Blue Mountain Barrel House Dark Hollow

While at Bruisin’ Ales in Asheville, I picked up a bottle of Blue Mountain Barrel House Dark Hollow, an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels. The beer pours a black color with a frothy tan colored head that leaves a light lacing on the glass as it recedes. The aroma consists of chocolate, bourbon, oak, cherry, vanilla, and alcohol. The taste is bold with strong bourbon and alcohol flavors. Some chocolate is mixed in with toasted malts and a touch of vanilla. The finish is all alcohol and oak and is somewhat dry. The alcohol content is 10.0% ABV. This was a pretty solid beer and focused heavily on the bourbon that the beer was aged in. If you love bourbon, this is a great one for you to try.

Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break

My buddy Matt brought over a bottle of Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break to share. The beer pours a black color with a thin tan colored head that leaves a few specks of lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of dark Belgian chocolate, coffee, cream, vanilla, toasted malts\, and caramel. The taste is smooth and chocolaty with a good mix of dark and milk chocolate. A great coffee flavor announces its presence with some vanilla, cream, and caramel. The finish is lightly dry with toasted malts. The alcohol content is 11.5% ABV. This was a very well done coffee infused imperial chocolate stout that had a very solid and powerful chocolate base.

Olde Hickory The Event Horizon

I picked up a bottle of Olde Hickory The Event Horizon from Bruisin’ Ales in Asheville. The beer pours a black color with a frothy brown colored head that leaves a faint lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of honey, vanilla, bourbon, chocolate, toasted malts, cherry, and oak. The taste is smooth and silky with a delicate milk chocolate base and sweet caramel before a bold bourbon flavor takes over, imparting vanilla and cherry notes. Hints of honey and toasted malts are interlaced into the flavor and a dry oaky finish is left behind. The alcohol content is 8.5% ABV. This was one of the better barrel aged stouts that I have ever had with a wonderful blend of bourbon barrels. Vanilla, cherry, and chocolate all took their time on the tongue and left me wholly satisfied.

Allagash Fluxus 2012

At Appalachian Vinter in Asheville, I picked up a bottle Allagash Fluxus 2012. The beer pours a golden color with a frothy and lofty white colored head that leaves specks of lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of lemon, Belgian yeast and spice, orange peel, peppercorn, and fresh cut grass. The taste is strongly laced with lemon on the front end with a peppercorn spice to hit. Belgian spices and yeast make an appearance with some orange peel and a grassy and earthy finish. The alcohol content is 7.7% ABV. This was a nice, light, and refreshing beer with lots of lemon and spicy peppercorn accent.

Allagash Curieux

I picked up a bottle of Allagash Curieux from Appalachian Vinter in Asheville. The beer pours a golden color with a bubbly white colored head that leaves a moderate lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of lemon, banana, caramel, bourbon, and oak. The taste is smooth with a solid banana banana, caramel, grass, and an earthy spice. A light bourbon accent arrives with the alcohol bite, some coconut flavors, and a light oak accent that isn’t dry because of the solid sweet base of the beer. The alcohol content is 11.0% ABV. Overall, this was quite a solid beer with a great base tripel beer that benefits nicely from some bourbon accents. The bourbon wasn’t overpowering, but was accentual.

Blue Mountain Barrel House Local Species

Another bottle I picked up at Appalachian Vinter in Asheville was Blue Mountain Barrel House Local Species. The beer pours a dark amber color with a frothy cream colored head with a speckled lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of Belgian yeast, oak, and cardboard. The taste is smooth and bubbly with a light fruity base that mostly has passion fruit and pineapple qualities. A hint of earthiness and Belgian spice comes out before an oaky dry finish. The alcohol content is 6.6% ABV. Overall, I can’t say I was impressed with this beer. It had a variety of flavors, none of which seemed to blend too well together. Also, the logo on the bottle absolutely looks like a Dogfish Head rip off.

