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.

Review: Cigar City Maduro

An American Brown Ale  ABV 5.5%

Analysis

I have heard great things about CCB for some time now around the beer world. I was more than delighted to finally find it. I found it in a little pub called Parrot Lounge in Ft. Lauderdale.  A lot of hype surrounds these boys at CCB so I was prepared for a disappointment.

I had it on draft and was smooth as silk and far from a disappointment it was. This is a bad ass chocolaty and nutty Brown Ale That  finishes with a stunning toasty dry finish. I will be hunting down some CCB from here on out. I have not had much luck here in NC. I will find it one way or the other damn it!

Analyst Score: 8.5

Review: Avery Out of Bounds Stout

This big, roasty stout takes flavor to the extreme. We aren't afraid to use plenty of rich roasted barley and a mountain of hops to give this full-bodied stout that little extra something you've been looking for in a beer.

ABV: 6.3% IBUs: 51  Color: Black

averybrewing.com

Analysis:

     This is the third Avery beer I have found myself drinking. The first two were just average beers to me not really standing out from the rest. So I decided to roll the dice again and try this stout which was highly recommended by the bartender. It started out OK with a light dry caramel body which faded quickly. Then the negatives of this beer quickly became apparent. The dryness is so overwhelming it takes your breathe away. The bitterness is intense and leaves your tongue feeling like sandpaper. It's out of bounds alright. Right in the bunker!

     

Review: Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale

Its bitterness hits our sweet spot. Its blackness lightens our hearts. Its liquid dichotomy pulls it all together in this sublimely sacrosanct ale. Yes, we damn well know our stuff here at Stone, and it would be irresponsible of us not to acknowledge how remarkable this heavenly creation of ours is. Thus the name we are compelled to give it --- Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale --- serves as a reminder of just how good we are, in both liquid and verbal form. 

ALC/VOL 8.7%, 90 IBUs

StoneBrew.com

Analysis:

     Every time I see a beer with Stone on the label I snatch that bastard as fast as I can because you know it won't be there long. These guys have a dream job and make dreamy beers. That makes them sound weak doesn't it? They make beers that punch you in the throat and then the kidneys!

     So I eventually popped open this bottle which contained the beautiful scent of pines. The flavor was a compilation of INTENSE hoppiness a bitter bite and light sweet finish. Well balanced fantastic of course. Stone rolls onward!

 

Analyst Score: 9 

Review: Thirsty Dog Hoppus Maximus

This beer's name will not disappoint! The complex character of American hops and amber colored caramel malts make this beer very crisp and refreshing. Silver Medal winner at the 2001 Great American Beer Festival.

IBU's 43 

5.9 ABV

Thirstydog.com

Analysis:

     I have never heard of Thirsty Dog until today to be honest. So I came into this one with no opinion at all which is fabulous. Deemed a American-Style Amber Ale really confused me after first taste. Seems like an IPA to me but who am I. I just drink them I don't label them.

     It starts of with some light caramel malts and launches into the hops which easily overpower the malt but are not overwhelming in nature. A nice light and smooth beer which is extremely easy to drink. I turned six into two in no time at all! I am not sure where I can find more Thirsty Dog brews but I will be on the lookout.

Analyst Score: 8 

Review: Abita Andygator

Andygator, a creature of the swamp, is a unique high-gravity brew made with pale malt, German lager yeast, and German Perle hops. Unlike other high-gravity brews, Andygator is fermented to a dry finish with a slightly sweet flavor and subtle fruit aroma. Reaching an alcohol strength of 8% by volume, it is a Helles Dopplebock.

IBU 25

Color 8

Analysis:

     I really enjoyed the Abita Abbey ale so I went back to the well in search of another good Abita beer. That was a bad idea indeed. This beer Abita calls Andygator is grainy and  too sweet with premature dryness and awkward aftertaste. Abita lost their way with this one. I think Abita and I are finished for awhile. We need to take a long break. I don't think it was meant to be.

Analyst score: 2 

Review: Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale

Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale is a unique hybridization of two well-known beer styles, combining the rich, voluptuous taste of a traditional barleywine with the subtle, tart flavors of an American wheat ale, topped off with a healthy dose of crisp, herbaceous hops.

