Hoppin' Frog Barrel Aged BORIS Oatmeal Imperial Stout

My next review brings us to a beer I had to search long and hard to find in South Jersey, but seems to be very readily available in the South Bend area. Good thing too, because Barrel aged BORIS is a great bourbon barrel aged stout. Look for this gem at the City Wide downtown, and the City Wide on Grape Road.

Style: Double / Imperial Stout

Brewery: Hoppin' Frog Brewery

Serving Type: 22oz bottle into a snifter

ABV: 9.4%

Appearance: This beer is like motor oil. Completely pitch black, with a minimal head that quickly recedes to thin rim. The viscosity on this brew is very high, and this beer has some serious legs as well (alcohol residual on glass). 

Aroma: A really nice mocha comes out of the glass to start, followed by a vanilla creaminess. Some dark chocolate hangs around. A boozy bourbon sweetness watches over the whole affair, but without being discouraging. A little bit of roastiness rounds out the nose.

Taste:  Bourbon/whiskey vanilla is very up front, but not overpowering. The mocha coffee backdrop from the nose takes over from the booziness as the glass warms. Truly, half through the glass I feel like I am drinking a Starbucks iced mocha. A light booziness and brownie chewiness sits on the back of my palate through the end of the sip. 

Mouthfeel: This beer is a definite sipper. Really thick and very much like a milkshake. You'll be working on a glass of this for an hour - not because it's hard to put down, but because the flavors and heaviness of the body require you to go slowwww. Not much heat from the barrel aging, just enough to remind you to enjoy it and take your time.

Overall: After the second time trying this beer, I enjoy it a lot. I'll definitely get another bottle at some point in the near future, and I encourage you to do so as well!

Grade: A-

Three Floyds Moloko Milk Stout

For my first beer review, I'm going with a seasonal release from Three Floyds, the Moloko Milk Stout. Moloko is currently on shelves in our area, specifically with a numerous amount at the Martin's on South Bend Ave. and Ironwood. For those wondering, other Three Floyds currently on shelves there are Alpha King, Pride and Joy, Calumet Queen (Kolsch, 22oz), and Zes Zes Zes (Saison, 22oz - review to come).

Style: Milk Stout
Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Co.
Serving Type: 22oz bottle, FFF Teku
ABV: 8%

Appearance: Moloko offers the quintessential stout pour with a midnight black body and two fingers plus of fluffy khaki head. This beer leaves minimal lacing save for a few patches on the glass. Head subsides to a film then a light rim fairly quickly

Aroma: Chocolate and coffee roastiness burst from the glass. Really, really nice dark roasted malts with a light char. A little bit of dark fruit (raisin namely) sits in the background.

Taste: Bitter chocolate and coffee come up front. Bitterness isn't your typical dark chocolate you'd find in most stouts, but has a slight citrus aspect to it - I would expect nothing less from Three Floyds than to shower a beer in aromatic, juicy hops. Chewy raisin comes along mid palate. A nice lactose sweetness encompasses the entirety of the palate, while the brew finishes with a sweet mocha.

Mouthfeel: Velvety smooth, and fantastic carbonation. Really refreshing, but with a heavy enough body to encourage you to sip this (as it warms, the dark fruits on the taste materialize more thoroughly).

Overall: A really great milk stout, and another great offering from Three Floyds. This beer is an August only release, and like other Three Floyds beer, it won't stay on shelves long, so grab it while you can!

Note: Moloko was on tap at The Mark in Eddy Street as of two days ago... I will confirm this for anyone looking to grab this beer in an even velvetier state than from the bottle.
Also, I had the privilege to make it to Three Floyds to grab a bottle of Cognac Barrel Aged Moloko (which I will review shortly) and Conquistador de Muerte - Moloko aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels with ancho and guajillo peppers (holding onto this one to share with Andy).

Grade: A-

Visit to Half Acre Beer Company (Chicago, IL)

I'd heard about it for months, one of the highest rated pale ales in the nation according to beer advocate; Daisy Cutter. A friend was visiting Chicago, so of course I asked for him to mule some back, which he kindly obliged. Ever since pouring that hoppy, delicious brew out of its tall, silver can, I was hooked. Daisy Cutter, which is named for the bomb used in Vietnam to flatten everything it encountered, is not over the top in any way, on the lower side of the alcohol scale (5.2%, I believe), and so easy to drink. From then on, Half Acre Beer Company had captured my curiosity. 

