Weyerbacher Riserva (2011)

I went to the Weyerbacher Riserva release and picked up a case to bring home. Upon opening the bottle, a mustiness was present on the nose. The beer pours a dark red color with a bubbly off-white colored head that dissipates rather rapidly. The aroma consists of tart raspberries, vinegar, pie crust, sugar, and mustiness. The taste is tart and puckering with plenty of raspberry up front. Vinegar also causing a bit of puckering before a pie crust and sugary sweetness comes out on the finish. Oak and alcohol make a rapid appearance, but cannot be missed. The after taste is slightly funky with an earthy aspect to it. The alcohol content is 11.4% ABV. There was a good compliment of tart raspberries and sugar pie-like crust that made this a great dessert beer with a wonderful puckering punch.

Brouwerij de Molen Hel & Verdoemenis

My buddy Adam brought over a bottle of Brouwerij de Molen Hel & Verdoemenis to share with me. The beer pours a dark brown color with a frothy mocha colored head that leaves some lacing on the glass. The aroma is chocolate, toasted malts, vanilla, brown sugar, and coffee. The taste is big on coffee, chocolate, and toasted malts. On the finish, vanilla and brown sugar smooth out the flavor. The after taste leaves a warming alcohol burn and a bit of pepper on the back on the throat. The alcohol content is 10.2% ABV. This was a smooth drinking beer, but definitely beware of the warming alcohol finish on it. It really hits the back of the mouth, but is an exceptional beer.

8 Wired Brewing The Sultan Quadrupel

My buddy Matt picked me up a bottle of 8 Wired Brewing The Sultan Quadrupel from Discount Wines and Liquors in Boonton, NJ. The beer pours a reddish amber color with a bubbly off-white colored head. The aroma consists of raisins, grapes, figs, dates, and grass. The taste is sweet and bitter at the same time with plenty of raisins and grapes on the front end with a wine-like dryness on the finish. Figs and dates linger on the tongue before grass and hints of pepper come out to play. The only detriment to the beer is a slight hint of metallic flavoring to it. The alcohol content is 10.0% ABV. I really enjoyed the raisin and grape flavors added, but on the finish the slight metallic flavor hindered the full enjoyment.

Weyerbacher Insanity

After having a small sample at the Riserva release, I picked up a case of Weyerbacher Insanity to split with friends. The beer pours a red-tinted amber color with a foamy beige colored head that leaves speckles of lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of raisin, caramel, fig, and oak. The taste is packed full of caramel, fig, and raisin. Black cherries, vanilla, apples makes the beer largely dimensional. The finish spices up with an alcohol burn and the after taste leaves some dry oakiness behind on the tongue. The alcohol content is 11.1% ABV. Wow, is this beer amazing! The aging in an oak barrel did wonders for this beer and added a great amount of fruit flavors. If you can get your hands on this beer, I highly recommend you do so.

Shipyard Prelude Special Ale

I picked up a bottle of Shipyard Prelude Special Ale from Al’s of Hampden as part of a mixed- six-pack. The beer pours a brown color with a frothy beige colored head with some lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of caramel, malts, brown sugar, toffee, and a bit of mustiness. The taste is dry and sweet at the same time with caramel, toffee, malts, and brown sugar. Hints of maple syrup and coffee come out as well. The finish has a light musty hoppiness that really compliments the sweetness very well. The alcohol consists of 6.8% ABV. I expected a decent beer, but this one by far exceeded my expectations. There were a nice compliment of spices built upon a great sweet base.

Lancaster Brewing Double Chocolate Milk Stout

I took my fiancee out to lunch one day at Lancaster Brewing Company, and I ordered a glass of Double Chocolate Milk Stout. The beer pours a black color with a frothy beige head. The aroma is filled with dark chocolate that is bitter on the nose, caramel, and roasted malts. The taste is bold with dark and bitter chocolate up front. Caramel comes out in the transition as milk chocolate sweetens the finish. A dry after taste with the roasted flavor is left behind and lingers for a while. The alcohol content is 6.7% ABV. I thought this was actually a pretty solid offering from Lancaster Brewing Company, as I am not always a fan of their beers. There was plenty of great chocolate flavor that comes from nibs and not powder, making it a great beer.

Pizza Boy Brewing Test Batch Mango Triple IPA

I made it a point to ordered a glass of Pizza Boy Brewing Test Batch Mango Triple IPA while at Al’s of Hampden. This beer was the winner of a homebrewing contest, and will also be brewed by Troegs. The beer pours a cloudy and unfiltered orange color with a thin bubbly white head. The aroma is strong on mango, tangerine, orange, and bitter grapefruit. The taste is extremely smooth and fruit forward. The mango flavor is sweet on the tongue before orange, tangerine, and grapefruit bitter up the finish. Hints of pepper linger in the finish. The alcohol content is 9.1% ABV. The mango sweetens up the flavor and really balances the bitterness without masking it. This beer was also very thick in the mouth feel, as it was not filtered and it allowed the mango to take over the properties of the beer.

