Beer Review: Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout (2012, fresh)

Reviewing the 2012 vintage of the Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout from Central Waters Brewing Company. I have never met a "cherry stout" I liked, but friends assure me that if I will ever like one, it will be this one. Thank you Kendra for handing this one over as an extra. Thank you even more for not giving me the one with the screwed up label.
Score: 85

2012 vintage bottle with the February month ticked on the side of the label. Served in a Great Lakes snifter and enjoyed on 04/24/12.

Appearance: Pour a deep black color with a thick layer of caramel color at the top when held up to light. Less than half a finger of creamy khaki colored head at pour settles into a ring around the glass. Decent lacing with decent, but inconsistent, lacing. 4/5

Smell: Primarily fudge, but there's a light amount of coffee, some dark chocolate and a light amount of cherry in the aroma too. Hint of vanilla. A real nice blend and balance of stout aromatics with a light cherry twist here. 4/5

Taste: There's some complexity here, but those complexities do not blend well together. There's a little tart cherry sweetness, bready malt and a little caramel upfront. Then creamy chocolate and a modest amount of vanilla on the midpalate. The finish is slightly oaky chocolate with residual sweetness from the cherry. Honestly, that cherry is almost like a backbone in the beer and it's too contrasting without any real sense of belonging with the rest of the flavors. There's honestly no bourbon flavor here whatsoever. Growing cherry flavor as the beer warms/layers -- especially on the midpalate and in the linger. The residual aftertaste is a real nice chocolate-covered cherry flavor that you wish the rest of the beer tasted like. No real booziness to the beer at all. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied, medium-plus carbonation. Honestly a little too much carbonation here. Or maybe I'm mistaking the prickly tartness from the cherry for carbonation. Either way, the mouthfeel is too thin and bubbly on the palate for an imperial stout. Has a slightly syrupy mouthfeel. 3.5/5

Overall: This beer certainly has potential, and it has the flavor components needed to be pretty good, but as crafted is a bit of a sloppy mess. The flavor components are too "individualized" and blend about as well as oil and water on the palate.

Recommendation: Give this one a try if you get a chance, but do not go out of your way to find it.

Pairings: Chocolate cake.

Cost: $3.49 for a single bottle or $11.99 for a four pack.

Beer Review: Wet Willy Scotch Ale

Reviewing the Wet Willy Scotch Ale from New England Brewing Company out of Massachusetts.
Score: 65

Fall 2011 vintage bottle with code "7283 B-22227" printed on the bottom of the bottle. Served in a Stella Artois chalice and enjoyed on 04/24/12.

Appearance: Pours a dark brownish red color. Translucent. Thin layer of head at pour settles to a pencil thin bubbly ring around the glass. Lots of bubbles and a little sediment floating around. Minimal lacing, poor retention. 3/5

Smell: Brown sugar, bready malt, sweet caramel, and a little vanilla cream soda. Modest amount of fig too. Light boozy heat. 3.75/5

Taste: Lots of bready malt and malty caramel upfront. Lots of carbonation. Brown sugar too. Incredibly sweet, not very balanced in flavor. Has a super sweet vanilla creamy soda finish. Could not finish drinking the beer, it was so malty sweet. Alcohol well-hidden, however. 2/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, too much carbonation. Slick mouthfeel. Very sweet. 2.5/5

Overall: Overly malty sweet beer with too much carbonation. The alcohol is hidden well if you can stomach the maltiness. This is easily the least balanced scotch ale that I have had to date.

Recommendation: Skip this beer.

Pairings: Pistachio nuts.

Cost: $7.99 for a four pack.

Beer Review: New Glarus Apple Ale

Reviewing the Apple Ale from New Glarus Brewing Company. New Glarus is famous for its fruit beers. This is my first fruit beer by New Glarus.
Score: 86

Summer 2011 vintage bottle served in a New Glarus flute and enjoyed on 04/24/12.

Appearance: Pours a clean and transparent golden straw yellow, apple juice-like color. Has a pretty effervescent appearance. A finger of bubbly head at pour settles into a bubbly ring around the glass. Below average lacing and poor retention. 4/5

Smell: Sweet-and-sour apple candy mixed with juicy and sweet honeycrisp apple and mactinosh apple aroma. There's a little candied watermelon and spice in the aroma too. Smells like it could be a Smirnoff Ice variant. Quite pleasant. 4/5

Taste: There's a nice sweet and juicy apple flavor throughout with candied, but not sweet-and-sour (surprisingly, given the aroma), apple flavor on the midpalate. Some have described this beer as a green jolly rancher, and I'd agree. The flavor is very pleasant and crisp, but then there is a really strange aftertaste to the beer. The aftertaste is slightly grainy with a malty corn sugar flavor -- almost like a malty American adjunct lager-like flavor that reminds you "hey, this is a beer" (but in a negative way, given the beer's primary flavors). The aftertaste really ruins what would have otherwise been a really refreshing fruit beer. 3.25/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with lively carbonation. Nice and prickly sweetness on the tongue. Juicy mouthfeel. Sweet, fruity and crisp. 3.75/5

Overall: No one else I talked to who has had this beer before could recall the aftertaste, but they had the beer awhile ago. Maybe this beer has fallen off or I just got a bad bottle. If not for the aftertaste, I would have probably scored this one much closer to a 90.