You may have noticed through reading this, that when I have to go out of town for work, I typically leverage the time away to visit breweries and try new beers. One such occasion occurred just a couple of weeks ago when I visited Wisconsin for a few days. On top of hitting 3 Floyds on the way there (Dark Lord and BA Blacksun on tap... Mmmm), I decided to check out Half Acre on the way back home.

I hadn't heard of anyone visiting Half Acre, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. For some reason, I envisioned a tap room/bar similar in size to Greenbush/Four Horsemen/Bare Hands. Much to my surprise, this was not a place to come in and stay a while. Roughly 20' x 30' and no chairs, this tap room was designed for picking up beer to go and merch, then getting the hell out. For me, after days away from home, and on my last leg of a 9 hour drive, it was a relief to not be tempted to stay a while. After briefly looking over everything they had to offer, I picked up a bottle of "Ginger Twin," a very tasty Imperial Red, from the cooler, along with a growler of "Chocolate Camaro." Chocolate Camaro was also a new one for me, but after tasting a sample, I knew this was something I wanted to bring home. At only 5%, this milk stout packs a lot of chocolate and hop flavor into a relatively light brew.

I'll be in Chicago again soon, and cannot wait to see what they have to offer at that time. If you're ever on the North side when they are open, do yourself a favor and stop by. I've already contacted the fine folks at Half Acre, and they agreed to show me around the next time I'm in town. Stay tuned for many scenic photos of stainless fermentors, among other breathtaking brewing equipment.

Short's / Half Acre "Freedom of '78"

Style: American IPA w/ Pure Guava

Description: "The style is a Guava India Pale Ale, brewed with 1000 lbs of actual guava fruit. We're aiming for an IPA that's kind of outlandish, much like the inspiration."

Brewery: Short's & Half Acre

Package: Bottle into Half Acre pint glass

ABV: 7%

Aroma: Intense hop aroma of pine and citrus, with hints of guava. Sweet caramel backbone, with a faint and undetermined spiciness. 

Appearance: Crystal clear golden color with a thin white head that dissipates quickly. 

Taste: Slightly tart and fruity, with hoppy and citrus undertones. Guava is quite pronounced and even a tad funky in the taste with a bit of lime showing through. Lightly balanced with sweet, caramel malt. No presence of alcohol detected.

Mouthfeel: Fairly light, crisp and dry with moderate carbonation. Mild bitterness to me, which likely means it's higher on the IBU scale - I would guess around 75-85.  

Overall: Definitely a unique beer, which I would expect from something coming from Short's. Honestly, I think the guava ruins what would actually be a pretty good AIPA. The hops shine through a bit, giving me hints of what it might otherwise be. A bit more dry than I like my IPAs, but not by much. This was a fun one to try, but I'm glad I didn't buy an entire 6 pack. 

Notes: Got this one at Crocker's in Niles, MI. Beers from Short's are bottle conditioned, therefore they are also supposed to be stored in a cooler. For whatever reason, this store chooses to ignore that, and puts most of their Short's beer on the shelves. Mad props to them for letting me make a 6 pack out of 3 different Short's brews. 


Grade: B

Bare Hands Brewery Imperial Dry-hopped Porter

Style: Imperial Porter (Dry-Hopped w/ Cascade)
Brewery: Bare Hands Brewery
Package: Draft - 12oz Snifter
ABV: 9%
Location: Bare Hands Tasting Room (Granger, IN)

Aroma: Coffee, dark chocolate and roasted malt with citrus and floral hops on the back end that plays together well.

Appearance: Rich mahogany highlights and darker toward the center with a tan frothy foam head that leaves spots of lace clinging to the glass.

Taste: A hoppy smack to the face, balanced out with a delicious roasted malt flavor. Grassy, earthy hops hinting throughout. A mild bitter finish rounds out the experience.

Mouthfeel: Medium mouth feel, coats well with mild carbonation.

Overall: A very delicious brew with a huge flavor profile that blends a rich, roasted side with a floral, citrusy hop side. This could pass as a Black IPA, but whatever it is, Bare Hands created yet another terrific beer.

