sweetness. Fairly smooth and mellow. Definitely drinkable. Soft finish. Enjoyable. 

Blast into orbit through a hazy galaxy of otherworldy tropical fruit aromas.

Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale

Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale. An Irish Style Ale. Brewed and bottled by Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cleveland, Ohio. 6.5% ABV, 25 IBU.

Clear, amber/copper color, slim white head.

In the nose: malt-forward, earthy, floral hops, low-bitterness. Well-balanced, but leaning toward the sweet side.

In the mouth: Flat out tasty. Again, terrific balancing act, malty sweet with just enough hop bitterness. Kissed by caramel. Medium body, malty finish, drinkable as all heck. Well done.

"A pint for Pa Conway! Our co-founder's grandfather and policeman who'd likely uphold that an Irish Ale with full-bodied caramel malt flavors is just the ticket."

Ha. Ticket. Police. Irish. I get it.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale

It's December 1, everyone, and you know what that means! We're half-way through our annual celebration of our Lord and Savior Jesus H. Christ. (What does the H. stand for? Does anyone know? Has anyone seen the birth certificate?)

So, let's drink a Christmas Ale, and let's let it be from Great Lakes Brewing of Cleveland, Ohio.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale, An Ale with Spices and Honey. 7.5 % ABV. 30 IBU. Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, Ohio.

Clear, amber-hued, short-lived off-white head.

Aroma: little bit fruity (cherry-apple), little bit spicy, little bit tart. Big ginger. Interesting. Bread-y malt flavors come through, too.

In the mouth: Here we go: ginger-y, fruit-y, and honey-sweet. Nicely spice. Medium bodied. Not hard to drink at all. In fact, it is a good beer, and you can drink it. Feels a little warm and slightly boozy, but not by much. I'm going to finish this bottle easily, and I wouldn't not reject (though I do not have) another.

A holiday ale brewed with honey and spiced with fresh ginger and cinnamon.

Great Lakes Ohio City Oatmeal Stout

Great Lakes Ohio City Oatmeal Stout. Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, Ohio. 5.4% ABV. 25 IBU.

Fully black, decent cocoa-tinged head atop, slims down certainly.

Beautiful roasted malt nose. Lots of coffee in there, some chocolate beneath, a little toast and a touch of sweetness.

In the mouth: Nice, smooth, full-bodied and flavor. A delightful drinker of a stout. Carries all the hallmarks of a good, ol' oater. Flavorful but silky and creamy and a damned fine session-er. I like this the more and the more that I drink it.

Nothing I love better than a good ol' oatmeal stout. And this is one of them. Go drink it.


Postal Script: This is clearly a winter themed beer, and we are now solidly in spring. They are a few more of these still in the fridge, that I have got to get to very soon, before it becomes completely embarrassing. No judgement, bitter ones.

Great Lakes Oktoberfest

The sample man came around again, and this time he brought me a seasonal from Ohio's Great Lakes Brewing Company. I never thought to check whether I'd had it before, and wrote these notes:

Great Lakes Oktoberfest,a Marzen -style lager. 6.5% Alc. by vol. 20 IBU. Cleveland, Ohio.

Clear, amber/copper-y colored, lush, long-lasting snow-white head above.

Herbal aromatics, clean and slightly sweet, grassy.

In the mouth, it's a crisp, malty affair, lean and easy-drinking. Definitely downable, with a slight finish. Light caramel malt flavor, classic noble hop character. Fresh and, frankly, delicious.

Telling the truth, I like marzens that are a little beefier than this. just a bit heartier. . Nothing wrong with this, though, nothing at all.

Is there copy on the label to shed some light upon it? "Prost! Our take on the classic German style is a celebration of malitiness packed with rustic, autumnal flavors to put a little more oomph into your oom-pah-pah."

And then I discovered that I wrote this….


Clear and bright bronze/copper in appearance, creamy, off-white brief head.

