Trader Joe's 2011 Vintage Ale

Trader Joe's Brewing Company
San Jose, California

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Deep, dark brown; porterlike. Thick, rocky tan head, big bubbles.

AROMA: 3/4
Sweet, pruny nose. Sweetbread, molasses, some sour from the Belgian yeast. Minimal hop aroma.

TASTE: 7.25/10

Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Sugary, spicy. Dark Belgian candy. Syrupy alcohol tucked in there. Slight roast, caramel, very sweet.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Bitter finish, but could use more bittering hop. Some metallic aftertaste.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Falls out in the middle. Mildly carbonated (appropriately), very smooth.

OVERALL: 2/3: Very sweet—Belgian sugar. Too sweet, maybe? At 9%, this winter ale is a warmer; more of a Trappist ale, really. It's okay (our expectations were pretty high).

TOTAL: 14.75/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: For what it is (a Trappist-style dubbel, as near as we can tell), it's not bad. Would be nice to age it for a year and see what develops.
Ben: At first glance, I was ready to pass it up, then I saw it's contract-brewed by Unibroue*, and I had to buy it. Good Belgian Dubbel—a bit dark and maybe too sweet, but at $4.99 on clearance, this was a no-brainer.

*Oh, right—we forgot to mention this was contract-brewed by Unibroue. I know, right? Unibroue!

Anchor Humming Ale

Anchor Brewing Company
San Francisco, CA

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Pale gold, slight haze. White head that fades to lace nicely. Foamy.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Honey, lemon rind, orange blossom, bubblegum. Very floral, pretty aroma.

TASTE: 8/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Very citrusy—lemon, pineapple, bubblegum. Bright, high and sweet notes, bouncy up front. Bitter hop apparent.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Candy sugar aftertaste, bitter finish that lingers. Sweet and sour.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Effervescent. Body is nice, appropriately balanced.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A different beer than you might expect from Anchor, but good, definitely worth a try. A unique take on a pale.

TOTAL: 16/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: I bought this because it was on sale. I'm glad I did! Bouncy, bright, refreshing—a light, sweet, tasty ale, definitely worth a try. I'd buy it again!
Ben: Interesting—DIFFERENT. Lemon, citrus, a bright pale. You need to try this unexpected and satisfying beer.

Avery Anniversary 18 Dry-Hopped Rye Saison

Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Copper. Rocky, creamy head, fine bubbles. Hazy. Pretty!

AROMA: 3.25/4
Citrusy. Pineapple, grapefruit, coriander, white pepper. Tropical.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Very malty. Lots of pineapple, passion fruit, peppery notes. A lot of bittering hop.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Bitter up front. Sits on tongue, subtle bitter lasts. Middle drops out.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Light and bouncy, lots of high notes up front.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: Tasty, almost a tropical drink. Not too big, very refreshing, rye adds a nice peppery dimension.

TOTAL: 16/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Typical Avery: unexpected, well-crafted, tasty. Another nice anniversary from Avery, and a nice twist on a Saison.
Ben: Lots of pineapple and tropical flavors—almost a tropical mixed drink. Good in any case, I'd buy it again.

Gnomegang Belgian Strong Ale (Collaboration)

Brewery Ommegang

Cooperstown, New York
and
Brasserie d'Achouffe, Belgium

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Thick white head. Deep gold, hazy. Floculent, suspended yeast. Rocky head lasts and laces nicely.

AROMA: 3/4
Sweet, lemony, sugary. Lemon peel. Clean and crisp, subtle grassy hop.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Sweet, sugary. All malt. No bitterness, alcohol noticeable. Belgian candy, citrus, no hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Lingering sugar sweetness. No bitterness, falls out quickly.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Fizzy, full mouth-feel, smooth. Sweet on the tongue.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A treat. Very sweet, sugary/golden/bright. Needs to be a bit drier and a touch more bitter.

TOTAL: 15.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Dessert–like liquid candy. I'm glad I got to try it (it was part of a Christmas set, packaged with Three Philosophers, Hennepin and a sweet gold-rimmed chalice). A nice collaboration; I enjoyed it rather more than Ommegang's standard lineup.
Ben: Split three ways, it is a nice beer—a full 750ml is a bit much. Good, unique, and worth a try if you run across it.

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Milton, Delaware

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Deep gold color, clear. White head that rings the glass.

AROMA: 2.75/4
Some grassy-woody-earthy hop aroma. Dark hop. Expected more aroma.

TASTE: 7.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Woody, bitter hop flavors. Earthy with some high malty notes. Caramel, nutty/pine nut.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Bitter finish that lingers on the back of the tongue. Sweet finish, earthy and woody.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Full mouth, appropriately carbonated.

OVERALL: 2/3: A must-have on tap (we can't get it here, so if you can, kudos). Anticipated more hop flavor and more bounce. Earthy and woody, a decent IPA.

