Best Beers Sampled June - August

Since it is raining today and I am not on a bike, it is a great time to catch up on the blog and I have 3 months to write up.  The highlight was a family trip to Tennessee and two weeks off from work – very nice.  I was able to sample some of the offerings from the states we visited too.  During this time we also visited a few tap rooms with friends.  The following are the beers I enjoyed the most: 

Avery – 20^th Anniversary – Imperial IPA (9.7 ABV)

Funkwerks – Tropic King – Saison (8% ABV)

Odell – Celastrina – Saison (7.5% ABV)

Sierra Nevada – Hoptimum – Imperial IPA (10.4% ABV & 100 IBU)

Stone – RuinTEN 2013 – Imperial IPA (10.8% ABV & 110 IBU)

Stone – 17^th Anniversary Gotterdammerung – Imperial IPA (9.5% ABV & 102 IBU)

Stone – R&R Coconut IPA (7.7% ABV & 90 IBU)

Stone – Farking Wheaton Woot Stout – American Double / Imperial Stout (13% ABV)

Strange Brewing Co. – Cherry Kriek – Kriek (4.7% ABV & 15 IBU)

The list has a number of IPAs and Stone brewed some excellent beers in this time frame.  The Farking Wheaton Woot Stout was a collaboration with Will Wheaton and Fark creator Drew Curtis with Stone Brewing – it was not easy to find in stores and I tried it on tap at Parry’s Pizzeria and Pub in Highlands Ranch.  I would have loved to obtain a few bottles for aging - the one glass was excellent.  Many of these are limited releases and some have limited distribution.  Hoptimum should be available nation-wide.  

April Beers Sampled

Yesterday I attended The Big Ass Tap Takeover at Parry’s Pizza featuring beers from Avery Brewing Company and tried a few I had not tried before.    During the event I met Adam Avery and he toasted the event at 11:30 with a new release from Avery.

Samael’s 2008 (14.5% ABV and 41 IBU) is and oak-aged English strong ale and was from Mr. Avery’s personal stash.  It was excellent and the aging has only improved the beer.

Trogdor the Burninator (7.6% ABV) is a smoked doppelbock and I thought this was an excellent beer.  You could taste the smoke at just the right level.  Very well-balanced and it went well with the sweetness of the doppelbock.

3Point5 Pale Ale (3.5% ABV) is a session pale ale that is new from Avery and we had a complimentary serving with the event toast.  It was a highly hopped, bitter beer and one that could be consumed throughout the day with the low ABV. 

On a different trip to Parry’s Pizza, I enjoyed Elevation Brewing’s First Cast (6.5% ABV and 75 IBU) an IPA.  It was the first time I have tried something from this new Colorado brewer and I will try to sample more form them in the future.

Stone Brewing has created some new Imperial IPAs that are entitled “Enjoy by Month.Day.Year” that have limited distribution and are meant to be consumed fresh and by the date listed on the bottle.  I was able to find one at the local store and it is a very good IPA.  If you are lucky enough to find one I recommend purchasing some, as these are very good IPAs.  The one I had was Enjoy by 04.20.13 (9.4% ABV and 88 IBU).

8 Tasty Beers to Sample

Time to catch up as I have not had the time to keep up with the blog.  There are a number of great beers out there and I very pleased with the increased volume that is available from craft brewers, an increasing number of craft brewers, the quality of the products offered and the brewer’s interpretation and creative license on classic beers styles. 

Sierra Nevada – Ruthless Rye (6.6 ABV and 55 IBU) – American IPA - this is a seasonal release and rye is part of the malt bill.  Highly recommended - excellent beer.

New Belgium – Springboard – (6.2% ABV) – Belgian-style Pale Ale – gogi berries and Schisandra were added to this beer.  It is OK, not bad, but not great.

New Belgium – Rampant (8.5% ABV and 85 IBU) – Imperial IPA – Unlike any IPA I have tasted before and featuring Mosaic, Calypso, and Centennial hops.  Highly recommended – excellent.

Dry Dock – Paragon Apricot Blonde Ale (5.3% ABV) – Fruit / Vegetable Beer – I am not a big fan of fruit beers and I think I found an exception – Paragon is very tasty and the apricots make this beer special.

Dry Dock – Tripel (8.75% ABV) – Belgian-style Tripel – If you see something from Dry Dock, just buy it – they won “Small Brewery of the Year” for a reason.

