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.

Beer Camp #78 – Baltic Joy and Devotion

On Friday, I took the family for some pizza at Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar and for a tapping of Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp #78 Baltic Joy (7.4% ABV and 35 IBU).  Baltic Joy is a Baltic Porter and was brewed with almonds and coconuts and I am thinking a good bit of chocolate malt to get a taste reminiscent of the Almond Joy candy bar.  I was amazed at the head retention on this beer and it seemed to never truly go away.  Baltic Joy was very tasty and I could detect chocolate, coffee, and hits of nuts and coconut.  The beer reminded me of Maui Brewing’s Coconut Porter.  This beer is very limited and it was not even listed on the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp site.

I also had a glass of Lost Abbey’s Devotion (6.25% ABV).  Devotion is a Belgian Pale Ale and the Lost Abbey is a noted brewer of Belgian-style beer.  Devotion was a great beer to enjoy with pizza and I liked the tastes of Belgian yeast, bread, sweetness and a touch of citrus bitterness. 

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp - http://www.sierrabeercamp.com/#/camp-beers

Devotion - http://www.lostabbey.com/lost-abbey-beers/year-round-beers/devotion/

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

Firestone Walker - Parabola

I received an email earlier this week that there would be a special tapping of Firestone Walker Parabola (13% ABV and 60 IBU) at Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar on Sat. and I hopped on the bike for a nice ride to Parry’s, a glass of Parabola and then a nice ride back.  The route to Parry’s is primarily uphill and is just under 7 miles from my route.  I have been looking forward to trying Parabola for some time and it is not an easy beer to find.  If you see it in a store or at a bar, buy it.  Firestone Walker is one of the best brewers in the U.S. and this is one of the highest rated beers in the U.S.

Russian Imperial Stout - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/84 - BeerAdvocate

Picture from Firestone Walker website

Appearance - Black as night - there is no light coming through this beer, there is very little (no) head and there are alcohol legs on the glass.
Aroma - Chocolate, coffee, a bit of oak and malt sweetness.
Taste - First, let this warm up a bit if it is served cold, cup the glass with your hands to warm it up if needed.  This is a sweeter version of a Russian Imperial Stout, but it is not too sweet.  One tastes coffee, chocolate, and hints of oak and vanilla.
Overall - A+ - Wow, Parabola is very good and I enjoyed every sip.  I can understand why this beer is highly regarded.  If you see it in a store or offered on tap, buy it.  Another great beer from Firestone Walker.

Website description - “Parabola has been a major component of past anniversary blends and is one of our most aggressive offerings. This beer features bold bourbon and tobacco aromas and a rich dark chocolate, charred oak flavor. Parabola is best enjoyed in moderation and is a perfect beer to pair with those chocolate dessert favs.”

Firestone Walker - http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/parabola
Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

Le Merle, Matilda and Pizza

We met up with friends at Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar last Sunday for a couple of pints and some pizza.  I was in the mood for some farmhouse ales and I ordered a couple of Belgian inspired ales.  First up, was North Coast Le Merle (7.9% ABV and 26 IBU) a Saison.  Saison is the French word for “season” and these beers were traditionally brewed in the winter to be consumed in the summer.  

Next up was Goose Island’s Matilda (7% ABV and 32 IBU) a Belgian Strong Pale Ale.  Both of these beers are very good and I would highly recommend either of them.  We had The Five Burroughs Pizza - pepperoni, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, green peppers, black olives, red onions - that paired very well with both beers.  We also had some stuffed mushrooms and fried mozzarella for appetizers.  The food was very good and we had the opportunity to celebrate our friend’s anniversary with some good friends - a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Saison -  BeerAdvocate - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/129
Belgian Strong Pale Ale - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/55 - Beer Advocate

North Coast Brewing Co. - http://www.northcoastbrewing.com
Goose Island - http://www.gooseisland.com

Double DBA is Awesome

Back at Parry’s for another couple of pints with friends and some great food.  Tibor and I split calzones – he ordered a Buffalo Chicken Calzone and I ordered a Meat Calzone.  I was surprised with the Buffalo Chicken Calzone as I was not sure what to expect; it was excellent.  For beers, Melanie informed me that they just tapped Double Double Barrel Ale from Firestone Walker and I promptly placed an order.  DBA is a very tasty beer on its own and Matt Brynildson, head brewer at Firestone Walker, is at the top of his game.  I think Firestone Walker is the best brewer in the U.S. at this time – period.  Double DBA (12% ABV) is classed as a Barley Wine and is essentially a double strength DBA.  DBA is the flagship beer at Firestone Walker.  Double DBA is excellent and easily one of the best beers I have had the opportunity to sample this year.  DBA has very nice caramel, toffee and oak tastes and is just perfectly balanced with the triad of alcohol, bitterness and sweetness.