Rogue Chatoe Rogue First Growth Pumpkin Patch Ale

While in Asheville, I picked up a bottle of Rogue Chatoe Rogue First Growth Pumpkin Patch Ale at Appalachian Vinter. The beer pours a brown color with a bubbly cream colored head that leaves a light lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of pumpkin, cream, nutmeg, allspice, caramel, and cinnamon. The taste is bursting with pumpkin and caramel with a nice nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice compliment. A hint of graham and a lightly dry hop finish accompanies the sweeter aspects of the beer. The alcohol content is 5.6% ABV. This was a really nice pumpkin beer with a very complimenting profile. The hop finish was also a nice reminder that it was a beer and not just pumpkin pie in a bottle.

Epic Brewing Brainless on Cherries (Batch 12)

At Appalachian Vinter in Asheville, NC, I picked up a bottle of Epic Brewing Brainless on Cherries (Batch 12). The beer pours a red-tinted amber color with a bubbly white colored head that fizzles away rapidly. The aroma consists of cherries, sugar, oak, and a light tartness. The taste is lightly tart with a strong cherry flavor. and a Belgian yeast flavor. Some oak dryness settles in and leaves behind some grassy flavors and a light spice accent. The alcohol content is 10.7% ABV. Having had Brainless on Peaches, this one didn’t quite stand up to it. I liked the cherry flavor, but thought it fell a little bit flat.

French Broad IPA

While in Asheville, I picked up a bottle of French Broad IPA after sampling a friend’s glass of it. The beer pours a dark amber color with a lofty and frothy cream colored head that leaves a solid lacing the glass as it recedes. The aroma consists of tangerine, orange, grapefruit, lemon, caramel, and spruce. The taste is lightly bitter with a strong citrus punch. Tangerine, orange, grapefruit, passion fruit, and lemon all are present before a spruce and pine finish that leaves behind a peppery after taste. All of this is build upon a solid caramel base that balances really well. The alcohol content is 5.9% ABV. I thoroughly enjoyed the citrus punch packed into this beer with a solid base for balancing effect.

Lexington Avenue Brewery Kolsch

Another beer I ordered while out to dinner at Lexington Avenue Brewery (The LAB) was the Kolsch. The beer pours a golden color with a frothy white colored head. The aroma consists of lemon, wheat, grass, and caramel. The taste is butterscotch, caramel, lemon, and grass. The alcohol content is not available online, but I would assume it to be about 5.0% ABV. This was an alright Kolsch, but not as clean and crisp as I like. The butterscotch flavor got in the way of it being too enjoyable, and I wouldn’t return to this beer.

Lexington Avenue Brewery Out of Bounds IPA

I went to dinner at Lexington Avenue Brewery (The LAB) while in Asheville for my bachelor party and I ordered the Out of Bounds IPA. The beer pours an amber color with a frothy white colored head. The aroma consists of tangerine, orange, lemon, and grapefruit. The taste is dry and citrusy with some tangerine, orange, and lemon flavors. There is a caramel backbone and pepper and pine arrive on the finish with hint of passion fruit. The alcohol content is 5.75% ABV. I’d put this IPA in the “pedestrian” category as it wasn’t overly memorable. Not to say that it was bad, but it just wasn’t great either.

Asheville Brewing Shiva IPA

While in Asheville for my bachelor party, I stopped in to Asheville Brewing and tried the Shiva IPA. The beer pours a golden color with a frothy white colored head. The aroma consists of tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, and passion fruit. The taste is passion fruit, pineapple, orange, tangerine that concluded with a pine finish that has pepper accents. The alcohol content is 5.3% ABV. While I wouldn’t say this was overly memorable or the best IPA I’ve had, I’d say it was a decent IPA. Furthermore, I love the name of it if for no other reason than I am a huge “The League” fan.

Craggie Brewing Company Antebellum Ale

While in Asheville for my bachelor party, I stopped in to Craggie Brewing Company to try a beer before they closed for good. I ordered the Antebellum Ale, which is an 1840s American Ale. The beer pours an amber color with a frothy beige colored head. The aroma consists of ginger, spruce, and molasses. The taste is dry and spicy with ginger, lots of spruce, and a hint of caramel. It finally sweetens with molasses before a dry finish that is very floral arrives. The alcohol content is 5.0% ABV. I wanted to like this beer, but it seemed to be a bit out of balance and too floral.

