Sierra Nevada / Bell's Maillard's Odyssey Imperial Black Ale (Beer Camp #12)

Sierra Nevada/Bell's Maillard's Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale. Alc. By Volume 8.5%, 40 IBU. Beer Camp Across America #12.

Utter blackness, toasted tan head, lace leaving, if on the slim side.

Aroma: rich and roasty nose, slight notes of coffee and cocoa, low hop bitterness.
Creamy and just a little chocolatey.

Taste: Hey, here we go. Imperial Dark Ale. What's that mean? That it's strong and it's dark, but we're not in stout category. Is it one of those "black ales", aka "black IPA"? Not hoppy enough. Just a bit of hop bitterness, then the tasty toasty malt rushes in, with all manner of dark malt flavors. Some molasses, a touch of anise. This is becoming increasingly complex and doubly delicious. Once more I'm finding myself wishing it was more than 12 ounces at my disposal, at least a bomber or a six-pack to myself.

Okay, now I'm trying to read the label. Colored letters on a burgundy background. Great, nice and readable. " This robust dark ale is layered with complex malt flavors of coffee, caramel, toffee, chocolate, and dark fruit." Sure, I'll buy that. More? Yes! "Rich, dark, and roasty. That was our shared vision, and Maillard's Odyssey is exactly that, taking it's name in part from the famed Maillard reaction--the browning of sugars and amino acids--that creates the wonderful caramelized toffee-like and roasted flavors so abundant in this beer."

One distinction between their description and mine, clearly, is the missing caramel and toffee flavors that they report and that I failed to recognize. It's far too dry in the finish, and there's not really much caramel flavor to speak of, though rich and delicious it is.

Another contender for top beer of the Beer Camp pack? Maybe, just maybe….

Sierra Nevada / Ninkasi Double Latte Coffee Milk Stout (Beer Camp #11)

Sierra Nevada/ Ninkasi Double Latte Coffee Milk Stout Ale With Coffee And Lactose Added. Alc. by vol. 7.5%, 60 IBU. And it's #11 from the Beer Camp box.

Solid blackness, rich toasted tan head, small, but lasting.

Aroma: ah! Cocoa first, followed by coffee, and along comes the cream. Beautiful blend. Lush and malty loveliness. This is one of those times that I push off the drinking just to enjoy the aromatics all the more.

Now, drink it up! Silky smooth and easy-going. Coffee and cocoa flavors aren't quite as prominent on the tongue at first, as in the nose. The milk is taking over. Rich, smooth, and just a little on the strong side.

Yummy. Ends on a dryish note. Delivers deliciousness right up until the end. Man, this is all right.

What do they say? "Beer Camp Across America Double Latte. This cold press milk stout features roasted grain, artisan coffee and a dose of lactose for a robust body, and sweet coffee-chocolate-like flavor." Also, "Inspired by the perennial cafe favorite, Double Latte combines two great things: coffee and beer. Oregon's Ninkasi Brewing knows their way around a good cup of joe. Featuring cold-press coffee from legendary Stumptown Coffee Roasters and a dose of milk sugar, this coffee milk stout is a rich and roasty treat."

Maybe it's another contender for best of the box?

Sierra Nevada / Russian River Yvan the Great Belgian-style Blonde Ale (Beer Camp #10)

SN/Russian River Yvan the Great Belgian-style Blonde. 6.3% ABV. 50 IBU. #10 for me in the sample pack.

Hazy, bright golden appearance, chalk white head, slim and soon gone.

Beautiful citrus and floral aromatics. Lightly spicy. Very likable.

Taste: Snappy delivery on the palate, brisk hoppiness and tangible spice and citrus notes. Belgian yeast is at work in the flavor, too. Medium-bodied, spicy finish. Tastes every bit like a Belgian blonde should and then some. Wish I had more than 12 ounces of this one.