Notes: This is a beer I sampled at Zoo Brew last September. Although I'm sure it's very similar to the previous version, Chris undoubtedly tinkered with it. I'm not entirely sure how he comes up with his recipes, and I don't care.. they are pretty damn good!

Grade: A-

An afternoon with Four Horsemen Brewing Company

It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to drop by to see my friends at Four Horsemen Brewing, but yesterday was a perfect day for getting out, drinking down and chatting up.

So I've been hearing a lot about their "Winter Warmer" Wintertime Comfort and just had to give it a try. Wintertime Comfort (Strong Ale, 9.7%) is all spiced up with ginger, slightly boozy and described as "liquid gingerbread," which I certainly agree with. Originally brewed for the Indy Winterfest, they decided it would be nice to share in their taproom, and I'm glad they did. This was definitely my favorite beer they've brewed so far, and I applaud the fact that it comes in a pint glass, instead of a snifter.

While there I had a chance to hang out with Stephen Foster, Brewing wizard in charge of crafting their lineup, which is always a good time. He brought over samples of the Blonde and Pale, which he had tweaked the water on to give both a more flavorful experience. They say blondes have more fun, and that is definitely the case with FHBC's, as they have done a nice job of hopping it up. Although I typically reach for more hoppy versions of Pale Ales (Zombie Dust, Daisy Cutter, etc), I did enjoy the latest iteration of their Pale, due to it's crisp and refreshing qualities. Bottom line, they are doing their best to bridge the gap between Beer Geeks and the average drinker... so if it has been a while since you've stopped by, I think you'll find there is something for everyone's taste.

Another reason I wanted to stop by was based on their new 90-something IBU IPA they have been working on; Hop Rush. Come to find out, this must be a fairly popular new beer, as by the time I arrived, all they could eek out was an ounce or two of foam. Although it's hard to get a complete picture of a beer based on such a small amount, it did have a great citrusy hop aroma and taste. This small amount was enough to catch my interest though, and I'm looking forward to a much larger pour next time.

Thanks again to Stephen and Four Horsemen for their hospitality, I always have a great time visiting.

Flat12 Bierwerks Joe Brahma

Due to unfortunate (for him) circumstances, Andy was unable to enjoy this little gem that he brought back from Indianapolis, which meant... More (all) for me! You may have also enjoyed this yourself if you were early enough to The Beer Is Good at Fiddler's Hearth on the 5th.

Style: Brown Ale/Milk Stout hybrid
Brewery: Flat12 Bierwerks
Package: Growler into pint glass (Note: I drank this shortly after it was purchased, but am just getting around to posting about it. No stale beer was consumed here.)
ABV: 5.1%
IBUs: 28.5%

From Flat12's description:

A Brown Ale/Milk Stout hybrid with a dose of Nicaraguan Coffee. 

-Lactose added to balance the acidity of the coffee. 

-Smooth and easy going down just like your favorite morning cup of Joe.

Appearance: Chocolate brown that is dark ruby when held up to light. One finger of very creamy, tanned head that, despite it's initial thick appearance, disappeared quickly. (This was more apparent on tap than from growler. I had a sloppy and poor pour from the growler.) Tiny bit of lace webbing left on glass.

Aroma: Fairly heavily creamed coffee. A little sweet malt. Overall aroma was very subtle and I didn't get much from it.

Taste: Cocoa (more so when colder) and coffee (more so as it warmed). Hints of earthiness. Bitter at the end, but also sweet from the lactose. Robust flavor, while managing to not be overwhelming. Very pleasant, rich aftertaste as well.

Mouthfeel: A tad north of medium bodied. Velvety and creamy. Coats the mouth well, but with a silky coating that slides right down. Very low carbonation. (Again, could have been the growler. It was more noticeable on tap the weekend before.)

Overall: Pretty sure I've never encountered another brew billed as a brown ale/milk stout hybrid. (With coffee!) Still, I'm sure there are other brands out there that are similar in taste, if not style. However, if they're even half as good as Joe Brahma is, then the world would be a better place. This is a phenomenal example of how to make an outstanding smelling, tasting, and overall drinkable beer. It's amazing how much flavor is packed into this at a mere, sessionable 5.1%. I could, and did, and would again, drink the entire growler in a sitting. Now if only we still had that growler of Flat12's Bleeding Heart IPA...