Port Brewing Co. – Santa’s Little Helper (10.5% ABV) – Russian Imperial Stout – Port is based in SoCal and this one was on tap at Parry’s Pizzeria in Highlands Ranch.  Santa would be very pleased with this one – in a word – Fantastic.

Brewery Ommegang – BPA - Belgian-Style Pale Ale (6.2% ABV).  This was on tap at Parry’s Pizzeria and it was my first taste from Ommegang that is essentially a Belgian Brewery in Cooperstown, NY.  I look forward to sampling more from Brewery Ommegang.

Widmer – SXNW: South by Northwest (9.3% ABV and 40 IBU) – American Strong Ale.  A dark beer brewed with chilies, cinnamon, chocolate, and pecans.  I was not sure what to expect and this was very good – if you see it buy it, number 7 in the Brother’s Reserve Series.

These were all tasty beers from a wide range of brewers.  Some were just the basic style and some were very different and interesting variations from the brewer.  Bottom line – there are a number of fantastic selections and there is no need to stick with the macro brewers – get out and sample some craft brew.

Lagunitas Sucks – Brown Shugga’ Substitute

One thing I have learned in life is I learn my most memorable lessons when I experience a failure or a defeat.  It has taken me some time and some gray hair to not only learn this lesson, but also to take it in stride.  Mistakes also occur at companies and Lagunitas Brewing Co. serves as a shining example of learning from a mistake and taking it in stride.  Brown Shugga’ is a seasonal release from Lagunitas that could not be brewed one year due to “construction-induced capacity issues”, and Lagunitas decided to brew another beer and make fun of themselves in the naming of Lagunitas Sucks (7.85% ABV and 63 IBU), an Imperial IPA.  This year, I had the opportunity to sample both Brown Shugga’ and Lagunitas Sucks – both are excellent.  Learn from the example of Lagunitas - learn from your mistake, take it in stride and figure out a way to improve.  

American Double / Imperial IPA – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 - BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Copper, like a bright new penny, with a two-finger head that takes some time to recede and with nice lacing.

Aroma – Hoppy and you know you are in for a hop trip – tropical fruit and citrus are the main aromas.

Taste – A bit of sweetness – think a touch of honey - and then citrus (lemon / orange / grapefruit) and tropical fruit (mango / papaya) with a piney / resin finish.

Overall – A – This beer is fantastic and I am really glad that Lagunitas needed to make this substitute – it is available for only a short time and if you are a fan of IPAs – buy it.  I plan to pick up another 6er on the next trip to the store, if any are remaining.

Website description – “E. K. Ross would have enjoyed our suffering in 2010 when he saw we couldn’t brew our Brown Shugga.  But in that time of deepest despair, as is common to artist everywhere… broke, hungover, abandoned by the muse and prepared to take a job at Arby’s, we found that in that darkness the  spark of inspiration that would yield up this nearly sanctified recipe!”

Lagunitas Sucks – http://lagunitas.com/beers/sucks/

Two Anniversary IPAs

I had a couple of anniversary IPAs in my fridge and IPAs are best consumed fresh.  I had a Great Divide 18th Anniversary Wood Aged Double India Pale Ale (10% ABV) in the fridge for some time now and it had a bottle on date of March 20.  The Stone 16th Anniversary IPA (10% ABV and 85 IBU) had an August 2012 date and I knew this one was very fresh.  The difference besides age was the wood aged via the use of oak chips and an IPA brewed with lemon verbena and lemon oil.  I did not try these side-by-side as one of these is enough for anyone at 10% ABV, and I wanted to get in a mountain bike ride the next morning.  I enjoyed both of these beers and they are fantastic.  

I had a very fresh version of Great Divide 17th Anniversary last year and the beer was almost too “oaky” for my liking.  With a little age on the 18th Anniversary, I found that the oak had calmed down a bit and from my perspective, this beer tastes better with a little age.  I understand that the hop bitterness and aroma with fall out and the beer will be closer to a barley wine - I am fine with this for 18th and I very much enjoyed it.  

The Stone 16th Anniversary IPA is unique and I have never had anything like it before.  Stone uses Amarillo and Calypso hops with the addition of lemon verbena and lemon oil and you can tasted the ctirusy, lemony focus of this beer.  It is very good and Stone has been producing some very good double / imperial IPAs.  The Ruination 10th Anniversary IPA was fantastic and one of the best of the year.  