Time to read the label: "This hoppy Blonde Ale blends the dry, complex yeast character of Belgian farmhouse ales with the bright citrus-like profile of American hops." And, as usual, there's more on the back: "As longtime friends, Russian River brewmaster Vinne Cilurzo and our own Brian Grossman are no strangers to brewing experiments. For this collaboration, they honored their friend and renowned Belgian brewer Yvan De Baets. This Belgian-American mash-up harmoniously blends Yvan's penchant for yeast with Vinnie and Brian's affinity for hops."

Might be my favorite so far….haven't ranked them yet. We'll see. Two to go!

Sierra Nevada / New Glarus There And Back English-style Bitter (Beer Camp #9)

Beer Camp #9: Sierra Nevada/ New Glarus There and Back English-style Bitter. Alc. by Vol. 5.5%. 40 IBU.

Lightly hazed, bronze colored, slim white head.

Aroma: Malt notes hit the nose first, caramel and toffee and such. Low hops, sweet and pleasant.

Taste: In the mouth and on the palate: sweetness all the more. It's a malt-driven brew, no doubt about that. Some fruity notes appear, some nuttiness, gliding just under the hops. Very keenly balanced bitter. It's a sessioner for sure, and here's where I wish I knew more about Tolkien to make appropriate puns (for, I assume, that's where they got the name). It's a bit more malty/sweet than I think an ESB ought to be, but that's okay, they're doing their own thing.

Now, what does the label teach us? "This easy-drinking English-style bitter features nutty, toasted English malts balanced by a solid dose of zesty hops and a fruity, dry finish." I guess it is rather dry, after all. But ever-so sweet before. Wait, there's more!
"For beer folks, Chicio, CA and New Glarus, WI are bucket-list pins on the U.S. brewing map, but it's no simple feat seeing both. There and Back is named for the planes, trains, and zeal that connect them. This classic English-style bitter is a complex mix of toasty malt and fruity, herbal hops."

Okay, so no admitted connection to "The Hobbit"'s subtitle, "There And Back Again", but that doesn't mean it isn't hidden there somewhere.

Sierra Nevada / Firestone Walker Torpedo Pilsner Hoppy Pilsner (Beer Camp #8)

Beer Camp Across America #8: Sierra Nevada/Firestone Walker Torpedo Pilsner Hoppy Pilsner. Alc. by Vol. 5.2%. 45 IBU.

Hey, remember all my hand-wringing and tooth-gnashing over being unable to find a Sierra Nevada snifter? Well, look what I found. I'll spare you the story of wasting precious moments wailing over the loss of a Unibroue tulip. Because, if you looked at the past few entries, it was all for naught. Now, to stop myself for whining about glasses I don't have and never had...

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, under milky white head.

Aroma: Beautiful floral notes, nice hoppiness. Ah…

Taste: Big hop attack right off the bat, pierces the palate pleasingly. Clean, lean-bodied. Bittersweet bite fades off after a while, but never quite quits. Fruitiness grows and grows, starting citric, turning tropical.
Hopheads, here's a lager to love.

What do they say on the label? This: "This hoppy lager features intense fruity and floral notes from fresh New Zealand hops balanced against a crisp and clean malt body." Also, this: "Torpedo Pilsner is a hop-forward take on the crisp, classic lager. We and the folks at Firestone Walker share a passion for New Zealand varietals, so we loaded our legendary Hop Torpedo with the southern hemisphere's finest hops or a fruity, floral twist on the pilsner style."

So, there you go.

Sierra Nevada/Oskar Blues CANfusion Rye Bock (Beer Camp #7)

Sierra Nevada/ Oskar Blue CANfusion Rye Bock, Beer Camp #7. 7.25 ABV. 45 IBU.

Can #2 from the Beer Camp box.

Appearance: clear, caramel/tan coloration, slim, white head.

Aroma: soft, lightly spicy, bread-y, malt-driven, and just on the sweet side.

