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El Sully

21st Amendment Brewery
American Adjunct Lager / 4.80% ABV

3.54/5  rDev +5.4% | Avg: 3.36
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a golden yellow color with a fingers worth of head that slowly fades down to nothing

S: Some nice fruity notes along with the bready maltiness and some corn adjunct sweetness

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with some fruity notes and quickly transitions into the bready maltiness along with the typical corn adjuncts and moderate sweetness. Finishes with lingering malty notes and corn

M: Light-medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation

O: Definitely solid as far as AALs go, with the drinkability to boot. Could be very refreshing on a hot day. Save it for the beach

★ 583 characters

Duff

Florida Beer Company
American Adjunct Lager

3.03/5  rDev +9% | Avg: 2.78
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this at the bar in "Moe's Tavern" in the Springfield USA section of Universal Studios Orlando. I didn't expect too much but was pleasantly surprised. The color is a dark yellow almost amber with a somewhat fleeting head. The smell was bready some malt but very minimal hop note. The taste was decent enough with good malt flavor and a sweet finish. Very easy to drink. No sure about adjuncts but I really couldn't detect any. This is a good, average beer. It is certainly better than a Bud Light or most theme park offerings. It's a theme park so I wasn't too taken aback by the 9.05 (plus a tip for "Moe") for a 20 ounce draft. If you're a Simpson's fan and happen to be at USO it's a must do - the theming is quite good. If not, there are much better choices just outside the gate at the new NBC Sports Grill on Citywalk. Side note - the "Flaming Moe" is actually a non-alcoholic citrus drink (with no child's cough syrup!)

★ 941 characters

Choklat

Southern Tier Brewing Company
American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.00% ABV

3.99/5  rDev -6.6% | Avg: 4.27
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Looks like liquid chocolate when it comes out. A little too carbonated but pours a fine head. Nice sweet-to-bitter chocolate taste. Fun beer to share on an occasion.

★ 165 characters

Moses And The Misfits

Clown Shoes
Cream Ale / 9.00% ABV

3.87/5  rDev +5.4% | Avg: 3.67
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

$ 9.00/bomber + $ 2.68 shipping ($ 0.531/oz) from Blackwell’s, SF CA.
Bottled 12/10/15 at 42 degrees into a hand washed and dried JK snifter
Aroma of light fruity hops and some dimethylsulfide
Head average (3.5 cm, aggressive pour), off white, creamy with rocks, diminishing to two mm ring and creamy island with rocks
Lacing excellent – wide bands of mostly tiny bubbles, linked with narrow short legs
Body medium gold, cloudy
Flavor starts with a slight hop bitterness which lasts, malt sweetness is present but not overwhelming
Palate medium, watery to creamy, lively carbonation

Appearance 3.5, Aroma 4, Flavor 4, Palate 3.5, Overall 3.75

★ 647 characters

Dinosmores

Off Color Brewing
American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.50% ABV

4.21/5  rDev +2.4% | Avg: 4.11
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This poured a dark black color into my snifter glass. Very minimal head on top. The nose starts out with the roasted malts but the chocolate and the rest of the flavors are in the back. The taste is all about the smores with the chocolate and marshmallow coming through. Not over sweet a very well done stout.

★ 309 characters

POG IPA

Maui Brewing Co.
American IPA / 7.10% ABV

3.69/5  rDev n/a | Avg: 3.69
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

at the brewpub in Kahana, into a snifter, this one's all about the nose -- luscious fruits, juicy orange, rich guava, and some fragrant passionfruit, exactly as advertised, as well as a little floral business at the edges. A little sweet bready malt, too. Pours a bright golden orange, fairly clear, and an off-white head that leaves decent lacing. When it hits the tongue, I'm a little disappointed...it just seems a little thin and flat compared to the nose...juicy but not lively and it has no bite and very little bitterness. Still this one is worth a shot for the tropical flavors.

★ 590 characters

Red Racer I.S.A.