ABV 12%

Smuttynose.com

Analysis:

     As soon as I caught wind of the release of the BIG beer series I became overwhelmed with anticipation. Smuttynose has never let me down before. Beer after beer they produce some of the best in every style. I cracked this wheat wine open and my love began there with the most magnificent scent. It started with a syrupy caramel which lead into moderate sweetness. Bordering to sweet but it's Smutty so of course they got it right. Then it turns to the wheat flavor a hop pop and rolls out a little dry with the alcohol showing it's presence late. Home run again!

Analyst Score: 9 

Review Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

 

 An onslaught of the senses. It starts with big, roasty malt flavor that gives way to rich caramel and toffee notes. YETI gets its bold hop character from an enormous quantity of American hops. It weighs in at a hefty 75 IBUs.  9.5% ABV

GreatDivide.com

Analysis:

     I continue to roll through the Great Divide line of beers. If you find a good brewery why not stick to it! This is the fourth one I have had this month and the first three were great. So my expectations were high coming into this Yeti. It poured a jet black the exact look of used motor oil. It looked great in the glass and tasted great as well. A super malty syrupy front side then the hops made their presence known and linger throughout the finish. At 75IBUs I expected the hops to be more pronounced but this was not the case. Great Divide is ballin'! 

Review: Abita Abbey Ale

Abbey Ale honors the ancient tradition of monks who perfected the art of brewing beer to support the monastery and their "liquid bread". We offer up our support and thank them with a 25¢ donation to St. Joseph's Abbey with every bottle sold of this heavenly brew. Dark amber in color, the aroma of caramel, fruits and cloves invites you to contemplate the creamy head of this "Dubbel" or double ale. Abita Abbey Ale is a malty brew, top-fermented and bottle aged to rapturous perfection. This ale pairs well with barbecue, meat stews or a nice thick steak. For dessert, try Abita Abbey Ale with milk chocolate or chocolate bread pudding. We suggest serving this brew at 46 degrees. 

8%ABV

32 IBU

Abita.com 

Analysis:

     I went into this one with an uneasy feeling considering Abita has not impressed me in the past. CAUTION: Beware of the explosion when opening this beer make sure you are near a sink. After cleaning up the mess I made I finally got to tasting it. It delivered a sweet blow which flowed nicely into a array of fruitiness. The sweetness nor the fruitiness dominated leading to a nice balance. I usually shy away from a dubbel but this one is a gem. I am now eager to try Abita's other big beers Andygator and Save our shore. I hope I can find them around here.

Review: Great Divide St. Bridget's Porter

Great Divide Brewing Co

Analysis:

     I have started to dip my toe in to the line of Great Divide beers with a high level of excitement. I spotted this porter on the beer list and ordered it up of course. I believe that the balance of coffee and chocolate flavors in this porter are extraordinary. The bitterness is subtle in nature and the aftertaste lacks that overbearing sweetness some chocolaty porters possess. It's fabulous baby! Well above average porter.

Review: Hoppin' Frog Silk Porter

 

Dark, robust and silky-smooth, with many flavors of roasted, toasted and caramel malts. Porter is an old-world beer style, so popular that it helped start the industrial revolution. Taste the history.

6.2% a/v | 70 OG (16.9°P) | 26 IBU

www.hoppinfrog.com 

Analysis:

    I stumbled across this brewery a few months ago. I was eager to try it after I discovered they brewed it in my home state. The great state of Ohio in Akron. I found it at the local Total Wine store last week in NC and couldn't wait to crack it open. 

    My first encounter with Hoppin' Frog went as I had hoped. The silk porter lives up to it's name. Every so often you have a beer and say what else could they have possibly named it. This silk porter falls into that category. Hoppin' delivered the absolute smoothest porter I have ever tasted. Its as smooth as "silk" with great caramel and roasted flavors! This beer is fit for king. Maybe they could have named it Suave Porter but that doesn't sound as smooth as silk. I am now on the prowl to find other delightful beers brewed by the boys in Akron at  Hoppin' Frog.

Review: Terrapin Wake and Bake

Black as night, this coffee stout is thick, rich and full of real coffee flavor. Brewed with the Terrapin Wake-n-Bake coffee blend created by Terrapin & Jittery Joe’s Coffee.

Annual Release: November

The high content alcohol of these beers make them perfect for cellaring…hide them away and pull one out for a special event 2-3 years later.