Taste: all that from the nose is right here on the tongue. All that spicy rye malt character in a bock bier. Light-medium bodied, nice and clean. Sweetness prevails. Just enough, not too much…or is it? If I can tolerate it, it's probably too sweet for most other people.

CANfusion. It's in a can and it's a fusion. Of….? Rye and bock? SN and OB? Or is it CONfusing? No, it's not that…but, it's clearly not a CANtender for top entrant in the Best of Beer Camp.

Sierra Nevada / Asheville Brewers Collective Tater Ridge Scottish Ale with Sweet Potatoes (Beer Camp #6)

Beer Camp #6: Tater Ridge. Scottish Ale brewed with Sweet Potatoes, Brewed in Collaboration with Asheville Brewers Alliance. Alc. by Volume 7%. 35 IBU.

Apperarance: Caramel Brown coloration, slim tanned head, leaving some lace. Ruby edges, looking fine.

Aroma: soft, slightly sweet and vegetal, but mostly missing. Not getting much yet. Yeah, nothing. That's what potatoes bring to beer. Nada.

Taste: caramel and toffee malt first, sweet like any Scotch ale should be (this is much dark than a "scottish ale"… they really mean Scotch?). Really tasty. full of malty flavors, moderate hopping, delicious. Can't say what the taters bring to the table, though. Nonetheless, it's a satisfying drink, and I'm I'm finding myself enjoying it.

What's the label say: "This rich and malty Scottish ale gets a kick from sweet potatoes, a North Carolina staple." Back label: "We're fortunate to call the passionate and talented folks in the Asheville Brewers Alliance our North Carolina neighbors. Tater Ridge is our nod to the area's Scottish Highland history, and we hope this ale accented by sweet potatoes will be the first of many collaborations to come."

I don't know why I don't get the sweet potatoes. Well, you don't get the taste of them, but they're adding something to the malt sweetness….wait, wait, there it is…just barely. Okay, I can dig it.

Sierra Nevada / Three Floyds Chico King Pale Ale (Beer Camp Across America #5) (plus, a continuation of the previous ramble)

Beer Camp Across America Beer #5: Chico King, collaboration with Three Floyds.

Before opening this one, I've got a little more rambling to do about my glassware fanaticism. Why? Because I'm a fanatic, that's why. So, one thing I wish I had was a cool Three Floyds tulip. I've seen photos of them, but never in real life. Didn't see any for sale when I was there last year. Not even any logo pint glasses. Or maybe they did have them, but I was being reasonable, and said no to my maniacal desires. No, that can't be, for I did buy a Half Acre glass, and took a Hop Leaf sample glass with me (asked for it, of course).

So, I have no 3F glassware, and I have one SN pint glass. Why don't I have a SN snifter, for use with Bigfoot, Narwhal, Hoptimum, etc? I had them at the Blue Nile, thanks to the distributor and my sales rep, but forgot to bring one home for the collection. They must still have some, in the secret places where I stored them. Should I return and ask for one? Isn't that crazy, though? I don't go back because the little changes they've made inevitably drive me bonkers for no known reason.
 I recently broke an Urthel tulip glass while washing dishes, and I know there are plenty more in the basement of my former employer. Again, as I asked last time, do I really need it? How often do I drink their beers? But, don't I want to have one available for when it does happen? After all, they're so cool! There were the 2 different ones…the shorter, and the taller, and those hops, and the gnomes….ooo, it's insanity, I tells you. I've got plenty of Belgian-style tulips, missing one doesn't matter. Who cares if I don't have a Sierra Nevada
snifter…but, I "should" have one, shouldn't I? I mean, why shouldn't I? I should, right? I have to!

Stop it, voices in my head! Stop! STOP!!!

(There's one glass that I've been very protective of, and that's a 15-year old La Trappe small tulip, which was given to me by Lanny Hoff after I broke one in my last move. I can't let this one go.)