Recommendation: If you like fruit beers or the flavor of the green jolly rancher, then seek this one out.

Pairings: Horchata.

Cost: $2.99 for a 12 oz bottle or $10.99 for a four pack.

Beer Review: New Glarus Cranbic Ale

Reviewing the Cran-bic Ale from New Glarus Brewing Company. Full disclosure upfront: not a fan of sours generally.
Score: 84

2011 vintage bottle served in a New Glarus flute and enjoyed on 04/23/12.

Appearance: Pours a cider color with a thin layer of bubble head that quickly dissipates into a pencil thin ring around the glass. Minimal lacing, poor retention. 3/5

Smell: Tart cranberries, granny smith apples and a little white grape. Hawaiian punch and little sweet vinegar sour aroma too. Nice sweet-and-sour aroma. 3.75/5

Taste: Tart, sweet-and-sour cranberries and grape upfront, with a light yeasty twang, subsides into a funky/sweet cranberry flavor on the back half. I like how the beer starts, but I do not like how it finishes so funky. Decent puckering effect. Very straightforward and one dimensional. The funky finish gets a little less funky as the beer layers. Has a light sweet rice vinegar and cranberry linger -- less crisp than expected given its effervescence. 3.25/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, lively carbonation. Champagne-like mouthfeel. Very prickly on the tongue. Sweet, sugary and dry. 4/5

Overall: Certainly not a bad beer; this is one of the better fruit beers I have encountered. However, an off-puttingly funky finish really ruins what would have otherwise been a really solid beer.

Recommendation: Fans of Smirnoff Ice will probably love this. I'm sure sour fans will also like this one a lot too.

Pairings: Apple walnut salad with balsamic or raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

Cost: $2.99 for a 12 oz bottle or $10.99 for a four pack.

Beer Review: The Count

Reviewing the The Count from Grimm Brothers Brewhouse out of Colorado.
Score: 92

2012 vintage bottle from the February 18 release. Served in a CBS snifter and enjoyed on 04/23/12.

Appearance: Pours a pitch black color with a thin layer of creamy dark brown head that settles to a ring around the glass. Decent lacing, excellent retention. 4.5/5

Smell: Creamy milk chocolate, raw dark chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar, fig and a subtle booziness. Touch of cherry and a light bourbon aroma. Muted coffee. This a very smooth and pleasant smelling Russian Imperial Stout. 4/5

Taste: First impression is modestly boozy and creamy dark chocolate that quickly turns dry with lots of roast and a good amount of bitterness on the back half. The dryness makes for a really interesting texture that is almost oaty and akin to eating raw Cherios from the box or dry Quaker oats from the tin. The beer's front and back half flavor has an almost day-and-night contrast. There's creamy milk chocolate and fig sweetness upfront. There's some creamy vanilla and brown sugar in the front half too. The midpalate is dry, chalky, and a bit smoky with a modest amount of oak flavor. The front half flavor completely dissipates and is replaced with a bitter cocoa powder, raw chocolate and roast flavor in the back half. There's some subtle bitter coffee in the finish too. Although sweet booziness is apparent upfront, the chalky midpalate and dry finish really hides the alcohol well for the majority of the experience. Certainly a very interestingly flavored beer. Cannot say that I have ever had anything else with this flavor and mouthfeel. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Full-medium bodied, minimal carbonation. Creamy/chalky mouthfeel (see the description in "taste"). Finishes dry and bitter. 4.5/5

Overall: This Russian Imperial Stout is quite unique. The mouthfeel is just so...interesting, and the flavors are delightful. If you, like me, enjoy that "cottonmouth" feeling from eating dry oats, you really need to give this one a whirl. I am glad I have three more bottles of this; can't wait to see what time does to this beer as the booziness subsides.

Recommendation: If you can stand a modest booziness in your Russian Imperial Stout (it's nothing like the booziness in the Courage Russian Imperial Stout), then seek this one out. There's not a strong bourbon flavor from the barrel aging, but there is plenty of chocolate, creamy vanilla and roast to satisfy fans of the style.

Pairings: A really moist chocolate cake a la mode.