Grade: A

Bonus info: No intangible for this review. It's just a growler. Therein lies this interesting factoid: Growlers aren't the only vessel that Flat12 offers to take your beer home from the taproom in. They also sell the "bullet bottle" for which they were featured on craftbeer.com in an article about growler advancements. (Picture in link.) It's a 32 ounce plastic bottle with the benefits of costing the consumer less, is easier to transport, and can be taken into venues where glass isn't allowed!

Founders Harvest Ale

After some deliberation, I figured there was no proper way to follow up Andy's monumental Canadian Breakfast Stout review (A+!), but the closest I could get might actually be this other Founders brew...

Style: Wet-hopped ale / American IPA

Brewery: Founders Brewing Company

Package: 12oz bottle into pint glass

ABV: 6.5%

IBUs: 70

From Founders's description:

This liquid dream pours a hazy golden orange straw color with a white, two-finger head. Your first sip of this beer rewards you with a super juicy hop presence bursting with citrus, then finishes to introduce toasted malt undertones.

Appearance: Hazy dark yellow straw. A finger and a half of frothy, bone white head that thinned rapidly. Nominal rings of sticky lacing left on the glass.

Aroma: Big citrusy notes. Slightly piney and a little sweet.

Taste: The freshest and juiciest of hops! Citrus and grapefruit dominate. Hoppy throughout, a touch sweet, with a bitter bite of a finish. Not getting much malt and, honestly, I don't mind. This is a hop-head's dream.

Mouthfeel: Solidly medium. A light resinous coating of the mouth, but still finding it smooth and very drinkable. Almost no carbonation that I could see.

Overall: Another home run from Founders. The hops star and shine brightly, as they should in this style. By far my favorite wet-hopped beer and also an excellent IPA in general. I did this tasting last week and, unfortunately, it's likely that all the Harvest Ale in this area was already gone by even then, let alone now. If you manage to still find some, don't delay in either picking it up or drinking it as this is not one to age.

(Full disclosure: This is my first experience with Founders Harvest Ale and I've been told by Harvest Ale veterans that this year's batch is extremely well done, so those who've had it before - Your mileage may have varied.)

Grade: A

Completely subjective intangible (that didn't affect the review or overall grade): I accidentally deleted the obligatory bottle cap picture I took, but it's the standard Founders hat. Label is pretty standard also, maybe even sub-par for Founders. Yadda, yadda, yadda. This is all I could think about after having this wonderful beer:

Upland Nut Hugger Brown Ale

Finally, a TheBeerIsGood review has come back to Indiana! Bloomington, IN to be exact.

Style: Brown Ale
Brewery: Upland Brewing Company
Package: 12oz bottle into pint glass
ABV: 5.4%
IBU: 41.4

From Upland's description: "Sometimes, it’s good to be a bit nutty. Take, for instance, our Nut Hugger Brown Ale, a unique twist on a traditional recipe. The familiar, pleasant bitterness you would expect from a brown ale is present, tempered by a full, chewy caramel malt. However, things get interesting once you taste the hints of roasted biscuit and the chocolaty aroma, and to top it off, a touch of sweetness in the finish."
(Oh, how this review could be rife with "nut" jokes. Must... resist...)
Appearance: Dark caramel in color. Opaque. Held my glass up to some light and it looked dense in there. Small half-finger of off-white head that dissipated rapidly. Little to no lacing left behind.

Aroma: Nutty. Hazelnut. A little toffee and sweet malts.

Taste: Not sure what types of nuts, as I'm not a nut person, but it tastes of roasted nuttiness. Caramel sweetness coupled with chocolate and a hint of coffee as well. A little sweet here, but not too much. Touches of hops and bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly light mouthfeel. Thought it would have been heavier, but it's not a bad thing that it isn't, in my opinion, as it doesn't take away from the brew at all. Easy on the carbonation and went down smooth.

Overall: A fine example of a brown ale. Too many are either lacking or overpowering in the aroma and taste departments. Nut Hugger was squarely balanced. For instance, the lingering aftertaste - There is one, but it's pleasing, not overpowering. It was very drinkable and I would easily have enjoyed more if I had originally purchased additional bottles. I do believe this is the best I've had from Upland yet.

