Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale

Great Divide Brewing Company
Denver, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Copper to dark gold color. Big head, big bubbles that stick around. Laces the glass nicely. Crystal clear, steady stream of bubbles.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Grassy, meadowy, citrusy. All hop nose, clean and crisp.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Piney, fades to a lasting bitterness. Hop dominant, but some body is there–subtle sweet/malty notes.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Woody aftertaste, bitterness and hop lasts. Nicely bittered, just right.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Crisp, appropriately carbonated (though maybe just a touch too fizzy).

OVERALL: 2.25/3: May need a bit more body to balance the fresh hop. Mostly aroma and flavor, good bittering hop.

TOTAL: 15.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Tasty, maybe a little light-bodied, but well-balanced. Very hoppy, citrusy yet piney. Nice.
Ben: Mouth full of hops. Fresh, crisp, bright green. Good–I'd buy it on tap (if Sierra Nevada Estate weren't available, that is).

Founders Backwoods Bastard Ale

Founders Brewing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Brown to dark brown. Almond-colored head. Fades quickly. Somewhat opaque, cola-colored.

AROMA: 3/4
Whiskey aroma, oaky. Sweet, malty, alcohol is dominant. Too much?

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Woody, whiskey flavors overwhelm. Sweet, brown sugar, dark candy. Some hop bitter, no hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Alcohol warming, alcohol flavor, alcohol last. Lingering bitterness.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Numbs the tongue. Fizzy, smooth, full-bodied but not chewy or heavy.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: REALLY BIG. You can taste that it's 10% ABV. Whiskey notes are nice; a good sipping beer for a campfire on a crisp autumn night.

TOTAL: 15.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Tasty, but I'm glad Ben and I split this one. Big, smooth, perfect under the right circumstances. Great for a nightcap on a frosty night.

Ben: Wow! Whiskey and woody notes are almost too much, but it pulls it off. A good winter warmer, it's a good sipping beer for sure—drink it out of a snifter.

Founders Centennial IPA

Founders Brewing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Very hazy copper-orange. Head fades fast, not an especially pretty beer.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Hop aroma–very citrusy, floral. Beautiful hop nose. Malty, brown sugar.

TASTE: 7/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.75/4: Nice woody hop up front. Grapefruit. Heavy on hop, definitely needs to be maltier.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Fades to bitterness, stays on the tongue. Slight astringence/chemical taste.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Fizzy, effervescent, a bit too much so. Could use more body.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: Really hoppy. Reminiscent of Ska Modus Hoperandi (which isn't bad)—great hop, just not big enough to balance it out.

TOTAL: 14.5/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: A decent IPA, if a bit sweet. Needs more body. Not incredible, but not bad.

Ben: A little too carbonated for the style. A good hoppy IPA, worth a try.

Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop Ale

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Beautiful! Huge, creamy, rocky head. Laces & lasts. Deep copper color, clear and pretty.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Raisin-bready, lots of hop nose. Very floral, green and grassy.

TASTE: 9.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Woody, grassy, really malty. Lots of hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 3/3: Sweet up front, to woody notes, to hop bitterness that stays. Finishes bitter, perfect.
Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3: Nicely balanced, fills the mouth with woody, grassy hop.

OVERALL: 2.75/3: A mouthful of hops! And a nice delivery system for it. Perfectly balanced, we like this beer. A LOT.

TOTAL: 18/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: Love this beer. Woody, hoppy, bitter and all perfectly balanced. Everything I love in a perfect fall package.

Ben: As close as you can get to picking hops off the vine and chewing them whole. Well-balanced, I'd definitely buy it again.