2 Pale Ales and an IPA

I purchased a number of brews for the next couple of weekends and started this evening with 2 pale ales and 1 IPA.  First up was Oskar Blues - Dale's Pale Ale at ABV of 6.5% and 65 IBU.  This one pours a light amber / golden color with a light head that quickly recedes and has a nice citrus aroma.  Oskar Blues describes Dale's as "America’s first hand-canned craft beer is a voluminously hopped mutha that delivers a hoppy nose, assertive-but-balanced flavors of pale malts and hops from start to finish. First canned in 2002, Dale’s Pale Ale is a hearty (6.5% and 65 IBUs), critically acclaimed trailblazer that has changed the way craft beer fiends perceive canned beer."  Dale's is highly rated and well-respected and I can taste why as it is nicely balanced with a nice hoppy finish.

Next up was Stone - Pale Ale at ABV 5.4% and IBU of 41.  This is a very drinkable beer and is noticeably not as hoppy as Dale's.  This one pours amber with a small head that quickly recedes.  A nice balance with nice malt sweetness and slightly bitter hops.  Stone describes their pale ale as"Our flagship ale, Stone Pale Ale is our Southern California interpretation of the classic British pale ale style.  Deep amber in color, Stone Pale Ale is robust and full flavored.  A delicate hop flavor is balanced by a rich maltiness.  This is an ale for those who have learned to appreciate distinctive flavor.  Stone Pale Ale is great by itself, or with food that requires a beer of character."  This is a nice one - 2 for 2 for the evening.   

The final beer of the evening is Stone - Ruination IPA at ABV 7.7% and IBU 100+.  I knew this one would be hoppy due to 1) IPA, 2) 100 + IBU and 3) Stone.  This is a hoppy IPA and if you are a hop head, you are going to like it.  Stone warns the reader of the label to beware because your palate will be challenged and Stone delivers on the measure.  I have had 100+ IBU India Pale Ales, but they are usually double or imperial varieties.  This is for the IPA lover and hop head.  Stone describes Ruination IPA as "So called because of the ruinous effect on your palate!  This massive monster has a wonderfully delicious and intensely bitter flavor.  One taste and you can easily see why we call this brew a 'liquid poem to the glory of the hop!'  Those who seek, crave and rejoice, in beer with big, bold, bitter character will find true nirvana in Stone Ruination IPA!"  3 for 3 for the evening.  These were all very nice beers.  Stone and Oskar Blues do not disappoint. 

Flying Dog - Raging Bitch IPA

Flying Dog - Raging Bitch is an India Pale Ale with 8.3% ABV and 60 IBU.  I had been wanting to try Raging Bitch for some time now as I had read that it was a recommended IPA to try.  Raging Bitch pours a light amber / golden color and has nice carbonation with a nice foamy head that takes a little time to recede.  I like to let my IPAs warm up a bit to take in the aroma and taste this beer.  Flying Dog uses graphics associated with Hunter S. Thompson and you immediate see it on the label.  Flying Dog describes Raging Bitch as "Bitches come in a variety of forms, but there's never been something as sassy as Flying Dog's Raging Bitch Belgian IPA. An American IPA augmented with Belgian yeast, our 20th anniversary beer jumps out of the glass and nips at your taste buds with its delicate hop bitterness. At 8.3% ABV, this bitch is dangerously drinkable."  This is a nice IPA and I paired it with a nice chunck of blue cheese and the pairing was very nice.  Flying Dog recommends a strong blue cheese with this beer.  The bottle and website noted this as a 20th anniversary and Flying Dog has a nicely balanced IPA with a hoppy finish - but not too hoppy.  If you like IPAs, I would add this one to the try list.

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Great Divide - Oak-aged Yeti

Great Divide’s Oak-aged Yeti is an Imperial Stout at 9.5% ABV and 75 IBU.  This one pours a much frothier head as compared to Yeti and the head is so think you can pick it up with fork.  I know because I did.  The aging seems to blend the flavors and further balances this already very good beer.  I did not pick up oak per say, but I still picked up caramel, toffee, coffee and smoke.  The coffee and smoke had mellowed out.  I paired Oak-aged Yeti with a dinner of Burgundy Pepper marinated Tri-Tip, Sweet Potato and a mixed vegetable sauté of onion, jalapeno peppers, carrots and broccoli.  I thought this pairing worked very well together and the sweetness and caramel notes of Yeti were enhanced by the meal.  Oak-aged Yeti is very nice and I can easily recommend it.

Great Divide’s website describes Oak-aged Yeti as ”Yeti Imperial Stout’s sophisticated sibling. They may be from the same clan, but they have entirely different personalities. Oak aging gives a subtle vanilla character, rounding out Yeti’s intense roastiness and huge hoppy nature. Who says you can’t tame a Yeti?”  This beer has won numerous awards and suggested pairings are “Grilled NY strip, fudge brownies, strong/salty blue cheese”.  This is a very nice Imperial Stout and if you like this style, you will not be disappointed.

Great Divide - Yeti and Avery - IPA

On the can of Avery – India Pale Ale – it states “Hop Heads Unite.”  So, I knew I was in for a hopped up version of IPA.  This is a nice one too at 6.5% ABV and 69 IBU.  The beer pours golden with a nice head and a floral / citrus nose.  The description on the can says that, “Our IPA is an intense hop experience straight from the can?  Settle back and savor the citrusy floral bouquet and the rich, malty, yet dry finish.  Brewed by hop heads, for hop heads.”  This one is nice and it was great to have while I was preparing dinner.