Cost: $13 for a 22 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Ghandi Bot

Reviewing the Ghandi Bot from New England Brewing Company out of Massachussets. I have hear really excellent things about this beer and this brewery, and I am extremely excited to try my first beer from them. I have a Wet Willy Scotch Ale and Imperial Stout Trooper (thanks ProperHops!) in the cellar too. This beer used to be in 16 oz cans, but it now comes in 12 oz servings.
Score: 95

Can code is "00818A2BE," whatever that means. I believe this can is from the mid/late February canning. Served in a Stella Artois chalice and enjoyed on 04/13/12.

Appearance: Pours a murky tangerine color that falls between translucent and opaque. This is a really nice color body for an IPA with some flaky sediment floating around the beer. Just over one finger of off-white frothy head that settles into a thin foggy layer atop the beer. Excellent lacing with average retention for an IPA. 4/5

Smell: The nose is loaded with bright and juicy tropical citrus aromas. A strong lemon zest and lemonade aroma hits first, along with peach, mango and pineapple. Candied grapefruit too. The citrus aromas are almost "sweet-and-sour," not unlike Heady Topper. There's some bitter orange rind in the mix too. Behind the citrus is your typical "tree-like" piney hops. Very pleasant. 5/5

Taste: Nice juicy bitter citrus and oily hops flavor here. There's a nice lemon and pine mix upfront, followed by sweet-and-sour candied grapefruit, pineapple juice and tangerine. The hop bitterness really hits on the midpalate and lingers. There's bitter orange rind in the back half too. There's an almost honey-like flavor on the midpalate. Very good bitter and sweet balance; quite refreshing. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with higher-end carbonation that really perks the candied citrus flavors on the tongue. Very oily and juicy mouthfeel. Finishes bitter with some residual citrus sweetness. 4.5/5

Overall: One of the top double IPAs that I have tried to date. An excellent example of the juicy IPA style.

Recommendation: Fans of Heady Topper, Hopslam and Zombie Dust should absolutely seek this one out. I would absolutely hunt this one down again.

Pairings: Goose Island's "Black Earth Burger" with marmalade onions would be absolutely perfect with this.

Cost: $9.99 for a four pack.

Beer Review: Insanity

Reviewing the Insanity (unknown vintage) from Weyerbacher Brewing Company.
Score: 87

I wrote down the bottle code as being "02511245." Not sure what that translates to exactly. Served in a New Holland beer glass and enjoyed on 04/04/12.

Appearance: Pours a hazy bourbon color with a thin bubbly layer of tan head that quickly dissipates entirely. Minimal lacing, poor retention. 3.5/5

Smell: Brown sugar, molasses, and marshmallow. Light cherry and creamy vanilla. Very sweet and malty aroma. 3.75/5

Taste: Sweet brown sugar and marshmallow up front. A little molasses and fig sweetness, a light amount of cherry and a little plum too. Hint of oak towards finish. Some caramel malt throughout. The alcohol is completely hidden. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied, minimal carbonation. A bit too thin for the style. Creamy mouthfeel. Sweet finish. 3/5

Overall: Really solidly flavored barrel aged barleywine marred by an overly thin mouthfeel. This one drinks real smooth; too smoothly for an 11% ABV beer. Be careful with this one -- the alcohol will sneak up on you.

Recommendation: Definitely give this one a whirl sometime, though I think it is a bit over hyped. The flavors and mouthfeel should not be too intense for the casual beer drinker, though I may have drank an older vintage of the beer for all I know.

Pairings: English Stilton cheese.

Cost: $14.99 for a four pack.

Beer Review: Cubano-Style Espresso Brown Ale

Reviewing the Cubano-Style Espresso Brown Ale from Cigar City Brewing.
Score: 87

Bottle neck says "Jun 161." Served in a Hunahpu snifter and enjoyed on 04/04/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: At pour, this beer immediately turns into a titanic amount of soapy tan head. This beer would have foamed over my glass before I had poured half the beer if I was not paying attention. The head ultimately settles into a thin layer. The beer is a deep coffee brown color that turns to a dull yellow-brown color when held up to light. The body is pretty opaque. Excellent lacing, above average retention. Has a noticeably effervescent appearance. 4/5

Smell: Iced coffee, pecans, bready malt and vanilla cream soda. A light amount of earthy hops and coffee grounds is in the mix too. There is a non-descript "mixed nut" smell here. The nose is pretty sweet. 4/5

Taste: Sugary vanilla creamy soda with a nutty twist. Has a traditional brown ale flavor, but is much sweeter than your average brown ale. A little roast and a touch of sweet caramel. There is a modest coffee backbone. 4/5

Mouthfeel: There is where the beer fails. The beer is lighter, maybe light-medium, bodied and extremely carbonated. This beer is quite over-carbonated to be frank. Has a fizzy and sweet mouthfeel. 2.5

Overall: A bit sweet for my taste buds, but this would have been a really good brown ale if not for the over carbonation issue.

