Victory Very Merry Monkey Spiced Holiday Ale

 

Victory Very Merry Monkey Spiced Holiday Ale.

9.5 % ABV, 25 IBU, Victory Brewing, Downington, Pennsylvania. 

Clear, burnished golden color, large and lacey ivory head. 

In the nose: gingerbread, orange, nutmeg & clove. Christmas cookie time. 

In the mouth: hot, fierce, filling, sweet, spicy. The base beer slowly emerges, golden monkey crawls from the crumbs. Full bodied, warm and wonderful, holiday flavors baked right in….mmm, I’m digging it. 

Add a little bit of SPICE. Your favorite holiday tradition, Merry Monkey, returns with a lively hint of gingerbread in this Belgian-Style Tripel. Notes of cinnamon, sweet molasses and an oomph of ginger will remind you of all that's great about this classic cookie.

Victory Merry Monkey

 Victory Merry Monkey. Belgian/style ale with cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg.

10 % ABV, 35 IBU, Victory Brewing, Downington, PA. 

Christmas is long over, the New Year in full swing, what better time to cozy up with a holiday ale?

Clear, with an odd complexion..,dark orange? Ruddy red? Light burgundy? With a brief white head. 

In the nose…sweet, fruity, tart, spicy. Quite a lot going on. Rather delightful.

In the mouth: holiday spices lead the surge. Gingerbread dunked in cranberry juice. Orange peel shows itself, mingled with nutmeg, all on top of a tripel, the most of which remains is the alcohol level. A warming, and charming,

This Belgian-style Holiday Ale combines the beloved flavor profile of Golden Monkey with notes of cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg to deliver a delightfully smooth finish, perfect for merry gatherings with family and friends.

Victory Sour Monkey

Victory Sour Monkey. 9.5% ABV. Brett-fermented tripel ale. Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, PA.

Clear, bright golden color, slim, but lasting, ivory head above.

In the nose: Wild, funky, sour, a touch of vinegar. The right touch. A funkified Belgian golden ale? I'm in.

In the mouth: A sharp, acidic smack at the front, followed by fruit, spice, and deliciousness. Very lemony. Fantastically fun. Brettanomyces going to work on the classic Golden Monkey. Fresh, zesty, wild, and crazy. Medium/light bodied, long sour-ish finish. Very nice.

This one was sitting in my fridge for way too long. I'd look at it and think: "I bet that's good." And then pick something else to drink. Damn it. Why? Why didn't I drink it right away?
Live and learn.

Sour Monkey puts a tastefully tart twist on our Golden Monkey’s sweet, fruity essence. A sharp, citrus-laden tang makes this brew a Monkey all its own!
Composition
Malt: Pilsner
Hops: Tettnang Tettnang
ABV: 9.5%
Flavor
Aroma is very varied with lemon, sour, and mild brettanomyces notes. Flavor follows with a tart acidity. Not dry as it finishes with a malty grain flavor.
Availability
Available year round in 12 oz bottles.

Troegs Scratch Series 83 Impending Descent Imperial Stout

It's been a long time since I've had a Troegs beer. I haven't been to Pennsylvania since....ever, and I haven't traded with an East Coaster in nearly as long. The only time their name has come up here in the  Nib was with a collaboration with Stone Brewing, that I wrote of five years ago. Over on BeerAdvocate, it looks like I've had eight of their brews, in my early years of trading. And now, I've got another one in my possession, a gift from a friend on my birthday. After 2 1/2 months in the fridge, tonight's the night to drink it down.

Troegs Scratch Beer Series 83: Impending Descent. Imperial Stout. 10.9% ABV. 98 IBU. I believe this was released in 2014.

Full-on ebony hue, rich cocoa/tan head that drift down assuredly, still, looking fine.

In the nose: full and fierce. Char, roast, cocoa, molasses, anise raisins, maple syrup, more? Intense. Incredible. Amazing.

