Beer Review: Barrel-Aged Night Tripper

Reviewing the Barrel-Aged Night Tripper from New Holland Brewing Company out of Michigan. I am a fan of the base beer, and was very excited to have the out-of-the-blue opportunity to try this rare treat when I stopped in at the Goose Island Clybourn brewpub while waiting for my iPhone repair appointment with Apple. According to the beer description, this beer was aged for 6 months in rum barrels and then aged for another 5 months in Zeppelin Bend whiskey barrels.
Score: 97

Tap pour served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 08/20/12 at the Goose Island Clybourn brewpub. According to the bartender, New Holland sent this keg to the brewpub as a thank you for some kegs that Goose Island had recently sent New Holland for some event.

Appearance: The body of this beer is a raising color with faint ruby highlights in the body. Served with two fingers of creamy dark tan head that slowly recent to a thick ring around the glass. The lacing on this beer is awesome, as is the retention. As the beer warms up, the frothy lacing turns oily. 5/5

Smell: Smooth vanilla, sweet rum and dark fruit upfront. Whiskey spice, bakers chocolate, sweet malt and a sweet bourbon-like aroma without any of the alcohol singe in the nose. A little alcohol booziness comes out as the beer warms up, but it is nothing overly "potent" or off-putting. Really nice barrel aged stout aroma here. 4.5/5

Taste: Huge notes of dark fruit and chocolate complexity. There's raisin, prune, bitter cocoa, fig, dark chocolate and milk chocolate too. A little luscious fudge flavor rears it's head as the beer warms up. There is a hint of cherry flavor on the midpalate. Initially, there is no booziness, but like the nose a little booziness comes out as the beer warms. Finishes with a mix of milk chocolate, sweet rum, almond and caramel flavor. As the beer warms, delightful whiskey flavors(vanilla, brown sugar and a touch of spice kick on the tongue) start to come out of the woodwork, as does a very faint wood flavor in the finish. Overall, the flavor seems perfectly balanced here. It is not too sweet, not too bitter, and not "boozy" in the traditional sense of the word. This beer is loaded with boozy flavors without very much booziness. As the beer warms, a little of the drinkability and flavor balance is lost as some booziness grows, but it still stays delicious. Like the Kuhnhenn's Bourbon Barrel Barleywine, it is my opinion that this one is best enjoyed slightly chilled. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, miniml carbonation. Super luscious and creamy mouthfeel with a layering spice/wood kick on the tongue as the beer warms. The beer is very dense and viscous, almost chewy, and bittersweet leaning towards sweet as the beer warms. 4.5/5

Overall: A deliciously bold beer that is loaded with boozy flavors without the booziness; perfect for those who like their dark stouts and their spirits. This is easily one of the better barrel aged imperial stouts that I have had the pleasure to drink, and a great improvement over an already very solid base beer. I preferred this to the 50/50 White Wax Eclipse (Elijah Craig 18 version) I had earlier in the week.

Recommendation: Seek this beer out if you ever get the chance. It is world class delicious. Might be a little bold for casual beer drinkers, however. Fans of Bourbon County Stout will likely love this stuff.

Pairings: Cocoa rubbed steak or french vanilla ice cream.

Cost: $9 for a 10 oz snifter pour.

Beer Review: Drakonic

Reviewing the Drakonic Imperial Stout from Drake's Brewing Company out of California.
Score: 92

Unknown bottle date. Served in a wine chalice and enjoyed on 08/18/12. Thank you Jeff for sharing this bottle at our tasting.

Appearance: Jet black with one finger of khaki head at pour that settles to a ring around the glass. Absolutely amazing lacing and retention. Gorgeous looking imperial stout. 5/5

Smell: Coffee, cocoa, roasted malt and a light amount of vanilla with an underlying aroma of brown sugar. A little dark fruit too. The aroma elements are extremely well incorporated. 4.5/5

Taste: Less balanced and incorporated than the aroma. Cocoa and coffee primarily. Less burnt roast flavor than the nose led on. Smooth malt backbone. No booziness whatsoever. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, low carbonation. Creamy, malty mouthfeel. 4/5

Overall: Really solid imperial stout here. I had never heard of this beer or the brewery before my friend Jeff brought a bottle of this over to a tasting, but I will be seeking it out again sometime in the future for sure.