Recommendation: Worth trying. Do not seek out this beer specifically, but if you are trading with someone with access to Cigar City Brewing beer, ask them if they can get you a bottle.

Pairings: Merck's Swiss-and-almond cheese spread.

Cost: $7.99 for a four pack.

Beer Review: Eclipse Imperial Stout (Four Roses bourbon version)

Reviewing the Eclipse Imperial Stout (Four Roses bourbon version) from FiftyFifty Brewing Company.
Score: 92

2011 vintage, bottle no. 2641. Served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 03/07/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours half a finger of creamy tan head that settles to a thin ring around the glass. Jet black with caramel strip of highlight atop the glass. Average lacing, above average retention. 4/5

Smell: Surprisingly straightforward for a barrel aged beer. Lots of dark chocolate. Then vanilla bean and a little toffee. Not much else. 4/5

Taste: Primarily a medley of various chocolate flavors. Some dark chocolate, creamy milk chocolate and some roasted chocolate. A little oak, followed by bourbon and caramel undertones. There is a modest amount of dark fruit, and a honey-like sweetness. Not very complex outside the chocolate flavors, but still very delicious. Alcohol is entirely hidden. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied, minimal carbonation. Really creamy mouthfeel. The finish is dry and slightly sweet. 4.5/5

Overall: Really tasty, but not very complex. This is a super solid barrel aged imperial stout that drinks incredibly well.

Recommendation: Delicious? Yes. Worth the cost? No. At $30+ a bottle, this is one certainly overpriced for what it is. I would absolutely drink it again, but there are plenty of cheaper, easier to find barrel aged imperial stouts out there.

Pairings: Chocolate chip pancakes.

Cost: $30 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Beer Review: Double Sunshine IPA

Reviewing the Double Sunshine IPA from Lawson's Finest Liquids out of Vermont. This is one of the most sought after IPA in the county, along with Heady Topper, and it is not easy to get a hold of if you do not live near the three places that sell Lawson's beer. This is my first Lawson's beer and I am very excited to try it.
Score: 100

No bottle date, but this once was received via trade on 04/05/12 and purchased towards the end of March. Served in a Half Acre tulip and enjoyed on 04/09/12.

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy and pretty translucent golden orange color. Three fingers of off-white soapy head at pour slowly settles into a thin bubbly layer. Excellent lacing, good retention. 5/5

Smell: Tons of mango, pineapple and bright tropical citrus upfront. Peach, apricot, and lots of fresh, sweet grapefruit. A modest dose of pine. There's a sugary/candied tropical fruit aroma to this. 5/5

Taste: Fresh, sweet and sticky tropical citrus upfront quickly followed by a strongly bitter hops oil flavor on the midpalate and in the finish. Grapefruit, pineapple juice, peach and mango. A little bit of pulpy orange as the beer layers. There's a really nice piney hop kick in the finish. This beer takes you to the extreme of sweet and juicy citrus IPA flavor and reels you back with a deliciously bitter hop bite. Gets even better and more balanced as the beer layers. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium-plus carbonation that simultaneously perks the hops on the palate and lets the bitterness sit heavy. Really nice and oily mouthfeel. Dry, bitter finish. 5/5

Overall: Pitch perfect DIPA. Loads of juicy tropical citrus and bitter pine balance to boot. This one smells and tastes just as good as Abrasive Ale.

Recommendation: Seek this beer out. Assuming you like IPA's, this is one of the absolute best in the style that you will ever have the opportunity to try.

Pairings: Goose Island's "Black Earth Burger" would be perfect with this.

Cost: $10 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle that really looks like a 750 ml.

Modified Beer Rating System

Hey everyone.

First off, let me give a hearty thank you to everyone for the support thus far. With over 70 twitter followers and almost 10,000 visitors in this site's five-plus months of existence, the support and following has been greater than anything I could have ever expected.

In reviewing 200+ beers over the past half year, I have come to the realization in trying to nuance beers that a scale of 1-5 with half steps is insufficient to properly review beer. I began with that system because that is what BeerAdvocate uses, but some beers that I give a 4.0 are really a 4.2 and others are a 3.9. But each gets a 4.0. The simple and rounded numbers are a nice shorthand, but I think that a little more nuance is really needed to fully communicate my thoughts on a beer and best explain my final score rating.

To this end, my new ratings scale is going to add quarter steps.

These changes will be implemented starting with my next review...the Double Sunshine IPA from Lawson's Finest Liquids. As always, leave any questions/comments/feedback in the comment section or feel contact me via email.

PROST!

