Beer Review: Abner

Reviewing the Abner from the Hill Farmstead Brewery.
Score: 93

Three week old growler served in a Half Acre tulip and enjoyed on 04/09/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden-orange color with floaters. Pretty much opaque. One to two fingers of creamy cream-colored head at pour almost entirely settles -- save for the thin bubbly ring around the glass. Average laving, but awesome retention. 4/5

Smell: Bright, sticky tropical fruit citrus. Pineapple, peach, grapefruit and juicy orange. Lemonade and piney hops too. 4/5

Taste: Bitter citrus, lemon and pine. Grapefruit, spicy caramel, a touch of onion and pineapple juice. Layering prickly bitterness on the tongue. You can tell greatness was once here, but it has faded to mere "really really good"-ness. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium-light carbonation. Heavy bitterness on the palate. Buttery/oily mouthfeel. Bitter finish. 4.5/5

Overall: I really regret letting this one sit around for three weeks (even though it was elegantly taped up and stuck in the fridge the whole time), but sometimes you just do not have time to get around to certain beers while they are freshest. This is one I am absolutely going to seek out again in the future because, despite the fact you can tell that it had fallen off from being something better, it was still delicious.

Recommendation: Fans of IPA's should seek this one out and drink it fresh. This is probably not the best starter craft beer for the casual drinker, however.

Pairings: Spicy/hot buffalo wings.

Cost: $10 for a 750 ml growler or $18 for a 2 liter growler (plus the deposit).

Beer Review: Size 11 Double IPA

Reviewing the Size 11 Double IPA from Steel Toe Brewing.
Score: 85

Bottled 02/24/12, served in a Half Acre tulip and enjoyed on 04/09/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a transparentish caramel color. This beer looks more like a dark red ale than an IPA. Two fingers of off-white frothy seafoam head at pour slowly settles, leaving behind ample lacing on the side of the glass. Below average lacing and retention once the beer settles, however. 3.5/5

Smell: Super malty and not very hoppy. Sweet caramel, lemon and brown sugar. A touch of tiramissue, some bitter barley/grain and an aroma I can only describe as "margarine." A little bit of alcohol. 3.5/5

Taste: Creamy vanilla and caramel. Bitter barley and biscuits. A modest amount of piney citrus and hops flavor too -- not a lot of it, but more than was in the aroma. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel. The finish is dry, sweet and malty. 4/5

Overall: Nothing special, but nothing awful. I would not have guessed that this was an IPA on my own -- I probably would have guessed red ale. At least it was better than the 75 Minute IPA.

Recommendation: Fans of the 75 minute IPA will probably love this one, but it's more of a caramel/grain IPA than your traditional hoppy beer. I would not seek this one out again.

Pairings: Pretzels.

Cost: $11 for a 750 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Edward

Reviewing the Edward from the Hill Farmstead Brewery.
Score: 90

Three week old 750 ml growler served in a Half Acre tulip and enjoyed on 04/09/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours an opaque golden-orange color with a golden halo outline and pulpy orange core when held up to light. A finger-plus of creamy off-white head at pour settles almost entirely, leaving behind streaky lacing on the of the glass. Good lacing, decent retention. 4/5

Smell: Lemon pinesol, grapefruit and orange. Fresh pine, a touch of sap and a little candied tropical fruit. 4/5

Taste: Orange and pine up front. Very "hops oil" forward on the tongue. A little caramel, juicy orange and lemon. A growing amount of sweet-and-sour lemonade flavor on the midpalate. A think I detect a hint of "stainless steel" flavor in the aftertaste when the beer hits room temperature, but neither of my two friends who are sharing this growler with me concur with that assertion. Ample juicy citrus behind the piney hops. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, light carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. I feel like the flavor profile could have benefited from more carbonation here. 3.5/5

Overall: Super solid pale ale from Hill Farmstead, but it did not quite stack up to the other hoppy beers of theirs that I have tried. I will have to try a fresher bottle of this next time.

Recommendation: Fans of Sierra Nevada's pale ale will enjoy this one thoroughly.

Pairings: The vegetarian goat cheese burrito from Burrito Beach.

Cost: $7 for a 750 ml growler or $15 for a 2 liter growler (plus the deposit).