Aroma: perfect marzen nose, rich malty, shiny cereal, sweet, yet slightly sharp. Pleasantly herbal.

Taste: Tasty amber lager. Smooth on the tongue. Pleasingly malty, rich. Great drinkability. Lays just long enough on the palate, then keeps it on the sly for a while. Swims lightly, keeping the malty marzen flavor going.

…..back in September, 2010, just before I started this blog. Well, they're both true. Go ahead, enjoy one. 

Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger Rye IPA

If you read my last post, or if you follow me on facebook, or talk to people who do, maybe you've heard. Heard what? Well, let's put it this way: I may not be buying 6-packs or sampler packs that much any more, and I'll probably be sampling beers that I can get as singles. Why? Because my new job at Northbound Smokehouse and Brewpub will allow me to bring home plenty of freshly-brewed ales, and why would buy more beer than I need to? Why buy the cow when you can marry the milk for free. Wait, how does that go?

So, here we have something I grabbed a 6-pack of, and have enjoyed every bottle of it. Notes of Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger follow:

Great Lakes Brewing Company Rye of the Tiger IPA, A Handcrafted Rye India Pale Ale, Cleveland, Ohio. 12 fl. oz., 7.5% ALC./VOL. 

Clear, golden-hued, with a cloud-white head.

Aroma speaks of spicy rye malt, and sparkling hops. Warm and lively. 

Taste: juicy sweet in the mouth, malt holds down the ground, and hops rise up. Lean-bodied, crisp, with tasty rye malt steering the flavors. I'm loving this one, it's doing wonders on the palate. Bitterness is right in the middle, hitting the tastebuds just right. I'm left wondering if this should really be called an IPA, if feels more like a pale ale, but that's the thing these days, if there's perceptible hop bitterness, you call it an IPA and the hop-heads will buy it. 

I wonder what the label says? "This kitty has claws. Named for it's one-two punch of fierce hops and sharp rye content, our Rye of the Tiger India Pale Ale is a thrilling ale with bite, handcrafted for the fighter in all of us." Wait, there's more: "Like tigers creeping through tall grass, hopheads will stalk this majestic golden brew, rising to the challenge of it's bold flavor attack. Full-bodied and loaded with hops, our Rye of the Tiger IPA is brewed with rye malt, adding a spicy complexity to every sip. It's an ale meant to inspire feats of strength and skill, a worthy contender in the bout against the flavorless. If you can step into the ring with this hopped-up cat, you've earned your stripes."

Yeesh. So, you beat the world's record for boxing and big cat puns, I'm proud of you. (Also, great job working in reference to the Survivor song that inspired the punning name of the brew.)

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

The constant search for the new keeps me from re-visiting the old favorites, this is my curse. I've never purchased a bottle of Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter since this blog began, can this be true? Alas, it is. But, lo, and behold, I did purchase some kegs, and tapped the first today, and with this pint of porter, I revisit my old notes, from my first bottle, back in June of 2003, received via trade (about 7 or 8 years before it was available here).


Appearance: solid brown body, with a lush, flowing head of tannish foam atop, though in a hurry to settle down.

Aroma: mild at first, creamy, with hints of nuts, vanilla, caramel, with slowly the better earmarks of a good porter emerging, and we're getting the roasted coffee, getting roastier and bitterer as we go, and as it unfurls we can detect things weightier, headier, more thick and viscous: molasses, syrup, motor oil.

On first sip and gulp, I was magically lifted up and removed from the mundane and the everyday. Mouth-filling, rich, powerful, flavorful, and full.

Nothing loose or limpid here. Bitterness is just so, and soon turns to the sweet. I don't know what exactly to liken it to, but it seems to tread a middle ground: no too bitter, not to smooth, juuust right.

Finish is fine and long-lasting, settles in to occupy the mouth and endear itself to all the senses.

This is one that I'd put at the top of the list for American porters. Can't go wrong here.

Great Lakes / Deschutes Class of '88 Collaboration: Imperial Smoked Porter

Great Lakes/Deschutes Class of '88: Imperial Smoked Porter, 9% ABV.

