Odell Shenanigans Aged Crimson Ale

Odell Brewing Company
Fort Collins, Colorado


APPEARANCE: 2.5/3Thick tan head, orange-brown color. Steady stream of bubbles. Rocky head.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Sweet nose. Orange peel, citrus, lemon, orange blossom. Dried fruit. Sugary, malty.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Spicy woodiness, nicely balanced. Oaky. Malty sugar mixed with sour tart and an earthy finish. Unique.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Sour tart, almost puckering. Nice bitter finish, like a period at the end of a sentence. Subtle brett.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Dry, effervescent, bubbly. Big but not boozy.

OVERALL: 2.75/3
A fun, weird, sour, funky, citrusy treat. I don't know exactly what it is, but I don't care, it's a good beer.

TOTAL: 16/20–Pour Me Another


NOTES:
Ben says it reminds him of a circus peanut, and I hate circus peanuts, so we disagree there. We DO agree this beer is sugary, earthy, sour, tart goodness. A fun beer, so if you're lucky enough to find it, do yourself a favor and buy it.

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.

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.

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).

Gubna Imperial IPA

Oskar Blues Brewing Company
Longmont, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Hazy gold-brown, creamy white head that laces nicely..

AROMA: 3.5/4
Hoppy nose, very sweet aroma. Prune, raisin bread. Woody, very floral. Honey notes, lots of pineapple.

TASTE: 8/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Tons of resinous hop. Sweet and bready, woody and grassy notes. Heavy pineapple, subtle apricot.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Alcohol aftertaste, bitterness at the back of the tongue that lasts. Very dry. Slight metallic tang.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Alcohol warming–tingly. Decently balanced, but mighty big; alcohol could be masked better.

OVERALL: 2.5/3
Definitely an Imperial IPA—lots of hop, appropriate body. Complex flavors, spiciness, alcohol warming. A little big for its britches is all.

TOTAL: 16.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: This is good–I think we wanted to like it more than we do (it's just a bit big). Still, hoppy, complex and tasty, so worth a try.
Ben: 10% ABV, in a can, no less! Maybe too big for a 12-oz. can—the presentation may be throwing me. A good imperial, a treat when you're on a rocky mountain high.*

*Yes, we know, this was terrible.

Dale's Pale Ale

Oskar Blues Brewing Company
Longmont, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
White, creamy head. Orange-brown color. Crisp.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Very malty, nutty, woody. Some hop aroma. Clean, almost lagerish.

TASTE: 8/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Sweet malt, sugary flavors. Lots of hop bitterness throughout. Woody and nutty.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Bitter throughout, nicely so. Punch of hop bitterness from the start.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Full, bitterness lasts on the tongue. Crisp and clean.

OVERALL: 2.5/3
Bang! Bitter hop hits you at the front and sticks around through the end. Clean and refreshing, nicely bitter, a unique pale!

TOTAL: 16/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Bitterness done right–a clean, crisp pale with bitterness in all the right places. Dale, where have you been all my life?
Ben: This beer is best appreciated with mountain views. A great, hoppy pale, a must-have for any hop-head's beer bucket list.

St. Vrain Tripel Ale (2009)

Left Hand Brewing Company
Longmont, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Gold, hazy. Nice white, rocky head that sticks around. A fair amount of suspended yeast.

AROMA: 3/4
Very sour aroma, citrusy, some spice—peppery. Pineapple, a bit meadowy.

TASTE: 7.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.75/4: Earthy, sour. Pepper, coriander, but subtly spicy. Sugary. Little hop flavor or bitterness.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Alcohol present, minimal bitterness. Sugary sweet.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Big, dry, very fizzy. Flavor drops out quick.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: A decent tripel, has aged well in the past 2 years. Clean and dry, but less complex than one would expect.

TOTAL: 14.75/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Big, thick, almost like a cocktail. Lots of booze, very pineapple-y—good, but not insanely good.
Ben: Mellowed nicely. Would be nice to see more Belgian (peppery, spicy) characteristics. Not bad, decent, but not what we'd call a must-have.

