Review: Heavy Seas Below Decks 2011

Description: an English style barley wine ale that can be enjoyed now or kept "Below decks" as it becomes more complex as it ages.
Analysis:
For a barley this is a fairly simple beer. A semi sweet start with a bitter finish.
Not too powerful and not too complicated but it's good.

Review: Laughing Dog The Dogfather

The description: “I've got a brew You Cant Refuse”

The Dogfather is one of the biggest brews we have made.
Weighing in at a hefty 11% percent, the Dogfather has 7 malts and 4 different hops giving it a complex flavor profile.Over 11 months in the making some of the Dogfather is bourbon barrel aged.This is a very limited release for the first of November, Get it before it’s gone!But trust us, it will be back next year. Stats for the Dogfather 11% ABV 71 IBU’s 7 different Malts 4 hops


-Laughingdogbrewing.com

                                                                 Analysis:

     The scent of black licorice is very nice! A nice roasty opening with flavors of dark chocolate and some fruitiness as it warms. A bitter to semi-dry finish. Laughing Dog made me an offer I could not refuse.

Analyst Score: 9.0

Review: Avery Maharaja

The description: Has a wonderful aromatic floral and fruity hop nose with notes of tangerine, peach, lemon and fresh cut flowers. Its strong, sweet malt body with its nutty, subtly roasty backbone helps balance the copious amounts of sweet and bitter hops. Simcoe, Columbus, Chinook, and Centennial hops provide this ale with plenty of tangy grapefruit, woody pine, and peach tinged flavor with undertones of sweet tangerine and black pepper. 10.24 ABV

Analysis:

This brews claims to have a ton of hops and it sets a new bar for a ton of hops. Hop flavors from bitter to floral and extremely floral pop out endlessly from start to finish. It also has a fantastic balance which had to be a real challenge. Nice nutty and roast flavors manage to keep this beer in control.  The best Avery beer I have ever had hands down!

Analyst Score: 8.5

Back from Las Vegas vacation!

  As always it a fun trip to Vegas! This was the first time I had been in search of some new brews to try though. The first beer I found was the Tenaya Creek Hop ride which was pretty solid and for a good price. It was a decent hop ride but could have had a little more punch.
   The next stop was a brewery off of Fremont St. called Triple 7. I grabbed one of their porters which was exactly what I needed after a excessive amount of BL. It was the Black Chip porter it had some nice coffee flavors and a hint of chocolate. A great change of pace yet not overpowering.

Review: Left Hand Fade to Black 2011

 

The description: Dried fruit flavors entwined with smoky pepper and licorice embossed on roasty malt sweetness open on your tongue as the slow warmth of chilis creep up on your tongue and throat, finishing in an herbal smoke ring flourish.-left hand brewing co.

Analysis:

 The 3rd volume of Fade to Black has found me. I loved the 2nd volume it was a fantastic smoked baltic porter . This year they decided to go with a peeper porter for FTB. I would have to say that I liked the baltic porter better but the pepper porter is unique. It comes off a little simple to me with roasted malts. Then turns to a semi-sweet and a grand smokey finish. I loved the finish! I can't wait to see what is in store for Vol 4.

Review: Smuttynose Pumpkin

The  description: The pour is a handsome orange-amber with a decent puffy white head and a significant white lacing. The aroma contains hints of pumpkin spice and crisp hops. The body is medium. The taste has some element of hops but little along the line of traditional pumpkin spices. ABV 5.0

  Analysis:

When I dive into these fall specials I become overjoyed because I know the great porters are right around the corner. This is  a good  pumpkin beer with great spice balance and flavor. Some beers get a little out of control with the spice. This pumpkin beer is little below the high standard I have set for smutty though.

Analyst Score: 6

Review: Mad River Steelhead Scotch Porter

 The word here is "Unique". From the immense amount of debris floating in this beer to it's taste. It has some chocolate undertones a oddly enough scotch flavor. I absolutely loved this beer. It's a must try! I hope I can find some more Mad River beers in the area.