Nearly solid black, peeking out crimson edges, under a lush, creamy coco-toned head.

Smoked malt pops out into the nose first. Someone's frying up the bacon. Hearty malt aromatics hold on to the bottom. Cocoa, caramel, toffee delights at the tip of this cornucopia.

Taste: rich and roasty malt flavor holds court, a big blend of dark malt flavors, with the smoked malt as cream on top. Full bodied. Low hop bitterness. Long, luxurious finish. Creamy and smooth, despite would could be perceived as an extreme flavor. Alcohol isn't felt until…whoop, there it is.

This was one of the porters among the line-up for the StoutFest 2013 event we held back in early November, and once again, I'm grabbing a glass before it's gone. This is one style that divides people. A lot of folks loved, others found it way too smokey for them. If that's the case, probably any smoke is too much. I think it's just right. I like this one big time.

Go ahead and get yourself a bomber. You deserve it.

wait, maybe I chose the wrong glass?

Hoppin' Frog Cafe' Silk Porter

Hoppin' Frog Cafe' Silk Porter, Porter with Coffee Added, 6.2% ABV., 70 OG, 26 IBU.

What more appropriate use for the Spider-Man/Frog-Man coasters my brother Wayne made for me for my 45th birthday than a beer from Ohio's Hoppin' Frog Brewery. Nothing better to relieve those middle-age (sigh….) blues than a reminder of childhood.

Enough of that, time for an adult beverage. Porter with coffee, my two favorite adult beverages. It was a minor milestone when I switched from cold root beer for a morning pick-me-up to hot French roast coffee. Every now and then, I return to soda pop, and I reminisce of the immature years.

Anyway, on to the beer. Solid black coloring, roasty tan head, starts thick, slims down to a tight ring.

Aroma: rich dark espresso notes roar right out of the glass. Cherry and vanilla lurk just below the flavor of the bean. Cocoa tones rise up from under and it turns into a beautiful symphony of flavors. Cocoa and coffee combine and stand on top.

Taste: Straightforward boarding the palate, very even-keeled, while full-bodied, and soon dropping a payload of rich, robust and delicious coffee porter flavors. Personally, I'm glad this is not an "imperial" porter or stout, and a mere 6.2%, also happy that I'm tackling it in the afternoon, rather than after work in wee a.m., causing me to lose sleep. That's why it's been resting in the fridge for months. When I get home so early in the morning, the last thing I need is coffee, in any form. I learned that lesson long ago.

Very smooth and silky, well-balanced, bordering on the sweet side with a never-ending flavor. Very easy down the throat, utterly likable.

What do they say on the label? "Our chocolatey Silk Porter cold-infused with dark-roasted coffee beans to create the smoothest coffee character possible. (not a real sentence, there. missing a preposition, I think. But that's alright.) Fresh-roasted coffee flavors and aromas add the perfect compliment to this old-world beer style, forming a truely (sic) savory and memorable flavor experience."

Great Lakes Alchemy Hour Double IPA

Great Lakes Alchemy Hour Double IPA, named for the brave, unconventional surfers of Lake Erie, and something that has to do with surfing called "alchemy hour." It will no longer be named that after this batch, as Widmer Brothers is holding tight to the word "alchemy" and won't let anyone else play with it.

9.4% ABV.

Brilliant, clear, crimson coloring, Large and lasting head, leaving lace, looking good.

Aroma: ah, right on the money. Citrus zest meets pine forest. Wide awake and fully flowering fruit notes matches the bitter hop blast. Particularly pleasant.

Taste: Sweet and smooth, with never ending hoppitude. Malt meets the hops well, stand up and rides it out with it. Keeps perfect time, while never letting the hop character go astray. Fruity, but ending dryly. Plenty of fruit association joust with the mind and memory, ...apricot, mango, pineapple, guava...backed up with a candy sugar sweetness, again, ending on a dry note.