Double DBA website description – “DDBA is our flagship beer brewed at double strength.  It is amazingly similar in many respects to our barrel fermented DBA and possesses everything we love about that beer times two.  English caramel malts lend rich toffee character that pairs well with assertive medium toast American oak barrels.”

Firestone Walker - http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/double-dba
Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

I also sampled a Sam Adams Old Kentucky-style Ale (7.5% ABV - ??) that is classed as an American Strong Ale.  It is not a bad beer, and is easy to drink.  However, I would suggest not trying it after Double DBA.   Double DBA is a much larger beer and easily overpowers Old Kentucky.  There is very little information that I could find on Old Kentucky Ale and I would like to try it again – first this time.

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/

Wookey Jack & Hop 15

We went to Parry’s the other day for dinner and I tried a couple of new beers. I am a “fan” of Firestone Walker and I had not tried Wookey Jack (8.5% ABV and 60 IBU) that is an unfiltered Black Rye IPA. I also tried Port Brewing’s Hop 15 (9.7% ABV and ?? IBU) that is a Double IPA. So, two beers with the IPA as the base or foundational style and I liked Wookey Jack the best. I thought Wookey Jack was very well-balanced and I liked the combination of Citra and Amarillo hops. I have used both these in home brews and they add great aroma and flavor to the beer. Hop 15 was a good beer and really focused on the hop bitterness, Wookey Jack was just preferable to my palate. I would have either of these again. 

Wookey Jack website description  – “Wookey Jack is our first foray into the dark outer world of black IPAs. Rich dark malts and spicy rye careen into bold citrus laden hops creating a new dimension in IPA flavor. This brew has been left unfiltered and unfined to retain all of its texture and character. At 60 IBUs, Wookey Jack is gnarly on the outside yet complex and refined on the inside.” 

Hop 15  website description – “Welcome to San Diego- Home to Hop Heads on every corner and THE best place in the world to live if you enjoy Humulus Lupulus and the smell of a well hopped beer. This is Southern California, it’s the place where Blind Pig started the Imperial IPA revolution and San Diego Brewers have continued to be at the forefront of its evolution. Today, fans of Double IPA come from every corner of the globe in search of many of the world’s best and most incredibly well hopped beers. It’s no secret that you can find many of them at Port Brewing as well. Like you, we love these beers and mostly we enjoy the happiness they bring us. First brewed in 2002 to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Pizza Port in Solana Beach, Hop 15 was imagined and designed by Tomme Arthur and Jeff Bagby as a celebration of 15 years of “Good Beer Brings Good Cheer.” Hop 15 has 15 different hop varieties added to the beer every 15 minutes. Over the years, Hop 15 has racked up numerous accolades. It has won two silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival. It also was named Alpha King in 2004 and 2008, and received a first place award at the Bistro Double IPA beer festival in Hayward, CA. Hop 15 remains won of the stickiest most resinous beers we have ever tasted and for that, we are thankful it is on tap at our brewery each and every day.”

Firestone Walker - http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/wookey-jack-April-2012-
Port Brewing - http://www.portbrewing.com/our-beers/hop-15/ 

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

New Belgium Tap Takeover at Parry’s

On Saturday, the family went to Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar for lunch and for me to sample a couple of beers from New Belgium that I had not tried before. We arrived shortly after 1 pm and I ordered the New Belgium / Lost Abbey Collaboration – Brett Beer (7.5% ABV), a beer with Brettanomyces, and the waitress informed us that they had just tapped a keg of La Folie (6% ABV and 18 IBU), a sour brown beer, and it was already half consumed – in 10 minutes. So I placed an order for La Folie as well. For lunch Lori and I ordered the Greek salad and Fried Mozzarella – both were excellent and went well with the beers. I enjoyed both of these beers and La Folie was my favorite – I had been looking forward to trying this one for some time. I really enjoyed the sour beer and I will try more sours in the future.

Note - Photo from the Parry's Facebook Page.

La Folie (Left) and Lost Abbey / New Belgium Collaboration Brett Beer (Right)

Last weekend when we were at Parry’s, I tried Black Fox – Debut (6.6% ABV) a Saison or Farmhouse-style Ale that was quite tasty. Black Fox is a new brewer based in Colorado Springs that is transitioning from a “contract” brewer to a new brewery. If their other Saisons are as tasty as Debut, I’ll look forward to sampling more from Black Fox.