Wedge Brewing Company Iron Rail IPA

Another beer I tried at Wedge Brewing Company in Asheville during my bachelor party was the Iron Rail IPA. The beer pours an amber color with a thin filmy white colored head. The aroma consists of hop resin, apricot, and caramel. The taste is full of hop resin, dried apricot, orange, and lemon. Pine, spruce and drying oils come out on the finish. The alcohol content is 6.2% ABV. This beer was more bitter than their Imperial IPA 3rd Rail, but definitely not as citrusy. It still was a great IPA and I would visit this brewery again without hesitation.

Wedge Brewing Company 3rd Rail IPA

I went to Wedge Brewing Company during my bachelor party in Asheville and I ordered a glass of the 3rd Rail IPA. The beer pours was a vibrant amber color with a lofty foamy white colored head that lingered for a while. The aroma consists of piney hops that pack a citrus punch including grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, orange, and a hint of passion fruit. The taste is similar to the aroma with tangerine, grapefruit, orange, and lemon on the front end. A hop oil lingers on the tongue and the beer finish with pine and pepper. An alcohol bite arrives at the after taste and leaves the tongue almost paralyzed from the bitterness. The alcohol content is 8.8% ABV. If you are looking for a citrus bomb, this Imperial IPA is for you! It delivers plenty of fruity flavors, but also destroys the tongue with hop oils and alcohol, and was one of the better beers I had in Asheville.

Pisgah Brewing Nitro Chocolate Stout

Another beer I ordered at Pisgah Brewing in Asheville during my bachelor party was the Nitro Chocolate Stout. The beer pours a black color with a lofty and frothy beige colored head. The aroma consists of chocolate, toasted malts, and vanilla. The taste is bold with chocolate,  a solid toasted malt backbone, caramel, and hints of vanilla, all leading up to a dry finish. The alcohol content is not available online, but I would estimate it to be about 6.5% ABV. This was a well done chocolate stout with rich lacing and a nice balance of dry toasted malts, making it easy to drink and very enjoyable.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Carolina Dreamin'

While at Pisgah Brewing in Asheville for my bachelor party, I had the opportunity to try the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp beer that was brewed with the local breweries called Carolina Dreamin’. The beer pours a brown color with a frothy beige colored head. The aroma consists of cherry, caramel, and raisin. The taste is smooth with cherry, chocolate, and raisin. A light alcohol bite arrives on the finish and leaves a dry after taste. The alcohol content is 9.0% ABV. I enjoyed this red wheatwine, as it provided a sweet beer that was delicately balanced with alcohol and dry hops.

Cisco Brewers The Woods Lady of the Woods

While at the Thirsty Monk in Asheville for my bachelor party, I ordered a bottle of Cisco Brewers The Woods Lady of the Woods. The beer pours a golden color with a bubbly white colored head. The aroma consists of vinegar, grapes, oak, tartness, and cherry. The taste is nice and tart with a slight pucker on the front end. Grapes, vinegar, and peaches all mix to create a complex taste with an oak finish that has a hint of sugar. The alcohol content is 5.0% ABV. The Lady of the Woods is a wonderful sour and I highly recommend it for anyone who likes the style. It gave enough of a pucker, but sweetened on the finish in a most forgiving fashion.