Grade: A-

Completely subjective intangible (that didn't affect the review or overall grade): I take my pictures with a poor camera. There is no denying this. However, just look at the label again! (Here's a better image, in case my picture is actually that terrible.)
A squirrel drinking beer from a pint glass. That's how you do simplistic genius, people.
There are many great squirrels in history. (Right?) Upland Nut Hugger rises above most and joins the Weeeeeeeee! squirrel in the pantheon of them. (Link NSFW, unless foul-mouthed squirrels are somehow alright by your employer.)

Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale

It's at the same time completely coincidental and relative to the moment that I'm reviewing this aptly named beer from this Delaware brewery on the heels of this recent hurricane. More about that below.

Style: Pale Ale

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Package: 12oz bottle into pint glass

ABV: 5%

IBU: 30

Excerpt from Dogfish Head's description: "Shelter Pale Ale is brewed with a premium barley and northwestern Willamette & Columbus hops. The beer has a fine malt backbone and a slightly nutty flavor. Shelter Pale Ale is a versatile, quaffable beer."

Appearance: Pours very copper in color and is quite transparent with a one finger, fluffy, eggshell white head that hung around for a couple of minutes. A good amount of thin, wispy lacing stuck to the glass throughout drinking.

Aroma: Slight malt. Equal touches of pine and citrus. Maybe a little grass as well?

Taste: Malty up front, followed by a tinge of floralness, finishing with a hair of bitterness. So far, everything is in moderation here keeping it balanced throughout. (Note: I didn't really get the advertised nutty flavor. *shrug*)

Mouthfeel: Not super, watery light, but definitely light and simple. Moderate carbonation. Very crisp and clean finish.

Overall: Maybe just a little too tame of a pale ale for my tastes to give it a higher score, but not to Shelter's detriment. It excels in being smooth and drinkable. The subtly present qualities would gladly make me want to session many of these on a hot summer day if Dogfish Head offered this brand outside of the Mid-Atlantic region. In fact, that led me to an idea. Can this, package it in 12-packs, and aggressively price it. It would be an excellent craft gateway and, placed next to any B/M/C light beer, would blow the big boys out of the water.

Grade: B

Completely subjective intangible (that didn't affect the review or overall grade): Standard Dogfish Head labeling and bottle cap. Still appreciate the oval dogfish logo though.

On a scale of Warm & Sunny Day to Hurricane Irene, I'm giving this...

Nah, I kid. No tasteless jokes here, just safe wishes and a speedy recovery to everyone on the East Coast after Irene's landfall.

Lastly, a shout out and huge "Thank you!" to my good friend Katie who was kind enough to bring me back this fine array of Dogfish Head brews direct from a visit to Milton.

Completely not beer related, but Katie's a fellow blogger who writes about vintage items, thriftiness, "junkin'," life in general, and is local to boot. Check out her blog, The Savvy Luna Bugg, if that interests you or even if you just happen to have a few extra minutes to spare. Cheers!

Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA Review

"This bottle and its glorious contents are a celebration of you, brothers and sisters, and your importance in this fight (Craft v. BMC). Cheers to all we've accomplished together in the past fifteen years, and cheers to the adventure ahead!" --Stone Brewing Co.

So it's been brought to my attention that I've dropped off my reviews of beer lately (AV did a nice one on New Belgium LoF Super Cru recently), which was one of the main reasons I started this blog. Between keeping up with news, getting the drop on what pub has that special beer on tap, when that case of limited release beer is showing up, and just taking time to enjoy beer with friends, I've neglected this aspect. Without further ado, enjoy...

Style: Imperial Black IPA
Brewery: Stone
Package: Bomber into Bruges
ABV: 10.8%
Location: Citywide Liquors (Downtown South Bend)

Aroma: Floral hop nose right off the bat that fades to a roasty malt in the background. Picking up hints of chocolate and coffee.

Appearance: Midnight black with a creamy 2 finger chocolate cap and sticky sheets of lace.

Taste: Getting a hoppy first impression with pine and light citrus that's built on a foundation of darkly roasted malt, almost burnt at times. The bitterness slaps you right in the face with the initial sip, but subsides to a nice malt profile. Glimpses of chocolate and coffee shine through. This beer feels like a stout and IPA are battling for supremacy on my taste buds. A nice alcohol warmth hits you toward the end of each sip, just to remind you of what you're drinking.  