ABV 8.6%

IBU's 50

www.terrapinbeer.com

Analysis:

      This beer from Terrapin is like many of their others. Its unique and well done. It delivers a rich coffee flavor beer with great balance. I could drink this one for breakfast and I think I will. Maybe a couple.

Review: Dogzilla Black IPA-Laughing Dog Brewing

A Big Bold Hoppy IPA that finishes with a dark twist.

True to its IPA roots Dogzilla has a massive hop presence that is Piney and Citrusy. A malty backbone, along with the dark malt gives it a bit of a roasty finish. Brewed with Simcoe and Cascade Hops, Pale Malt, Munich, and Black Barley.

6.9% abv and 69IBU's

Available In 22oz bottles, and draft 15.5, 5.2 kegs

laughingdogbrewing.com

Analysis:

     I picked this one up based on the fact it is brewed in Idaho. How does that not make this beer interesting... It's a big dark IPA with a bitter citrusy bite. It's a rugged tasting IPA especially after having Hop Stoopid recently which is extremely smooth. Laughing Dog says to hell with smooth this beer rips your face off! Overall it's a good beer with some interesting characteristics.

Review: Cottonwood High Gravity Frostbite

 

This medium bodied beer has a deep amber color, a slight caramel-like sweetness and extreme hop bitterness and flavor. This is not for the timid! This beer is for devoted Hop Heads! It also has a higher 8.5% alcohol by volume. Carolinabeer.com

Analysis: 

     Found this one on draft at the local bar. At first I was a was a little confused with this one. I couldn't seem to put my finger on what I was tasting. As I continued to drink it the words started to come to me. It was the lack of balance that stumped me. The sweet and bitter flavors just don't seem to get along.  It's a good beer overall not overpowering and the alcohol flavor is well disguised. I believe it will be the last Frostbite I partake in though.

Review: Bell's Porter

Brewed with a generous mix of chocolate malt and roast barley, our Porter matches subtle coffee aromas to a solid malt finish. Lighter in body than its stouter cousins, Porter earned a prominent place in our portfolio of beers with its balance of roasted flavors. First brewed in 1987, Porter remains a favorite among both our brewers and Bell's drinkers alike.

Alcohol 5.6% by volume 

Bellsbeer.com

 Analysis:

     Porters and stouts are my two favorite styles so whenever I come across one I haven't tried I can't resist pouring it into my face. When I saw this Bell's porter I thought it says "Bell's" on the bottle its got to be good and it was. It's a good porter not one of the best , but good.  It's a lighter porter that has light roasted flavors which I believe are the best attribute of this beer. My expectations were really high and it didn't quite live up to them.     

     As a porter man I tend to enjoy a thick rich full bodied porter. I certainly love the Bell's line of beers but next time I grab a Bell's I will reach around this one and grab a Double Cream Stout! DCS is a money shot!

Review: Lagunitas Hop Stoopid

Hop Stoopid Ale
For those mornings when you have to cut right to the chase, this is the one. Sure to blast through just about anything still lingering from the night before, this mouthful of Hops and huge rich Malt has a gaurantee built right into the name!

102 IBU
Alcohol 8% by volume 

lagunitas.com

 Analysis:

   I wouldn't say I am a hop head  but I do like a good hopped up beer from time to time. So when my eyes locked on to this label in the old beer store I was compelled to try it. When I cracked it open the scent was orgasmic in nature. I could hardly stop sniffing it long enough to pour it into the glass. If I had known what I was in store for I would have just chugged it out of the bottle, but I took the time to pour it into my favorite beer glass then drank it. The bitter hop flavor quickly attacked my mouth and continued all the way to my stomach. The hop flavor continued to resonate in my mouth. What a beautiful thing. This beer lives up to its name that's for sure. This beer was more than I expected and I highly recommend it.

New Brewery Ready to Roll

     Baxter Brewing is the first craft brewery in New England to can its entire line of beers. They started distribution throughout the state of Maine in September and will start distributing across northern New England in 2011.
     Right now they have to beers available according to their website Pamola Extra Pale Ale and Stowaway IPA.  Can't wait to get my first taste. Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale proved to me that you can make a great beer in a can hopefully Baxter will reassert my belief.