Recommendation: Seek a bottle of this out. I feel like it would make a great starter imperial stout for casual drinkers.

Pairings: Steak.

Cost: $12 for a 22 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Adam (Batch 84)

Reviewing Adam from the Hair of the Dog Brewing Company.
Score: 93

Batch 84. According to Hair Of The Dog's vintage chart for Adam, Batch 84 was brewed on 10/11/11 and bottled on 01/12/12. vintage bottle served in a Goose Island silver goose Matilda glass and enjoyed on 01/19/12.

Appearance: Pours a deep chestnut brown color with two fingers of foamy khaki colored head that slowly receds to a thick and creamy layer. Amazing lacing with ridiculous cling. 5/5

Smell: Light vanilla, chocolate, leather and hops. A little bit of "vodka-like booziness" too. Light grains, malty caramel, a modest amount of "smokey banana" and a little dark fruit too. 4.25/5

Taste: A lot more smoke up front than the nose led on, but the amount of smokiness here is by no means approaching what you would expected from a smoke beer. There is oak, cocoa, spice, dark fruit and a little "musty" caramel malt. There is a subtle fruitiness present too with a mild alcohol warmth on the tongue. Complex and balanced. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, medium carbonation, creamy mouthfeel. Dry finish. A little sweet. 4/5

Overall: A delicious, readily available old ale that is a little rough around the edges fresh. This beer is a prime candidate for aging.

Recommendation: Seek this one out.

Pairings: Dark chocolate.

Cost: $5.99 for a 12 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Damon (Batch 1)

BEER REVIEW #300!

Reviewing the infamous Damon from Hill Farmstead Brewery out of Vermont. Hill Farmstead quickly became one of my favorite breweries this year, and Damon solidified Hill Farmstead's place in my top three.
Score: 98

2011 vintage (batch 1), bottle #471/864. Black wax. Served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 06/06/12.This beer was consumed the night before being sworn into the Wisconsin state bar as a celebratory libation.

Appearance: Pours the color of motor oil with a thin brown layer of head atop the beer that quickly settles to a mocha-colored ring around the glass. Oily lacing, minimal head and decent retention. The beer looks visually imposing enough at 10.5% ABV. 4/5

Smell: Ample notes of raisin and complex chocolate coat the nose. There's milk chocolate, bakers chocolate, dark chocolate and even some fudge as the brew warms. There is also bourbon vanilla and fig present too. Absolutely awesome nose. 4.75/5

Taste: Smooth bourbon, raisins/figs, fudge and milk chocolate throughout with a nice vanilla flavor in the middle. The vanilla sweetness yields to a fudge flavor towards the finish, though the aftertaste is more of a creamy milk chocolate flavor than fudge. Residual notes of wood. Some sweet maltiness comes out as the beer. Smooth and without booziness. The balance and integration of the flavors here is absolutely superb, almost seamless at times. The flavors are almost too complex and integrated to pin down. Needless to say, this is is a decadent digestif! 5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied, minimal carbonation. Super creamy mouthfeel. Mildly dry finish with a rich milk chocolate aftertaste. 4.5/5

Overall: One of the best beers of the year; this one truly lives up to it's hype. My only wish is that I had another.

Recommendation: A top notch barrel aged imperial stout that is absolutely worth seeking out. Even casual beer drinkers should be able to revel in the flavorful, unboozy complexities of this big brew.

Pairings: Fresh mint ice cream.

Cost: $15 for a 500 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Luscious

Reviewing Luscious from the Alchemist out of Vermont. The Alchemist is best and primarily known for their flagship double IPA, Heady Topper. The genesis of this beer is detailed on the back of the beer label:

"On the evening of August 28th, 2011, I witnessed the destruction of The Alchemist Pub and Brewery. Moments before the flood waters rolled across the dining room floor, I could hear my tanks bobbing against the floor from underneath my feet. 18 tanks of beer were poured down the drain, two survived. Through an unprecedented collaboration of Vermont brewers, I am pleased to offer you a one-of-a-kind beer release."