Pisgah Bacon Stout

While at the Thirsty Monk in Asheville, I ordered a glass of Pisgah Bacon Stout (I’ve also seen it spelled Benton’s Bacon Snout). The beer pours a black color with a thin filmy tan colored head. The aroma consists of smoke, bacon, chocolate, and toasted malts. The taste is very smoky and has a good helping of bacon, charcoal, and smoked malts. A chocolate base with hint of caramel provides the backbone, and the finish leaves smoke behind. The alcohol content is not available online, but I would estimate it to be about 6.5% ABV. This was a well-done, charcoal and smoke-infused, bacon bearing beast of a beer. It takes an acquired taste to like the mix of these flavors, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Green Man IPA

While at the Green Man in Asheville for my bachelor party, I ordered a glass of their India Pale Ale. The beer pours an amber color with a frothy white colored head. The aroma consists of grapefruit, tangerine, orange, pepper, and lemon. The taste is bitter with citrus, tangerine, orange, and grapefruit. There is a passion fruit hint, and the finish is dry with spruce and pepper. The alcohol content is 5.5% ABV. This was a solid IPA with great citrus presence, plenty of bitterness, and lots of west-coast feel to it. I would absolutely order this beer again if I was in Asheville.

Green Man ESB

Another growler my friends picked up from Bruisin’ Ale for my bachelor party was Green Man ESB. The beer pours a dark amber color with a bubbly off-white colored head. The aroma consists of smoked malts, caramel, and coffee. The taste is lightly bitter that is delicately balanced with sweet caramel. Dry grassy hops really shine in this beer and do well to pronounce themselves over the sweet base.The alcohol content is 5.3% ABV. This ESB was  a tasty and well-hopped ESB that I found to be not only enjoyable but easy to drink.

Catwba Valley La Saison Noir

My friends picked up a growler of Catawba Valley La Saison Noir from Bruisin’ Ales for us to drink at the hotel during my bachelor party. The beer pours a black color with a frothy cream colored head. The aroma consists of chocolate, lemon, and pepper. The taste is smooth with chocolate and lemon and hints of pepper. An earthy finish combined with toasted malts yielded a smooth and delicious. The alcohol content is not available online, but I would assume it to be about 6.0% ABV. This was an interesting beer to say the least, as the roasted and chocolate flavors did combine well with the spicy and earthy notes. However, I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would have, and there was something missing that I can’t put my finger on.

Catawba Valley Cleopatra

Another beer I ordered at Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria was Catawba Valley Cleopatra. The beer pours a dark amber color with a frothy beige colored head. The aroma consists of caramel, fig, and Belgian yeast and spices. The taste is smooth with Belgian spice and a good fig accent. Caramel, grass, pepper, and a nice earthiness round out the flavors. The alcohol content is 9.0% ABV. Cleopatra was smooth with great spice and a wonderful fig accent, making for an enjoyable drinking experience.

Pisgah Valdez

While at Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria in Asheville for my bachelor party, I ordered a glass of Pizgah Valdez. The beer pours a black color with a thin filmy tan head. The aroma is strong and consists of fresh coffee and roasted malts. While simple and not multidimensional, the aroma was wonderful. The taste is straight coffee with a solid chocolate backbone, a hint of vanilla, and toasted malts. A light caramel splash is left behind on the tongue a spot of coffee that recurs. The alcohol content is 6.8% ABV. I was more than impressed at this wonderful coffee-infused imperial stout and the freshness of the coffee flavors absolutely made the beer.

Catawba Valley Firewater IPA

On our first stop in Asheville for my bachelor party, I ordered a glass of Catawba Valley Firewater IPA at Barley Taproom and Pizzeria. The beer pours a golden color with a frothy off-white head. The aroma consists of lemon, tangerine, orange, and pine. The taste is bitter and biting with a healthy dose of of hops. The hops yield flavors of pine, lemon, and orange. There is a dry finish with grass and butterscotch that lingers behind. The alcohol content is 5.2% ABV. Overall, I thought this beer was a little unbalanced and mostly just bitter and dry without capitalizing on the full impact of the hops. It fell short of being great, but was decent enough of a beer to still enjoy.

Jackie O's Cellar Cuvee 5

Another beer I received in a beer trade with the Beer Club 4 Men was Jackie O’s Cellar Cuvee 5. The beer pours a black color with a thin bubbly tan colored head. The aroma consists of chocolate, raisin, fig, caramel, toasted malts, maple syrup, and oak. The taste is smooth and sweet with lots of maple syrup on the front end. A dark chocolate bitterness balances with some fig and raisin. Oak dryness and a bourbon sweetness accompanied by dry brandy comes out in the finish. The alcohol content is 9.0% ABV. I thought the mixing of an amber ale and an oatmeal stout after aging in barrels provided an amazing blend and complex liquid on my palate that kept me on my toes throughout the experience.