In the mouth: Fullness to the extreme, with all the richness you can imagine. Big, huge, bold, rich. Thick. Almost viscous. Thoroughly everything. And pretty damn strong. This one goes all the way. A perfect nightcap brew. And off to bed I go.


Malt: Chocolate, Crystal 80, Munich, Pilsner, Roast, Special B
Hops: Bravo, Columbus, Galena, Nugget
Yeast: House Ale
As we spiral further toward the end of the Mayan calendar, we at Tröegs felt obligated to brew a special beer to commemorate the expiration of planet Earth. We think it’s a pile of gibberish (just don’t quote us on that, though… you never know)! Either way, celebrate the countdown to extinction and raise a goblet of this colossal Russian Imperial Stout as we plummet into utter oblivion. If your tongue doesn’t disintegrate as a result of the birthday party cheesecake jellybean BOOM, at the very least this beer will wreak major havoc on your taste buds. Yes, ¿Impending Descent? is as enormous, face-melting, and palate-numbing as it sounds. If there ever was a last beer to enjoy before Doomsday, this is it. Here at Tröegs we say, “Bring on the apocalypse!”

Victory Summer Love Ale

Victory Summer Love Golden Ale . 5.2% ABV. Victory Brewing, Downington, PA.

Crystal clear, bright golden color, lovely ivory head above.

In the nose: slightly tart and citrus-y, interesting blend of fruit and funk and floral.

In the mouth: jumps on the palate sweet and succulent. Light, but definitely discernible bitterness. Nice fruity notes to match the bitter hops. Good texture. Playful mouthfeel. Light bodied, extra drinkable, certainly suitable for summer. Yeah, I could toss back a ton of these in the heat.

From the can label: "Earthy flavors of noble European hops, and fresh, clean German malts settle in a burst of lemony refreshment from fistfuls of American whole flower hops."

Victory Golden Monkey

Here's another one from the sample man, bringing me way back in time. I first wrote about Victory's 9.5% ABV Belgian-style triple back in March of 2003. Or was that the last time I wrote about it? In any case, it's the one on BeerAdvocate. The notes are rather interesting. Here they are:

Nov o6 02 bottle. Important. The Sept 06 bottles I'd purchased were undrinkable.

Color is clear and a honeyish golden, the white head is sadly short.
Aroma, is out of this world! Gorgeous! Citrus is on top, mingled with more fruit (peach, apricot), honey, spice, straw, a touch of sugar. Ticklish nose, deliriously arousing.
Texture is excellent, balance is perfect. Hops pounce upon the palate, then swiftly fade back. Delicious maltiness! Mouthfeel is utterly unreproachable, warm, yeasty, and giving. Finish is sweet, heavenly, nearly interminable.

Alcohol content is quite sneaky, the fantastic flavor beguiles you so long that you don't notice until the kick comes in. Still, this is one monkey I would love to have on my back! (Label design is also among my all-time favorites!)


Footnote: I was so taken by this brew on our first introduction that I put it on the list at my restaurant/bar. One of the musicians in our Tuesday night band last summer had a serious monkey fetish (tied into the "Hundredth Monkey" concept...on one tune he made monkey sounds...). This was the beer for him! And, when one woman asked a bartender for our "sweetest beer", he chose GM, and she was an instant fan. The furor spread, and for a short time in the summer of '02, Tuesday night was Golden Monkey night at the Blue Nile in Minneapolis. Ah, memories.

And here's the official description, just for kicks: A magical, mystical Monkey whose golden sole glows with the wisdom of the ages. This radiant ale is rich in the spirited tradition of Belgian-inspired brewing. Our Golden Monkey is both playfully delightful and profoundly satisfying. Exotic spice from the East rounds out this global journey to joy. Get on board. This Monkey's bound for glory!

Victory Prima Pils

I got a visit from the sample man today. He brought different samples than last time. Not that he's a different sample man, but that he now brings samples from a different brewery. Jumping ship, they call it. And the brewery he sampled me has only appeared in this blog four times. What? And the two bottles he brought weren't among them. How? I looked back and saw that I reviewed Victory Prima Pils for the first time (and probably last) in December of 2002. Huh? Yeah!