Beer Review: Bitter Brewer

Reviewing the Bitter Brewer from the Surly Brewing Company.
Score: 87

Canned 04/05/12. Served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 05/28/12.

Appearance: Pours a clear and clean-looking golden color with two fingers of foamy/soapy off-white head that slowly recedes into a thin layer with clumps of foamy head splotched around. Average lacing and retention, but some residual head seems to cling for a bit. 4/5

Smell: Bread dough, wheat biscuits, floral citrus, a little lemon pine. There's grassy straw hops and a distinct white tea/iced tea aroma too. A little red apple and a hint of dried banana and fruity yeast -- but not in a hefeweizen way. 4/5

Taste: Hoppy lemon iced tea is my first impression. There's some bitter orange flavor and barley in the tea flavor too. There's almost like a crescendo of the lemon flavor at some point towards the finish with each sip. Largely crisp in flavor, but there's some residual bitter lemony grain flavor lingering in the aftertaste. There is ample fresh and bitter grassy hops flavor too, but the hoppiness is much more mellow and less in-your-face than a pale ale or IPA. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, medium carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. Modestly dry and bitter (but not super bitter) finish. 4/5

Overall: There is not too much going on in this beer -- what you smell is what you get -- and the flavors are relatively subdued overall, but Bitter Brewer is a very nice light and refreshing sessionable summer beer that's low in ABV (4%) without being low in quality. This beer is perfect for the 90+ degree weather we are experiencing in Chicago today.

Recommendation: Fans of lagers and summer beers should give this one a whirl as an alternative reward for mowing the grass on a Sunday afternoon.

Pairings: Tangy barbeque-slathered chicken on the grill.

Cost: $8.49 for a four pack of 16 oz cans.

Beer Review: Harlan

Reviewing the Harlan from the Hill Farmstead Brewery.
Score: 91

Three week old 750 ml growler served in a Half Acre tulip and enjoyed on 04/09/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a dull golden color with a finger of white soapy foamy that settles into a thin foggy layer. Good lacing and retention 4/5

Smell: Grapefruit juice and pine. Sweet mango and nondescript "bright tropical fruit." A hint of onion. 4/5

Taste: Lemon, grapefruit and pine. Sweet mango and bittersweet citrus. Mild "orange juice" backbone. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium-plus carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. Dry, bitter finish. 4/5

Overall: A delicious single IPA. I wonder if it's even better fresher. Next time, I certainly won't sit on this one for a couple of weeks.

Recommendation: IPA lovers should seek this one out.

Pairings: Hamburgers.

Cost: $8 for a 750 ml growler or $16 for a 2 liter growler (plus the deposit).

Beer Review: BA Baracus

Reviewing the infamous BA Baracus from Revolution Brewing Company. This beer has long eluded me. Twice before I have sought it out, only twice to arrive too little too late. The third time was the charm, however, with me camping out near the front of the line at Revolution's grand opening until this beer was finally tapped. It was well worth the wait (especially since I got to drink a half glass of Bourbon County Vanilla while waiting).
Score: 96

6 oz tap pour served in a plastic cup at the grand opening of Revolution's new brewing/canning facility and enjoyed on 05/25/12. Thank you MasterSki (Alex) for muling me a second glass, which I ended up walking around with and sharing with various strangers at the party. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: The beer is a black coffee color. Served with just under a finger of creamy dark tan-colored head that settles to a thin layer. Noticeably awesome lacing and retention -- even in the plastic cup! 4.5/5

Smell: Rich vanilla frosting and chocolate cake. Raisin, molasses and sweet milk chocolate. There is a faint boozy heat in the nose and just a touch of oak. As the beer warms, it smells more and more like "syrupy raisins." 4.5/5

Taste: Oooh boy! Smooth and syrupy bourbon-drenched dark chocolate. Creamy vanilla bean, warm brown sugar/molasses, raisin and plum on the midpalate. Baker's chocolate and a little wood too. Rich milk chocolate and molasses aftertaste with excellent linger. As the beer warms, it becomes more molasses-y bourbon forward -- particularly in the finish. There's more alcohol warmth on the tongue than the base beer, but the beer is still quite smooth and unboozy for the ABV. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, minimal carbonation. Syrupy and sticky mouthfeel. Modestly sweet. Smooth like the base beer, but with more "palate warmth" and dark fruit complexity. 4.5/5

Overall: This was the single beer I most wanted to try from Revolution, and finally getting to sample it was arguably one of the main reasons I decided to get tickets to the grand opening party. BA Baracus did not disappoint; it was much more complex than the base beer. If this gets bottled as part of Revolution's future portfolio, I will chase it down across the city of Chicago.