The next tap takeover will be Dogfish Head on the 28^th and I am looking forward to it.

New Belgium - http://www.newbelgium.com/beer.aspx

Lost Abbey – http://www.lostabbey.com/lost-abbey-beers/

Black Fox – http://blackfoxbrewing.com/Home_Page.php

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

Yippee Rye Aye and Pere Jacques

After a Mountain Bike ride and yard work, I grabbed a quick shower and went to Parry’s Pizzeria and Pub for lunch.  I ordered a meat calzone and enjoyed two beers, Sierra Nevada Yippee Rye Aye Beer Camp #51 (5.9% ABV) an ale with black peppercorns and Goose Island – Pere Jacques (8% ABV and 26 IBU) a Belgian Dubbel.  There was very little information on Yippee Rye Aye and I admit that I liked Red-oric better.  The Pere Jacques was excellent and I hope to try more Goose Island beers in the future.

Pere Jacques website description – “Brewed with loads of malt and Belgian yeast, Pere Jacques is a wonderfully fruity, malty ale. Pere Jacques’ complex flavors stand shoulder to shoulder with the Belgian Dubbels enjoyed in the world’s finest beer bars. At the dining table it’s the perfect alternative to a glass of vintage port."

Note - photo below is from the Goose Island website

Goose Island – http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/home/56.php

Sierra Nevada – http://www.sierranevada.com/index2.html

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

The Best Beer I Have Ever Had

I really enjoy the beers of Oskar Blues in Lyons, CO and you cannot go wrong with picking something up that is brewed by Oskar Blues.  I had ridden a nice 20 mile mountain bike ride and I was ready for a nice lunch and a beer.  I went to Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar that was hosting a Oskar Blues Tap Takeover and the first round was to a favorite – Dale’s Pale Ale (6.5% ABV and 65 IBU), that is easily one of the best Pale Ales in the country.  I ordered a Meat Calzone and round two – Cabernet Barrel Aged G’Knight (8.1% ABV and 60 IBU) – that is an Imperial Red / Double IPA that was just incredible.  I detected notes of oak and the presence of the cabernet just enhanced the beer, the hops were very subdued from the aging process.  This was one that I just savored and I informed the Oskar Blues rep that this was the best beer I had ever tasted.  Round three was Buffalo Trace Whiskey Barrel Aged Ten Fidy (9.3% ABV and 98 IBU) that is an Imperial Stout.  I really enjoy Ten Fidy – there is always some in my fridge that is aging and I was interested in trying this one.  I needed to let it warm up and it was excellent too.  The barrel-aged beers were just fantastic and I will try more in the future.  The Cabernet Barrel Aged G’Knight was the best beer I have ever had.

Oskar Blues - http://www.oskarblues.com/the-brews/gknight

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

Avery Tap Takeover at Parry’s Pizzeria and Pub

When I saw this event at Parry’s, I knew I would attend.  Avery had 22 taps at Parry’s and 2 rare 12 oz. bottle selections.  I have tried everything that Avery has made that is commercially available at local stores.  Some of these selections are only available at the Avery tasting room in Boulder or at special events like the one at Parry’s on Saturday.  I tried three different beers that I had not tried before and each one was unique and very good.  I think my favorite was Out of Sight, which is Out of Bounds with coffee.  Below is a picture of the Avery listing and a shot of the selections I tried.

First up was Brown Chai (5.5% ABV) and is described as “a well balanced American style brown ale cleverly spiced with local chai.”  The description was spot on and the finish has the distinct taste of chai.  Ellie’s brown is one of my favorite brown ales from Avery and I am thinking Ellie’s served as the base for Chai Brown.

Next up was Tweak (formerly Meph Addict – 15% ABV) that was a 4 oz. sample because of the high abv.  This one is a sipper and was quite tasty and described as “this demonic coffee-infused imperial stout will leave you yearning for more.”  I think Mephistopheles’ Stout is the base for this beer.

Finally, I had Out of Sight – Panama Blend (5.5% ABV), “our Out of Bounds stout with a cold coffee toddy added.”  It was excellent and the coffee was a great addition to this stout. 

If you ever get a chance to attend a tap takeover, I highly encourage it.  It allows you to try some beers that you might not normally taste and it gives you the opportunity to also meet and speak with representatives from the brewery. 