Here's what I wrote back then: Huge, lacey, white head, sparkling foam.

Aroma has citrus notes, lemon zest, flowers, and pineapple.

Delightfully light texture, long, welcome finish. Truly this must be the thinking man's "lawnmower beer". Possesses a certain zing that reminds me somehow of Duvel.
 I'm normally an ale man, but I would never pass up on this pilsner.

Are the fine folks of Downington, PA aware that among their modest ranks walk these brewing gods disguised as mortals?

How do my comments of nearly 14 years ago hold up? Well, that last line is a bit of a kisser-upper, that's for sure. I'm going to drink it again and see.

Yeah, it's still pretty good. I say go drink one. You won't be sorry.

Victory Wild Devil IPA

Records show that I first took notes on this one back in July of 2009. It was probably on tap at the Blue Nile, for I remember getting a keg of it when it first appeared, and it was one of the earliest examples of the "Belgian-style IPA" that I was aware of. Here are those notes:


Hazed crimson hue...big, creamy beige head. Lovely looking.

Fruity aroma, sweet and sour, funky stuff, whiffs of spice and straw, hayloft and orange, lemon and sod, a little apple...ah!!!

Slides into the palate assuredly...a nice blast of hops, blanketed by the Belgian yeast, coating the mouthfeel, hops spiking up a little from below. Little bitterness remains, but plays consistently on the palate. Delicate, and tasty buzz. Very smooth, easy drinking, ...but full of character, chock-full of juicy, jazzy hoppy flavor.

zesty stuff, flush with Belgian funk. Great drinker, highly recommended.

From the label: "It's arguable that our menacingly delicious HopDevil has always been wild. With bold German malts and whole flower AMerican hops, this India Pale Ale is anything but prim. But add a touch of Brettanomyces, the unruly beast responsible for the sharp tang and deep funk found in many Belgian ales, and our WildDevil emerges completely untamed. Floral, aromatic hops still leap format his amber ale, as a host of new fermentation flavor kicks up notes of citrus and pine. Enjoy yourself a glass today--if you dare."

This was my first bottle of the stuff, and it's as great as ever.

Victory Dirt Wolf Double IPA

Victory Dirt Wolf Double IPA.

Clear, bright golden coloring, lush white, long-lasting head. Lookin' fine. That ain't no lie.

Aroma: honey-sweet, tropical fruit bitter. Citra? Mosaic? Another hot hop I haven't thought of? Nicely balanced, plenty of hop flavor, little bitterness.

Taste: Hop bitterness right away, gliding the palate, stays calm and cool. Modicum of sweetness strokes the tongue, bumps up against bitterness, and the slide together down the throat. Malt body is medium-ish, light, not getting in the way of the hops. Alcohol isn't felt, but hinted at. Oh, wait, there it is…

Dirt Wolf isn't a pretty name, but I assume it has links to the lore of hops. Before I check the label to see for sure, I will add my final thoughts. This is right on the money, delicious, balanced double IPA that perfectly fits the mold set by Bell's HopSlam. It's a good formula that's proven popular. And easy to market: "Can't find any HopSlam? Think HopSlam's too expensive? Try this, it's just as good!" I almost wrote "almost", but, really, it's just as good.

Not a tongue-ripper, not a palate-destroyer, just a nice, hoppy pleaser, with an onset of alcohol. mmm, hmm.

Here comes the gobbledygook: "Darkly heroic, humbles lupus (hops) have empowered brews wit bite and character since the 11th century. DirtWolf is a tribute to these untamed vines which rise from the earth with the voracity of a 'wolf among sheep.' Hops have made an assertive comeback in American craft brewing. Revel in the best US varieties of hops in their natural, whole flower form, as they bring a vital, pungent reality to the soul of a wild element in our dangerously satisfying DirtWolf."