Rogue Chateau Dirtoir Black Lager

The description: This beer pours a jet black with a thick khaki head. Aromas of toasty bread and sweet molasses with hints of chocolate and oak. Flavors are balanced but extreme, burnt malt, hops, licorice and coffee with smooth silky sweet malt finish. 6% ABV
The analyst says: This beer is delicious not just beer delicious but delicious for any drink. The sweet chocolate coffee flavors shine through in this delightful lager. Rogue is a truly unique brewer which makes each of their beers an experience to look forward to.

Bell's Kalamazoo Stout

How can Bell's not be one of your favorite breweries? This stout sticks to Bell's standard of high quality beer. They manage to totally eliminate releasing a beer just for the sake of releasing it. I compare Bell's to a CD with 12 great tracks on it. It sure is a rare find.

The Kalamazoo stout is another treasure a fantastic full-bodied  stout. A nice strong roasted malt front with a bitter bite and a sweet finish. Looks great smells great!

Unibroue Trois Pistoles

The description: Deep, dark mahogany color with a tremendous tan colored head. Amazingly floral and fruity with sweet malt notes complimenting. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced, concealing its obvious strength behind a wall of fresh fruit flavors accented by fresh herbs and spices.

The analyst says: So much fruit taste. I would consider this a cider not a beer.

Stone Double Bastard

The description: Pours a deep gold with red highlights, subtle sweetness in the aroma, hints of pineapple as it warms. Big sweet malt presence, dark fruit, grape, hints of red wine. Big hop taste and finish, but smoother than Arrogant Bastard. Strong, but not over bearing alcoholic taste. Another success from Stone. 10% ABV.
The analyst says: Sweet at first then extremely bitter. I prefer the single bastard. Alcohol taste is STRONG!!

Smuttynose Old Brown Dog

Smuttynose Old Brown Dog

The description: Amber in color, this beer has a great sweet, strong malt flavor, but not overpowering. Only slight hop aroma and flavor. Nice low bitterness, and slightly fruity flavor. Compared to a typical English Brown Ale, this beer is full-bodied. The analyst says: Brown done right! Smutty is the master of all styles. They can do no wrong in my eyes.

Circus Boy Is Back!

Circus Boy Is Back!

Con is on it's WAY

Conway's Irish Ale
Coming soon!
Conway's Irish Ale, GLBC's malty Irish ale with a notable toasty flavor derived from lightly roasted malt, will soon be hitting the shelves and taps of your local retailers and taverns!

Conway's Irish Ale is a "meat and potatoes" beer that goes well with shepherd's pie, corned beef, stews and other Irish fare.  Known as the "proud and mellow patriarch" in GLBC's exceptional family of beers, Conway's Irish Ale is a great companion during the winter months.  Look for Conway's Irish Ale later this month!

Sexual Chocolate is on its Way!

Mark your calendars: Sexual Chocolate 2011 is nearly upon us.  Try it on draft starting at 4 pm on Friday, January 28 and then (after a brief nap) get in line.  Bottles go on sale at 11am on January 29.

 

For those of you new to our beer, the Sexual Chocolate is an award-winning Russian Imperial Stout infused with organic cocoa nibs.  Deep opaque black in color, it offers notes of espresso, blackstrap molasses, toffee, and dark fruits that serve to mask an alcohol content approaching ten percent.

 

Some of the accolades for the Sexual Chocolate include a silver medal at the ultra-prestigious Brewer's Association World Beer Cup earlier this year, a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2009, and a gold medal from the same festival in 2010 for Sexy C's bourbon barrel-aged cousin.

 

As in years past, the Sexual Chocolate is $15 per 22-ounce bottle, with a limit of four bottles per customer.  Lines can start forming at 4 am, and bottles will go on sale at 11 am.  Please keep in mind that we cannot hold bottles for anyone, and that cutting places in line or holding places for other people is strictly prohibited.  With that said, we can't wait to see you here!

 

Can't make it to Winston-Salem for the release?  All is not lost.  Look for on-premise Sexual Chocolate draft releases all over North Carolina from February 1-4 and a Virginia debut on February 7 at Jack Brown's Joint in Harrisonburg, VA.  We'll keep you posted on all the Sexual Chocolate releases as more information becomes available. 


Foothills Brewing Co.

Found some Smuttynose Ipa at the local grocery. Exciting stuff! The label is great. The beer is better!