Both of these beers were very good and I would drink them again.  I think the a brewery’s anniversary ale should be something special and Stone and Great Divide provide excellent examples of some special with these beers.

Double / Imperial IPA - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 - BeerAdvocate
Great Divide - http://greatdivide.com/beer/seasonal/18th-anniversary-wood-aged-double-ipa/
Stone - http://www.stonebrew.com/anniv/ale/

Dogfish Head Tap Takeover at Parry’s

A few weeks ago, we met up with friends for a couple of pints at Parry’s during the Dogfish Head tap takeover.  Dogfish Head had 16 taps and it was a very good selection from the Delaware brewer with the slogan of “Off-centered beer for off-centered people”.  I sampled two IPAs that I had not tried before and bother were very good.  First up was Burton Baton (10% ABV and 70 IBU) an Imperial IPA that is a blend of English-style Old Ale and Imperial IPA and then aged in oak tanks for ~ one month.  This is a very tasty beer with oaky notes from the tanks and citrus notes from the hops.  Next up was 120 Minute IPA (18% ABV and 120 IBU) an Imperial IPA that has to be the highest ABV beers I have tried.  I have had 60 Minute and 90 Minute and it is a rare treat to have 120 Minute on tap.  120 minute lives up to the expectations and is one to be savored – it is for the hop lover and with the ABV one is all you need.  I really like Dogfish Head because they push the boundaries with their beers and are constantly trying new things and new ingredients.  They also have very high standards and will dump a batch if the quality is not at their expectations.  Try something for Dogfish Head if you are looking for something different – they make very good “off-centered” beer.

Burton Baton website description – “This oak-aged gentle giant has been gaining popularity over the past few years and is now available year-round.  For Burton Baton, we brew two "threads," or batches, of beer: an English-style old ale and an imperial IPA.  After fementating the beers separately in our stainless tanks, they're transferred and blended together in one of our large oak tanks. Burton Baton sits on the wood for about a month.  When enjoying the Burton Baton, you'll find an awesome blend of the citrus notes from Northwestern hops melding with woody, vanilla notes from the oak. The wood also tends to mellow the 10% ABV of Burton, so tread cautiously!”

120 Minute website description – “Too extreme to be called beer? 120 Minute IPA is brewed to a colossal 45-degree plato, boiled for a full two hours while being continuously hopped with high-alpha American hops, then dry-hopped daily in the fermenter for a month and aged for another month on whole-leaf hops!  Clocking in at 15-20% ABV and 120 IBUs, 120 Minute is by far the biggest IPA ever brewed! It's easy to see why we call this beer THE HOLY GRAIL for hopheads!  We brew 120 Minute IPA a few times a year, but it goes fast. If you find some grab a few bottles -- some to enjoy and some to age.”

Dogfish Head - http://www.dogfish.com/
Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

Stone – Ruination 10th Anniversary IPA

I watched a recent podcast review of Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA (10.8% ABV and 110) that was very positive and I just had to locate it and try it.  Whenever I see something new or a special release from Stone, I try to obtain some.  I picked up a couple of bottles at a local shop and promptly sampled one.

American Double / Imperial IPA - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 – BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Copper and perfectly clear with great carbonation that poured with a three-finger head that stayed around for some time.

Aroma – Hops and glorious hops – citrus, grapefruit, pine, and perhaps a touch of tropical fruit (mango / orange).

Taste – Excellent – if you like hops you will like Ruination 10^th Anniversary.  You get just a touch of sweetness, but the hops are focus.  You get tastes similar to the aroma.

Overall – A+ - Ruination is called Ruination because your palate is “ruined” after trying it and this is a good thing.  Ruination is a very good beer and Stone made it even better with the special 10^th anniversary edition.  If you like hops and IPAs, try to find Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA – it is a real treat. Hopefully, you are worthy – to borrow a phrase from Stone. 

Website description – "Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA was created as an homage to the almighty hop. As the celebrated Stone Ruination IPA approached its 10th birthday this June, we knew we had to do something special, so we cranked it up from 7.7% to 10.8% and used twice as much hops–a whopping 5 pounds per barrel, including a pound each of Citra and Centennial in the dry hop. The results were GLORIOUS, but don't take our word for it. The only people more bitter than those who don't get any... will be those who do."