Recommendation: Seek this brew out. It's big, bold and flavorful. Second only to Gravedigger Billy amongst Revolution's barrel-aged wonders.

Pairings: French vanilla ice cream.

Cost: $4 for a 6 oz pour at the Revolution grand opening party.

Beer Review: Baracus

Reviewing the Baracus from Revolution Brewing Company.
Score: 89

12 oz tap pour served in a plastic cup (the far left cup) at the grand opening of Revolution's new brewing/canning facility and enjoyed on 05/25/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Black bodied with reddish brown highlights at both the top and bottom of the glass when held up to light. Served with a creamy layer of khaki-colored head that settles completely. Good lacing and retention. 4/5

Smell: Sweet milk chocolate, dark grainy malt, caramel and a bit of stainless steel. Cocoa and brown sugar too. The stainless steel flavor is a bit off-putting, and several other people waiting in line for the Sodom concurred to it's existence. This is one of the first beers I got at the party, so maybe the stainless steel aroma had something to do with the "fresh" tap lines. At least the stainless steel aroma was not too pronounced to ruin the other pleasant stout aromas. 3.5/5

Taste: Bittersweet chocolate, brown sugar and a bit of roasty coffee. Dark chocolate, a little caramel, and a touch of earthy hops too. None of the stainless steel aroma on the palate, though there are subtle notes of "dark cherry" on the tongue. A bit sweet overall with more "in your face" bold flavors than balanced complexity, but still smooth and dangerously drinkable for the ABV. There is a little warming effect on the tongue as the beer warms, but it's not what I would call "boozy." 4/5

Mouthfeel: Full-medium bodied, minimal carbonation. Modestly sweet finish and a bit dry. 4/5

Overall: A tasty imperial stout that hints at much promise for barrel treatment given it's high ABV and chocolatey sweetness. I am quite excited to finally try the barrel-aged version when it taps later in the evening.

Recommendation: Order a glass of this if it is on tap. Baracus is one of Revolution's better non-barrel aged dark beers.

Pairings: Chocolate cake.

Cost: $4 for a 12 oz pour at the Revolution grand opening party.

Beer Review: Barrel-Aged Sodom

Reviewing the Barrel-Aged Sodom from Revolution Brewing Company.
Score: 90

6 oz tap pour served in a plastic cup (the top cup) at the grand opening of Revolution's new brewing/canning facility and enjoyed on 05/25/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Jet black. Served with a thin layer of creamy milk chocolate/brown-colored head that settles to a ring around the glass. Good lacing and retention. 4/5

Smell: Milk chocolate, figs, and fudged-dipped cherries. Toffee, sweet bourbon, and molasses. A little oaky vanilla and caramel malt to boot. 4/5

Taste: Dark chocolate covered cherries, caramel and fig. More sweet molasses flavor on the tongue than in the nose. Gets "syrupier" in flavor and mouthfeel as it warms. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, minimal carbonation. Syrupy mouthfeel. Slightly sweet finish. 4.5/5

Overall: I am not exactly sure why I am tasting/smelling so much cherry flavor, as it does not seem as though any other prior reviewer detected the same. Who knows -- maybe I was served the wrong beer. Either way, I enjoyed this one -- though I felt it was quite a bit over-hyped.

Recommendation: Worth seeking out to be sure, but this is not one of Revolution's best barrel-aged beers. I chose a shot at this over Gravedigger Billy after waiting in line for half an hour (since I had had the Gravedigger Billy several times before), but I would probably not do that again.

Pairings: Steak.

Cost: $4 for a 6 oz pour at the Revolution grand opening party.