Beer Review: Lunch

Reviewing Lunch from from Maine Beer Company
Score: 91

Bottled on 03/22/12. Served in a stemmed Hill Farmstead snifter and enjoyed on 04/05/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a slightly reddish orange color. Held up to light, the beer has a blood orange core that fades to a dull golden yellow at the top and bottom of the glass. One finger of off-white frothy and bubbly head at pour quickly settles to a bubble ring and thin foggy layer atop the glass. Below average lacing, average retention. 4/5

Smell: Sweet and juicy tropical citrus and pine. Pineapple, lemon zest, and grapefruit. A light amount of spicy caramel too. 4/5

Taste: Sharp bitter hops and grapefruit/lemon upfront. Spiced caramel backbone. Lots of earthy hop oils and fresh mulch. Touch of barley malt. A straightforward and refreshing IPA. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium-plus carbonation that makes the hops prickle the tongue. Oily mouthfeel. Bitter finish. 4/5

Overall: A very bitter, slightly spicy IPA that is every bit as good as Exponential Hoppiness.

Recommendation: Seek this one out

Pairings: Spicy Thai food.

Cost: $6.99 for a 16.9 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Jabby Brau

Reviewing Jabby Brau from from Jack's Abby Brewing.
Score: 88

No bottling date. This one was sent to me as a gracious extra from a trade conducted with BeerAdvocate user Rudzud. Served in a stemmed Hill Farmstead snifter and enjoyed on 04/05/12.

Appearance: Pours a transparent straw yellow, slightly golden, color with one-plus fingers of white frothy head that quickly settles into a foggy layer atop the glass. Excellent lacing, slightly above average retention with a good amount of sticky residual. 4/5

Smell: Sweet barley grain, bready malt, a little orange peel and corn. A little grass too. The aroma is very straightforward: faint citrus and hops mixed in with a lot of grain. 3.5/5

Taste: Bread, dry cereal, smooth and oily grain and grass hops. Faint orange/lemon citrus. Pretty crisp. Again, pretty straightforward. Very sessionable. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, medium-high carbonation. Oily and slick mouthfeel. Slightly malty, slightly bitter finish. 4/5

Overall: Super solid beer for the style. I honestly never thought I would find myself legitimately enjoying a pale lager, but here we are. Being super solid for the style can only take you so far overall, however. After the gauntlet of IPA's, stouts, porters, red ales, etc. that I have consumed since starting this blog, this one ultimately rates as above average, but nothing superior. Do not let that discourage you, however; I would absolutely drink another glass of this. It is incredibly sessionable.

Recommendation: Fans of pale lagers should seek this one out. This would be an excellent starter craft beer for BMC consumers.

Pairings: Wienerschnitzel.

Cost: $3.99 for a 16.9 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Galaxy Imperial Single Hop IPA

Reviewing the Galaxy Imperial Single Hop IPA from the Hill Farmstead Brewery. Thank you Jason for sending me this brew!
Score: 94

No bottling date, but this one was picked up from the brewery approximately one week ago. Served in a stemmed Hill Farmstead snifter and enjoyed on 04/04/12.

Appearance: Pours a hazy and transclucent golden yellow color. One-plus fingers of cream colored seafoam head at pour settles into a thin layer atop the glass. Amazing lacing, undying retention. This IPA is beautiful. 5/5

Smell: Huge notes of fresh tropical citrus. Grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, apricot and mango. Fresh pine and freshly cut grass. Candied grapefruit too. 4.5/5

Taste: The aroma's hops were piney and a bit leafy, but the flavor's hops are downright earthy. Heavy, sticky and earthy hops pummel the palate along with light, complex, juicy and sweet tropical citrus flavors to balance out the hoppy bitterness. Pineapple, grapefruit, orange, mango and lemon. Maybe a little peach and apricot. Definitely detecting some "fresh mulch" or dirt-like flavor from the earthy hops (but not in a bad way, despite how bad such a descriptor might sound). The flavor throughout is very consistent: heavy hops with a sweet juicy citrus backhone. Finishes with a lingering earthy hop bitterness. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Light-medium bodied with low carbonation. The lesser carbonation works really well with the heavy, earthy hops on the palate. Juicy mouthfeel. Bitter finish. 4/5

Overall: Another home run from Hill Farmstead, who are quickly proving to me that they are the northeast masters of hops. If you liked Half Acre's Double Daisy Cutter, you will absolutely enjoy this one too.

Recommendation: If you like your IPA's juicy, and especially if you like heavier, earthier hops in your beer, then seek this one out. Short of the most casual beer drinker and the most cynical hop hater, I feel the remainder of beer enthusiasts out there could/should/would enjoy this one.

Pairings: Home grilled hamburgers with plenty of garlic and mango BBQ sauce.

Cost: $9 for a 750 ml swing-top bottle (plus a $3 deposit).