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe Double IPA

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe is one of those dank, pithy double IPAs that oozes resiny hop goodness. I just tapped a keg of it, probably the second time I've done so, but first since leaving notes on this blog. And I'm looking back at notes from the first time I had a bottle, received in trade, way back in July of 2006:


Appearance, a clear, blushing apricot color, under a blessedly big head, creamy colored, lots of lace.

Huge, wide open aroma, blasts out fresh grapefruit, lime, mango, with a slice of pineapple on top. Beautiful stuff! Gorgeous. A treat to breathe into the nose.

Taste: why not? ...mmmm, yes! Forceful entrance on the palate, vast flavor, dripping with oily hop flavor, fantastically tasty fruit character, and persistent feel on the tongue. Long lasting hoppy finish, big in the body. Caramel malt rises up in prominence and the sweet, bready taste is a keen companion to the hugeness of the hops.

This is almost perfect, I nearly think. The 9% is hardly noticed. Wait, ...there it is, okay...

Great texture, great flavor, vibrant and memorable.

Eight years later, guess what, I still like it.

Weyerbacher Heresy (Oak-aged Imperial Stout)

It started on November 1, 2008, when I decided to celebrate the birthday of a keg of Bell's Expedition Stout (dated 11/01/07, and kept in the basement of the Blue Nile), as well as have our own release party for Surly Darkness. And all of our other taps turned to the dark side, as well as some extra kegs I managed to sneak in, via jockey boxes, and the occasional cask ale. That was the year that Summit heard about the party and wanted to get involved with a firkin of Great Northern Porter, with black treacle, never before released at a bar. It was called Ale Saint's Day, on account of the fact that November 1 is known as All Saint's Day, and it was a roaring success. Even got interviewed by the Star Tribune for that one. I've learned a lot since then, like how to do sample sets (or as some call them, flights), what works, what doesn't, etcetera.

The second year, the event fell on Halloween and was called Ale Hollow's Eve. The big draw that year was a quarter barrel keg of Surly Darkness that had also been aged for a year, on tap alongside the current year, 2009. And so continued a tradition, where every year on the Saturday following Darkness Day, all of the taps at the Blue  Nile turned over to porters and stouts. They became StoutFests, since I couldn't keep coming up with clever names for events that fell on Nov. 2 or October 30. Some obscure brews were tapped on those days, like Salopian Entire Butt English Porter, Sinebrychoff Finnish Porter, and Troubadour Belgian Stout. What else? New Holland Dragon's Milk, Founders Breakfast Stout, Odell Bourbon Barrel Stout, Flying Dog Gonzo Barrel-Aged Imperial Porter, Deschutes Abyss, North Coast Old Rasputin, Brooklyn Black Chocolate, Tallgrass Buffalo Sweat, New Belgium Clutch, ...I could list them all, but I won't...or will I? Widmer Raspberry RIS, Stone Belgo IRS, Sierra Nevada Narwhal RIS, Central Waters Satin Solstice, Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Baltic Porter, Alaskan Baltic Porter, Flying Dog Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout, Bell's Kalamazoo Stout, Left Hand Smokejumper Smoked Imperial Porter, Lucky Bucket Certified Evil, ...Great Lakes/ Deschutes Class of '88 Imperial Smoked Porter, Left Coast Voodoo American Stout, Moylan's Dragoon Irish Dry Stout, Southern Tier Plum Noir, Southern Tier Warlock, Stone Espresso IRS, Surly Cacao Bender, ...that's SurlyFests 2011-'13...let's see if I can find the list from the other years....ooo, found the list from 2009!...Tyranena The Devil Made Me Do It Coffee Imperial Porter, Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence, Bell's Rye Stout, Flat Earth Black Helicopter Coffee Stout, Nogne-O Porter, Southern Tier Oat Imperial Oatmeal Stout, Lion Stout, Bell's Expedition 2008 (another aged one), Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, Surly Bender...must find the 2008 and 2010 lists...

