Opened up one of these the other night. I think it could really stand some cellaring to mellow out a bit. It could be that my palate was still overwhelmed from the weekend, but it was a little harsh for my taste. I think 3-6 months and it would be great. I'm hoping they still have some for me to put away, or at least one to put away for June.

Giant Hop Bots

Pete, I'm not sure if this is the beer you thought..... Thick and billowy head on a hazy orange pour. Piney, grassy, lemony nose. Lots of lime lends a sour bitterness that, despite it's oddness, is not unpleasant. Pungent bite with some grassiness, intense bittering hops prevalent from front to back as evidenced by hop belch follow up. Mouthfeel is a plus, as this beer doesn't fall into the off-putting sluggish syrup that some doubles often succumb to. Oily feel is nice. Alcohol noticeable more on the buzz than the taste, and I can dig that. A -

Horace!

For some reason, I have a very difficult time wrapping my head around Hop Wallop. Perhaps because it has a very different hop profile than I'm accustomed to. It's a dry, piney, grassy bitterness, that's actually abrasive. There's also a similar floral hop quality to Bell's Two Hearted. It's also creamy and somewhat thick on the tongue. I've run the gamut on this one and I used to really enjoy it. I think I still do, in a different sort of Imperial IPA way.

A -

Under-rated/Forgotten?

Bell's Expedition Stout. Barry and I saw this on the shelf last week listed as a 99/100 beer and thus thought it deserved a second taste. It most definitely does. Roasy, hoppy, chewy. Just sweet enough with a little fruity hint, but still has a nice bite to it. This is super tasty. I'm a big fan. Not sure why we haven't been more excited by this. A/A-

Lowlights from mini-beerfest

Two warnings to pass along for things to avoid:

First - Moylan's IPA:
Chris says: Like sticking in your head in a lawn mower bag and taking a big bite, after mowing a lawn with assorted dogs and livestock.
Barry says: Tastes like shit upon warming. Bitter.

Second - BBC Bourbon Barrel Stout
Chris says: I feel the headache forming after the second sip. Is there something wrong with this? You could pass this around at AA meetings and solve a lot of problems.
Barry says: Smells like glue, doesn't taste any better. Gross.

New favorite style?

Probably not, but anyway.

Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse - This is one tasty brew. It is like a cross between a good IPA and a good hefe-weizen.


A-

Weyerbacher Heresy

Awesome!

All the best flavors are there: bourbon, vanilla, mocha, bittersweet chocolate. Smooth and perfectly carbonated. I bought a single bottle tonight. Tomorrow, several many more will be purchased for beer fest.

Grade: A.

Spring Break in Bloomington

Espresso Oak Aged Yetti's best attribute is the Sasquatch drinking a coffee on the label.

Chris says too much bitter coffee and not enough vanilla. B

Barry says this beer is a bit disjointed, with not enough of a coffee presence. Oak is too woody, almost like licking a gerbil's balsa wood treat. B-

Hop Stoopid

Chris says 10% too much hops. Grapefruit analysis concurred. I like it better than the Flossmoor. B +

Barry says Yum. A

J.W. Lees Harvest Ale

Chris says tastes like caramel, vanilla ice cream. A

Barry says this is what I'd like a barley wine to taste like. Apple saucy, caramel, vanilla, sweet but avoids clying sweetness. Mellow with ridiculous sediment. A

Flossmoor X-IPA

Beer tastes like a forest. Chris thinks it could be hung from the rear view mirror. Very piney with a bitter finish.

Chris B

Barry B +

Ten Fidy

Chris - comfort beer, like endangered species dark chocolate bar A

Barry - sweet chocolate cherry sundae, lacks the bitterness I enjoy in big stouts B

Joint blogging #1

Smells like an imperial stout, looks like a barleywine, tastes like a strong ale. Better cold, gets too thick as it warms up. Teases & taunts like a barleywine with a better smell than taste. Might need some aging to make it mellow. A beer without an identity - like a confused middle schooler.

Barry - B+
Chris -B+

Flooding the Torpedo Tubes

There is nothing subtle about Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA. The one I am drinking right now is too warm. I have five more in the fridge, chilling peacefully.

Very bitter. It's like if you put just a little too much hot sauce on your favorite food.

I'll give it a B.

Goose Island Nightstalker!

Is amazing. Had it on draft tonight. It's supposed to be the same base as the Bourbon County, but instead of aging it in bourbon barrels, they dry hop the hell out of it. Perhaps the best Imperial Stout yet? Survey says....

Stoopid for Hops

Lagunitas Hop Stoopid is an awesome borderline IPA/double IPA and is $3.99 / bomber. Sold!

And it is in Madison now, which is awesome.

Delicious IPA's, I miss you

Poured into my Magic Chouffee tulip

Clear, filtered pour

Beer has hardly any discernible scents...odd

Grassy bitterness and butter cookies

Watery mouthfeel

I keep drinking and thinking....rather flummoxed by what's here, or rather what isn't. I'm in an IPA rut. Whoa is me.

C -