Okay, enough of that, here it is, the Chico King Pale Ale. Alc. by Vol. 6.5%, 45 IBU.

Clear, bright amber coloring, lush, creamy head, leaving lace, looking lovely.

Aroma: spills out of the glass. Floral, spicy, citric. Delicate and glorious.

Taste: Mmm, bitter. Mmm, fruity. Not too much this, not too much that, in every way a triumphantly hopped pale ale, not an overdone IPA. Lush, plump sweet malt keeps it all together. Balance is key here. This is no monster, no imperial anything. It's just a big bunch of yum, is what it is.

I want to know more, so I'm peeking at the label: "This pale ale packs plenty of bright, fruit-forward resinous hop varietals above a robust malt body." That's the bottleneck. Now, the back: "3 Floyds has a reputation as the Midwestern kings of alpha (hops), and it seems our flagship beer helped lure them down the lupulin-paved path. Chico King is a mash-up of our mutual passion for hoppy pale ales and we suspect you'll find it fit for royalty."

So, what is it? It's not SNPA, and it's not Alpha King, but it's somewhere in between. And to tell you the truth? I'd rather have the others. This mash-up doesn't make a better beer. It's good, don't get me wrong, it's just not better.

Sierra Nevada/Victory Alt Route Alt Bier (Beer Camp Across America #4)

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across America Alt Route Altbier, brewed in collaboration with Victory Brewing Company. 6.6% alc by vol. 50 IBU.

Dusky, dark, rich auburn-hued, under a lush, off-white head. Looking great.

Aroma: malt, grain, mineral, nut. Clean, keen and serene and classically alt. Mild hops.

Taste: malt is king at first, rich and chocolatey, nutty, totally tasty. Full-bodied, with a long finish. This has all the hallmarks of a classic alt. Mmm. Not too much else to say, it is exactly what it is. And it is good.

Let's read more: "This take on a German alter is anchored by a layered, slightly sweet malt body supported by citrusy hop flavor and aroma." Yeah, I didn't get any citrusy anything. Well, maybe some. Okay, yeah, I get it now.

Wait, there's more! "Brewers are notorious for refusing to take the easy path. Alt Route is a tribute to this stubborn spirit that drove us to dodge the status quo and build breweries of our own. Together we chased the siren song of beer with this revamped take on an antique beer style."

Okay, now I get the "revamped" aspect, it's the use of distinctly American hops instead of classically German ones. Not sure why I didn't get them at first gander. Can't win 'em all, I guess.

Beer Camp Sierra Nevada Collaboration with Cigar City: Yonder Bock Tropical Maibock

Beer Camp #3: Sierra Nevada/Cigar City Yonder Bock Tropical Maibock. 7.7% ABV, 45 IBU.

Appearance: highly hazed, deep amber, lush, creamy white head. Looking great.

Aroma: Coconut and pineapple. Bananas? Sweet malt. Low hops.

Taste: Here's a little bit of hops, and a lot of lush, tasty pale malt. Medium bodied, long, lingering sweet finish. Just delicious. Absolutely yum. Remarkable.

This is one of two canned beers in the sampler pack, the one being a collaboration with Oskar Blues, both of these canning breweries. I'm dying to read the label on the can and find out more….of course, there's nothing on the bottleneck, and there's no neck on the can, so it had better all be on the back of the can….here we go…"Brewed in collaboration with Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, FL., Yonder Bock is a Latin-inspired twist on a traditional Maibock. Cigar City finds inspiration in the Cuban roots of their hometown, which is a long way from our home base in Chico, but our friends down yonder in Florida can sure brew a great beer. Yonder Bock blends a silky malt body with bright fruity hop aromas of guava, mango and passion fruit from the use of Calypso, Azacca and experimental 366 hops as a nod to Cigar City's tropical locale."