So, it happened again on the 2nd of November, last weekend, and I didn't do quite so much promotion, not that far ahead of the event, but we still had about 30 people waiting outside to come in when we opened. This is one event I've done that has always drawn a good crowd. And once again, there were no kegs that ran out during the event (actually, we ran out of Darkness the past two years, but that had been on tap for days earlier), which isn't surprising, since most people were enjoying the sample sets, and only taking 4 ounces out of those kegs at a time. You can get 150 four once pour out of a 5 gallon keg. (And we're only doing small kegs these days. There's a very good reason for this.) Don't think we had 150 visitors, and not everyone tried every beer, though some tried. Good fun, great beer people with great beer taste. And then we have an African DJ event and we're only making mixed drinks and opening bottles of Heineken and Guinness. Night and day. At least we have Darkness to drink at the end of the night...night and day. I'm indulging people in beer geek heaven in the afternoon, and suffering under the rudeness of besotten Kenyans at night. My life, welcome to it.

Enough of that, here it is, one of the most popular kegs of that night, Heresy, the oak-aged version of Old Heathen, the Russian Imperial Stout, from Weyerbacher, of Eaton, Pennsylvania. And guess what, I wrote about it from a bottle, back in September of 2004. Here are those notes from then:


heresy, 9/26/2004

Deep ebon hue, nearly all light is trapped inside, with mere crimson glimmers at the cracks...nice, though brief, cocoa-colored head.

Aroma is a bit on the shy side, not quite unfolding all the delights I anticipate from a top-of- the-line RIS. Molasses, maple, anise, espresso, the usual suspects.

Taste: nice, and rich, and very good in the mouth, but fairly underwhelming, compared to the better IS's out there. Cocoa gets thicker in the texture...alcohol, also, seems humble at first, though speaks up later in the game.

A bit hoppier than I expected, as well, and it all feels on the whole, mellow and smooth, despite the jumped-up flavor characteristics. Tasty, and not too overbearing. Gets thicker, richer, tastier as we go further in, but not too much so. A milder, mellower, balanced RIS than those I'm used to, but there's nothing wrong with that, is there? I didn't think so...

The more I drink of this, the more I like it. Doesn't blow me away, but that's okay.

Weyerbacher Blasphemy

Weyerbacher Blasphemy Ale. Weyerbacher Brewing, Easton, PA.

This has been in my fridge so long, I've forgotten what style this beer is, and there's no information on the label whatsoever. None. Except 11.8% ABV. The rest I'll guess on as I drink it. I think it's a bourbon barrel imperial stout. Maybe.

(BeerAdvocate.com has it listed as a Quadrupel.)
(But how does it differ from their Quad simply called Quad? Is this the barrel-aged version of that.)

Looking at it, and getting a whiff of it, though, it's clear that it's a barley-wine, barrel-aged. Fiercely carbonated, rich plummy crimson coloring, small, but lasting off-white head.

Aroma: Deep and vinous. Myriad wine-like flavors play out, intense berries, grapes etc. like a port or a wine, mixed with brandy or cognac.

Taste: Even more intense, and deep, and rich. Now I'm getting it…bourbon-barrel barley-wine. Blithering Idiot mixed with whiskey barrels. The fierceness is now mellowing, it's getting rather cool on the tongue, but the alcohol is taking it's place and rising up, ringing in the brain, quietly now, but getting louder. Rich, complex fruitiness melds with the brash bourbon qualities, making a grand, majestic mix.

This may be more than I can take in one session, but I'm strapped in for the long haul. Or am I? Let's see, and find out how sober I am in the other end.

Flavor continues strong, but doesn't completely overwhelm. It's rich, and complex, and very manageable. The only burden is the ever-increasing alcohol presence.

But, beyond that, this blasphemer is damnably delicious. I'd be best off with a smaller sample maybe, or share with friends, but I had to take this one down by myself. I've got probably eight ounces to go, and it's getting louder in here, boom-boompbbom-boom.

Weyerbacher Rapture

Weyerbacher Rapture. American Wild Ale. What else? Nothing here, on the label.

