Mud Puppy Porter

Purchased this several months ago while back in the Burbs visiting the Binny's I used to work at. They finally got an assorted beer rack to make your own sixer's, so I took advantage of that and picked out a few beers I had never tasted. This was one of them. Tasted on a Monday afternoon while making a large batch of babaganouj and hummus and prior to heading out on a 9 mile run to work.
Snifter Served

Appearance: The pour exhibited a reddish brown hue with absolute clarity. Initially a head set about a 1/2" over the beer, but reluctantly dissipated rather quickly into a soapy off white ring around the inner perimeter of the glass. Within, the beer comes off in a muddled murky brown with a lot of sedimentary particles rising up the sides of the snifter. Carbonation bubbles presently cling to the glass too. Aside from the color inhibition of visibility, the beer is clear around the edges.
Aroma: Scent of dark chocolate and malt sweetness, complimented with a toasty caramel. Very rich dark malt scent is continuously a factor at each whiff. Man, it smells good.
Taste: Huge chocolate flavor. Dark chocolate, as in the aroma, formulates the foundation of this beer. Slight toasty notes subtle run on an undertone accompanied by a grainy roast. Nevertheless, little else can be said about this beer - the chocolate is so in your face, few other characteristics come through - and OK by me!
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a fine carbonation to bubble up over the tongue at the end of the taste. Front to the middle of the tongue is left dry, with the roof of the mouth maintaining some cloy. However, overall the beer employs a high drinkability aside from the enlarged dark chocolate malt presence.
Overall Impression: Aching with the flavor of chocolate. Little else, making this a simplistic, not overly complicated beer that is an easy enjoyment on all occasions. Apart from all the sediment, I'd say this is one of the best "Porter's" I've had.

Happy Heron Pale Ale

Tasted Sunday afternoon after my first 10 mile run in over 2 months. Reviewed after cooking up some Indian lentils and enjoying the sun on the porch. Thanks to Tom Bergman from the Highland Park Binny's for recommending this unfamiliar beer/brewery to me!
5.2% ABV

Appearance: Sparkling golden copper with a strong accumulation of bubbles on the sides of the glass. The head is spritzy and minimal with a soft ice-like appearance. Some chill haze is present and the lacing is wet.
Aroma: Floral and slightly grassy with a touch of honey to compose a slight malt base. Some faint phenols are present at the end of the nose, complimented with a mild yeast undertone. Relatively clean and fresh smelling.
Taste: First I get notes of honey alongside a rich floral alpha acid derived grassiness. This is equally paralleled by some pine present throughout. The flavor is extremely fresh. The end, however, permeates a different character, revolving around sweet orange peel and coriander. This encourages a burst of bitter fruit skin complexity and zest. The finish is predominantly bitter with a grassy bitterness in the aftertaste that interestingly reminds me of biting into a grapefruit peel.

Mouthfeel: Frothy and smooth as the carbonation gives a soft bubbly foam as it covers the tongue. Microbubbles that don't bite, but fuel more of the crisp clean flavors from the uniquely selected floral earth based hops. Finish is very dry, but crisp.
Overall Impression: Fresh all the way. The malt is second to that of the hops which start in the aroma as floral, but sensationally reminiscent of orange peels as it nears the finish. I'd say characteristics of pine, grass, lemon, orange zest and grapefruit are all applicable to this beer. Above all else, refreshing, clean, crisp and choked with flavor. I'd come back to this again.