TOTAL: 14.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: You have to respect Dogfish Head, and it's a solid IPA. Not the first beer I'd reach for—I'd grab a 90 Minute first—but good. More hop flavor and aroma, please!
Ben: When we were but young craft beer novices, this was the gold standard. Still good, we'd love the opportunity to enjoy it locally, but there are beers out there we'd reach for first.

Nimbus Pale Ale

Nimbus Brewing Company
Tuscon, AZ

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Gold, hazy. Thin head, laces.

AROMA: 2.75/4
Subdued aroma. Malty, sweet. Some grapefruit, some earthy woodiness. Not a lot of aroma.

TASTE: 5.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.25/4:
Woody, grassy. No real citrus or piney flavors.
Aftertaste: 1.5/3: Weird metallic tang. Strong bitter, increases with time—almost overwhelming.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Nice and malty, but it can't compete with the bitterness.

OVERALL: 1.75/3: This is a really bitter IPA. Needs to be much bigger and maltier to be a good pale.

TOTAL: 12.75/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: I'm not knocked out by this pale—I appreciate the bitterness, but it's really lacking in the flavor department.
Ben: If you're really into bitter beers, you might like this. There is a weird aftertaste I'm having trouble getting past.

New Holland Hopivore Wet-Hopped Harvest Ale

New Holland Brewing Company
Holland, MI

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Nice, deep copper-brown color. Off-white head that fades.

AROMA: 3/4
Woody/nutty/citrus, some grapefruit. Nuttiness is dominant, some brown sugar notes.

TASTE: 7/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Very woody. Nutty. Honey-roasted nuts, hop bitterness.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Roasted bitter up front, hop bitterness lasts.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Dark, roasted honey-nut flavors. Effervescent. Bitter on back of the tongue.

OVERALL: 2/3: Roasted nuttiness—we would classify it as a hoppy brown. Lots of malt, could use more hop bitterness

TOTAL: 14.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: It grows on you—nutty, malty, needs more hop bitterness. Not bad.
Ben: A nutty, dark, bitter beer (dark in flavor, not appearance). Lots of bitter, honey, roasted nut flavors. Different, though best in small doses.

Deschutes Inversion IPA

Deschutes Brewery
Bend, OR

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Nice brown with a hint of red—pretty. Thin head fades quickly but rings the glass and laces. Slight haze.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Grapefruit. Some pine, brown sugar and caramel. Syrupy-sweet—raisins, prunes.

TASTE: 7.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Raisins, prunes, some woody pine. Lots of hop flavor. Big malt, toasted caramel. Sugary, woody aftertaste, some roast.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Hop bitter finish lingers, with raisin taste. Coats the tongue.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Tastes big, boozy, a bit chewy. Sinus-clearing. Bitterness at top of the mouth.

OVERALL: 2/3: Interesting, definitely hoppy. It's big, maybe too big? More like an imperial. Lots of raisin and prune. Do we love this? Undecided.

TOTAL: 14.5/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Beer meets Vicks Vap-O-Rub—this really clears the sinuses. Not your typical IPA, which I can appreciate. Like a hoppy strong ale, worth a try.
Ben: Big, hoppy, lots of citrus. A tad too bitter. Sugary, malty, chewy. Good, not great, but I think I like it.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale 2011

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Clear light-brown/copper color. Off-white head, big bubbles. Nice.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Fresh citrus hop nose. Clean, grapefruit and pineapple. Some grassy, meadowy aromas. Brown sugar maltiness.

TASTE: 8/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Hop up front—flavors and bitterness. Woody, grassy. Nicely balanced with toasted caramel malts, brown sugar. Hop is the main player here.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Bitter, in a good way (Matt thinks maybe too bitter; Ben thinks Matt is a wuss).
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Bright, full. Bitterness fills the mouth and stays put.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A hop lover's seasonal must-have. Big and hoppy to rival Torpedo—it's good.

TOTAL: 16/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Clean and crisp, hoppy, tasty—pair nicely with prime rib. A beer worth celebrating!

Ben: You can never go wrong with Sierra Nevada, and I always look forward to a new season of Celebration. A hop lover's dream.

New Belgium Snow Day Winter Ale

New Belgium Brewing Company
Fort Collins, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Red-brown, cola-colored. Tan head, thick with lots of fine bubbles, laces and lasts .

AROMA: 3.25/4
Hoppy nose, grassy, woody. Subtle roast, caramel sweetness.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Nice woody hop flavor. Deep caramel notes. Subtle roast, molasses. Good stuff.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Nicely bittered, offsets malty caramel notes. Falls out rather quickly.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Full mouth-feel, hop flavors tickle the tongue. Nicely carbonated, but could use more body.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: Wow—good caramel flavors, a wintry brew for sure.