Central City Brewers + Distillers
American IPA / 4.00% ABV

4.37/5  rDev +9.8% | Avg: 3.98
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

500ml can. Price keeps going up. Boo.

Pale ale colour. Head quickly disappears. A bit of lacing.

This is about highlighting the Mosaic hops. I can smell the usual ripe berries, a bit of tart citrus, and really just a whole lot of straight-up deliciousness.

More of that delicious hop flavour balanced with some light, bready malt.

Nice carbonation. A slightly dry finish.

This is a masterful beer from a kick-ass brewery. It's all about those Mosaic hops.

★ 462 characters

Lagunitas Sucks (Brown Shugga Substitute Ale)

Lagunitas Brewing Company
American Double / Imperial IPA / 7.85% ABV

4.32/5  rDev 0% | Avg: 4.32
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

32 Fluid ounce poured to wine glass
Today is 1/23/2016
Appearance: Light amber, small head, almost no lacing
Aroma: Strong hoppy smell, slight boozy scent not overpowering
Taste: Slightly bitter, then sweet,
Mouth feel:
Overall: Excellent beer, specially with the price. Definitely something to look forward to.

★ 313 characters

Monster's Park Aged In Elijah Craig Barrels (12-yr-old)

Modern Times Beer
American Double / Imperial Stout

2.54/5  rDev -33.9% | Avg: 3.84
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Monster’s Park 12 yr bourbon

Got this one from ScottO a while back. Very happy to try the 10 yr and the 12 yr out man. Made some comparison notes to the 10 yr bourbon as well. Cheers!

From a bomber into a snifter
SRM: 50
IBU: 60
FG: 1.022
Malt: Pale, oat, dark chocolate, midnight wheat, crystal 120, roasted barley and black

APPEARANCE: A clear black pour yields a 1+ finger, foamy, fizzy, crackly, light mocha head with lousy retention. Head fizzes down to a foamy half cap. A black body with no real carbonation evident. A splotchy wisp remains until the end with a few dots of lacing falling down the glass. Good color but lousy head, which was exactly the case with the 10 year.

SMELL: Oak, bourbon, vanilla, sweet cream, milk chocolate, cacao powder and some fudge brownies. Pretty nice stuff for sure. Like the 10 year version, this is the best part of the beer. Crazy how it can go so far south after here.

TASTE: Virtually the same as the 10 year but ever more piercing alcohol. Oak, bourbon and lots of piercing booze up front. Some light chocolate in there as well. Boozy swallow with a bold and lingering finish of oak, light vanilla, milk chocolate, bourbon, and lots of alcohol. Plenty of hair spray and perfume as well, which is rather off-putting. Even more hot and alcoholic than the 10 year, which was rough in its own right.

PALATE: Slightly thinner body and foamy on the palate. Goes down a bit harsh with a burn at the back of the throat and finishes a bit mouth-coating. Lots of heat lingers.

OVERALL: This is basically the same as the 10 year version but with even more heat, piercing alcohol and hair spray. Definitely misses depth and there's virtually no base beer to be found here. This is not my idea of a good barrel aged imperial stout, as the the alcohol dominates and the spirit barrel has lent plenty of undesirable character, including hair spray and perfume. You can't win 'em all I guess. In any case, thanks heaps for these brews ScottO. They were a lot of fun to try. Cheers!

★ 2,027 characters

Monster's Park Aged In Four Roses Barrels (10-yr-old)

Modern Times Beer
American Double / Imperial Stout

2.84/5  rDev -32.9% | Avg: 4.23
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Monster’s Park 10 yr bourbon

Got this one from ScottO a while back. Very happy to try the 10yr and the 12yr out man. Cheers!

From a bomber into a snifter
SRM: 50
IBU: 60
FG: 1.022
Malt: Pale, oat, dark chocolate, midnight wheat, crystal 120, roasted barley and black

APPEARANCE: A clear black pour yields a 1+ finger, foamy, fizzy, crackly, light mocha head with lousy retention. Head fizzes down to a foamy half cap. A black body with no real carbonation evident. A splotchy wisp remains until the end with a few dots of lacing falling down the glass. Good color but lousy head.

