Fresh Hop Pale Ale

Thank you Neil Vigars for serving this pint to us at RIBCO for their 1/2 off pint Monday night special.

Appearance: Clear ambered orange but glowing in hue, along with a very poor head retention. Initially it was bubbly and white, but quickly dissipated only to leave behind an intermittent spotted lacing along the sides of the class. There isn't much activity within.
Aroma: Floral with an underlying toasted malt and herbaceous element to the beers scent. Hops are nicely balanced against a lighter malt that carries along with in some honey and toffee in character. Oranges and citrus make a follow up
Taste: A wealth of toasted malt in the fore taste making for a light, but nice backbone by which the hops can play off of. I also taste some honey and candied sugar that continue to sweeten but also soften the body. The hop flavor is likewise sweet, but also floral with some earthy pine elements. Peaches and apricots make up a fructose like character which likewise parallel the combination of malt and hop complexity. Finally there is somewhat of a salty element about the beer that reminds me of stale hops, lackluster and not very fresh tasting. Aftertaste is grassy.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with a medium fizzed carbonation. The finish id dry and resinous with a stick to the tongue. Crispness encourages a refreshing palate.
Overall Impression: Initially the flavor of the beer is somewhat puckering and sweet, but gradually as the beer warms and is tasted, the salty stale flavor develops. nevertheless it is simply balanced and remains refreshing to taste.


80/100

Hades Ale

A six pack I picked up while working at Binny's over Christmas break. Tasted it on numerous occasions, but this write up was Saturday night following one of our track meets.

Appearance: The beer exhibits a minimal head yet with a vigorous supply of carbonation continues to fuel its sustainment. Crystal golden clear while looking watery like a keystone. Head dissipates into a white ring.
Aroma: Pungent from the Belgian yeast. A little bit wheat with a mild spicing at the end as well as fruit. Dry ad crisp smelling but not from the hops.
Taste: Surprisingly sweet with a strong malt character - more so sugar additions leave a residual sweetness on the palate. Some apple esters and phenolic flavors (from Belgian yeast) and contributive wheat and citrus overtones. Other fruit flavors play off the sweetness and the characters from the Belgian yeast such as apricots and pears and other souring elements at the finish to parallel the spicing. Little hop character in this one.
Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation helps loosen up the feel creating a lighter body. Some spike at mid palate makes the beer very crisp overall.
Overall Impression: Very drinkable and refreshing aside from the higher end ABV. Complexity is impressive. Belgian yeast is the primary contributor to the beer providing both fruity pear character as well spicing and alcohol. Both sweet and spicy while remaining palatable and drinkable.


89/100

Hibernation Ale

This is one of the very first beers I tried as a novice logger, and a beginning entry in my first beer journal (I'm finishing #3) while in Colorado Springs staying at Monte Carpenters for Christmas. Anyway Jen and I saw this at the Hy'vee sitting out of the floor as it had just arrived with their new shipment. We snatched it right up and got to tasting it that night before my formal.

Appearance: Dark mahogany brown that had a thick pour and a mediocre opaque off white head. Turbidity is maximal and lacing slight. A rubied hue adds the slightest color

Aroma: Mellowed chocolate and nuts with a roasted woody nose. Toffee and caramel permeate the nostrils with a potent accompaniment of dark fruit like raisins and plums. An alcoholic sting finishes the beers aroma completing the unique chocolaty bouquet.

Taste: Very carameled and chocolaty with a dark cherry fruit taste intertwined. I find that the Sweetness is a highly contributive characteristic in this beer with a wood tannin finish representative of scotch and oak. Gradually about midway through I experience a developing roasted grain/coffee flavor that is ever so slight, but easily distinguishable. Spicing is apparent between the malt sweetness and the alcohol finish. The complexity of this beer is astounding!
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with a smooth blanket that coats the mouth leaving a sweet slight boozy aftertaste. Mouthfeel is a little cloying and tacky to the lips but this beer is ironically drinkable. Quite dense.
Overall Impression: To think the last time I rated this beer I gave it a 70/100. It really shows how much a year of tasting and acquainting oneself with beer goes a long way. This beer could easily be palatable to anyone given the chance. But nevertheless, this has made me realize how when I've been hosting tasting sessions for different beers, how different they may taste to the average college kid. I'd certainly give this a try if you see it and are looking for a stay at home winter beer. One of the best.


93/100

YETI Imperial Stout

Tasted in the evening following a 12 miler. Complemented with an omelet made of farm fresh eggs mixed with pico de gallo from La Rancharita ($2.90/20 Oz!)...I bought 60 Oz.

Appearance: Poured coal black with the consistency of warm syrup. Filled the snifter and blossomed a rich brown head that then dissipated only minutes later into a film.

Aroma: Of chocolate and nuts with a maple sweetness. Finishing is a nice burnt, but roasted character of coffee and dark malt. Some bittersweetness of molasses and hops also pair the end in its finishing aroma. I'm excited.

Taste: Interestingly enough the taste is medicinal, which isn't a favorable flavor. I find it starts sweet and chocolaty but with the combination of the booziness and the hops as well as the burnt finish, it ends on a cough medicine note. I can either contribute this to the uncomplimentary hops used, which may originate from the ideal IPA/pale ale hops. Or the beers shelf-life is limited. Or my cold has not yet resolved itself. Does this beer finish on more of a cirtusy note? The coffee, chocolate and roasted flavors are there, but don't finish the beer off like most stouts.

Mouthfeel: Mouthfeel was thick and tacky. Carbonation was very low, but just enough to play the tip of the tongue. Body is full.
Overall Impression: Not a fan. The beer wasn't very balanced and seemed a bit off in way of sweetness vs. bitterness. The medicinal taste is one that lingers in the finish and aftertaste. Jen says "if this is how medicine is supposed to taste, I would drink a whole bottle of it...way better than Robitussin."

Note: If you recommend I retry this beer, please let me know.

65/100

Hoss Rye Lager

A beer we picked up a while back from Binnys in Plainfield. They guy there said it was one of the best lagers he's had. We'll see...

Appearance: Deep rubied amber with an overall cloudiness, uncommon to most lagers. There isn't any head and carbonation looks active.
Aroma: smells fruity like raisins with a nutty nose. There is a robust earthy/forest character (Ha I must have gotten that from the label). Mostly wood-like and the ever apparent rye spicing.
Taste: Rye spicing is full fledged and apparent especially at the mid taste to the finish. It is followed by a hoppy crispiness. Malt sweetness, and spices and mellow bitterness all in the mid taste. Perhaps some brown sugar for sweet taste? Raisin like sweetness is fantastic!
Mouthfeel: Starts with a indistinct creamy mouthfeel as the bubbles quickly grow and tease the tongue with a infatuating sting like spice. Pow!
Overall Impression: A really tasty brew. Amazingly refreshing and packed full of flavor, while still maintaining a crispy after bite. One of the top lagers I've had.

89/100