URL – http://www.stonebrew.com/ruintenth/

Russian River – Pliny the Elder

I have wanted to try Pliny the Elder (8% ABV and HIGH IBU) for sometime now because Pliny is regarded as the best Double IPA produced today.  When I saw a bottle of Pliny at the local store, I immediately grabbed a bottle.  I had only seen it once before and regretted not purchasing a bottle then.  Vinnie Cilurzro and his wife Natalie bought the NorCal brewery when Korbel offered to sell it to them.  Vinnie Cilurzo is considered one of the best brewers in the country and there is limited distribution of Russian River to the West Coast, Colorado and Philadelphia. Pliny the Elder is distributed in 500 ml bottles.  Note - this beer and this style is not to be stored / aged.  It should be consumed soon after bottling the bottle I purchased had a bottled on date of 31 May.

American Double / Imperial IPA - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 – BeerAdvocate

Appearance – A straw / copper color that is clear with a fluffy two – three finger head poured into a New Belgium globe glass.

Aroma – This is a very aromatic beer with floral, citrus, and perhaps a hint of pine.

Taste – Wow – I was expecting a hop bomb, but this is not the case.  The hops are present, but the beer is very nicely balanced and this is one smooth beer for the amount of hops and the ABV.

Overall – A+ - Pliny the Elder is a really great Double IPA.  I can understand why it is touted as being the best of style.  It is the highest rated Double IPA on the Beer Advocate site.  I paid $5.49 for the 500 ml bottle and it is worth every penny.  I will purchase it again, the next time I see it.  Try it, if you get the opportunity.  Try other Russian River beers too - I will.

Website description –  “Pliny the Elder is brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops. It is well-balanced with malt, hops, and alcohol, slightly bitter with a fresh hop aroma of floral, citrus, and pine. Best enjoyed FRESH! That is why we make it in such limited supply. Actual bottling date is printed on each bottle!

Where did we come up with this name? Back in the year 2000, our friend, Vic Kralj, who owns the Bistro in Hayward, California, decided to have his first ever Double IPA festival. Vic invited 10 breweries, 6 of whom (including us) had to brew something special for him since we had nothing that would fall under this style category. Vinnie had made a Double IPA at Blind Pig in 1994, but was not brewing one at Russian River Brewing at the time. He had an idea for the recipe, but not a name. After much research in beer books, brainstorming, and deliberation, we came up with "Pliny the Elder". Pliny, the man, lived in the first century- 23 to 79 A.D. According to our brewing references, he and his contemporaries either created the botanical name or at least wrote about Lupus Salictarius, or hops, currently known as Humulus Lupulus. That was a very early reference to an important part of any Double IPA! Pliny the beer has now become one of our flagship brews!

Pliny the Elder was immortalized by his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who wrote about his uncle succumbing to ash and smoke during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. while rescuing people. Cheers to the scholar, historian, officer, writer, and Roman Naturalist- Pliny the Elder!”

Russian River – http://russianriverbrewing.com/

Stone at Parry's Pizzeria

Stone is currently conducting a contest called “The Most Bitter Bars – 2012 Challenge” and Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar is hosting a number of Stone beers on tap.  I have tried a number of Stone beers and I have enjoyed everyone they brew.  I decided to try Cali-Belgique (6.9% ABV and 77 IBU), a Belgian IPA and Double Dry Hopped Ruination IPA (7.7% ABV and 100+ IBU), an Imperial IPA.  Both of these beers were just fantastic and I think I liked the Cali-Belgique the best.  They went great with the NY Cheese steak Sandwich.  The contest is running through Father’s day and I think I will need to try a couple of more tomorrow.  I have tried all the other before and I will have to select one of my favs – Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale (8.7% ABV and 90 IBU) and probably Stone Ruination IPA (6.9% ABV and 100+ IBU).  If you have one of these events in your area, attend it and try some really good beer from Stone.

Stone Brewing – http://www.stonebrew.com/home.asp

Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

2 Tasty IPAs – Palate Wrecker and Hoptimum

Yesterday evening, my friend Roger called and asked I wanted to join him and his wife Kristina at Parry’s for a couple of pints and a pizza.  I promptly headed to Parry’s and they had a glass of Green Flash – Palate Wrecker (9.5% ABV and +100 IBUs) waiting for me.  It was interesting because I took a sip and then Kristina had me try Odell’s Myrcenary, which is not a small beer, but I should have tasted it first because Palate Wrecker dominated the taste buds. 