Beer Review: Barrel-Aged Cherry Black Power

Reviewing the Barrel-Aged Cherry Black Power from Revolution Brewing Company.
Score: 92

6 oz tap pour served in a plastic cup at the grand opening of Revolution's new brewing/canning facility and enjoyed on 05/25/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Black bodied. Served with a just under half-finger thick layer of creamy khaki-colored head that settles to a foggy layer atop the beer. Good lacing and retention. 4/5

Smell: Primarily maraschino cherry and molasses upfront. Bittersweet chocolate and raisin behind that. Just a touch of vanilla too. 4/5

Taste: Plenty of smooth, and not overly sweet cherry flavor and bourbon. Milk chocolate, creamy lactose, roasted oats and a hint of oak. More "dark chocolate" chocolate flavor and brown sugar/molasses as the beer warms. Smooth and syrupy. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus bodied, very low carbonation. Sticky, syrupy mouthfeel. Modestly sweet finish. 4/5

Overall: A surprisingly well-integrated cherry-infused stout. I am usually not a fan of cherry-forward stouts, but this one just seemed to work for whatever reason. Unlike the Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout from Central Waters, the flavors did not merely "co-exist" like an oil-and-water mixture, but rather blended together to form a complex improvement over the base beer. Hopefully Revolution will revisit this one again in the future and release it in bottles.

Recommendation: Seek this brew out if you can, though, from what I gathered in talking with some of the folks at Revolution, the keg tapped at the grand opening party was the end of what they had brewed of this.

Pairings: Fudge brownies.

Cost: $4 for a 6 oz pour at the Revolution grand opening party.

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout

Reviewing the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout from the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company. Thank you Derek for giving me the chance to sample this hard-to-find brew!
Score: 93

Aged one year in 18-year old Heaven Hill barrels. Bottled 8/26/11. Served in a taster glass and enjoyed on 05/11/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: It's dark here and beer is black. There is a thin layer of what I think is tan-colored head atop the beer initially. 4/5

Smell: Light black licorice, bourbon, chocolate-covered raisin, caramel, pepper, raw chocolate and sweet brown sugar. 4.25/5

Taste: Taste largely follows the nose. Cocoa, non-sweet brown sugar. Smooth bourbon and rich vanilla flavors too. No licorice, however. Very balanced. Not boozy at all. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus bodied, minimal carbonation. Very creamy mouthfeel -- much more so than the rye barrel-aged Big Eddy. Slightly sweet finish. 4.5/5

Overall: A delicious improvement over a solid base beer. I liked the bourbon and rye barrel-aged Big Eddy's equally much, and if they were regularly released I would certainly buy them both. Kudos to Leiney's for an excellent foray into the craft beer market.

Recommendation: This beer's first release was incredibly limited, but I'd recommend trying to hunt down a bottle to try.

Pairings: Ice cream sundae.

Cost: Unknown.

Rye Barrel-Aged Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout

Reviewing the Rye Barrel-Aged Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout from the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company. Thank you Derek for giving me the chance to sample this hard-to-find brew!
Score: 93

Aged one year in rye whiskey barrels. Bottled 8/26/11. Served in a taster glass and enjoyed on 05/11/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: It's dark here and beer is black. There is a thin layer of what I think is tan-colored head atop the beer initially. 4/5

Smell: Rollo candy, rye and sweet chocolate. A little smokiness and some caramel too. 4/5

Taste: Tastes just like it smells, but with a stronger and layering smokey rye peppery kick on the midpalate that really lingers in the aftertaste. Very balanced. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus bodied and low carbonation. There is a nice "rye kick" on the tongue. Creamy mouthfeel. 4.5/5

Overall: A delicious improvement over a solid base beer. I liked the bourbon and rye barrel-aged Big Eddy's equally much, and if they were regularly released I would certainly buy them both. Kudos to Leiney's for an excellent foray into the craft beer market.

Recommendation: This beer's first release was incredibly limited, but I'd recommend trying to hunt down a bottle to try.

Pairings: Pastrami sandwich.

Cost: Unknown.