Mouthfeel: Medium body, a bit oily with mild carbonation.

Overall: I'm not sure if this is an actual style of beer... yet. With that being said, I really enjoyed this beer, and hope I can pickup another bottle somewhere. Nice mixture of in-your-face IPA and roasty-toasty malt.

Notes: Stone may not be my favorite brewery, but I really admire how they consider the Craft beer movement to be a war against the fizzy yellow zombies, and the corporate machine that drives them.

Black IPAs/Black Ales have always been hit or miss for me, but when I find one that's good, it's one of my favorite styles. I thoroughly enjoyed Deschutes Hop in the Dark, and drain-poured Clown Shoes Lubrication. If they brewed this full time, I would surely make it a regular.

As far as availability... Well I grabbed one when there were only about 4 or 5 bottles left. I'm sure if you wanted to try this, at least in the South Bend area, you could find a bottle. Try Citywide on Grape (after I pickup my 2nd, of course) and Belmont on S.B. Ave. Enjoy fresh, this is not a beer to be aged.  

Grade: A

New Belgium Lips of Faith Super Cru

In the midst of catching up on episodes of Attack of the Show, I decided to crack this open. Might it be "Attack of the Super Cru" instead?

Style: Belgian Strong Ale

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing (newbelgium.com)

Package: 22oz bomber into pint glass

ABV: 10%

New Belgium's description: "Our 20th Anniversary! Let's roll a bunch of New Belgium together and put it in a bottle. Start with the backbone of Fat Tire, but double the malt and hops; Add in crisp Asian Pears, a very Belgian thing to do; and bring it to life with a Saison yeast. It's New Belgium Super Cru from us to you!"

Appearance: Pours dark copper in color and mostly transparent in nature, similar to Fat Tire, with a thin, slightly off-white head that hung around for a few moments before nearly dissipating. Trace amounts of lace throughout drinking.

Aroma: A strong sweetness. Some notes of spicy clove and bananas as you might expect from a beer brewed with Saison yeast.

Taste: Fruit and more sweetness up front. Maybe a little bit too sweet for my taste. Midway through, the spicy yeast pleasantly reared its head again. In came tartness, no doubt from the added Asian pear juice. Some acidic flavor arrived next before finishing warm and fairly boozy. Only 10% ABV? I could have sworn it to be much more.

Mouthfeel: Medium...ish mouthfeel. Carbonation was in the soft to moderate range.

Overall: The smells and flavors from the first pour and sip to subsequent drinks as the Super Cru warmed seemed to wander; Fruity and overly sweet. Straight up farmhouse. Now sour? Wait, did I just take a drink of New Belgium Super Cru or Trippel? Things were muddy from the get-go and the beer suffered on my palate in the end. Not a huge fan, but certainly a unique brew that I enjoyed getting to know nonetheless.

Grade: C

Now, I wanted to put a few extra notes in my reviews for others similar to myself who are often equally fascinated with how beers taste as they are the bottle the beer arrived in, label design, bottle cap, and/or overall packaging. Similar to the talking heads who cover sports and athletes, I believe beer also often has immeasurable, often arbitrary, and completely random aspects to it that may, or may not be, true or even relevant. For example, in baseball, one might say "That shortstop can't hit above .200, but boy he sure is scrappy! What a gamer!" Thus was born...

Completely subjective intangible: This particular review's scale is going to be a standard 0 to 10, mainly because that is how I feel about New Belgium's brands. That is to say, many of them are fairly standard.

I'm giving Super Cru an 8 for the awesomely stylized bicycle on the bottle. (See what I did there? On its side, bicycle tires.) You might, correctly, think out loud that it's the same bike logo on their standard bottle caps. (Pictured at right.) It is! The difference is that when you compare that logo to the "portrait" or "painting" on a regular label of Fat Tire, which is the same style on many of their other brands, the Super Cru bottle is distinctly better! Even the simplicity of their Explorer series works for me. Step up your label game, New Belgium.