Score: 86

2011 vintage bottle served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 06/06/12. A huge thank you to Nick for bringing this to our tasting, and another thank you to Brian for sharing a pour of this with me at Dark Lord Day.

Appearance: Pours a jet black color with a finger of creamy milk chocolate colored head that slowly recedes. Amazing lacing and retention. 5/5

Smell: Milk chocolate, cherry, "musty oak," honey and brown sugary molasses. 4/5

Taste: Cherry covered chocolate, burnt brown sugar, and licorice. Not very complex. Reminds me of aged expedition sans hops. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Over-carbonated, fizzy mouthfeel that finishes mildly sweet. 3/5

Overall: A solid tasting, but incredibly overrated beer that I found to be over-carbonated. Glad to have had the chance to try this beer, but it is not one I will be seeking out again in the future.

Recommendation: In terms of rare beer ticks, this is one I'd suggest forgoing for something better.

Pairings: Brownies.

Cost: $20 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Beer Review: Cantillon Classic Gueuze (2011)

Reviewing the Classic Gueuze from the infamous Brasserie Cantillon out of Belgium.
Score: 95

August 31, 2011 vintage bottle served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 06/20/12 at the Green Lady.

Appearance: Pours a clean and surprisingly unsedimenty pale/straw yellow color with a thin white ring of head around the glass. Below average lacing and retention compared to most of the beers I usually drink, but the lacing is not bad for a sour. This is a nice and clean looking gueuze. 4/5

Smell: Sweet and sour lemon, evident lactobacillus, vinegar and pepper. Also detecting some wild flower and rose pedal. This beer has a really nice and inviting aroma from which you can almost experience the tartness without sipping. There is no funk either, which is how I like my sours, but that may be because this is a relatively green (fresh) vintage. 4.5/5

Taste: Super tart on the tongue with a nice pucker effect. Candied lemon and lemon juice flavors with a touch of sweet vinegar. Some oak, green apple and grassiness. There is a very subtle residual plastic flavor in the aftertaste that just really seems to fit the flavor profile well. Plastic would not seem like a quality you'd want in a beer's flavor, but for whatever reason I am really digging it here. Incredible refreshing in the 90+ degree heat. As the beer warms up, a little pepper comes out too. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied with carbonation on the higher end of light. The tartness of the beer is really throwing off my sense of carbonation. There is a good amount of pucker here from the sourness, but it is not overpowering. The mouthfeel reminds me of drinking apple juice (albeit sour apple juice). The beer is a bit acidic, but not overly much in single-serving doses (though consuming too much lactobacillus, by say pounding back four of these small bottles, is sure to give one a stomach ache). 4.5/5

Overall: One of my absolute favorite gueuzes, right behind the 3F Oude Gueze. For it's "bar price" and rarity, just stick with the 3F.

Recommendation: For it's "bar price" and rarity, I would recommend sticking with the 3F Oude Gueze. However, if you like gueuzes and sours, I recommend that you seek this beer out. I found Classic Gueuze to be a clean and refreshing enough sour (no real funk) to potentially appeal to slightly more adventurous casual beer drinkers and the "I hate sours" beer geeks (of which I still include myself to date).

Pairings: Gouda cheese (or perhaps even a lemon-crusted aged white cheddar).

Cost: $14 for a 12 oz bottle at the bar, but a 750 ml bottle, if you are lucky enough to find one in a retail store state-side, tends to run $15.

Beer Review: Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel Barleywine (2011 vintage)

Reviewing the 2011 vintage of the Bourbon Barrel Barleywine from the Kuhnhenn Brewing Company out of Michigan.
Score: 96

2011 vintage bottle served in a Three Floyds teku glass and enjoyed on 08/13/12. A huge thanks to Ben for hooking me up with a bottle of this majestic beer.