Kristina ordered some fried pickles that were excellent and we ordered a Summer of 2010 pizza with pepperoni, spicy sausage, jalapenos, and pepperoncini – it was spicy and tasty.  For round two, I enjoyed Sierra Nevada’s Hoptimum  (10.4% ABV and 100 IBU) and it went great with the pizza.  I have had Hoptimum before and it was one of my favorite beers that I tried last year. The 2012 version was excellent two.  If you like IPAs or Double IPAs, both of these beers are fantastic and I highly recommend them.

Double / Imperial IPA – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 - BeerAdvocate

Green Flash – http://www.greenflashbrew.com/our-beers.php

Sierra Nevada - http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/hoptimum.html

Parry’s Pizzeria & Pub - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

Sierra Nevada – Red-oric

I know very little about Red-oric.  I went to Parry’s Pizzeria with Roger, friend and martial arts training partner, a few weeks ago and I spoke with Scott, the local Sierra Nevada Market Rep.  Scott informed me that Parry’s would soon have a very limited offering named Red-oric and that Parry’s was the only establishment in the Denver area that would receive a keg.  

When Lori finished up her classes and we decided to go to Parry’s on Saturday.  When I saw Red-oric Imperial IPA (8% ABV) on the list, I wanted to try it and I was not disappointed.  If you can find, try it, especially if you like IPAs.

Double / Imperial IPA – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140- Beeradvocate

Appearance – Red with a nice one-finger head served in a New Belgium glass.

Aroma – Resiny / piney hops and a touch / hint of caramel malt.

Taste – This is a hop forward beer and is a great example of a West Coast IPA.  I enjoyed this with the green bean appetizer and chicken parmesan.  Red-oric is a very tasty beer.

Overall – A – A very nice beer and I was very impressed with this limited release.  I saw another Sierra Nevada limited release on the “to be tapped soon” soon – looks like I’ll need to go back to Parry’s soon. 

Sierra Nevada – http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/paleale.html

Parry’s Pizzeria and Pub - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

Port Brewing – Anniversary Ale

I went to lunch with my friend and martial arts training buddy Roger yesterday at Parry’s Pizzeria & Bar, which is becoming a regular spot for me.  We had a great meat pizza and I ordered the Port Brewing Anniversary Ale (10% ABV and ? IBU).  Port Brewing is based in Carlsbad, CA and they have won numerous awards over the years for their beers.  Scott, the local Sierra Nevada rep was there and I got a chance to talk to him and provide some accolades for Ruthless Rye, Hoptimum and Raiders of the Lost Hops.  I had met Scott at Denver Winter Beer Fest and spoke to him again at Lukas Liquors.  It was good to get a chance to speak with Scott and provide some feedback on the Sierra Nevada beers.

American Double / Imperial IPA - description – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140 -BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Straw / orange with a nice white head – poured in a New Belgium globe glass.

Aroma – Hops and more hops, this is a West Coast IPA and focuses on the contributions from hops – citrus and pine with a touch of lemon and just a hint of caramel malt sweetness.

Taste – Excellent – this is a fantastic Imperial IPA and I am really glad I tried it.  It is a West Coast Hop blaster and you get the citrus, grapefruit, lemon with a tough of sweetness that quickly is overtaken be the bitter finish.  I can taste why Port Brewing has taken home awards over the years.

Overall – A – This is excellent and I look forward to trying other offerings from Port Brewing.

Website description –  “A massively hopped strong pale ale brewed to celebrate our anniversary each year. Anniversary Ale is light gold to pale orange in color and offers a potent aroma of fresh pine and citrus with some warming alcohols present.  The taste is a thick, chewy hop presence only barely contained by balancing malts. The finish is pure hop expression with a moderate warming alcohol sensation.”

URL – http://www.portbrewing.com/our-beers/anniversary/

URL - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/beer/

Oskar Blues – Deviant Dale’s

Oskar Blues is based in Lyons, CO and they are one of my favorite brewers.  They were the first craft brewer in Colorado to use cans.  Deviant Dale’s (8% ABV and 85 IBU) is a new IPA offering in 16 oz. cans that just started to be distributed.  Deviant Dale’s took home the Silver medal at the 2011 GABF in the IPA category, which is the largest category at the GABF.  I was very much looking forward to sampling Deviant Dale’s and it was on tap at Parry’s Pizzeria and Pub when the family dined there last weekend.