Beer Review: Old HLT

Reviewing the Old HLT from Allagash Brewing Company out of Maine.
Score: 87

2012 vintage bottle from the 03/31/12 release. Served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 05/06/12 while waiting in line for Great Taste of Madison tickets at the Steve's on University. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Sunset orange color. A layer of fizzy off-white head at pour settles to ring around glass. Very hazy appearance. There is a lot of sediment floating around in the glass, which ultimately settles into a chunk at the bottom of the snifter. Minimal lacing, poor retention. 3.5/5

Smell: Sour cherries, vinegar, pears and juicy granny smith apples. More vinegar as the beer warms. 4/5

Taste: Lots of tart cherry and sweet vinegar. Touch of red grape. There is a a bit of "earthy wheat" flavor too. Musty aftertaste. A touch of stainless steel sweetness. I like the upfront flavor, but the finish is not as good. Mild pucker, no funk. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, high carbonation. Fizzy, almost soda-like, mouthfeel. Finishes dry and a little sweet. 4/5

Overall: A solid non-funky "tart lemonade"-like sour, but nothing too unique or complex. Very drinkable and hidden ABV. This kind of tastes like a jolly rancher.

Recommendation: Worth drinking, but not worth going out of your way to find.

Pairings: Pound cake.

Cost: $10 for a 375ml bottle.

Beer Review: Chocolate Rain (2012, fresh)

Reviewing the Chocolate Rain from The Bruery.
Score: 98

2012 vintage bottle (batch 2) served in my brand new Kate The Great balloon glass and enjoyed on 05/12/12.

Appearance: Pours a jet black color. This looks like motor oil. Completely opaque. A thin layer of brown/milk chocolate head quickly and completely settles. Minimal, oily lacing and minimal retention. This nearly 20% ABV beer is intimidatingly heavy on appearance. 4.5/5

Smell: Rich milk chocolate, vanilla beans and lots of modestly sweet raisin/dark fruit. Smooth molasses. Sweet on the nose, but not Dark Lord sweet. There is a little alcohol heat, but not nearly as much as you'd expect from a 19.5% ABV beer. 5/5

Taste: Sweeter taste than the aroma, but this beer is still far from cloying, "diabetes-inducing" sweetness (or even Dark Lord-like sweetness). Sweet and creamy vanilla and milk chocolate throughout. Ample warming alcohol heat on the midpalate, but no "booziness" flavor in conjunction with this palate sensation. Plenty of bitter cocoa, bourbon and molasses flavors to boot. As the beer layers, I detect a little sweet dark cherry flavor akin to the Black Albert. Just a little bit of oaky/wood flavor.

Mouthfeel: A little short of full bodied. Minimal carbonation. Has a slick mouthfeel that falls between syrupy and oily. Sweet and warming finish. 4.25/5

Overall: Sweet, rich and decadent. This beer is incredibly/surprisingly smooth and drinkable for the ABV. In my opinion, Chocolate Rain absolutely lives up to its hype. I can see why some think it's too sweet of a stout, but I did not think it was. I personally prefer this brew to Bell's Black Note. I doubt I could drink a whole bottle of Chocolate Rain -- be it because of the ABV or the layering sweetness -- but I probably could and would regularly knock this one back during the winter months if it was readily available in 12 oz bottles.

Recommendation: Everyone should seek a bottle of this stuff out to share with a small group of friends.

Pairings: A cocoa-nib rubbed filet.

Cost: $40 for a 750 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Fourth Dementia (2011)

Reviewing the Fourth Dementia (4D) from Kuhnhenn Brewing Company out of Michigan.
Score: 84

2011 vintage bottle served in a stemmed Hill Farmstead snifter glass and enjoyed on 05/20/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a deep caramel color; almost like black mud. A thin layer of creamy dark khaki head settles to a thin foggy film. Poor lacing, with good retention/cling. 3.5/5

Smell: Primarily musty caramel malt with complementary notes of toffee and marshmallows. Swirling the beer reveals a little fig and brown sugar in the aroma. Modest booziness. The aroma is a bit harsh and caramel forward, but swirling before smelling seems to balance it out and make it more appealing. 3.75/5

Taste: Like the aroma, the palate is dominated by a musty and malty caramel flavor. The finish is toffee-ish. Just tons of boozy caramel/toffee/brown sugar malt here. Some fig flavor on the side of the tongue. Decent booziness to boot. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: I am not sure if this is a bottling issue or how the beer was intended to be made, but my 4D is absolutely flat and lifeless. There is quite literally no carbonation here. Medium bodied. Super malty and just a little sugary. Syrupy-like mouthfeel. 3/5

Overall: Not a bad beer, but this brew is a far from balanced, slightly boozy sipper. I am not a fan of overly malty beers, so maybe, like Mother Of All Storms and Y2K, this just isn't my type beer. Personally, I do not understand the hype behind this one.