The Reverend Belgian-Style Quadrupel Ale

Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Very pretty! Ruby red-brown (if there is such a color). Malty, cream-colored head. Clear.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Molasses, prune/raisin, fig newton. Alcohol, definitely. Sweet, bready, very little hop.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Strong, alcohol-y. Meadowy-woody, chewy. Tons of malt, very little hop.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Again: alcohol. Roasted nut, woody. Subtle bitterness. Prune, raisin.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Big and boozy–tingly warming.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A huge beer, pleasantly complex. Lots of dark flavors–woody, molasses, licorice, prunes, warming alcohol. Tasty.

TOTAL: 16/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: A nice, intriguing, meadowy quad. Pretty, aromatic, really complex—another nice Avery one-off.
Ben: Big, but good. Lots of complex flavors, a tad too much alcohol, but it's offset by the malty body pretty well. A good dessert beer, and we'd definitely buy it again.

Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout

Breckenridge Brewing Company
Denver, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Black, opaque. Cream-colored head fades to ring the glass. Fine bubbles.

AROMA: 3/4
Subtle. Roast, coffee, chocolate, burnt almond. Not overwhelming.

TASTE: 6.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.75/4: It's a stout. A lot of malt, sweetness up front, moves to a roasty middle. Little hop.
Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Bitter roast, sits on the tongue, moves to the back and stays there to finish.
Mouth-Feel: 1.75/3: Finishes slightly astringent. A little watery, too. Silky, coats the tongue.

OVERALL: 1.75/3
It's a standard stout, if a bit thin. Bitter finish is a little too astringent–there are better stouts out there.

TOTAL: 13.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Another disappointment from Breckenridge. With so many great beers and brewers out there, I say look elsewhere.
Ben: Not bad, not great. Typical oatmeal stout. Feels mass-produced. For a really good stout, on the other hand, head to Liquid Bread in Hays, Kansas.

New Belgium Somersault Ale

New Belgium Brewing Company
Fort Collins, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/4
Clear, gold in color. Mildly foamy head that sticks around and clings to the glass.

AROMA: 3/4
Light, citrus notes–something between a lemon and an orange. Subtle hop.

TASTE: 6/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Fairly clean. Can't decipher either a hop or malt in it–a MILD centennial-esque orangey/citrus hop, but nothing to write home about..
Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Clean, no significant aftertaste.
Mouth-Feel: 1.75/3: Again, clean. Doesn't linger at all. SUBTLE orange/lemon citrys. If I didn't know better, I'd think I was drinking Bud Light (and that's never a good thing).

OVERALL: 1.5/3: Fine, if you really like beer that is merely average. New Belgium's answer to Bud Light. Or the "craft beer poser's" answer to Bud Light–for those guys who really WANT to look they like craft beer, but don't really.

TOTAL: 13/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Tammy: There isn't anything WRONG with this beer, but I'm not terribly impressed by it. I LOVE so many NB beers, I was excited to try this one and was just disappointed. If you're going for New Belgium, try Ranger IPA or Hoptober. If you're just a craft beer poser, this will do just fine. On the other hand, if you're looking to take that first step into craft beerdom but are afraid of the bitter taste of the almighty hop, this might be a good one to try.

Avery Karma Belgium-Style Pale Ale

Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Golden-brown. Clear. White, foamy head that fades to ring the glass.

AROMA: 2.75/4
Pineapple, coriander, fruit-salad. Nutty, as well.

TASTE: 6.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.75/4: Sour, very nutty. Citrus-sour orange. Minimal hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Sour aftertaste, woody. Subtly woody.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Medium-bodied, weakly carbonated.

OVERALL: 2/3: It's not bad; we expected more complexity from a Belgian yeast. Not knocked out, wouldn't buy it again, but okay.

TOTAL: 13.5/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Not terribly complex or interesting–in many ways, like a sour amber. Just okay (and for an Avery beer, that's disappointing).
Ben: Needs more hop flavor. I expected more spiciness based on the description–Avery has made far better beers.

Odell St. Lupulin Extra Pale Ale

Odell Brewing Company
Fort Collins, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Pretty gold color, white head. Clear.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Grassy-citrusy-piney. Hop-dominant, floral, subtle sweetbread. Clean nose.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Really piney, with lots of floral flavor. Lemon peel up front.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Bitter woodiness–pleasantly bitter. Slight sourness that sits on the outsides of the tongue.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Fairly light-bodied, very nicely carbonated.