American Double / Imperial IPA – description – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/140  Beeradvocate

Appearance – A golden, amber / copper color with a nice creamy head

Aroma – It is all about the hops – citrus / grapefruit and dank, pine.  If you have been to a rock concert, then you know what ganja smells like and this beer has this aroma.

Taste – Excellent – there is some caramel sweetness that is quickly surpassed by the hops and the dank pine / citrus / grapefruit / weed take over and stay awhile.

Overall – B+ – an excellent hoppy double IPA.  This one has massive hops and it is for the IPA lover.  If you do not like hops / bitter beers, you will probably not like this one.  Conversely, if you are a hop-head, you will like.  I had two of these and with a tap list of 50 beers, it would have been easy to make a different 2^nd selection.

Description – “Deviant Dale’s IPA (8% ABV, 85 IBUs) was born at the crossroads, in a juke joint, as if Dale’s Pale Ale sold its soul to balance Deviant’s foreboding aromas of citrus, grapefruit and piney resins with a copper ball-of-fire color and inscrutable finish.  The 2011 GABF Silver Medal Winner (American IPA Category) is the Devil incarnate with untold amounts of hops and hedonistic Columbus dry-hopping.  Oskar Blues’ southern spirit caught a northbound bus to ColoRADo to the delver the boundary bustin’ brewery’s first 16 oz. tallboy can.

URL – Oskar Blues - http://www.oskarblues.com/the-brews/deviant-dales

URL – Parry’s Pizzeria & Pub - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

Firestone Walker – Double Jack

Double Jack is an Imperial IPA (9.5% ABV) from Firestone Walker and I have wanted to try it for some time.  Fortunately, Firestone Walker started distributing here in CO this summer and I picked up a bottle of Double Jack on my last visit.  Double Jack pours amber with a three-finger, small bubble head.  The aroma is incredible and you can pick up slight sweetness from the malt and huge citrus aroma of orange and grapefruit.  The taste is very good and it starts sweet and ends with a nice bitter finish that is just right.  This is a fantastic IPA and I have liked everything I have tried from Firestone Walker.  I can understand why they were awarded the Brewery of the Year at the 2011 GABF for the third time and Double Jack was awarded a Silver at the 2011 GABF.

 

Website description – “Double Jack IPA is our first ever Imperial IPA. It features a big malty middle to cloak the high alcohol and mouth puckering hop bitterness. Huge tangerine, grapefruit and juicy fruit aroma blossom over the herbal blue basil and malt earthiness of this aggressive beer. Best enjoyed in moderation.”

Alaskan - Imperial IPA and Odell - Myrcenary

Alaska Brewing is one of my favorite brewers and I have enjoyed a number of their wares over the years.  Their Smoke Porter, Amber, and Barley wine are some of my favorites and recently I tried the Double Black IPA and it was very good.  Imperial IPA is part of the Pilot Series and has an ABV of 8.5% with an IBU of 60. Imperial IPA pours golden amber and has a nice citrus aroma.  This tastes very good and is very well balanced.  Imperial IPA is not as hoppy as some Imperial IPAs I have tried and I like this beer.  The website describes Imperial IPA’s flavor profile as “Rich in color and full in flavor, Alaskan Imperial IPA is packed with Pacific Northwest hops over a sturdy malt body. Designed with balance in mind, the aroma features hints of tangerine and other citrus with the toasted sweetness of crystal malt. The green and resinous aromas of Chinook and Amarillo hops waft over the robust bitterness of Centennial hops before finishing with the dry warmth of an imperial strength IPA.”  Alaska Brewing has brewed another very good beer and if you have the opportunity to try it and you like IPAs, I think you will enjoy it.

Odell’s Myrcenary is a Double IPA (9.3% ABV and ?? IBU) is available now in a 4 pack.  The beer is “named after Myrcene, an essential oil in the hop flower, Myrcenary Double IPA is our tribute to those who revere the illustrious hop, and their unyielding exploit to craft hop forward beers.  Brewed with a blend of hops containing the highest levels of Myrcene, this Double IPA prevails with a tropical fruit-like flavor, a pungent floral aroma, and a clean getaway.” (From the website & on the label).  This one pours gold and has a nice citrus and floral aroma.  I am not sure, but I think it has a higher IBU than the Alaskan Imperial IPA.  This is a good IPA from Odell and I have three more to enjoy.