Alcohol presence stays sly at first, but inevitably roars and gains dominance on the palate, among the senses, in the cavern of the brain case.

All in all, it's smooth, hoppy, and drinkable, despite the high ABV. A real hophead's treat, one that doesn't tear anything loose from your critical components, merely releases pleasurable flavors. And isn't that what we're looking for? I could drink one, and drink one, and drink one, and never tire of it, until that decision is made for me. Tonight, though, one is plenty, and off to sleep....

Hoppin' Frog Mean Manalishi Double IPA

A bottle purchased in Wisconsin recently, with notes from December, 2009:


Very hazey, deep sunsetted orange coloration., slim negligible head.

Aroma: spice and fruit aplenty. A mess of citric and tropical fruit, with a blas tof pithy spice.

Taste: Toasty caramel malt holds down the fort, with bitter hops blazing above. A murky soup of intense hoppy flavors. Bright, bitter, bold, rich, .... a great melange of spicy, aggressive flavors. Thick mouthfeel ,long, hoppy finish.

Big and thick.

Impressive.

Hoppin' Frog Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale

Hoppin' Frog Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale, ale brewed with pumpkin and spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and clove). 8.4% Alc./vol. 76 OG (18.4 P) 7.3 IBU.

Nice orange/amber coloring, thinnish, though staying, white ahead.

Potent aromatics pour out of the glass. Warm blend of spices, mixed with the real fruit of the pumpkin. Sweetness and spice and everything nice.

Taste: Mmm! Full flavor, full body, a big bombardment of pumpkin-ness, with a blast of spice on the side. Minor hops, major malt. Very mellow, and very delicious. Just enough of everything. MMm, pumpkin pie!

I loathe sorry-ass pumpkin beers that just toss in the spice, and leave out the gourd.  I try to steer far clear of those duds. This is one of the good ones. Mmm, as I said, mmm.

Here's what they say on the label:
"Frog's Hollow Pumpkin Ale: There's a place jus south they call Frog's Hollow, with cauldron's afire in Fall, and they only speak in whispers of the name. There's a brewery they say who has the secret of spices picked just right. With a crying shout, they'll knock it out, and hand you this Frog's delight."

A bit too flowery for my taste, a touch too precious, a tiny too poetic. Well, so what. The beer's good enough to warrant it.

(I've since discovered that I actually had, and reviewed, this beer some six years ago. the notes were fairly similar. )

Fat Head's Head Hunter India Pale Ale

Fat Head's Had Hunter India Pale Ale, 7.5% ABV, 87 IBU. Brewed and bottled by Fat Head's Brewery, Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

Clear, golden-amber color, almost tangerine, with an enormous, thick and sturdy, creamy white head. Looking great.

Aroma: leaps on on first pour and slips into the nose. All our favorites are inside, we get the citrus and the pine, there's the bitter grapefruit, some pineapple, maybe a whiff of mango. Pleases the olfactory organ in all the best and most appropriate ways. Smelling great.

Taste: Bam! A fierce assault on the palate, delivering massive bitterness, a hefty spank on the tongue. A powerhouse blow, staying long and laying in hard. Full-bodied, immense presence on the palate, long finish.

I can go through every superlative in the thesaurus, and just keep going. This one really has it all, and it ends on a moderately mellow mood, with that high bitterness and incredible flavor level never really tapering off. There's a strain of astringent, aspirin-y character that hangs in at the back. But some of us love that and this is for us, clearly.

Unrestrained, unabashed, unhinged. But damned delicious. Incredible IPA, deserving of all kinds of praise.

"Uncivilized & Aggressive. No other ingredient stirs the passion of a master brewer like the hop. Inspired by this legendary flower we challenged ourselves to create a world class IPA. Head Hunter is an aggressively dry-hopped uncivilized, West Coast-style IPA with a huge hop display of pine, grapefruit, citrus and pineapple. A punch-you-in-the-mouth brew for those who truly love their hop! Love the lupulin. Dig the dank. Respect the resin. Do not age, Hoppy beers are best consumed fresh."