Avery – http://www.averybrewing.com/

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

Green Flash – La Freak Ale

I attended a Firestone Walker “pint night” at Parry’s Pizzeria & Pub and started off with a pint of Green Flash La Freak Ale (9.2% ABV and 101 IBUs), that Green Flash describes as mix of two different styles, Belgian Trippel and American Imperial IPA.  Since I enjoy both styles, I thought this would be a good one to try, along with the knowledge of my previous positive samples from Green Flash and very positive reviews.  I did order a Firestone Walker Union Jack for my second beer and also enjoyed some meatball sliders as an appetizer.

Belgian IPA description - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/174 - BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Light copper / gold with a nice head poured into a New Belgium “globe glass”.

Aroma –Definite hops aroma of citrus with Belgian yeast and malt breadiness. 

Taste – One gets sweetness from the malt, firm bitterness (citrus) from the hops, and the a Belgian yeast providing bubble gum / banana hints.

Overall – A – This is an easy A, with a very nice tasting experience and this Belgian IPA is a good one.  

Website description – “An ‘out of the box’ modern ale crafted by converging two beer styles, Belgian Trippel and American Imperial IPA. Dry-Hopped and Bottle-Conditioned – it’s a zesty brew with enticing American hop and fruity Belgian yeast aromatics.”

URL – http://www.greenflashbrew.com

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

Birthday = Pizza and a nice Stout

My birthday was Monday and my wife and son took me to Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar for a birthday brew and a nice pizza.  We ordered crispy green beans for an appetizer and the 5 bouroughs pizza for the main course.  I selected The Lost Abbey’s Serpent Stout (10.5% ABV), an imperial stout, for my birthday brew and it was excellent.  I had read and heard, via podcasts, about this beer and it lived up to everything I had heard about.  It was an excellent beer and I highly recommend it.  It is a big beer and is one to be slowly consumed and enjoy.

Website description – “The history of the bible and religion is indeed the struggle of good vs. evil. Our Serpent’s Stout recognizes the evil of the dark side that we all struggle with.  This is a massively thick and opaque beer that begs the saints to join the sinners in their path to a black existence.  Tasting Notes:  Pours dark and thick, with a creamy mocha-colored head and aromas of roasted malts, dark chocolate and french roast coffee.  The mouthfeel is full, smooth and round on the tongue. The taste is rich with deep roasted malts, cocoa, coffee and a touch of vanilla balanced perfectly against the alcohol to create an excellent winter warmer.”

URL - http://www.lostabbey.com/

URL – http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/

I was running some errands a couple of weekends ago when I received a text from my friend Roger who was having lunch with Jay at Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar and I was right next to it.  I ran in to say hi and ordered a Moylan’s Kilt Lifter (8% ABV) Scotch Wee Heavy to enjoy as we chatted.  It was a very nice Scotch Ale and ws perfect for a Sunday afternoon.

Website description – “Robust and Strapping , Our Scotch Ale takes BIG Beers to a whole new level. Rich malt balances perfectly with delicate hops to provide a concentrated and intense flavor; an ideal companion for hearty foods, or as a meal unto itsself. Allow this ale to warm slightly in your glass to enhance its truly bold character .Sharing is encouraged, as this is one beer that lives up to its name! Hey! No peeking! Slainté! “

URL – http://www.moylans.com

Sierra Nevada – Raiders of the Lost Hops

First, good luck finding this one as it is “keg-only” and not widely distributed – I read on one blog that only 12 places in the US received this beer.  I have a shout-out and thank Roger Schardijn who told me about the new pizza place in Highlands Ranch with 50 beers on tap named Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar (http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/).  I saw Sierra Nevada’s Raiders of the Lost Hops (7.6% ABV) and I had to try it.  I have never seen it anywhere and knew this would be one of those times that you either tried it now or missed it.

American Amber / Red Ale – description - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/128 - Beer advocate

Appearance – Pours amber / gold with a nice head.

Aroma – Lemon and nice citrus hop aroma. 

Taste – Excellent – Raiders is a hop-forward beer and it is excellent.  The hops are not over top and just paired beautifully with pizza.  This is a really good beer.

Overall – A+ - I really liked this beer and ordered a second one to enjoy with pizza.  It was excellent and I would really like to see this one as one of the regular offerings from Sierra Nevada.

Description – Not Available – the only description I have seen is lemon wood chips were added to the beer and it is part of beer camp and is number 58.

URL - http://www.sierranevada.com/index2.html

Note – you will not find Raiders of the Lost Hops on the website.