Dark red, clear, little head.

Aroma: malt, sour, cherries. Wild and funky.

Taste: Mmmm. Puckeration! Big hit of sour. Bam, tart, and flush with fruit, then mellow and mild on the way out. Each sip gets gripped again, the palate is tucked and tugged with this fierce sour blast. A little vinegar, a touch of tannin, just enough of the wine to make you wonder if it's beer.Well, we know it is, but somebody's always wondering.

Fresh fruit, flash of funk, but easy drinking down. Very nice wild ale, Weyerbacher, very nice.

(Swiped some information. Here, check it out: 6.7% American Wild Red Ale that has undergone 100% of its fermentation and 18 months of aging in pinot noir wine barrels on a collection of micro flora that has created wonderful flavors of berry fruits, oak and a pronounced, yet quite pleasant tartness. The acidity is rounded out with a muted vinous quality, satisfying maltiness and effervescent mouthfeel that is sure to bring you joyful ecstasy.)

Stone/Troegs Cherry Chocolate Stout

A Collaboration by Jason Fields & Kevin Sheppard, Troegs, & Stone: Cherry Chocolate Stout. 12 fluid ounce bottle. 7.3% Alc/vol. Brewed and bottled by the Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, San Diego county, CA.
I will not repeat here the story told by Mitch Steele, Head Brewer, Stone Brewing Company, April, 2011. But it tells the tale of the brewing of this beer with gusto and enthusiasm, with none of the nonsense and hyperbole normally found on this bottles.

Intense black, thorough opacity, slim cocoa-tinged head, starts proud and dies down.

Roasted malt and espresso in the nose. Not much more, but we'll give it time. Let it open up. Hints of fruit, chocolate's starting to show. It's there, but not terribly loud, erring on the side of subtle.

So, drink up, already. Ah, here we have it happening in harmony, the rich, roasty malt, the mellow cherries, the sweet but serene chocolate. All in there at once, with no one side dominating another. Sweet chocolate and cherries never quite cloy, but close to it.

Full-bodied, rich and thick, beautifully layered, and delicately flavored. Medium length finish, and all in all, not too anything. Balance with complexity. Excellent combination.

The dry sour/sweet cherry flavors rolls back in, taking turns with chocolate. This one keeps growing and changing, and I find myself liking it more and more.

Thanks to Dennis Skrade for this gift.

Victory Baltic Thunder (Baltic Porter)

Here's one I first had in January, 2010. Having a bottle now, looking back at those notes:

Victory Baltic Thunder. Baltic Porters are one of my favorite styles, and I was glad to see the very capable Victory Brewing Company bringing out an interpretation.

Utterly black, nicely roasted head.

Aroma, bittersweet, roasty-toasty, dark fruit, nicely burnished...gets more sweet and less bitter, but always keeps the balance. 

tons of flavor boards the palate...we get the figs and date, some raisin, a bit of chocolate, some licorice, too, a little maple syrup...dark rum...mmm, a perfect combination. 

Hearty, full-bodied, rich, and delicious. Mmmm. Bitter meets malty and smooth, roasty meets sweet, ...it does represent the Baltic Porter style admirably. "tempered with a touch of turmoil", eh...someone likes alliteration with their hyperbole. In this case, it works. Damned good.

Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot Barley-wine

March, 2011, and I'm tapping my first keg ever of Blithering Idiot, part of the Imperial March series. November, 2003 was my first time cracking open a bottle. Those notes follow:

"My favorite beer name ever! It's what you inevitably have to call me when you catch me at my drunkest...
Appearance: deep, dark, tawny violet color, short, rusty head.
Aroma: heady, bold, sharp, strong, fruity, with notes of leather, dates, grapes, cherries, and pure alcohol.
Taste: rather smooth on the palate at first, big fruit, highly hoppy, muge malt, but nothing too obtrusive, very mellow, actually, with a thick raisiny feel on the palate. Rich and rounded, deliciously fruity, not as harshly alcoholic as some barlwywines, but rather nice.
Of course, I took my notes with information taken from the bottle (which gives away nothing) and my own perceptions. Now that I enter this in and see that it's a whopping 11.1%....now, WOW! Why did not have a greater impact upon me? Huh! Well, to conclude this transcription from my notes, "A very nice, hot, fruity, happy little barleywine."