OVERALL: 2.5/3
We're impressed! A floral, very pretty beer. Light yet hoppy yet citrusy, a great summer pale.

TOTAL: 16/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Always an Odell fan, and now I have a new favorite seasonal. Light-bodied, hoppy enough, with delightful flavors and aromas–get it while you can.
Ben: I sometimes forget about Odell–seems like a gateway brewer to me–but I've always been impressed with their lineup, and this lives up to those expectations. Very good.

Avery Maharajah IPA

Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Clear. Orange-brown color. Thick, white head with fine bubbles.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Sweet, perfumey, floral, lemony. Candy smell, like Skittles. Unexpected.

TASTE: 6.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.75/4: Licorice, brown sugar. Dark Belgian candy. Borders on cloying, but hop bitterness pulls it back from the brink.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Residual sweetness stays with you. Hop bitterness present, maltiness lasts.
Mouth-Feel: 1.75/3: Very full, alcohol present and warming. Coats the tongue.

OVERALL: 1.75/3: Almost like a barleywine. Sweet and powerful, a really big beer. Like, almost too big.

TOTAL: 14/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: There's a lot going on here—big, distinct, in your face. Not bad, but awfully sweet.
Ben: Licorice, syrupy. Could use more hop bitterness to offset cloyingness. I like big beers, but geez.

Ska Modus Hoperandi IPA

Ska Brewing Company
Durango, CO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Brown/copper color. White head that rings the glass. Clear with fine bubbles.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Very piney, full of hop aroma. Clean, some citrus. Slight bready, malty nose.

TASTE: 7.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Hop flavor at front fades to hop bitter middle, woody, grassy finish. Appropriately malty to offset hop.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Bitter finish that lasts and lasts.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Full, bitter on the tongue. Appropriately carbonated.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: Good, solid IPA. Bitterness might be off-putting to novices, but veteran hop-heads will enjoy it.

TOTAL: 15.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: I do like it, I just wish it weren't quite so bitter. Piney hop nose typical of American IPAs. Bitter, hoppy, a solid offering.
Ben: A good, hoppy IPA—a tad bitter, but I like it (maybe more than Matt). One of the few micros in a can, which is nice.

Great Divide 17th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA

Great Divide Brewing Company
Denver, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Deep orange-brown color. Hazy. Nice big creamy head that laces the glass. Pretty.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Hop! Citrus, woody, piney hop aromas. Bready/malty sugary notes. Vanilla.

TASTE: 7/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Woody and grassy hop flavors up front. Some prune, raisin. Vanilla and licorice. A bit grainy. Lots of hop bitterness.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Bitter from start to finish. Woody notes. Vanilla at the end. Alcohol present.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Dry. Big and full. Weakly carbonated.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: A good aged woody IPA. Big, full and nicely complex. I (Ben) like it more than Matt.

TOTAL: 15/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Pretty good but it didn't knock me out. I can get better beers cheaper. So nicely enough done, but not something I'd buy again.
Ben: A really nice example of a wood aged beer. Vanilla notes with nice grassy hop flavors. Good bitterness. I really like this beer (but I didn't buy it - Matt did - and at a pretty high price point probably not worth what Matt paid hence his disappointment).

Odell Mountain Standard Double Black IPA

Odell Brewing Company
Fort Collins, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Thick, rocky, almond colored head. Big bubbles. Black almost opaque color. Head lasts.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Roasted aromas dominant - coffee, subtle chocolate. Grassy hop notes. Some malty caramel sweetness.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Roasted flavors - burnt coffee, burnt toast, nutty. Also sweet malty notes. Molasses and dark candy sugar flavors. Woody hop flavors ans some hop bitterness. Balanced.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Roasted flavors and bitterness lasts. Some residual malty sweetness. Slight alcohol but masked well.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Fizzy. Full. Alcohol warming. Very smooth.

OVERALL: 2.5/3
A solid black IPA. Big, roasty, and coffee flavors. A good solid offering from a great brewery.