The Bruery Smoking Wood

In a beer trade with the Beer Club 4 Men, I received a battle of The Bruery Smoking Wood. The beer pours a black color with a frothy tan colored head that leaves lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of smoke, rye, oak, chocolate, and coffee. The taste is bold and robust with a wonderful rye and whiskey flavor all built upon a solid chocolate and caramel backbone. Hints of coffee and smoke peek through with a dry pepper spice on finish with oak accents. The alcohol content is 10% ABV. The backbone holds up to the whiskey flavor and I was surprised as to how much smoke was on the nose but not on the palate. Overall, this is a wonderful with the perfect amount of all flavors.

Crooked Stave Bourbon Barrel Sentience Wild Quadrupel

I ordered a bottle of Crooked Stave Bourbon Barrel Sentience Wild Quadrupel with my Cellar Reserve membership. The beer pours a dark brown color with almost no head. There are a few off-white colored bubbles, but that is about it. The aroma consists of bourbon, cherry, raisin, fig, and oak. The taste is lightly sour and puckering on the front end with some cherry and raspberry flavors. A sweet vanilla and bourbon flavor kicks in strongly with dry bourbon finish. Some fig and raisin peeks through, and then an oak after taste lingers for a while. The alcohol content is 11.5% ABV. The bourbon barrel aging of this beer is phenomenal and adds a touch of sweetness and plenty of dryness to an already tart and sour beer. It all comes together so well because the beer has such a strong backbone.

Pizza Boy Brewing Simcoe SamuRYE

Another beer I ordered at Al’s of Hampden was the Pizza Boy Brewing Simcoe SamuRYE. The beer pours a dark amber color with a bubbly off-white colored head. The aroma consists of sweet grapefruit, tangerine, orange, lemon, passion fruit, and rye. The taste is dry with grapefruit, tangerine, orange, and passion fruit. A bite of rye comes out with other hints of green pepper. The alcohol content is 6.0% ABV. I was a little bit surprised by the pepper flavors that came with this beer, but I think the rye and citrus flavors were able to balance everything and play well together.

Pizza Boy Brewing Punk'in Disorderly

I ordered a glass of Pizza Boy Brewing Punk’in Disorderly on a recent visit. The beer pours an amber color with a thin bubbly white head. The aroma consists of pumpkin, caramel, and nutmeg. The taste is smooth and sweet with pumpkin, lots of caramel, and pilsner malt. There is a light dry hop finish with pepper and hints of nutmeg and allspice. Overall I noticed very little cinnamon which kept the beer from drying out the mouth. The alcohol content is 6.0% ABV. I liked the lack of cinnamon spice in this beer, as I thought it allowed the other spices and pumpkin to shine, and even a slight hop accent.

Millbock Something Dark

At Al’s of Hampden, I ordered a glass of Millbock Brewing Something Dark. The beer pours a black color with a frothy tan head. The aroma consists of smoke, charcoal, bacon, caramel, and chocolate. The taste is dry and very smoky with lots of charcoal and tobacco all sitting upon a solid chocolate background. A dry finish with pepper spice and wood hints,linger for a while and bring back the smoky taste. The alcohol content is 7.5% ABV. Make no mistake about it, this beer is smoky through and through. I loved how it was like drinking a campfire or a grill, but also had some tobacco flavors to make you think you may have been eating a cigar.

Troegs Scratch 80- Belgian Brown Ale

As per my normal protocol, I stopped in to the Troegs tasting room to order a glass of Scratch 80- Belgian Brown Ale. The beer pours a dark amber color with a bubbly cream colored head. The aroma consists of caramel, chocolate, fig, date, and apricot. The taste is sweet with caramel, fig, and date before a dry chocolate and grassy finish. A Belgian yeast after taste lingers a bit with an earthy accent. The alcohol content is 7.2%. I thought that Troegs has offered a very nice Belgian Brown that would make some monks very proud. A great balance of dark fruits and an earthy spiciness danced on the tongue and made for a wonderful experience.