Hoppin' Frog Barrel-aged B.O.R.I.S. Oatmeal Imperial Stout

Hoppin' Frog Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S., Oatmeal Imperial Stout, stout aged in whiskey barrels. 1 pint 6 fl. ounces (22 fluid ounces) 9.4 % Alc/Vol.

Cast in the starkest style, ebon as the night, black as the raven, with a richly roasted  dark tan head, which slims down to nil in a quickness.

Aromatics: The bourbon barrel hits at once, boom! bam-a-lam! All the big boys come out swinging, all the molasses, and the cocoa, the coffee, the sweet ichor, the richness of life, it's all swimming in this. Just right.

Taste: Slick, smooth, rich, and delicious. All that wrapped up in a tidy, tasty bow. The plain and simple qualities of the luscious and lovely oatmeal stout, dipped in the everlasting wonderfulness of an imperial stout. Got To, Love. It. Deep and delicious. Did I say that already? Smooth and slick, substantive and sumptuous. And the bourbon wraps it all up, the oatmeal and imperial, swept up in the vanilla and the sweet and rich whiskey flavor. Love. It. Yum. Deelish!

Hoppin' Frog Hop Heathen Imperial Black Ale

Hoppin' Frog Hop Heathen Imperial Black Ale, Hoppin' Frog Brewig Company, Akron, Ohio. Here comes the gobbledygook: "An uncivilized amount of American hop spiciness along with a chocolately malt mix of dark roasted flavors create this inventive and tasty new beer style! What you get is the best of both worlds, a flavorful brood of dark malt and satisfying, assertive American hops. Raise you glass in a toast--to the Hop Heathen within you!" Just one note: are they using word "brood" they way they think they are?

8.8% ABV, 83 OG, 70 IBU

Appearance: fully black, brown head, settles down in no time.

Aroma: Big, grassy hops leave up, out, and in your face, surrounded by dark, roasted malts.

Taste: Warm, roasty, bitter, sharp and strong. Citrus-y hops are fairly smothered by the dark malt. Oddly enough, the flavor starts out big, then peters out. There's just not much "there" there. Or, any "here" here. Another hoppier porter, but not quite hoppy enough, and the high alcohol starts to intrude.

Huh. There's nothing really wrong or bad out of this. It just doesn't do anything for me. The body is full, but the texture is too blase, and the mouthfeel nothing but dull.

A bit of  a let-down, since I like the last Hoppin' Frog so well, but the next should be better. Will that be my next beer? It's an imperial stout, …maybe not...maybe for my nightcap...

Hoppin' Frog Hopped Up Goose Juice Rye IPA

Hoppin' Frog Hopped-Up Goose Juice Rye IPA. Brewed and bottled by Hoppin' Frog Brewing Company, Akron, Ohio.

Clouded, amber/reddish hue, small off-white head.

Aroma: Boom! There's the rye, giving off the scent of whiskey more than merely malt. After that first blast, hops take charge. Beautiful. Good and grassy. Nice blend, a potent foreshadowing of drinks to come.

Taste: Bam! Now it's working in tandem, both sides hitting at once. Lush malt, nice and spicy rye, tasty as it gets. Here comes the grapefruit, here's the orange and lemon.

Time to take a break and hear their tale: "America hops dominate this Rye IPA, creating an assertive citrus and passion fruit character. An old-world flavor from rye malt adds the perfect complement to Goose Juice's big, satisfying hop flavor and aroma. Originally home-brewed by our beloved brewer Goose, it's wonderful combination of flavors inspired us to brew this specialty IPA. 7 % ABV. 73 OG, 60 IBU."

It's a damned tasty combo, a magnificent marriage of flavors. Might be my favorite RYe IPA so far. Single RyePA, might you. I have a fondness for Bittersweet Lenny's, still. This, though, might have no equal.