TOTAL: 15.75/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: A pleasant surprise—dark and hoppy, a bit thin at the end, but a nice winter treat. Get it while it's around.
Ben: Every once in a while I find a New Belgium product that impresses me. This is one of them. Dark crystal malts add nice caramel flavors, and nicely hopped. Worth picking up a sixer.

Founders Porter

Founders Brewing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Black-opaque. Brown espresso head, nice lacing.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Chocolate, heavy roast. Some coffee aromas. Rich, silky, maybe a bit smoky? Dark and mysterious.

TASTE: 7.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Baker's/dark chocolate. Bitter roast at finish. Sweet up-front, no hop.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Roasty bitterness lasts. Smoky, burnt toast, burnt coffee at finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Full, for the most part. Complex. Lots of roast going on; falls out quickly at finish.

OVERALL: 2/3: Roast flavors are overwhelming. Burnt toast, roasted dark coffee, baker's chocolate—this is a DARK beer.

TOTAL: 15/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Smoky, roasty, a good porter. Not quite as good as their breakfast stout, but that's a high bar—a solid, smoky porter.

Ben: Complex roasted flavors. I would pair this with smoked turkey, gouda or a nice smoked cheddar. Also makes a nice after-dinner beer.

Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout

Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Chippewa Falls, WI

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Black-opaque; big, thick brown head that LASTS.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Chocolate. Roasted notes, lots of 'em. Alcohol nose.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Big and boozy—chocolate, roast, subtle smoke. Sweet, malty, nutty. Roasted bitterness, no hop to speak of.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Subtle bitterness, roasty bitterness that lingers. Alcohol on the tongue.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Full, sweet. Chocolate roast. Smooth and full, if a tad overly effervescent.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: A good example of an imperial stout; at 9.5%, definitely a sipper. Great for a Leinie product, we say give it a try.

TOTAL: 15.75/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Very good—smoky, sweet and roasty. A solid imperial stout, and a nice surprise from Leinenkugel.
Ben: Surprisingly good for Leinie—did we mention that? Big and boozy. Full, classic stout. Lots of roasted flavor. We'd buy this again.

Schlafly Reserve Imperial Stout (2010)

The Saint Louis Brewery
St. Louis, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Black-opaque, with a thin almond head that fades quickly.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Vanilla, molasses, bourbon. Oaky alcohol. Quite aromatic.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Prune, bourbon/alcohol. Oak, woody notes. Chocolate, caramel, toffee, licorice notes.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Bourbon taste lingers, nice lingering bitterness.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Alcohol tingle on the tongue, warming. Very smooth.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: Bourbon, oak, stout. Big, sipping beer—sophisticated.

TOTAL: 15.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Sweet—caramel, toffee, chocolate. And boozy! A big imperial stout—winter is here, this will keep you warm.
Ben: A winter warmer, good to enjoy with Santa on Christmas Eve. Big, boozy, bourbony. Watch out—at 10.5%, this will sneak up on you.

Grand Teton Wake Up Call Imperial Coffee Porter

Grand Teton Brewing Company
Victor, Idaho

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Dark brown. Pretty espresso-colored, rocky head that lasts and laces.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Nice burnt coffee/burnt toast aroma, semi-sweet chocolate. Coffee nose.

TASTE: 8.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Baker's chocolate, coffee, burnt toast. Lots of complex roasted malt, little hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Roast coffee aftertaste, bitterness lingers.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Silky-smooth, full roast, coffee feel.

OVERALL: 2.75/3: Wow—a really nice example of the style. Did we mention, coffee? Dark roast, chocolate. Pair with steak, roast beef, that sort of thing.

TOTAL: 16.75/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Tasty! Coffee, mocha. Smooth, a bit sweet, and bitter in all the right places. Another nice offering from the good people at Grand Teton.
Ben: A good dessert beer, pair it with vanilla ice cream, chocolate cake, cheesecake—wherever you would have coffee.

Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA

Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Paso Robles, CA

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Nice copper to deep gold. Crystal-clear, very clean. Beautiful white head, lots of bubbles.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Grassy-piney, very citrusy. Hop aroma dominant. Beautiful!

TASTE: 8/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Citrus, pine notes, some brown sugar. Malty, very well balanced. Could use a tad more bittering hop.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Clean, dry finish. Piney-ness drops out, no lasting bitterness.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Citrus hop balances nicely with sweet sugar malt. Full but not too chewy, appropriately carbonated.

OVERALL: 2.75/3: Clean, crisp, piney, citrusy. All hop flavor—if you're a hop head, don't pass this up.

TOTAL: 17/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: I love this. A great, complex IPA—lots of hop, pine and citrus. This is my new go-to IPA!
Ben: Clean, lots of hop flavor—pine, grass, citrus. Could use more bitterness, but regardless, I'd buy it again.