Weyerbacher Tiny Russian Imperial Stout

Here's one I had a few weeks ago, but didn't post because I didn't think the notes were complete enough. I think as I was writing them, I realized it was time for bed, and was sober enough to remember to save. In retrospect, I've decided "they'll do." So, here we have Weyerbacher's oddly named Tiny, Russian Imperial Stout:

""Weyerbacher Tiny, Belgian-style Imperial Stout. This velvety concoction excites your senses with bottomless roasted, earthy, and vinous notes."

The name, obviously ironic, I note, before delving in…750 ml bottle, let's do it, ….

Dark as sin, small, roasty tan head…looking good.

Aroma: cocoa is king, some anise and molasses, rich spices and more…beautiul, truly…mmmm…

Taste: very rich, super chocolatey, super-delicious…mmmm, …ultra-tasty. hits all the right notes. "

Weyerbacher Verboten

Weyerbacher Verboten Belgian-style Pale Ale, Bottle Conditioned. 12 fl.ozs, 5.9% Alc. by Vol.

Very plain packaging, no illustration, no other verbiage on the label, no problem, let's pop this open and see what's in there.

Hazed, deep amber, huge head, lots of big, rocky, lace-leaving foam. Looking nice.

Aromatics: fresh, lively, hoppy. Plenty of Belgian yeast character, in pale ale form. Citric fruit and light spices. Scintillating.

Taste: Medium-body, nicely hopped, good match of toasty malt character and hops bitterness. Bit of a toffe/caramel taste, laying low, keeping it in control with the tasty hops on top, and Belgian yeast keeping it nice and funky.

Yum, nice stuff, good and bitter, easy drinkability, perfectly sessional. But why is it so Verboten. Why forbid this? It's so nice.

Sly Fox Oktoberfest

Closing out the Sly Fox sextet, sent by Woody Chandler. I asked for them, that's for sure, and the verdict is, ...eh. Not so hot.
Here are my thoughts on the Oktoberfest, last of them all.

"Oktoberfest beers celebrate the looniest wedding reception and beer party ever. It started in 1810 and it;s still going strong! All that history, all that fun in this one little can. How can you resist? OG 13.8 Plato, 25 IBU, Abv 5.8%"

Clear, amber hue, prodigious formulation (my new word, trademark and copyright reserved.)

Aroma: slightly sweet and grainy, floral and malt, too. Nice.

Taste: Clean, smooth, nicely malty. Fairly innocuous. Drinkable for sure. Perfectly passable in every way, except in reaching or exceeding expectations. Tasty, but lacking. Light bodied, with a swiftly disappearing finish. Flavor quits with a quickness.

I'm liking this a bit better as it gets closer to the end, but no drastic improvement in the overall impression.

Sly Fox Royal Weisse

Let's finish up the Sly Fox beers Woody sent me. Here's the Royal Weisse.

Sly Fox Royal Weisse, A Bavarian style Wheat Beer brewed with German Pils and Wheat Malts, and hopped with German Northern Brewer hops. Medium bodied, tan in color, fruity. OG 13.5 Plato, 11 IBUs, 5.6% by Vol."

Very clouded, dusky orange, you could say "tan", slimmish head, not quite what I'd want in this.

Aroma: banana and cloves, very airy and light. Some citrus in there, a little orange and lemon. Lemon meringue, banana cream pie, mmm, mm, mmm.

Taste: soft, malty, a little spritzy. A bit juicy. Wheat malt flavor prevalent, …very drinkable, but…lacks…a lot. Nice, but fairly average. No zing, no zang, no …I'm about to get silly again, best to stop now.