SMELL: Oak, bourbon, vanilla, sweet cream, milk chocolate, cacao powder and some fudge brownies. Pretty nice stuff for sure.

TASTE: Oak, bourbon and booze up front. Some light chocolate in there as well. Boozy swallow with a bold and lingering finish of oak, light vanilla, milk chocolate, bourbon, and lots of alcohol. It’s certainly flavorful, but also quite boozy and alcoholic.

PALATE: Slightly thinner body and foamy on the palate. Goes down a bit harsh with a burn at the back of the throat and finishes a bit mouth-coating. Lots of heat lingers.

OVERALL: This was alright but too hot, boozy and alcoholic to be truly enjoyable. The head was a little lack-luster and the feel too foamy and harsh as well. The nose was definitely the most enjoyable part of the beer but the rest of the experience couldn’t quite follow suit. There are some nice elements here but it would need a good stretch of time to calm down. That said, this was actually the better of the two bombers, as the 12yr was even more boozy that this. In any case, cheers for the brews ScottO! Always a pleasure.

★ 1,680 characters

Great Lakes Canuck Pale Ale

Great Lakes Brewery
American Pale Ale (APA) / 5.20% ABV

4.05/5  rDev +6.3% | Avg: 3.81
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

From one of the new artwork 500ml cans. It's fresh.

Nondescript appearance. It's a pale ale, y'know? Not a lot of head. Some lacing.

A whole lot of citrus aroma. I'm pretty sure this is made with Simcoe, Citra, Chinook, and Columbus hops.

Even more of that citrus. Grapefruit-y. Some satisfyingly bready malt as well.

Bitter. Dry. Clean mouthfeel.

A solid citrusy APA. I know it's easily overlooked since it's been around forever, but this is one of the better Ontario craft beers I've had.

★ 496 characters

Lips Of Faith - Le Terroir

New Belgium Brewing
American Wild Ale / 7.50% ABV

4.44/5  rDev +4% | Avg: 4.27
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

650ml bomber poured into Sam Adams pint glass. 2015 bottle.

Pours a lovely hazy gold with two puffy fingers of eggshell head that leaves solar surface activity lace as it recedes.

Smells tart and fruity. Citrus zest, stone fruit, dry white wine, wet soil and soft oak.

Tastes of hard lemon candy, sour apple, juicy peach, more white wine and gentle funky wood.

Feels creamy and frothy. Medium-light with fluffy carbonation. Finishes dry and clean.

Verdict: Vigorously recommended. If you don't like sours, this would instantly convert you.

★ 544 characters

West Indies Porter

Guinness Ltd.
English Porter / 6.00% ABV

3.42/5  rDev -6.3% | Avg: 3.65
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Got this one at the Duvel guy.

From a 50cl bottle into a pint glass.
Brewer's Source 1801

APPEARANCE: Pours out clear dark brown and yields a 1+ finger, looser, foamy, light tan head with decent retention. Clear brown body with medium levels of carbonation. Head slowly fades to a foamy cap and leaves lots of sticky, foamy lacing on the glass. A wisp remains until the end leaving some lacing on the glass as it empties.

SMELL: Bolder nose with dark bread, dark grains, toffee and butterscotch.

TASTE: Follows nose with dark grains and bread up front, then some roast, toffee and butterscotch sweetness after the swallow. A lingering finish is slightly roasted with enough butterscotch and toffee sweetness as well.

PALATE: Medium body with higher levels of carbonation. Creamy on the palate, a touch foamy perhaps, goes down fine and finishes somewhat dry.

OVERALL: Good stuff. A little more enjoyable than the Dublin Porter with more character and a stronger sweet malt quality. Something worth checking out and revisiting in the future. These two historical porters were fun to try out back to back. No idea how accurate they are to historical examples of course, but quality beer is quality beer. Cheers!