Crooked Stave Ocvlvs Dexter

Another beer I received as part of my Crooked Stave Cellar Reserve membership was the Ocvlvs Dexter. The beer pours a golden color with a frothy white colored head that recedes rapidly and leaves specs on lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of hay, horse blanket, barnyard funk, lemon, grass, pepper, and wheat. The taste is tart and sour with lemon on the front end and plenty of vinegar. Some hay and earthiness peek through with hints of wheat and a peppery and oaky finish. A lemon Jolly Rancher after taste lingers on the tongue. The alcohol content is 8.9% ABV. This was a wonderfully sour and tart beer with an almost candy-like flavor that was extremely similar to a Jolly Rancher.

Shipyard Blue Fin Stout

For International Stout Day, I opened a bottle of Shipyard Blue Fin Stout. The beer pours a black color with a frothy tan colored head. The aroma consists of chocolate, toasted malts, cardboard, and coffee. The taste is chocolaty with plenty of burnt flavor. There is some toasted malts and a hint of coffee. The finish is dry and roasty. The alcohol content is 4.7% ABV. This was a moderately good dry stout with some roasted flavors. I would drink this beer again, but wouldn’t go out of my way for it.

Crooked Stave Sentience Wild Quadrupel Aged in Cognac Barrels

With my Cellar Reserve membership from Crooked Stave, I ordered a bottle of Sentience Wild Quadrupel aged in cognac barrels. The beer pours a brown color with a very thin and bubbly off-white colored head that last milliseconds. The aroma consists of strong cognac, oak, cherry, raisin, fig, and date. The taste is sour and tart with cherry and vinegar on the front end before strong cognac flavor take over. A raisin, fig, and date sweetness provides some backbone before and oaky and vinegary finish that actually makes the mouth water for more. It has a relatively flat mouthfeel. The alcohol content is 11.5% ABV. This was a wonderful blend of flavors from the sour and tart to the sweet and fruity, all bridged by strong but not overpowering cognac and oak flavors. This is a must try for sour lovers.

To Ol Sans Frontiere

As part of the October shipment from the Michael Jackson Rare Beer of the Month Club, I received a bottle of To Ol Sans Frontiere. The beer pours an amber color with a lofty and frothy white colored head that leaves a lacing on the glass. The aroma consists grass, lemon, hay, and barnyard funk. The taste is spicy with pepper and lemon on the front end with a drying hay and grassy finish. A bit of caramel lingers afterwards with the Belgian yeast sweetness. The alcohol content is 7.0% ABV. This was a wonderful Belgian Ale with a nice spiciness and hints of fruitiness from the yeast. I absolutely loved this beer and would drink it again.

Green Flash Double Stout Black Ale

My buddy Adam brought over a bottle of Green Flash Double Stout Black Ale to share. The beer pours a black color with a frothy tan colored head that leaves a thin lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of chocolate, vanilla, toasted malts, and caramel. The taste is smooth and chocolaty with a bold flavor. Some toasted malts come into play with a dry finish that has a touch of caramel and vanilla. The alcohol content is 8.8% ABV. This was a wonderful stout with robust chocolate flavors and a nice, dry finish with plenty of toasted malts.

Jester King Gotlandsbricka

With the October shipment from the Michael Jackson Rare Beer Club, I received a bottle of Jester King Gotlandsbricka. The aroma consists of bacon, smoke, lemon, pepper, and grass. The taste is bold and smoky with some barbeque, and bacon flavors. Hints of lemon, pepper, hay, and grass peek through before a charcoal grill arrives and takes over the finish. The alcohol content is 6.6% ABV. I’m not quite sure how I felt about a smoked malt pilsner, but it was definitely interesting. It would make sense if it was the traditional drink of the Vikings as it will put some hair on your chest.

