Stone Suede Imperial Porter, Collaboration 2013

Stone 2013 Collaboration w/10Barrel & Bluejacket (whoever they are), Suede Imperial Porter, Ale Brewed with Calendula Flowers, Jasmine, and Honey. 9.6% Alc. byVol.

Purple ink on a black bottle, impossibly small. I ain't reading' that. I'm just going to crack it open and see what's inside.

Deep, impenetrable blackness, under a slim ring of cocoa-tinged head.

Aroma: light floral & honey notes dance on top, hovering over dark fruit and chocolate.

Taste: Sweetness and fruit (currant, berry, raisin, fig) grows and grows, tempered by hop bitterness and roast character. This is what they mean when they say complexity. Fullness of body, depth of flavor, a tremendous amount going on in here. Dark and smooth, supreme drinkability. Lots of richness, with delicate floral flavors that somehow comment with all the heavier flavors.

I like this. Unique creation, outstanding collaboration.

Revolution Rosa Hibiscus Ale

Am I still keeping track of which beers are Chicago beers? The Gumball Head

was bought on the trip, so it's #3, and the Brewery Vivant, though from Michican, was bought in suburban Chicago, so that's #4. Which makes Rosa from Revolution Chicago beer #5. And here we go…

Revolution Rosa Hibiscus Ale. Ale Brewed with Spices. 5.8% ABV. Revolution Beer LLC, Chicago, IL.

Here's one I know I tasted in Chicago last week, didn't have a full glass, but took a sip out of someone else's. They didn't like theirs. I thought it wouldn't hurt to get a can, and try it out for myself.

Hard to describe this color. Rosy, sure. Not quite pink, and not quite red. a lush crimson, quite beautiful. Small, pink head.

Aroma: slightly sweet and floral, but mostly blase' and banal.

Taste: okay, what have we here? Is it a wheat brew? It's light bodied, fairly innocuous, and not without some charm, but not with much. Pleasant, fruity, but missing anything to keep my interest. Clearly, this beer was not meant for me, but it's got to be making someone happy, if they're still brewing it.

Here's how they describe it on the Revolution brewpub menu: "Tart summer ale infused with 20 lbs of Hibiscus flowers and touch of orange pee. Elegantly refreshing and defiantly delicious."

Magic Hat Pistil

Magic Hat Pistil. Remember when I covered the dandelion saison from Dave's BrewFarm? And wondered about how many times such a brew had been done, thinking only of at least one Belgian version? Well, what do you know, here's another, called Pistil, and with a label designed by a clone of Peter Max.

Hazy yellow, slim white head.

Mild aromatics, lightly floral, vegetal, minor hops. Nothing special.

Taste: soft, malty, smooth. Light bodied, mellow hop presence, sweet malt character. Can I taste the dandelion? Can't say that I can. Don't know if you ever could, and wonder what might be the point?
Is there wheat in this, I wonder, for it feels so. Not much info at all on the bottle, except these words: "stop and smell the petals." Also, "3/4 pint of beer brewed with dandelion." Also, 4.5% aBV.

This is not a bad beer, it's smooth, quenching, refreshing, and very consumable. Nice wheaty texture. Good drinkin'.  Nice summertime tosser-backer.