Well, dang it. I just don't have the nose for guava, I guess.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Collaboration with Ballast Point: Electric Ray India Pale Lager

Number 2 from the Beer Camp Box. Sierra Nevada/Ballast Point Electric Ray India Pale Lager. 8.5% ABV. Shouldn't it be Imperial India Pale Lager? IIPL? And it's either 10 or 70 IBUs. I honestly can't tell if it's a 1 or a 7, but it can't "India" if it's merely 10 IBU.

Slightly hazy, dark golden/amber coloring, under a slim white head.

Aroma: delicately hoppy, pineapple and pine, a little bit of lemon. Nice stuff.

Taste: Mmm. Hops up front, a flash of bright, beaming hoppitude. Lean-bodied. Finishes fruity and bittersweet, ending on a dry note. Crisp, clean, with long-lasting, lingering bitterness on the palate. Okay, I can drink this.

Don't know if I'll ever really be won over to the side of the "IPL", so called. But there's nothing wrong with them. Do they "fix" what I don't like about pale lagers, i.e. the thin body and the low hops. Maybe it's not just hops that I like about ales, it's everything else as well?

Let's read the label, alright? "This nautically named India Pale Lager combines intense citrusy, floral American hops with the clean, classic malt body of a blonde lager." Also, this: "As ever, San Diego's Ballast Point looked to the sea for inspiration. A play on the fish's scientific name--Torpedo californica--Electric Ray pays homage to our Hop Torpedo, the source of much of this beer's big flavor. It's massive grapefruit and floral notes deliver a high-voltage hit of hop flavor."

Beer Camp: Sierra Nevada/Allagash Myron's Walk Belgian-style Blonde Ale with Coriander

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across America. 12 bottles, 12 beers, 12 different styles by 12 different brewers from across America collaborating with the brewers at both the original Chico brewery, and the new North Carolina outpost. Runs for about $24, $2 a pop, but not a bad deal when you consider what you're getting. These will never be made again, and will only appear here. Get it while you can, beer geeks!

Well, I am lucky enough to live near a beer store that tries and tries, but doesn't get quite as much beer geek traffic as the those fancier stores. Much as I love those la-de-da merchants, I'm not going to make it there in time to grab that rare stuff before the other beer weirdos snatch them up. It's the Modelo cans and the Courvoisier that keep this store in business. I can't get everything I want there, but there's something, anyway. And long after all the well-known shops that cater to the beer elite have run out of Beer Camp cases, there's still a few left for me at Chicago-Lake liquors, bless their hearts.

So. We're going to open the first one. And it's a collaboration with Allagash, the Maine brewery focused on Belgian styles that hasn't been distributed in Minnesota in over 12 years. (If memory serves.) It's called Myron's Walk, and they say it's a Belgian-style pale ale brewed with Coriander. Enough blah, blah, blah, let's drink it up!

Appearance: Clear, bright golden-colored, under a lush, chalk-white of foam, leaving lace. Nice.

Aroma: Beautiful, lively spice notes hit the nose first. Slightly sweet, and fruity, ending dry.

Taste: Spice, Belgian yeast character, fruit all hit at once. It's a tropical fruit character with some citrus tones, as well. At one minute, we're led towards the feeling of a witbier, with the coriander and yeast, but without the wheat, and then the spirit of the Belgian blonde comes forward. Tasty, tasty stuff, hoppy, fruity and ending ultimately dry. Mmm. This is nice.

What does the label tell us? For one thing, it's 6.3% ABV, and 38 IBU. Also, "This Belgian-style pale ale combines the best of our two breweries. Intense, piney-citrus hop notes counterpoint the complex fruity spice of Allagash's Belgian yeast."

Hey., there's more! "This collaboration honors Myron Avery, a founder of the Appalachian Trail which spans our North Carolina brewery and Allagash's home in Maine. We share a great love of the outdoors, and Avery and the AT are great reminders of the wild spirit of exploration that connects us both."
Cool!

Man, I like this. If they are all this good, I'm going to enjoy exploring this pack!