Bridgeport Hop Czar

Style: Imperial IPA
Brewery: Bridgeport Brewing Co
Package: Bottle into Pint
ABV: 7.5%
Gravity: 17.8 degrees  
IBU: 85
Location: From Portland via fellow Craft Beer Enthusiast

Aroma: Big floral hops, citrus and pine. Not getting much from the malt side, but that's typical for a west coast brew of this style.

Appearance: Golden, fairly translucent with an off-white creamy head. Huge sheets of lace trail the beer down to the bottom of the glass.

Taste: Lots of citrus such as orange and grapefruit with pine coming through. Just a bit of bready, lightly toasted malt provides a touch of balance and finishes bitter with a slight alcohol warmth.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation.

Overall: Not bad at all, pretty easy to drink but really doesn't stand out much. I did enjoy it, and would have more given the opportunity.

Notes: Uses Nugget, Chinook, Cascade and Centennial hops. This is my first from Bridgeport and always appreciate trying beer that I can't get in my area. Definitely looking forward to trying more from this brewery.

Grade: B+

Pyramid Outburst

Style: Imperial IPA
Brewery: Pyramid Brewing Company
Package: Bottle into Bruges Glass
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 80
Location: Citywide (Downtown)

Aroma: Citrusy and floral with lightly toasted malt

Appearance: Deep orange/amber with a light frothy white head that dissipates quickly

Taste: Bitter, citrusy and overall very hoppy. Grapefruit and pine are also pretty noticeable, then balanced off with caramel and toasted malt

Mouthfeel: Mild carbonation, crisp and clean, finished dry.

Overall: Not bad, not great. The alcohol is barely noticeable, I could drink a couple of these before my taste buds start to scream.

Notes: Dry hopped. Uses 2-row, munich, caramel malt, along with nugget, chinook, Centennial and simcoe hops

Grade: B

Bare Hands Citra IPA

Style: IPA
Brewery: Bare Hands
Package: Bomber into Pint
ABV: 7.3
IBU: 60
Location: Straight from the Brewer himself in Granger, IN.

Aroma: Big-time flowery citra hops with slight earthy undertones combined with grapefruit, orange and lemon zest. There is also a nice sweet aroma to it.

Appearance: Thick, dark golden color that doesn't let much light through, only a nice glow. A 2-finger white foamy cap sits on top.

Taste: Huge flavor from showcasing the citra hops. Grapefruit and orange really shines through here and balanced out well with a great malty sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Full body, somewhat viscous and chewy with a great balance of bitterness to go with the sweet. Just a slight alcohol warmth toward the backside of a sip.

Overall: This is a damn good beer, very well balanced with a great hop profile and extremely smooth. I really can't wait to have this again.

Notes: Not to sound like a hipster, but Bare Hands is proving to be a really great brewery that you've probably never heard of. The owner/brewer, Chris, is a super cool guy, passionate about beer and working hard to get the production brewery/pub off the ground, much to the delight of an ever increasing line of people waiting for it. The Citra IPA is the 5th brew from Bare Hands that I have tried (3 at BrewFest, 1 small glass of Double Thai at the brewery and this one) and I've enjoyed them all. I'm especially fond of this one since it showcases the Citra hops, which has become one of my favorite variety of hops in this style of beer. Cheers to Bare Hands!   

Grade: A-

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Grand Cru

Style: Grand Cru
Brewery: Sierra Nevada
Package: Bomber into Bruges
ABV: 9.2%
IBU: Unknown
Location: Citywide Downtown S.B.

Aroma: Mild flowery hops, caramel malt, slight fruitiness and a hint of oak. I'm definitely smelling some of Sierra Nevada's flagship pale ale coming through.

Appearance: Frothy, foamy off-white color cap on top of a reddish brown brew.

Taste: Rich, sweet caramel with only a fleeting warmth from the alcohol. Very well balanced with citrusy and flowery hops.

Mouthfeel: Mild carbonation and a medium-to-full body. Very smooth, only a slight bitterness.

Overall: A might fine brew, smooth and balanced well with no one ingredient dominating the overall taste. Quite complex with the mixture of different brews involved, but not messy.

Notes:  Although I bought the previous 30th Anniversary bottles, and planned to buy this one, it still came highly recommended by Dan at Citywide downtown, and I completely agree. For those that haven't heard of this, it is a mixture of some of their most popular beers, Celebration Ale, Pale Ale and Bigfoot, then "generously" dry hopped. Sierra Nevada is one of my top 5 favorite breweries, and they did a great job with this, probably the best of the four anniversary beers that they did.