Avery - Maharaja

Avery had a release party for Maharaja last week at the taproom and I was able to obtain a fresh bottle at Lukas yesterday.  I tried Maharaja, an Imperial IPA, a few months ago and I was impressed.  Batch number 13, dated March 2011, measures a hefty 10.54% ABV with 102 IBU.  Maharaja is probably best termed a Triple IPA and I think the Brewers Association needs to add this category to the beer styles.  This pours a nice golden amber color with a large head – let it settle down and let the beer warm up a bit.  The aroma and flavors come out as this beer warms up.  This is just a wonderful beer and I have a number of people try it and really like it.  I heard Stephen Johnson (New Brew Thursday and Expert Drinking) mention that tasting fresh Maharaja “will change your life”.  It is a great beer and one of my favorites.  When I first tried Maharaja, the aroma took me back in time to my Granny Gwen's herb garden in Virginia.  I emailed Avery and Adam Avery actually replied back.  Avery is my favorite brewer and Maharaja is one of Avery's best.

Sierra Nevada - Hoptimum

Sierra Nevada’s Hoptimum is a “whole cone” Imperial IPA with an ABV of 10.4% and an IBU of 100.  I knew I would be in for a “hop-bomb” and I was looking forward to it.  This one poured a beautiful light amber with a nice head.  Be careful as you pour because it is very easy to pour a huge head with this beer.  Hoptimum is crystal clear when holding up to a light with bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass - very nice eye appeal.  Aroma is excellent with nice grapefruit and pine/resin.  The taste was hop-forward, but I thought it was a nice balance and the grapefruit / tropical fruit notes had a very nice dry finish.  Sierra Nevada’s website describes “Hoptimum as “A group of hop-heads and publicans challenged our Beer Camp brewers to push the extremes of whole-cone hop brewing. The result is this: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Simply put —Hoptimum: the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped, AND torpedoed with our exclusive new hop varieties for ultra-intense flavors and aromas. Resinous "new-school" and exclusive hop varieties carry the bold and aromatic nose. The flavor follows the aroma with layers of aggressive hoppiness, featuring notes of grapefruit rind, rose, lilac, cedar, and tropical fruit—all culminating in a dry and lasting finish.”  This is a great beer and if you like IPAs and consider yourself a “hop-head”, go buy this limited run.  I think that Sierra Nevada should add this to their year-round collection.

Oskar Blues - Gubna and Trader Joes - Winter Ale 2010

Christmas Eve started with a Trader Joes - Winter Ale 2010 at ABV of 9.0 % and IBU ??.  This is not a bad winter ale with spicy undertones in the aroma and taste.  I detected hints of cinnamon / nutmeg / cloves that is not unpleasant and is probably best with desert like pumpkin or pecan pie.  It might also go well with fruit cake.  It pours dark with a thick head that you need to allow to sit to recede. 

I had Gubna after dinner and this is one fantastic beer made by Oskar Blues in Colorado.  Gubna is an Imperial IPA at ABV 10% and 100 IBU that pours golden with a nice head.  The aroma on this beer is fantastic and you can tell this will be a hoppy beer due to the citrus aromatics.  It was nicely bittered with the hops, but I thought the balance was excellent and I found myself "nursing" this beer as it was the last one for the evening and I wanted to just savor the flavor.  This is a very good beer and I will purchase it again.  The Oskar Blues website accurately describes Gubna as "Emphasizing that complexity of character can arise from simple elements, this ale is made with 3 malts and 1 hop. Its light amber color and slightly spicy malt character are derived from the use of German Dark Munich Malt and Rye Malt respectively. North American 2-row barley combines with the other grains to lay the foundation for the hop onslaught to come. Summit hops are used exclusively in the boil for bitterness, flavor and aroma but it doesn’t end there. Post-fermentation dry hopping allows the 10% ABV monstrosity to gently coax the citrus rind and grapefruit aroma to join the 100 IBUs already present. This beer will greet you with a pungent citrus blast, provide a spicy yet round middle and finish with a brisk, clean bitterness."  If you like IPAs or Imperial IPAs, this is a great beer to try.