Beer Review: 75 Minute IPA

Reviewing the 75 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. DFH bills this as a blend of the 60 Minute and 90 Minute IPA's with maple syrup added. The artwork is awesome, and, courtesy of n00b BIF, I have a 75 Minute IPA shirt that I got to enjoy this beer while wearing.
Score: 81

Bottle is dated "2012B" (2012 vintage). Served in a stemmed Hill Farmstead snifter and enjoyed on 04/04/12.

Appearance: Pours four fingers of titanic, white soapy head. Noticeable effervescence on the body, which is a dull orange/yellow color and translucent (the color is washed out a bit by the flash from the iPhone -- sorry). Good lacing, below average retention. 3.5/5

Smell: Caramel and toffee upfront. Lemon, musty orange, wood, stale apricot, grass, bitter grains and flat hops. There's nothing very inviting going on here. Where is the maple? 3/5

Taste: Grains, grass and a little brown sugar. None of the added maple is in the flavor either. Spicy hops, stale citrus and a touch of peppercorn. Lots of malt here -- primarily caramel and toffee flavored ones mixed with the bitter grain. I wish I did quarter step reviews, because this beer is getting a real soft 3.5 out of 5. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied, medium high carbonation. Honestly, a bit over-carbonated for what it is. Oily mouthfeel. Bitter finish. A bit too acidic. 3.5/5

Overall: A decent and drinkable beer, but it falls far short of the hype. Stick to the 90 Minute.

Recommendation: Not worth running around town and dropping $10+ a bottle.

Pairings: Dogfish Head recommends avocado and hamburgers, comparing this beer to a Chardonnay. That seems fair.

Cost: $9.99 for a 750 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Sam Adams Utopias (2011, relatively fresh)

Reviewing the infamous Samuel Adams Utopias from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams). Jason Richard sent me a sample of the 2011 vintage this beer in a pouch to review. Thank you so much Jason!
Score: 94

2011 vintage sample served in a stemmed Hill Farmstead snifter and enjoyed on 04/04/12.

Appearance: Pours a transparent dark caramel brown color that looks like a shot of whiskey. Absolutely no head, no lacing, and, by extension, no retention. Tilting the glass to inspect the color for a minute left an oily line across the middle of the side of the glass that slowly oozed its way down, back into the beer. This beer looks incredibly menacing. 4/5

Smell: Hoo boy! Upfront is a fiery, vodka-like alcohol aroma that singes nose hairs, but quickly behind it is a pleasant mix of brown sugar, smooth caramel, and maple. There is raisin, fig, peanut, walnut, leather, tobacco, and vanilla too. This is easily the "hottest" aroma I have experienced to date, but the nuances behind the fiery spirit smell are pretty awesome. 4/5

Taste: Whoa. For as fiery as the aroma is, the taste is substantially smoother. Sweet grape, vanilla, and brown sugar upfront, with a lingering brown sugar sweetness. Lots of sweet raisin, cognac, oak and dark fruit on the midpalate. Further sips reveal sugary molasses, whiskey caramel malt, vanilla, and cognac flavors. There's a distinct booziness and alcohol warmth on the palate (at 27% ABV, this is quite expected), but it is surprisingly well mixed with rest of the flavor components. This tastes almost like a smoother, sugarier brown spirit with a red wine and raisin twist. This brew is very complex, and it's fifteen year aging process in everything from port and cognac to whiskey barrels is apparent. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, no carbonation. Thick, chewy, syrupy and sugary. Finishes sweet. 5/5

Overall: Big, bold, delectable and sweet. This is a heavy sipper that should be enjoyed a few ounces at a time (there is no way in heck I could enjoy a full glass of this stuff, even at a lower ABV). The beer is not too sweet for me, but it's certainly one of the sweeter beers that I have enjoyed. Those that think Dark Lord is a diabetes-laden sweet bomb should be forewarned.

Recommendation: Priced at $8 per ounce if you can manage to get your hands on a bottle, or $20 for 1-2 ounces at those rare bars that carry it on their top shelf, this one is definitely overpriced for what it is -- but it is absolutely worth trying once. Find a bottle and split it with your friends.

Pairings: Chocolate chip pancakes or Crème Brulee.

Cost: Retails at approximately $200 for a 750 ml bottle that looks like a brew kettle. That is, if you are lucky enough to find a bottle at the price.

Beer Review: Rare Bourbon County Stout

Reviewing the Rare Bourbon County Stout from Goose Island Brewing Company. This beer was a one-time, now retired and incredibly hard to find brew -- the 2008 batch of Bourbon County Brand Stout aged for two-years in 23 year old Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrels. These barrels, in turn, were used to age the King Henry barleywine.
Score: 100

Bottle Number 4784. Bottled on 11/19/10. Served in Duvel glasses and shared with my magnanimous buddy Bryan Hernandez on 03/31/12 at Merkles Bar & Grill in Wrigleyville. This was the last bottle of Bourbon County Rare in the bar, and it was not even on the bar menu. We gave a sample pour to our server, Jenni, and she seemed to love it.