Troegs Scratch 79- Master of Pumpkins

I stopped in to the Troegs tasting room to try Scratch 79- Master of Pumpkins. I was thoroughly happy that after years of refusing to make a pumpkin beer that Troegs finally caved and created one, especially using locally grown pumpkins. The beer pours an amber color with a bubbly off-white colored head. The aroma consists of pumpkin, cinnamon, and pepper. The taste is bold on pumpkin that has some light roasted flavors to it. Spicy cinnamon and nutmeg are paired with a peppery and dry finish that leaves hints of vanilla behind. The alcohol content is 8.4% ABV. The saison yeast provided an interesting spiciness to this beer. I’d say if they kept that and pulled back on a few of the other spices, this would be an absolute winner. For a first attempt at a pumpkin ale, I loved it and can hope for another version next year.

Crooked Stave Batch Number 1 Wild Wild Brett Burgundy Ale with Raspberries

With my Cellar Reserve membership, I received a bottle of Crooked Stave Batch Number 1 Wild Wild Brett Burgundy Ale With Raspberries. The beer pours a red-amber color with a bubbly off-white colored head that subsides with a fizzling. The aroma consists of tart raspberries, sugar, pie crust, vinegar, cherries, and brett. The taste is tart with raspberries and vinegar that causes quite a pucker. There is a nice sugary pie crust flavor on the finish with a cherry hint. The after taste lingers with a bit of oak and vinegar. The alcohol content is 8.0% ABV. This beer was amazing with a great raspberry tart flavor that was exactly like pie. It was definitely one of the better sour beers that I have had.

Crooked Stave Surette Reserva Farmhouse Ale

I ordered a bottle of Crooked Stave Surette Reserva Farmhouse Ale as part of my Cellar Reserve membership. The beer pours a golden color with a bubbly white colored head that recedes rapidly. The aroma consists of lemon, grass, oak, and candy. The taste is lightly puckering with lemon candy flavors. Hidden behind is a little bit of grass, hay, and barnyard funk. An oak dryness comes out on the finish and it leaves behind a touch of pepper. The alcohol content is 6.2% ABV. I loved the slightly sour accents in the spin on a traditional saison. It made it extremely dimensional and kept the tongue dancing throughout the drinking experience.

Atwater Conniption Fit Double IPA

The final beer I ordered at Mad Mex in Shadyside was Atwater Conniption Fit Double IPA. The beer pours a golden color with a bubbly white colored head. The aroma consists of tangerine, orange, grapefruit, and passion fruit. The taste brings out pineapple, orange, grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, and passion fruit. Pepper and spruce arrives on the finish to attempt to balance out the hop flavors. The alcohol content is 8.0% ABV. While I love pineapple, I feel like its presence in this beer was too profound and took over the beer. This wasn’t a terrible Double IPA, but not one really worth going back to for another drink.

Brooklyn Brewmaster's Series Mary's Maple Porter

I ordered a glass of Brooklyn Brewmaster’s Series Mary’s Maple Porter from Mad Mex in Shadyside. The beer pours a dark brown color with a thin bubbly tan colored head. The aroma consists of strong maple syrup, toasted malts, and coffee. The taste is full of roasted malts accompanied by plenty of maple syrup. A hint of coffee appears before a dry finish that is very robust. The alcohol content is 7.2% ABV. I thought the maple syrup provided a great flavor to this beer, but there wasn’t enough of a backbone to balance out the sweetness. I’d probably drink it again, but I can only drink one of these per sitting.