Sixpoint Resin

I stopped in to Al’s of Hampden for lunch on a Friday, and I ordered a glass of Sixpoint Resin. The beer pours a caramel-amber color with a bubbly white head. The aroma consists of tangerine, grapefruit, fresh pine, flowers, and hop oil. The taste is bitter and citrusy, comprising of tangerine, grapefruit, orange, and lemon. Pepper, pine, and spruce come out on the finish with a warming after taste. The alcohol content is 9.1% ABV. This was a really good and fresh Double IPA packed with citrus flavors and has plenty of hop bitterness to it. I understand where a lot of the hype for this beer is coming from, and I would certainly drink this beer again in the future.

Lost Abbey Deliverance

My buddy Matt brought over a bottle of Lost Abbey Deliverance to share with me. Featuring a blend of Serpent Stout’s and Brandy Barrel Aged Angel’s Share, the beer pours a black color with a frothy tan head that leaves some lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of bourbon, brandy, chocolate, vanilla, and cherry. The taste is biting and is brandy and bourbon forward with a light alcohol bite. Hints of caramel, vanilla, and chocolate shine through after the fact. The alcohol content is 12.5% ABV. This was a well blended beer that had a good balance of bourbon and brandy, but did not overpower the chocolate base that the beer is based on.

Port Brewing Midnight Expression Lager

My buddy Matt brought over a bottle of Port Brewing Midnight Expression Lager to share with me. The beer pours a black color with a bubbly beige colored head. The aroma consists of toasted malts, caramel, a hint of chocolate, and has a nice smokiness to it. The taste is smooth and robust with a smoked flavor resonating throughout the beer.The finish has a dryness to it, but it sweetened with caramel. Overall the beer is easy drinking with a great toasted flavor. The alcohol content is 5.0% ABV. This was a well done lager with a great amount of smoked flavor, making it dry yet very tasty.

Captain Lawrence Barrel Select Series Black

I received a bottle of Captain Lawrence Barrel Select Series Black from my buddy Tim in a beer trade. The beer pours dark brown color with a bubbly beige colored head. The aroma consists of cherry, light tartness, a hint of vinegar, chocolate, and a bit of toasted malts. The taste is tart with cherry right on the front end and plenty of vinegar. This works well with the toasted malt and chocolate base that the beer is built with, and nothing is overpowering the other. The alcohol content is 10.0% ABV. I thoroughly enjoyed this beer, with the sour cherry flavor playing very well with the chocolate and toasted malt base. It incorporated almost everything that I love about beer, and I would love to have another one.

Full Pint Rumpelpilsen

I picked up a bottle of Full Pint Rumpelpilsen from Brass Rail in Campbelltown as part of a mixed six-pack. The beer pours a pale yellow color with a frothy off-white colored head that leaves bits of lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of lemon, grass, caramel, toffee, and butterscotch. The taste is slightly bitey with pepper and grassy hops right up front with a hint of carbonation. Caramel, toffee, and butterscotch come out in the finish to sweeten up the beer. The alcohol content is 5.2% ABV. This was a rather solid, and slightly bitter, pilsner that I fully enjoyed. The grassy and peppery hops really made the beer, dominating the slightly sweet base.

Summit Silver Anniversary Ale

I picked up a bottle of Summit Silver Anniversary Ale from Brass Rail in Campbelltown as part of a mixed six-pack. The beer pours an orange-tinted amber color with a frothy off-white head that leaves lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of tangerine, grapefruit, passion fruit, candi sugar, and orange. The taste is bitter with plenty of citrus flavors including orange, tangerine, grapefruit, and passion fruit. The background is built upon candi sugar and caramel, with toasted toffee hints as well. The finish brings out some spicy spruce flavors with a bit of grass and pepper as well. The alcohol content is 6.5% ABV. For a Pale Ale, this was quite the bitter beer with lots citrus flavors and very hop-forward. I was completely impressed with it, and for the price, it’s an exceptional value.

Dogfish Head Tweason'ale

I picked up a bottle of Dogfish Head’s gluten-free offering Tweason’ale from Brass Rail in Campbelltown, PA. The beer pours a golden color with a bubbly white head that does not last very long. The aroma consists of lots of strawberry, candy-like strawberry, and hints of honey. The taste is light and refreshing with a large strawberry profile. Bit of honey sweeten up the base of the beer, and there is a light background to it. The body of the beer is light and carbonated and reminds me of strawberry ginger ale. The alcohol content is 6.0% ABV. For a gluten-free beer, this is quite an enjoyable beverage. There is a great fruit flavor with sweetened honey accents that make this an enjoyable beer, on an level.