Appearance: Pours a jet black color that is a total vacuum of light. Completely opaque. A thin mocha/espresso-colored head at pour quickly dissipates into a thin ring around the glass. This beer is absolutely imposing in appearance. Minimal lacing with surprisingly average retention. 5/5

Smell: Deep, rich and bold vanilla pleasantly dominates and invigorates the aroma. Smooth bourbon-soaked raisin, light oatmeal, molasses, dark chocolate, cocoa, milk chocolate and just a subtle hint of currant/black cherry. 5/5

Taste: Delicately crafted, robust and balanced. Savory vanilla and smooth, rich bourbon-soaked raisin hit right upfront. There is no booziness at all, but there is a light and pleasant warmth and liveliness on the midpalate. The back half of this beer is loaded with complex and luscious chocolate flavors -- creamy milk chocolate, dark chocolate, unsweetened raw chocolate and a little bit of bittersweet chocolate morsel. The unsweetened chocolate and bourbony raisin sweetness layer up on the palate real nicely. There's some oak and maple syrup flavor on the midpalate too. This beer is sweet, but ever so perfectly so for the style and far from being "overly sweet." A little caramel, tobacco, and butterscotch come out as the beer warms and layers. This beer is heavenly. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, minimal carbonation. Creamy and syrupy mouthfeel. Sweet and slightly dry finish. Perfect imperial stout mouthfeel. 5/5

Overall: This is easily the best barrel aged beer I have ever had.

Recommendation: $60 is a steep price to pay for 22 ounces of beer (almost $2.75 an ounce, or about 20% the cost per ounce of ordering a Sam Adams Utopias pour at a bar), but it is well worth the price for the quality of beer you get. Bourbon County Rare is drinking perfectly right now, and Goose Island has no intention, as far as I am aware, of ever making this beer again. With only 940 cases of this beer produced, it is only getting harder and harder to find and try with every bottle consumed. Seek this one out now, before it's all gone or before the beer is past its prime.

Pairings: Do not pair this beer with anything. It is a rich and luscious dessert to be enjoyed in its own right and on its own merit. If you must, however, pair it with a food, try s'mores.

Cost: $60 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle at the bar. This cost somewhere around $45-50 a bottle retail when it was first released, but you would be hard pressed to find a better deal than the $60 we paid at Merkles. I know two other bars in the city that still have a bottle of this, and they charge $75 and $100 for the bottle.

Beer Review: Raison D'Être

Reviewing the Raison D'Être from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.
Score: 83

Bottled on 08/09/11, served in a pint glass at Merkles Bar & Grill in Wrigleyville and enjoyed on 03/31/12 with my good friend Bryan Hernandez.

Appearance: Pours a murky, blood orange colored core that fades to a dull late sunset colored outline. Minimal head at pour, just a little bubble tan layer that quickly settles. Minimal oily lacing, below average retention. 3/5

Smell: Brown sugar, Belgian yeast, cinnamon and nutmeg. Raisin, fig, banana, creamy vanilla, and doughy bread (Hernandez swears it smells like the Guinness bread he baked the other week). The menu says there is "beet sugar" in the aroma, but I would not have guessed it if the menu did not tell me that. 3.5/5

Taste: First impression is yeast and doughy bread with a modest vanilla twist. There is a dry and nondescript earthy bitterness (hops?) on the back half of the palate. Malty wheat, banana bread and an earthy nuttiness on the midpalate. Some light raisin flavor, without the sweetness, mixed throughout. None of the brown sugar or cinnamon from the aroma is seemingly present in the flavor. Finishes with a lingering Belgian yeast flavor that is a bit sugary. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Smooth, slightly oily mouthfeel. Very dry, and a little acidic upfront. 3.5/5

Overall: Most DFH brews, given their experimental approach to craft, tend to be hit-or-miss, but this one falls somewhere between. I enjoyed this beer, and it was solid, but I would not have ordered another. I doubt I would buy this at the store in the future either, having previously tried it. DFH makes much better beers (e.g., Miles Davis Bitches Brew) than this, but they also make plenty that are way worse (e.g., Faithfull Ale).

Recommendation: Worth trying, but not worth seeking out.

Pairings: Roasted chicken.

Cost: $5 for a 12 oz bottle at the bar.

Beer Review: Resin

Reviewing the Resin from Sixpoint Brewing Company out of New York.
Score: 82

The can boldly claims that it is best before November 23, 2012. Served in a Founders Tulip and enjoyed on 03/30/12.