Grade: A-

3 Floyds Brian Boru

Style: Irish Red Ale 
Brewery: 3 Floyds
Package: Bomber into Bruges
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 40
Location: Citywide Downtown S.B.

Aroma: Piny/Resiny, citrus, toasted malts, toffee and floral hops.

Appearance: Very deep amber color, slightly off-white, foamy head.

Taste: Subtle sweet caramel malt with a big flowery hop profile. Low bitterness and finishes dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and mild carbonation.

  Overall: Brian Boru is a good session beer with big flavor, although a bit unbalanced.

Notes:  Brewed with Amarillo hops and is a February release. This sold out pretty quickly at the Citywide in downtown South Bend, however I have recently seen some still lingering at the Belmont on South Bend Ave. Pick it up while you still can!

Grade: A

Caldera IPA

Style: American IPA
Brewery: Caldera
Package: Can into Pint
ABV: 6.1
IBU: 94
Location: Citywide Downtown S.B.

Aroma: Not much to this one with very faint hints of floral hops and citrus, maybe a little grassy.

Appearance: A medium amber color with a thick creamy white head that leaves a thick top that follows the beer all the way down the glass.

Taste: Muted grassy hops, orange, balanced well with sweet malt and finishes dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light feel to it with mild carbonation.

Overall: Not a bad brew overall, but not great either. Checking Caldera's site on this, it claims to have an assertive hop profile and 94 IBUs. I'm thinking this can traveled a long way and sat for quite some time before being sold to me, because I am not picking up much bitterness or hops. Someone could have told me this was a pale ale with IBUs around 50-60, and I would have believed it. Still, it was an enjoyable beer, and I'll be keeping an eye out for others from this brewery.

Notes:  My first experience with Caldera, and first ever craft beer from a can. Now I know what some of you are thinking, "Craft Beer in a can, how can it be?" From what I've read, not only is there a special liner that protects the beer from a metallic flavor, but it also does a better job at preserving it than bottles do. They are also easy to travel with, are accepted in more locations, chill quicker and are fully recyclable. Bell's is also about to start canning some of their beer, and I can't wait to compare.

Back to the beer... This IPA is brewed with Premium 2-Row, Munich and Crystal Malts, along with Simcoe, Centennial and Amarillo hops.

Grade: B

3 Floyds / Sun King Three Kings

Style: American Pale Ale
Brewery: 3 Floyds / SunKing
Package: Growler into Pint
ABV: 5.4
IBU: 50
Location: FFF Brewpub

Aroma: Not a very big aroma, but there is light citrus, floral hops and hints of pine.

Appearance: Hazy golden color with a white head, leaves sheets of lace sticking to the glass.

Taste: Citrusy orange and grapefruit, grassy and slight floral hops balanced well with a sweet malt profile. The bitterness is very low.

Mouthfeel: Very light feeling, bordering watery. Medium carbonation.

  Overall: This is one hell of a session beer. The taste and mouthfeel is a lot more tame then I am used to from 3 Floyds, but this was such an enjoyable brew that I sessioned through an entire growler in one evening; I suggest you do the same to compare results.

Notes:  Three Kings is a collaborate brew between 3 Floyds and SunKing to commemorate their alliance to change the archaic brewery laws in the state of Indiana. Available for a limited time at both SunKing and 3 Floyds, get it before it runs out!

Grade: A-

Lagunitas New Dogtown Pale Ale

Style: American Pale Ale
Brewery: Lagunitas
Package: Bottle into Pint
ABV: 6.2%
IBU: Unknown
Location:Total Wine - Jacksonville, FL

Aroma: Floral and citrusy with light sweetness and a hint of pine.

Appearance: Golden with a frothy off-white head, each sip leaving a row of lace.

Taste: Mostly floral hoppy profile in the foreground, slightly bold with a little malty sweetness. Finishes crisp with citrus and slight bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation.

  Overall: A very solid pale ale with great flavor and crispness. This APA could probably pass easily as an IPA

Notes:  My first Lagunitas and I wasn't disappointed, I hope they start distributing to Indiana sometime soon.

Grade: A-