Blonde Ale

Tasted Saturday afternoon after my first half marathon in over a year (actually 1 year exactly). I pumped out a 1:12:45 and came home exhausted (8 mile bike to the starting line and then home from the finish...) in the pouring rain. Took a hot shower and passed out for 2 hours. I woke up and chugged a growler, topping some carb intake with this...
6% ABV

Appearance: Not necessarily very blond in color, but falling more in line with an amber/copper color. In the glass, very little head is produced, while some white speckled lacing clings to the walls of the glass with wet consistency.
Aroma: A bit yeasty, as well as notes of esters. Surprisingly there is a lot of caramel maltiness that falls on the bordering side of diacetyl. Some spice lingers in the back half. Maybe some clove.
Taste: Starts squarely malty, but is quick to develop into a fruity grain flavor in conjunction with a strong yeast presence. Pears and even papaya are noted. Finally in the finish, I can draw a note of coriander, as well as a residual caramel and faint spiciness.
Mouthfeel: Thicker mouthfeel with a lower level of carbonation that primarily occurs in the second half. The large malt presence thickens the texture while the Belgian-esk yeast tends to dry out the finish.
Overall Impression: Interestingly, there was a lot going on in this beer, but nothing to what I was expecting from the label. I was unsure of this beer especially when pouring such a dark hue when the beer is clearly labeled a "Blonde." Nevertheless, props for balance.

Michael Faricy's Stout

Thanks to Henry Lapka for bringing a six pack of this during a visit in Holland this past weekend. We tasted it first while cooking up a large Indian based meal of Sog, spicy Red Lentils and Curried Rice with Peas and Carrots. Reviewed on Tuesday evening after a day of bottling Mad Hatter and Imperial Hatter.

Appearance: The cap on the bottle didn't seem to be completely on...The beer itself took on a dark brown muddied appearance, while it still maintained some visible carbonation rising up from the murky depths of the glass. The head was very minimalist in stature, hardly yielding a complete foam over the surface of the beer
Aroma: Full heartedly roasted with an astringent burnt scent at the end. Not a lot of sweetness found in the aroma as it is primarily dominated by a burnt coffee smell.
Taste: I find this beer to be quite acidic. There is a chalky taste/flavor that follows the roasted black patton/chocolate malt with a faint sweetness that barely pushes through. The finish rounds out with a toasted grain flavor and ends on its dominant roasted note. Aftertaste is complete with flavors of charred wood, and toasted barley.
Mouthfeel: Carbonation was still adequate given the cap on the bottle, where its fine bubbles are exposed on the back half of the tongue. In fact it was just enough to make this beer quite easy to drink. On the lighter side of texture and body, leaving behind a cloying feeling on the roof of the mouth.
Overall Impression: This stout was very unique. It didn't have the body and thick mouthfeel expected when most think of the stout category. Likewise it left out the rich chocolate sweetness and went straight for an all roast flavor, which I've found few that do this. Certainly filling a niche market of craft beer drinkers who light their coffee straight-up and black. By all means if this description entices you, seek them out!

Sacred Cow IPA

Thanks to Henry Lapka for bringing this beer from Ann Arbor this weekend. He came up to see what everything was about, as I was the second person (that I know of) of our graduating class to move to Michigan. Tasted on Sunday evening after spending an hour or two reading "Animal Vegetable Miracle" on a grassy knoll on Hopes College's campus.
The first beer I've had from Arbor Brewing...
6.8% ABV

Sound: Upon opening the bottle, it let out a loud spritz which made me wonder what the carbonation level was taken to. However, it was just fine.
Appearance: Glowing orange in color with a touch of amber. Quite cloudy, but rounded and full looking. Little carbonation can be seen within. The head was abut 1/2" at first, but retention was minimal and the foam dissipated quickly into a thin white ring around the perimeter of the glass.
Aroma: Malt undertones of fruit and caramel are prominent up front. More specifically apricots and hop resins of pine origin. Some notes of yeast are present. As the beer warms, the malt base and some of the pine become more fragrant.
Taste: Sweet caramel and biscuit malt caress the palate, followed immediately by a pine and grapefruit complexity which together, enforces a rather attractive fruitiness. The apricots are likewise present, so to are sweet orange peel and hints of mango. Some alcohol can be sensed in the back of the throat, as this helps to thrust the hop bitterness into more of a desired warm fruit taste. The end is still sweet and piney, while the aftertaste is left with a caramel malt flavor.
Mouthfeel: Medium to heavier bodied with an evenly distributed carbonation that eventually foams up in the back of the mouth, bringing a finale to flavor. Effervescent and smooth, but without forgetting the refreshing character provided by the hops.
Overall Impression: More of a sweeter IPA. Think more on the Victory Hop Devil side of the spectrum than the light tropical Bear Republic Racer 5 end. Awesomely complex and enticingly sweet and bitter. Apricot, Pine, Fruit biscuit and caramel are present throughout, and give the drinker an opportunity to draw out a preferred element and enjoy it. Cheers!