Recommendation: Worth trying at some point in your craft beer journey, if only to say that you've had it, but this beer is not worth seeking out unless you like boozy malt bombs (beers like Mother Of All Storms).

Pairings: Packets of Laughing Cow creamy Swiss cheese.

Cost: $8 for a 12 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Supplication (Batch 10)

Reviewing Supplication from Russian River Brewing Company. This is one of the most highly regarded sours out there, and I am very excited to finally get the chance to try it. Thank you Matt Hope for sending me this beer!
Score: 93

Batch 010. 355 ml bottle served in a Great Lakes snifter and enjoyed on 05/17/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a dark copper color with a thin layer of fizzy head at pour that settles into a fizzy ring around the glass. Poor lacing, but decent retention. 4/5

Smell: Funky vinegar and lots of white grape and pear. Stale/dirty/earthy orange malt. Some "cheap plastic band-aid" aroma too. 4/5

Taste: Bright orange, white wine and acidic, tart white grape. Sour cherries and a little fruity pear flavor too. Lots of crisp flavor, but a very nice bitter sweet-and-sour mix of flavors with only a modest funk. Layering, dry tartness and increasing pucker effect. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, high carbonation. Nice zesty tart citrus pop and sizzle on the tongue. Tart, dry finish. 4.5/5

Overall: A very tasty sweet-and-sour wild ale. The nose was pretty funky, making me skeptical as to whether I would enjoy the beer, but the taste is much smoother and not very funky.

Recommendation: A great non-funky sour. I'd recommend this even for the casual beer drinker. Fans of Citra-hopped beers like Zombie Dust and Heady Topper will probably enjoy this one a lot.

Pairings: Eight year old white cheddar cheese with Parmesan black pepper crackers.

Cost: $10 for a 355 ml bottle made from glass that is so thick, you'd swear this was a blunt weapon.

Beer Review: Nemesis 2010

Reviewing the 2010 Nemesis from Founders Brewing Company out of Michigan.
Score: 89

This beer was released in the middle of July 2010 if memory served, but the bottom half of the bottle stamp is missing. It looks like the date is from June, August or September. My best guess is June 2010. Served in a Kate the Great snifter and enjoyed on 06/03/12 with Robbie Moy.

Appearance: Pours a jet black color with a ruby highlight in the upper center body of the beer. One finger of creamy tan head at pour quickly settles to a ring around the glass. Amazing lacing and retention. 5/5

Smell: Creamy caramel, vanilla, malt and a little chocolate. A touch of earthy citrus, though most of the hops have faded. A bit of woody bourbon, toffee and fig. 4.25/5

Taste: Woody caramel malt and a bit of bitter stale hops. A touch of bakers chocolate, and a little bit of blackberry. A touch of mustiness. Nutty caramel aftertaste. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, minimal carbonation. Syrupy mouthfeel. Modestly sweet and malty finish. 4/5

Overall: I personally think this beer peaked about six months ago when I had it in January 2012. Crack yours sooner than later, as this one is probably on the decline.

Recommendation: Probably not worth seeking out because this beer is on the decline, but still a tasty beer to try.

Pairings: Tootsie Rolls.

Cost: $17.99 for a six pack.

Beer Review: Black Power Oatmeal Stout

Reviewing the Black Power Oatmeal Stout from Revolution Brewing Company.
Score: 86

Tap pour served in a large Revolution brewery member-only mug and enjoyed on 05/22/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Pours a black color with a brown strip of highlight atop glass when held up to light. Served with thin layer of creamy tan head that settles to a ring around the glass. Decent lacing but poor retention. 4/5

Smell: Toasted chocolate, roasted grain, cocoa powder, smoked barley, oats and biscuits. 4/5

Taste: First pull is toasted grain, roasted chocolate and a little coffee. A smooth oats flavor layers on the center of palate. There is a faint and creamy "burnt roast" and bittersweet chocolate aftertaste on the back of tongue. A little bit of crisp residual stainless steel sweetness at some point before the finish. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-ish bodied, medium-low carbonation. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Modestly acidic, slightly bitter finish. 3.5/5

Overall: A very solid, but nothing particularly special, oatmeal stout by Revolution Brewery that is almost on par with Eugene in terms of quality. I'd order this one again, but it seemed seasonally out of place being on tap in late May.