Appearance: Pours a deep mahogany, burnt chestnut color that is translucent with a ruby caramel hue and a gorgeous yellow to chestnut brown fade when held up to the light. Absolutely no head at pour save for a thin tan bubbly ring around the glass at pour, even though I tried hard pouring this beer. Minimal oily lacing with good spotty cling. 4.5/5

Smell: Holy moly! This one instantly reminds me of King Henry. Huge notes of bourbon soaked raisin, vanilla, brown sugary caramel/molasses, and dark fruit. The vanilla flavor is light and fluffy and dessert like, but it is bold and perfectly complementary to the dark fruit aromas of the beer. Some toffee and even a little milk chocolate comes out as the beer warms. There's a very subtle woodiness in the nose too. The nose is incredibly malty and sweet, but for it's just so...inviting! The beer never seems "too sweet" at any point. There are ample bourbon notes in the noose that are rich and robust. Seriously, this aroma is just as good as King Henry's.5/5

Taste: Taste is the same as the nose but with a little more brown sugar and bourbon flavor upfront. The flavors are big, bold, malty and delicious. The sweet maltiness of the beer gets a little boozy as the beer hits room temperature, and I found the beer best enjoyed slightly chilled. The beer is less balanced on the palate than it was in the aroma, but the blend of desserty vanilla and sweet raisin flavors here is absolutely unreal. For all the malty booziness that comes through on the tongue as the beer warms up, you would never guess this one was nearly 15% ABV. I could imagine that a little more time to smooth out the "booziness" of this brew could turn this into something even better. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: An absolute lack of carbonation is the great downfall of this beer. I expect my heavy ABV beers to be low in carbonation, but Kuhnhenn seems to be trying to rival the Lost Abbey's "psst"-less bottles here. Full bodied with an oily and viscous mouthfeel that seems to border on "syrupy" based on how sticky it feels at times. Malty sweet finish. 2/5

Overall: A big and bold barrel-aged beer -- which is just how I like them! This beer would likely rival King Henry for the crown of best barleywine that I have ever had if it had even a modicum of carbonation. I really need to try this one on tap.

Recommendation: Seek this one out and enjoy with friends. This beer is likely a bit too bold for the casual beer drinker.

Pairings: Filet Mignon.

Cost: $8 for a 12 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Collaboration Time 1 Ale

Reviewing the Collaboration Time 1 Ale, a black ale collaboration between Maine Beer Company and Lawson's Finest Liquids.
Score: 92

Bottle demands you "drink by" 09/15/12. Served in a Three Floyds teku glass and enjoyed on 08/13/12.

Appearance: Dense black body with three fingers of dense and soapy khaki head at pour. Amazing lacing and excellent retention. 5/5

Smell: This smells like a super zesty grapefruit IPA loaded with chocolate. The nose starts with the IPA qualities upfront, which then subside into the beer's stout-like qualities. Upfront is slightly resinous piney hopes, grapefruit and mango with growing layers of sweet tropical citrus as the beer wars. The back end smells of roasted chocolate malt, cocoa and a little bit of fudge that reminds me of what the air in the park next of the Blommer Chocolate Factory smells like. I am shocked that this black IPA is so day-and-night in it's aroma, and yet so well incorporated overall. A bit of the balance is lost as the beer hits room temperature, but it's still pretty excellent. 4.5/5

Taste: The taste is more traditional black IPA than the nose, with the stout-and-IPA contrast being less incorporated on the palate than in the nose. There is a citrusy pine hop backbone layered with chocolate malt on top. Sweet citrus (zesty tangerine, grapefruit and a little lemon) cuts through the chocolate flavors to provided a nice balance to the bitterness of the beer. There is nothing outstanding or unique about the taste of this beer, but a really nice tasting black IPA nonetheless. Not overly hoppy at all; quite balanced. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Lighter side of medium bodied with medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy and oily; very slick. The finish is slightly bitter and mildly malty. 4/5

Overall: Although it smells better than it tastes, I found this to be a very solid black IPA that is one of the better examples of the style.

Recommendation: Nab a fresh bottle of this while you still can and enjoy. It's mellowed out hoppiness leads me to believe that casual beer geeks might find this brew to be a nice bridge to more traditional IPA's.

Pairings: Rainbow sherbet.

Cost: $6.99 for a 500 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout (2012 vintage)

Reviewing the 2012 vintage of the Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout from Great Lakes Brewing Company.
Score: 91

2012 vintage bottle ("2516 series") served in a tulip/snifter hybrid glass and enjoyed on 08/13/12. A big thanks to Nick for hooking me up with this bottle!