TOTAL: 15.75/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Tasty - really silky smooth, I like it. A nice balance of bitter and sweet. Nicely done.
Ben: A solid black IPA. Nice and roasty with good coffee notes. I like it.

Ska Decadent Imperial IPA

Ska Brewing Company
Durango, CO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Hazy orange-brown. Head fades, rings the glass. Big bubbles. Nice.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Hop! Lots of grapefruit, floral citrus—you could almost smell it through the bottle-glass.

TASTE: 8.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Hop, followed by hop, then more hop. Grapefruit, orange peel, bready and sweet. Tons of malt.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Alcohol noticeable. Bitter finish that lasts and lasts.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Big but drinkable. Full-mouth, chewy. Alcohol warming. Probably too boozy, but we didn't mind too much..

OVERALL: 2.75/3: Big but good. Lots of hop, lots of malt. If you're a hop head, give it a try.

TOTAL: 17.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Big, but man, this is good. From the people who gave us Modus Hoperandi, this is just as hoppy and quite a bit bigger, at a decent price point ($5-$6 for a bomber).
Ben: A giant, hoppy beer. Too much alcohol (10% ABV) for the main course, but good as an after-dinner sipping beer. Would be good paired with cheese or fruit.

Avery White Rascal Belgian Style White Ale

Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 1.75/3
Yellow-straw color. White head that rings the glass. Suspended flocculant yeast particles throughout - kind of off-setting. Steady stream of bubbles.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Floral. Coriander and chamomile. Slight peach and orange peel aroma. White pepper notes. Complex.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Malty. Some hop bitterness. Fruity. Passion fruit flavors. Peppery. Coriander. Subtle bubble gum. Not a lot of hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Subtle bitterness and orange peel flavors at the end. Doesn't last. Flavors fade quickly.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Fizzy. A bit thin and watery.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: We like it. Refreshing and crisp. A good spring/summer beer. On par with Boulevard's Zon. Not our favorite Avery offering but good nonetheless.

TOTAL: 15/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Nice - typical of Avery (although not their prettiest beer). Refreshing. Fairly complex, if thin. Good.
Ben: A good example of the style. Crisp and refreshing. Serve with mild cheese, such as Monterrey Jack, and fruit.

Great Divide Hibernation Old Style Ale

Great Divide Brewing Company
Denver, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Red brown in color. White head with big bubbles that laces the glass. Clear.

AROMA: 2.5/4
Sweet cream. Subtle brown sugar and molasses nose. Malty and big. No real hop aroma.

TASTE: 6/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Big and malty. Hop bitterness noticeable. Subtle licorice and cherry. Woody hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Boozy. Goes from sweet malty caramel to noticeable bitter finish.
Mouth-Feel: 1.75/3: Alcohol feel. Coats the tongue. Weak carbonation appropriate for style.

OVERALL: 1.75/3: Big that borders on cloying. An English old style beer. Appropriate in the dead of winter versus the heart of spring.

TOTAL: 12.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: If I were in an Arctic igloo in January, I would appreciate this more. For the style, not bad. One is enough.
Ben: This is better than the score indicates. Good for an English old ale although not my favorite style. Borders on the cloying side; a bit too sweet for my tastes.
Note: We reviewed this obviously on a warm April afternoon. We may have to revisit this beer during an appropriate frosty December evening.

Great Divide Hades Belgian-Style Ale

Great Divide Brewing Company
Denver, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Yellow-gold, white head. Thin but rings the glass.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Citrus, lemon-orange, peppery notes. Earthy. Lemongrass, coriander, clove.

TASTE: 6.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Peppery. Bubblegum, clove, cinnamon, pineapple, banana. Subtle citrus, hop flavor. Spicy.
Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Hop bitterness, malt dominant. Finishes a bit harsh, metallic.
Mouth-Feel: 1.75/3: Fizzy, coats the tongue. Some alcohol.

OVERALL: 2/3: Definitely a Belgian. Unique, lots of complex flavors. Slightly astringent, not bad for what it is.

TOTAL: 14/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Very Belgian, and affordable enough, so if you're looking for a Belgian-style session beer, voilá! This is it.
Ben: Different from Duvel. Lots of unique flavors, interesting yeast character. Good to try (though one's enough for me).