Recommendation: This beer might be a little acidic for the taste of the casual beer drinker, but I would recommend giving this one a whirl, at least in sampler form, if you happen upon it at Rev Brew.

Pairings: An almond biscotti.

Cost: $6 for a mug/pint.

Beer Review: Wookey Jack

Reviewing the Wookey Jack from Firestone Walker Brewing Company out of California.
Score: 95

12 oz tap pour served in a tulip glass at Revolution Brewpub and enjoyed on 05/22/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Jet black with a layer of faint caramel-color highlights atop the beer. Served with a finger-plus of frothy tan head that slowly recedes to a thin layer. Excellent lacing and excellent cling/retention. 4.5/5

Smell: Quite hop forward. Loads of piney/grassy hops and citrus. Grapefruit, rye and lemongrass primarily. Faint notes of roasted chocolate and sugary vanilla in background. Super pleasant IPA-like aroma with slight stout twist. 4.5/5

Taste: Sharp and slightly tart grapefruit, lemon and pineapple citrus upfront. Gobs of grassy/piney hops. Rye spice on the side of the tongue. Layering creamy chocolate in finish. Sweet and sour lemonade too. Very balanced overall. Refreshing and criminally drinkable. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus bodied and medium carbonation with a zesty citrus hop kick on tongue. Bitter finish. Oily mouthfeel. 4.5/5

Overall: An absolutely superb beer. It looks like a stout, but drinks like an IPA. Unlike most black IPA, this one is primarily an IPA with subtle and complementary stout characteristics rather than a more prominent blend of the stout and IPA qualities. This might be the best black IPA that I have had to date.

Recommendation: Craft beer loving skeptics of black IPA should give this brew a whirl. This is one of the less "out there" (in terms of overall flavor and drinkability) IPA-style beers, so even casual beer drinkers should enjoy this brew (provided they are not hop haters).

Pairings: Lemon sugar cookies.

Cost: $8 for a 12 oz tulip.

Beer Review: Mushy P.

Reviewing the Mushy P. from Three Floyds Brewing Company.
Score: 93

16 oz tap pour served in a pint glass at Revolution Brewpub and enjoyed on 05/22/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Deep brown, almost black, color body. Caramel highlights outline the beer and permeate parts of the body. Served with a finger of creamy tan head. Good Lacing and retention with a nice cling factor. 4/5

Smell: Piney lemon hops, toasted grain/roasted malt, oats, and milk chocolate. Some toffee too. 4/5

Taste: Sweet and creamy chocolate, piney lemon and grain. Creamy roasted malt towards the finish. A modest backbone of bitter coffee flavor adds a good balance to the beer. A touch of brown sugar and toffee flavor without the sugary sweetness too. 4.5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a good level of carbonation for style (higher end of light carbonation). Dry and roasty. Very creamy mouthfeel. 5/5

Overall: Three Floyds should retire Black Sun and replace it with this incredibly smooth and flavorful hoppy porter.

Recommendation: Seek this beer out.

Pairings: French vanilla ice cream.

Cost: $6 for a 16 oz pint.

Beer Review: Ivan The Terrible (Unbarreled)

Reviewing the non-barrel aged base beer for Ivan The Terrible from Big Sky Brewing Company out of Montana. I had the pleasure of drinking this beer at the Map Room in Chicago for Chicago craft beer week while chatting with Big Sky's head brewer Matt Long.
Score: 91

Tap pour from the 2012 batch that is currently sitting in barrels for a late October 2012 release. Served in a chalice glass and enjoyed on 05/23/12 with a cup of Intelligensia coffee.

