Green Flash Grand Cru

Green Flash Brewing Company
San Diego, CA

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Thick espresso-colored head. Deep brown color, almost purple. Opaque.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Roasty. Chocolate, vanilla, coffee, brown sugar, licorice. Wow. Unique, very little hop aroma.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Prune/plum, raisin. Burnt coffee. Sour cherry at front, hop bitterness at close.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Lasting roasty bitterness. Sour to bitter.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Really big, but very smooth. Alcohol is well-masked. Weakly carbonated, which was appropriate.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: A unique, complex beer. Roasty, sour, sweet, wow–a lot going on here.

TOTAL: 15.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Really nicely balanced, so much so that it doesn't seem as big as I know it is. Complex and weird, but I really enjoyed it (more than Ben, I think) .
Ben: Complex–it almost defies description. Roasty yet pruny yet coffee yet chocolatey, big and warming. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either.

Sierra Navada 30th Anniversary Vol. 4: Our Brewer's Reserve - Oak Aged Ale (Grand Cru)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Nice dark copper color. Subtle haze. Big almond colored head that lasts!

AROMA: 3.75/4
Strong floral, citrus hop aroma - Cascade hop. Very aromatic. Nice.

TASTE: 8.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Hoppy aroma and hop flavor dominant. Bitter finish. Malt appropriate with nutty and woody notes. Well balanced. Hop, hop, and hop!
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Hop bitterness lasts. Nutty. Raisin-sweet finish offset by bitterness.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Very sweet but bitter finish. Noticeable alcohol. Full.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A sweet hoppy offering. Complex but all balance nicely. An good beer from a great brewery.

TOTAL: 17/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Complex, kind of weird, but good and powerful. An okay sipping beer. Perhaps a dessert beer.

Ben: Nutty and sweet with lots of hop. Big. Complex-lots of flavors going on. A definite sipping beer. I like it!