Flying Dog The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale

After several attempts to try the beer, I finally ordered a glass of Flying Dog The Fear Imperial Pumpkin Ale at Mad Mex in Shadyside. The beer pours a orange-tinted golden color with a frothy white colored head that leaves a thin lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of pumpkin, cinnamon, and vanilla. The taste is smooth and sweet with lots of pumpkin. Better yet, very light cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg accents appear and balance the sweetness with a hint of graham cracker. The alcohol content is 9.0% ABV. I’d say this was another solid performer in the pumpkin ale category. While it wasn’t the best I’ve had, I would definitely order this beer again next fall.http://flyingdogbrewery.com/

Rivertown Pumpkin Ale

The final beer I ordered at Fat Head’s in Pittsburgh was the Pumpkin Ale from Rivertown. The beer pours an orange-tinted color with a thin bubbly white colored head. The aroma consists of pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla, and allspice. The taste is light bodied with a sweet pumpkin flavor on the front end. A nice compliment of light spices- cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg- work together and there is a vanilla accent on the finish. The alcohol content is 5.0% ABV. As far as pumpkin ales, this beer was neither too spicy nor too sweet. The balance was well played, but I can’t say it was overly memorable.

Stoudt's Achluophobia Black Kolsch

Another beer I ordered at Fat Head’s in Pittsburgh was Stoudt’s Achluophobia Black Kolsch. The beer pours a black color with a frothy tan colored head that leaves a lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of chocolate, caramel, coffee, and lemon. The taste is light bodied with chocolate, lemon, coffee, toasted malts, grass, and pepper. All of the flavors you would expect from a stout were combined with those of a kolsch, and it blended really well. The alcohol content is 4.8% ABV. I thought this was a really good beer that brought two distinct and unique styles together in one glass, similar to a black and tan. The grassy finish on top of chocolate flavors is what sold it to me.

Fat Head's Hop Juju Double IPA

While in Pittsburgh, I went to Fat Head’s (like usual) and ordered a glass of Hop Juju Double IPA. The beer pours an amber color with a thin bubbly white head. The aroma consists of tangerine, grapefruit, orange, pine, spruce, and caramel. The taste is bitter and oily with plenty of citrus flavors including grapefruit, tangerine, and orange. Pine, spruce, and pepper comprise the finish with a wonderful oily after taste. The alcohol content is 8.7% ABV. This was an exceptional Double IPA that I would come back to again and again. It packs a great citrus hop punch and leaves plenty of oils on the tongue, making it a very memorable beer.

Crooked Stave Blackberry Petite Sour

As part of my Cellar Reserve Membership at Crooked Stave, I received a bottle of Blackberry Petite Sour. The beer pours a red tinted amber color with a bubbly white colored head that fizzles away. The aroma consists of vinegar, blackberries, sugar, and pie crust. The taste is tart and puckering with a dry blackberry flavor. A tartness settles in on the finish with vinegar and a touch of sugar and pie crust on the after taste. A lingering oak flavor and dryness also comes out. The alcohol content is 5.0% ABV. This was a wonderful fruit-infused sour with a lovely tartness and a light oak dryness. Another winner from Crooked Stave!

Woodcut No. 6 Oak Aged American Ale

While at the Odell Brewery, I picked up a bottle of Woodcut No. 6 Oak Aged American Ale and brought it back in my luggage. This beer features Mosaic hops which are blowing up right now. The beer pours an amber color with a lofty frothy cream colored head that leaves specks of lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of passion fruit, tangerine, toasted caramel, pineapple, and orange. The taste is bold with strong caramel up front and plenty of passion fruit, tangerine, orange, and pineapple flavors. A light oak dryness with a peppery spice comes in on the finish. The alcohol content is 10.0% ABV. This beer is full of tropical fruit and delivers a wonderful flavor with a light spice and oak accent. It also has an earthy presence to it with some grassy accents.

Trinity Stop Making Sense Imperial Bock

As part of a beer trade with Hoptopia, I received a bottle of Trinity Stop Making Sense Imperial Bock. The beer pours a dark amber color with a frothy beige colored head that leaves a thin lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of caramel, smoked malts, raisin, and toast. The taste is smooth and sweet at first with a creamy mouthfeel. Caramel and toasted malts with a hint of smoke shine next with some raisin, pepper, and grass on the finish. The alcohol content is 10.0% ABV. The beer has a strong sweetness about it but it is delicately balanced with some grassy and peppery hops.