Appearance: Pitch black color. Seems completely opaque in the bar, though the lighting is not the best. Served with a finger of soapy tan head that slowly recedes into a thin layer atop the glass. Amazing lacing and retention. 5/5

Smell: Brown sugar, roasted chocolate, a little black "medium roast" coffee, and some dark fruit. 4/5

Taste: A decent amount of roasted chocolate throughout, but this is not a chocolate-forward beer. Rather, Ivan is a balanced medley of traditional stout flavors. Dry fig and black cherry, with more bittersweet dark fruit flavor growing on the midpalate as the beer warms. There is a little brown sugar flavor in the mix too, but not in a "sweet" way. Some cocoa and raw chocolate. There's a bit of nondescript butteriness. A bit acidic, but not overly so, as the low amount of carbonation keeps it quite drinkable. Unlike the nose, I did not detect much, if any, coffee flavor. The alcohol is completely hidden. The flavors linger a bit, particularly the bitter chocolate, and it helps some of the beer's tastier complexities layer. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus bodied, minimal carbonation. Roasty, bitter and a bit acidic. Decently dry finish. 4/5

Overall: Initially I was a bit disappointed to arrive at the Map Room only to find out that the "real" Ivan, the barrel aged stuff, was not what was on tap. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the base beer. This is a real nice and roasty stout, and it is different from most Russian Imperial Stouts (which tend to be sweeter and chocolatier). Ivan's base beer is quite delicious in its own right, and I can't wait to try a bottle of the barrel aged stuff.

Recommendation: If this stuff saw regular 12 oz bottle format treatment, I would likely buy a four/six pack. I'd recommend this all around to people who do not mind roasty stouts.

Pairings: Intelligensia's house blend or diablo roast coffee.

Cost: $5 for a 12 oz pour in a chalice glass.

Beer Review: Barrel Aged Behemoth

Reviewing the Barrel Aged Behemoth from Three Floyds Brewing Company.
Score: 93

Bottle number 219/454 from the brewpub release in February 2012 release. Served in a Delirium Tremens balloon glass and enjoyed on 05/11/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Pours a murky caramel color with a thin layer of tan bubbly head at pour. Minimal lacing and retention. 4/5

Smell: Brown sugar, lemon sugar cookie, and caramel. A little oak and smooth bourbon. The aroma is wheat wine-esque. Grassy hops. Light fig. Pineapple and butterscotch. Burnt sugar. 4.25/5

Taste: Bitter and grassy lemon citrus hops, brown sugar, toffee and caramel. A little fig and dark fruit sweetness. More caramel and bourbon as it warms. There is a modest wood flavor too. The flavor is a step down from aroma initially, but it gets better as it warms. Well balanced with a light booziness to let you know this beer means business. Lingering lemongrass and fig flavor. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Full-medium bodied, low carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel. The finish is a touch sweet. 4.5/5

Overall: A really solid barrel aged American-style barleywine. I was skeptical as to what barrel aging would do to such a hoppy beer, but this one turned out quite well. The beer struck a nice balance between the sweetness from the barrel aging and the bitter grassy citrus from the base beer.

Recommendation: This is a beer worth seeking out, but, like Baller Stout, it's not really worth the $30 price tag.

Pairings: Morel chive cheese (sold at Hy-Vee).

Cost: $30 for a 750 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Big Hapi Black IPA

Reviewing the Big Hapi Black IPA from Lawson's Finest Liquids.
Score: 90

Unknown vintage bottle, though I suspect it is from late March/early April. Served in a Goose Island taster glass and enjoyed on 05/11/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a black coffee color with brown highlights atop the glass when held up to light. There was a little bit of tan head at pour, but lacing/retention is difficult to discern here. Looks like a stout. 4/5

Smell: Roasty coffee, cocoa, milk chocolate, toasted malt and piney hops. A little brown sugar. Smells a lot like a roasty porter with a hoppy twist. 4/5

Taste: Roasted chocolate, milk chocolate, bitter coffee and raw chocolate. Bitter pine, lactose and creamy chocolate malt. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, low carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel. Bitter, roasty and slightly acidic finish. 4/5

Overall: A nice roasty porter with an IPA twist. This is quite unlike most black IPA I have had, which are usually IPA-forward beers with porter/stout twists.

Recommendation: Fans of roasty porters and IPA's should give this one a whirl.

Pairings: Chocolate chip cookies.

Cost: $8.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.