Appearance: Pours a thin film of tan head that quickly dissipates into a thin bubby tan ring around the glass. Poor lacing with oily cling and slightly below average retention. Black bodied with a strip of brown highlight at the top of the glass. 4/5

Smell: Lots of roasted coffee notes followed by milk and raw chocolate, mild bourbon notes and a little fig. As it warms, the bourbon aromas grow a little boozy. 4.25/5

Taste: Bourbon flavor upfront with a coffee twist followed by raisin/fig towards the finish. Creamy milk chocolate on the midpalate. There is tobacco flavor on the back half too. The beer has a boozy brown sugar flavor that turns to a caramel malt flavor in the aftertaste. Slight bourbon bite as the beer warms. My impression is that this is the kind of beer that is better aged than fresh. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus bodied, light carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel. Slightly roasty and mildly bitter. 4/5

Overall: A little boozy, just like the base beer. My impression is that this is the kind of beer that is better aged than fresh. The barrel aging adds some nice complexity to an already solid base beer, but I felt that this one was a bit over-hyped overall. A beer I would seek out again? Absolutely. "Top 100" worthy? Not even close.

Recommendation: Nab a bottle of this if you like the base beer, but do not trade your cellar to acquire a bottle. I would recommend sitting on this vintage (2012) another 6 months if you have a bottle or two.

Pairings: Vanilla almond biscotti.

Cost: $26 for a four pack of 12 oz bottles ($7 if purchased individually).

Beer Review: Black Damnation IV (Coffee Club)

Reviewing the Black Damnation IV (Coffee Club) from De Struise Brouwers.
Score: 87

Unknown vintage bottle served in a Stella Artois chalice and enjoyed on 08/08/12.

Appearance: Pours the color of black coffee with a finger of creamy milk chocolate/mocha colored head that settles into a ring around the glass. Average lacing and retention with an oily cling. 4/5

Smell: Black coffee, cocoa, sweet raisin and alcohol. A little syrupy brown sugar aroma and roast too. 3.5/5

Taste: Milk chocolate, roasted coffee, and brown sugar. Sweet dark fruit flavor and a hint of creamy vanilla. A light metallic alcohol flavor in the finish that seems to fade out as the beer warms/layers. Lingering coffee flavor. The flavor is not boozy, which is surprising given the nose. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied, low carbonation. Syrupy mouthfeel. Sweet finish. 4/5

Overall: A really solid tasting stout that is overpriced and overrated for it's rarity.

Recommendation: Stick with De Struise's Black Albert. It is easier to find and substantially tastier (albeit without the coffee flavor).

Pairings: Pound cake.

Cost: $12 for an 11.2 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Caldera IPA

Reviewing the Caldera IPA from the Caldera Brewing Company out of Oregon.
Score: 88

Unknown canning date with can code "1 813 113162A." This can was received as an extra from a friend just a week or two ago. Served in a tulip glass and enjoyed on 08/08/12.

Appearance: Pours a bright honey orange color that is a like a slightly darker "Blind Pig IPA" color with a finger-plus of soapy white head that settles to a film of head atop the beer. Excellent lacing, retention and cling. Just an absolutely beautiful looking IPA, honestly. 5/5

Smell: Orange-y tropical citrus and piney, slightly earthy, hops. A little sweet caramel, a touch of spice, and grapefruit. Really nice IPA aroma. 4/5

Taste: Juicy citrus, peach, spice, and a touch of wood. Nice piney hop bite. Sweet caramel malt backbone. Very smooth and balanced IPA. Not very aggressive at all. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied with a low amount of carbonation that lets the bitterness from the beer sit and layer on the tongue. Oily, almost watery, mouthfeel. Bittersweet finish. 3.5/5

Overall: If I had to guess, I would say this beer is just a touch past its freshness prime. Regardless, this is still a delicious brew that I would definitely order again at a bar if I lived in the pacific northwest.

Recommendation: A nice starter IPA for casual beer drinkers. Give this one a whirl if you see it on tap. This was a nice extra, but it is not a beer worth trading for.

Pairings: Spicy Indian food.

Cost: $9.99 for a six pack.