After dinner, I opened a bottle of Great Divide’s Yeti – Imperial Stout at 9.5%ABV and 75 IBU.  This is one of the best beers I have tasted this year.  It pours very dark with little head and is described as “an onslaught of the senses. It starts with big, roasty malt flavor that gives way to rich caramel and toffee notes. YETI gets its bold hop character from an enormous quantity of American hops.”  I tasted the caramel and toffee qualities of this beer and I also picked up hints of smoke and coffee.  Great Divide recommends pairing Yeti with Grilled Steaks, strong / salty blue cheese, and chocolate and I paired Yeti with a salty (not too strong) Windsor Blue Cheese and they went together wonderfully.  I can see why Yeti has won numerous awards over the years and it is one I will buy again.  I am trying the Oak-Aged Yeti this evening with steak and it should be very good.

Oskar Blues - Ten Fidy

Lori and I met Courtney at the Outback in Castle Rock last night for dinner.  There were just under 10 taps with approximately 10 – 15 beers in bottles.  My first selection was Sam Adam’s Winter Lager on tap at 5.6% ABV that is reddish brown.  The website describes the beer as having cinnamon, ginger, with a hint of citrus (orange peel), but I did not pick it up.  I was not real satisfied with this selection and was very happy to see Abita on tap.  Could it be Turbo Dog?  Yes, it was and I ordered one to go with my dinner of Sirloin Steak and baked potato.  I had Turbo Dog the previous week at NoNo’s Café in a bottle, and I thought the beer tasted even better from the tap.  Turbo Dog is a dark brown ale with 5.6% ABV and 28 IBU and went perfectly with my dinner.  I will order Turbo Dog again, but I will not order Sam Adam’s Winter Lager.

I poured an Oskar Blues Ten Fidy – Imperial Stout at 10.5% and 98 IBU to enjoy while watching SyFy’s Sanctuary and this one pours as dark as I have ever seen a beer and there is virtually no head.  Some describe the pour as oil coming out of a can and you have to see it to truly appreciate the darkness of this beer.  I took my time with this one and I poured it in a pint glass and let it warm up a bit.  It is better warmer than fridge cold.  Oskar Blues describes Ten Fidy as “This titanic, immensely viscous stout is loaded with inimitable flavors of chocolate-covered caramel and coffee and hide a hefty 98 IBUs underneath the smooth blanket of malt.  Ten FIDY (10.5% ABV) is made with enormous amounts of two-row malt, chocolate malt, roasted barley, flaked oats and hops. Ten FIDY is the ultimate celebration of dark malts and boundary-stretching beer.”  This is an interesting beer and I cannot see one drinking more than 1 or 2 at a setting.  This is a sipping beer to be enjoyed with chocolate – good dark chocolate – or a powerful cheese.  I can see why this beer is rated high and I am glad there are a few more in the fridge.

Avery - Joe's American Plisner

Avery – Joe’s American Pilsner is a session beer at 4.7% ABV and 42 IBU.  As the story goes, Joe is Adam Avery’s grandfather who gave Adam his first taste of beer and Joe’s picture graces the can.  Yes, craft beer in cans and I think this is a good way to go.  The can is a great because there is no oxidation and no exposure to light that can damage beer.  Cans are very portable, easier to store, and are better for the environment.  The cans do not alter the taste of beer because they are lined and many craft brewers are moving to cans.  One thing that brewers in Denver have is the experience from Ball Corp. and from Coors. 

Joe’s is a nice beer and it is easy to have more than one because of the lower ABV.  I think this is the lowest ABV of any from Avery and is described on the can as, “You’re holding a contemporary rendition of a classic style. Hopped with purpose, Joe’s is beautifully bitter and dry with an abundance of floral, Noble German hops. Uber-sessionable. Utterly American. This is Premium American Pilsner.”  Avery added the hops to this beer to make it their own and this is a nice beer.  It pours clear yellow with a nice head that one needs to be aware as this can over run your glass.  The head is thick – almost meringue-like.  I poured it into a champagne flute to enjoy with dinner.  If you are a fan of pilsner’s, I suggest you try it.

Abita - TurboDog, Avery - White Rascal & Stone - Double Bastard

Last night, the family went to NoNos café and I had Blackened Crab Stuffed Quesadillas with an Abita – Turbo Dog.  Turbo Dog is a dark brown ale with 5.6% ABV and 28 IBU and has a deep brown / red color.  This went very well with the quesadilla and I would order this combination again.  Abita’s web site describes Turbo Dog as their flagship and it was a very nice beer.

After I got home, I decided to try Avery’s White Rascal – Belgian White Ale with 5.6% ABV and 10 IBU.  This pours a golden yellow color that is cloudy because the beer in unfiltered and it has a foamy head.  This is a nice drinkable beer and I would think that this would be a good “conversion” beer for those who have not tried or are new to craft beer.  I could taste the Curacao orange peel in this and I thought the balance was very nice.  This will be in my fridge during the summer as this would be great after yard work or on picnic.  Nicely done and true to style.

Last Sunday evening I tried Stone – Double Bastard – American Strong Ale with a 10.5% ABV and ? IBU.  Stone does not publish the IBUs for the Bastard line of ales.  This one pours a deep dark amber color with a smaller head.  The taste was bready, creamy, fruity – bitter fruity, and one can taste the alcohol – but it is not “hot” – one knows it there.  Personally, I liked Arrogant Bastard better, and I would like to try them side-by-side for a comparison.  I also think Double Bastard would be interesting with some cellaring and a vertical comparison.  Stone makes beer with kick and they like the hops – these will take your palette to a new level.