★ 1,221 characters

Dublin Porter

Guinness Ltd.
English Porter / 3.80% ABV

3.2/5  rDev -6.2% | Avg: 3.41
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got this one at the Duvel guy.

From a 50cl bottle into a pint glass
Best Before 20 August 2016
Brewer's Source 1796

APPEARANCE: A very clear light brown pour yields a 1+ finger, looser, foamy, off-white head with decent retention. Clear light brown body with medium carbonation evident. Head fades to a full foamy wisp and clings to the glass. A faint wisp remains leaving a bit of lacing as it empties.

SMELL: Dark malts, grainy dark bread, caramel, earthy notes and some roasted grain on the nose.

TASTE: Grainy dark bread, roasted grains and some dark malts at the swallow. Bolder finish of roast, dark bread, some caramel, lightly soured as well, with an earthy hop quality. Pretty nice after the swallow for sure.

PALATE: Medium body and a touch higher carbonation. Creamy and a little foamy on the palate, goes down fine and finishes a bit dry.

OVERALL: This was alright. Lower ABV with enough flavor after the swallow. A good porter here and probably true to historical recipes of the style. Not something I need to drink on a regular basis, as the price is a little steep maybe, but definitely worth trying out if you're a fan of the style. Cheers.

★ 1,167 characters

Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

Founders Brewing Company
American Double / Imperial Stout / 11.20% ABV

4.66/5  rDev +2.2% | Avg: 4.56
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Look: Dark with a inch head that is mocha in color and lots of lacing. 4.25

Smell: Coffee stands out, followed by bourbon. Hints of chocolate and oak. 4.5

Taste: I was expecting a bourbon bomb like bcbs but was pleasantly surprised. The coffee, bourbon, and chocolate mix quite well with none overpowering the other. The aftertaste starts as bourbon and fades to the mocha notes. 4.75

Feel: On the thicker side, coats the mouth and leaves strong aftertastes of chocolate and coffee. 4.75

Overall: I was expecting that this was just over hyped and I was pleasantly mistaken. One of the better bourbon beers I have had. It was nice that the beer played in the fore front and that the bourbon just added to it instead of the other way around. 4.75

★ 757 characters

Fantôme Saison D'Erezée - Printemps

Brasserie Fantôme
Saison / Farmhouse Ale / 8.00% ABV

3.52/5  rDev -13.1% | Avg: 4.05
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.25

Have had twice.... Once at tasting, once tonight.
I remember a very very lime driven zesty beer, well carbonated and spot on.
I am tasting an earthy, under carbonated, slight lime driven beer with lots of smoke notes, a la Fantome as usual.
The jury is out.

★ 257 characters

FISHwater Double IPA

Telluride Brewing Co.
American Double / Imperial IPA / 8.50% ABV

4.25/5  rDev +11.8% | Avg: 3.8
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the 12 oz can into a pint glass, carefully. Has a thin head that dissipates very quickly, with typical lacing. Caramel gold in color, almost amber, and it's cloudy. The nose is very fruity, citrus sweet and hoppy, with the pine smell very present and promising.

Taste is immediately hoppy and sticky, with bitterness coming in but balanced very nicely. The malt is subtle, I get a taste of toffee. The strong citrus in the nose is not really present in the taste at first, instead bringing in a nice bitter edge that has a certain minerally tinge that's probably intentional. It's not a deal-breaker.

Taste develops into a biscuit finish, and that's where the citrus comes in, slight grapefruit, some melon, and pine resin which resolves with a sticky tart aftertaste.

The carb seems heavy, and while the the booze (8.5%) is well hidden for this DIPA, it is definitely warming. I imagine 2 of these might accidentally go to your head if you're not careful. Very drinkable and subtle things are going on. While the mineral character is a bit of a "huh?" this is a hell of a DIPA that proves they don't have to be astringent or hard to take.

★ 1,156 characters

YumYum

3 Floyds Brewing Co.
American Pale Ale (APA) / 5.50% ABV

4.01/5  rDev 0% | Avg: 4.01
look: