Grand Teton Sweetgrass IPA

Grand Teton Brewing Company
Victor, Idaho

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Hazy, caramel colored. Thin but persistent head. Very floculent yeast.

AROMA: 3.75/4
Hoppy! Bouncy, citrusy, meadowy.

TASTE: 9.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.75/4: Bitter, very malty. Nicely balanced, but maybe pull back the bitterness a touch.
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Very hoppy, piney. Lingering bitterness.
Mouth-Feel: 3/3: Malty, smooth. Lightly carbonated.

OVERALL: 3/3: A classic IPA–hoppy, bright, citrusy and lots of hop aroma.

TOTAL: 18.5/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: One of my all-time favorites–not quite perfect, but damned close.
Ben: Love it! Grassy, citrusy, bright–one good IPA! Could be clearer.

Big Sky IPA

Big Sky Brewing Company
Missoula, Montana

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Light coppery-brown. Nice lasting head (could use more head).

AROMA: 3.5/4
Hoppy nose, piney, citrusy.

TASTE: 9.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.75/4: Malty, very smooth.
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Nice flavor hops, appropriate to style. Fades to a bitter finish–maybe a touch less bitter.
Mouth-Feel: 3/3: Nicely balanced. Smooth, sweet up-front.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A good IPA, not least so because it tastes like our M&B Bearded Man IPA.

TOTAL: 18.25/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: I'd drink several of these in succession, no problem. Natural taste, good and hoppy.
Ben: Good session beer.

Left Hand Fade to Black, Vol. 1–Foreign Export Stout

*Note: Fade to Black is a series; each year the bottle is the same, but the contents change. Each year's beer is noted in relatively small type on the neck label.

Left Hand Brewing Company
Longmont, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 3/3
Beautiful black color. Nice, creamy (if thin), lasting head.

AROMA: 3.75/4
Coffee, chocolate, roasted barley. No appreciable hop aroma.

TASTE: 8.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Malty, fades to bitter.
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Lasting bitterness–coffee, chocolate, strong roasted flavor.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Some sweet notes–caramel–fading to bitter. Would be nice with more of a warming feel.

OVERALL: 3/3: A really solid stout–an impressive showing.

TOTAL: 18.5/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: I would have liked a creamier head, but that's a minor consideration. Nicely bitter, rare in a stout. An unexpected surprise.
Ben: A great stout, good for any occasion. Good paired with a steak.

Goose Island IPA

Goose Island Beer Company
Chicago, Illinois

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Gold, bright. Minimal head (appropriately).

AROMA: 3.5/4
Nice hoppy nose, not overpowering.

TASTE: 10/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 4/4: Fairly malty, excellent balance of malt and hop.
Aftertaste: 3/3: Bitter, but dry. No lingering bitterness.
Mouth-Feel: 3/3: Clean finish, no astringence.

OVERALL: 2.5: Bouncy, meadowy–Cascade hops, maybe? A very well-crafted IPA.

TOTAL: 18.5/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: A very good beer–textbook. Very solid, nothing unexpected.
Ben: A good IPA–drinkable. I'd have more than one.

Boulevard Smokestack Series–Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company

Kansas City, Missouri

APPEARANCE: 3/3
Deep gold. Creamy, foamy head. Pretty–hazy, unfiltered.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Spicy, fruity. Citrus nose–grapefruit–plus pepper, bubblegum, a little hop.

TASTE: 8.75/10

• Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Noticeable citrus hop. Grassy, malty.
  
• Aftertaste: 3/3: Big grapefruit finish. Subtle, lingering bitterness. Grassy, meadowy.
  
• Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3: Dry finish, subtle alcohol. Big and bouncy.
  

OVERALL: 2.75/3: A little lingering bitterness, but the citrus makes it work.

TOTAL: 18/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: Very rich, but very drinkable. Deceptive in terms of ABV–no heavy alcohol. Very bright and citrusy. True to style–classic and definitely worth a try (or two). Another nice aperatif.

Boulevard Smokestack Series–Harvest Dance Wheat Wine Style Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, Missouri

APPEARANCE: 3/3
HUGE head. Caramel color, pretty.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Sweet, no hop aroma to speak of.

TASTE: 9/10

• Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Well-balanced, the hop offsets the maltiness, but still very sweet (but not cloying).
  
• Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Pineapple, grapefruit, some bubble-gum notes, even (surprisingly enough). Back-end bitterness, alcohol is evident.
  
• Mouth-Feel: 3/3: Very dry, very smooth.
  

OVERALL: 3/3

TOTAL: 18.5/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: A nice departure from the more commonly-encountered styles. I'd definitely buy it again–really delightful and unexpected. Dial back the sweetness a touch and it's perfect.
Ben: Nice warming effect. I'd put it on a par with a good barleywine, with a wheat twist. Maybe a little more hop.

Hop Stoopid IPA

Lagunitas Brewing Company
Petaluma, California

APPEARANCE: 3/3
Clear, light copper color. Good creamy, persistent head.

AROMA: 3.75/4
Strong hop nose, citrusy with a bit of pine.

TASTE: 8.5/10

• Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Hop dominant–citrus hop flavor (we suspect Simco hops).
  
• Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Citrus, grapefruit notes. Bitter aftertaste, lingers a bit. VERY hoppy.
  
• Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Dry. Hop presence. Sufficiently malty up front, quickly fades to bitter.

OVERALL: 2.75/3
An excellent IPA and an all-around great beer.

TOTAL: 18/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: Unmistakable citrus and hop goodness. Way too drinkable; only just barely too rich to be a session beer.
Ben: Tastes like liquid hop–not for the Bud Light crowd, and affordably priced (20 minutes later, I'm still tasting hop!).

Le Merle Saison

North Coast Brewing Company
Fort Bragg, CA

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
White, creamy, rocky head. Tiny bubbles. Honey-gold color. Slight haze. Effervescent.
AROMA: 3.5/4
Citrus, pineapple, passion fruit, floral. Earthy notes. Very aromatic. Spicy, little hop aroma (true to Belgian style).
TASTE: 8.5/10

• Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4
  REALLY complex, a lot going on here. Pineapple, grapefruit, champagne notes. Tangy. Spicy notes–cinnamon, clove, nutmeg. Plum, raisin, honey. All malt, very little hop; could use more bittering hop.
• Aftertaste: 2.75/3
  Slightly bitter finish, lasting spice flavor. Earthy. Slight residual alcohol.
• Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3
  Effervescent. Bouncy, tangy. Dry finish. Fruity, spicy, true to the style.

OVERALL: 2.75/3
A refined Saison; the city mouse to Saison Dupont's country mouse. True to style, but unique–a new flavor with every sip. NOT a session beer, by any means.

TOTAL: 18.25/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: A little of this goes a long way! Really complex and interesting, a nice interpretation.
Ben: Good example of a Saison. Earthy notes along with spicy citrus flavor–a great beer. Would be good paired with fish or fowl.