Appearance: Pours a honey orange color that falls between transparent and translucent. One finger of creamy cream colored head at pour slowly settles into a thin layer. Slightly average lacing, above average retention. 3.5/5

Smell: Spicy caramel, hops, mulch, orange and grapefruit. Not bad, but not very bold. 3.5/5

Taste: Spicy caramel, peppercorn, orange, modest hops and lots of malty tropical citrus. Not a whole lot going on beyond that. Very straight forward, not complex. Too malty for an IPA, but very drinkable. 9% ABV completely hidden. 3/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, low carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. Bitter finish. 3.5/5

Overall: Too malty and under-carbonated for an IPA. It's drinkable, and unoffensive, but not stand out by any stretch of the imagination. I think this one was way overhyped for what it was.

Recommendation: Decent IPA, but nothing worth seeking out.

Pairings: Mango BBQ drenched chicken wings.

Cost: $10.99 for a four pack of cans.

Beer Review: Cuir

Reviewing the Cuir from The Bruery. I reviewed the 100% barred aged version of this at the end of last year.
Score: 79

2011 vintage bottle with bottle number 16598. Served in a wine glass and enjoyed on 03/31/12 with my good friends Adam Kaplan and Bryan Hernandez in the elegant W Hotel in River North.

Appearance: Pours a deep and hazy amber color that fades from a deep mahogany at the top to a reddish amber color at the bottom. Two fingers of creamy tan head at pour settles to a decently thick later. Amazing lacing, superior retention. 4.5/5

Smell: Barnyard funkiness and caramel. There's a sweet grape flavor that Hernandez described as "Sherry-like." I am not a wine connoisseur, but he is, so I'll take his word for it. There is barley malt, dried apricot and a light blackberry fruitiness as well. I detect a hint of rose petal, but no one else seems to agree. There is a light alcohol heat in the nose, and it grows as the beer approaches room temperature. For all the complex nuance to the nose, though, you really have to fight through the funkiness in the aroma to detect it. 3.5/5

Taste: Sweet caramel and funky malt throughout. The alcohol is decently hidden at first. The funk seems to subside a little as the beer layers, but as it warms it gets less balanced and more boozy. Bitter barley and banana yeast on the midpalate. Some dried fruit and apricot in addition to modest berry notes. The fortified wine/grape from the nose is in the flavor too. Bitter barley finish and linger with a warming effect on the palate. The funkiness is really detracting. 3/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. There is too much carbonation for how acidic and malty this beer is. Acidic finish. 2.5/5

Overall: Complex, but marred by a funkiness that overshadows the better qualities of this beer. It gets less balanced as it warms, and is too carbonated for how acidic and malty Cuir is. I do not like to throw the infected label around very often, but I did not see any other reviews that described the funkiness experienced with this beer. Maybe we just got a bad bottle. I have had the 100% Cuir before and it, in addition to tasting divine, tasted quite dissimilar to this (with a much heavier mouthfeel). I could not finish my glass once this beer hit room temperature.

Recommendation: This beer gets re-released every year, with a slightly different blend of base beers, with a new title. The 2012 version is called Fruet. I'd recommend waiting for a bottle of that, which will be easier to get, instead of seeking this one out.

Pairings: A nutty white cheese like gruyere.

Cost: $20 for a 750 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Liquid Inspiration Stout

Reviewing the Liquid Inspiration Stout from Goose Island Brewing Company. This beer is sort of the successor to Goose Island's original, and now retired, oatmeal stout.
Score: 89

10 oz snifter pour at the Goose Island Brewpub in Wrigleyville on 03/31/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Jet black color and totally opaque from what I can tell in this modestly lit establishment. I put my iPhone on full brightness, and none of the light cut through the beer. Served with a finger-plus of khaki-colored head that slowly settles into a thin layer. Awesome lacing and retention. 4.5/5

Smell: Oats, roast, coffee, and citrus hops. Light chocolate. 3.5/5

Taste: This is a surprisingly hoppy oatmeal stout. Roasted coffee and piney citrus hops of upfront. Toasted oats and a light smokiness too. Nice bitter blend of raw biter chocolate, coffee and hops. Finishes with oats and hops, but only the oats flavor lingers. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, light carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. Slightly bitter and citrusy finish. 4/5

Overall: Essentially black IPA with oat characteristics. Reminds me of a hoppy Nw Glarus Road Slush. This is a solid beer that I would certainly drink again if offered, but the $7 price tag for a 10 oz pour, especially for what this beer is, gives me some pause (by comparison, a six pack of Road Slush will only cost you a buck more). The beer is well balanced and not overly hoppy. I could see some IPA haters somewhat enjoying this one.

Recommendation: Definitely have a glass if you see this one on tap.

Pairings: Reuben on rye.

Cost: $7 for a 10 oz snifter.