Deliverance comes in a small 375ml bottle finished with a cork, and caged. Poured into a snifter, it sits still looking jet black with almost (okay, really) no head. With that, no lace or retention was present. The aroma was very pleasant and exactly what you would expect from a blend of beers aged in bourbon and brandy barrels. There is a subtle hint of alcohol towards the back but I attribute that to the brandy and bourbon. And I’m not really surprised considering it sits at 12.5% ABV – call it a night before having this.

On the palate it’s very nice, although immediately there is a little bit more alcohol than I wanted. The bourbon and brandy are very evident in this beer, much more than the Dark Intrigue we had recently, or our upcoming video review of Santa Fe Brewery Bourbon Barrel aged State Pen Porter. There are notes of chocolate, caramel and a sweet malt element that come through once you get past the spirit influence. Very complex and quite delicious.

Take your time with this one, and let it warm as the flavor profile does change nicely. The complexity of this beer makes this one worth seeking out if you can find it in your area.

Rating

94
out of 100

The White Hawk has a golden orange color with some quickly dissipating head and a some good sticky lacing. The aromas are lighter than expected for an IPA but contain all of the required IPA elements. Piney hops, a bit of earthiness, hints of citrus and a little spice. Certainly a lot to be desired on the nose, either stronger aromas or a bit of inventiveness and variation.

Bitter hops come first on the palate, with the pine from the aroma showing a little more strongly here. There’s plenty of balance as the hops don’t overwhelm the malt allowing the citrus and sweet malt to play nicely together. For only having a 7% ABV there is a good hint of alcohol, more than expected, as it isn’t contained well. The finish is crisp and it is a nice full mouth feel with the right amount of carbonation.

Balance in an IPA is a good thing, but I feel that the hops do need to shine through a bit more and in the White Hawk – they do not. There wasn’t a lot of creativeness in this beer, and it felt pretty bland. From the flat aroma to the lackluster flavors, I was left wanting more. This is a sessionable IPA if you can get around the alcohol hints, but there are some better options. Overall this beer was enjoyable, but flat and uninteresting.

Rating

74
out of 100

The bottle in and of itself has red flags all over it: clear bottle, twist-off cap, pale yellow, and oh yeah – there’s a chile pepper floating in it! Yes, seriously there is a pepper floating in the “beer” I’m about to consume. Poured into a taster glass, it reveals what I already knew – clear pale yellow with a brief fizzy white head that was gone in seconds. No retention or lace to speak of, it’s pathetic looking.

Simply put, the aroma is horrendous. Spicy chili pepper, chili powder, black pepper, jalapeño and dill destroy your senses. That is seriously foul and disgusting. There’s nothing from the “beer” base, if you would even argue it has one, that comes out at all. On the palate, huge chili pepper flavors, peperoncini, chili powder and an overwhelming spiciness/burning sensation through the mouth and throat. Honestly, this is disgusting, vile and foul and is simply not drinkable. Two sips and I was finished, a complete drain pour. There’s a body but it’s what you’d expect; bubbly, extremely carbonated, thin and watery. What else would you anticipate getting, though? On par, yes, though it still is a terrible feel. Add the lingering burn for a good 15-20 minutes after I stopped drinking and this is just a complete fail.

I try not to make it a point to post lengthy reviews for beers I dislike, but this needed to be done for the greater good. It’s easily the worst beer I’ve ever had and this one is completely deserving of its score. The simple fact they bottle this and actually are getting sales for consumption (like me!) is mind-blowing. It seems like they tossed as much chili flavoring they could into the beer, and forgot to sample it before bottling. Although, this might be good to cook Mexican food with.

Rating

1
out of 100

Poured from the 12 ounce bottle, Hopslam is slightly hazy and bright golden/orange in color. It’s topped with a moderate white head, and fantastic lacing and retention – patchy in the middle with thick bubbles along the outside. Opening up the nose are aromas of juicy citrus, pineapple, pink grapefruit, pine needles and honey. There’s a very nice earthy bitterness to it, with a slight sweet note towards the back that I attribute from the honey.

In the taste, a wash of bitter hop oils, pineapple and astringent grapefruit notes start off. Through the mid-palate the pink grapefruit intensifies, and trails off with a sweet honey and caramel malt flavor. It’s so complex, delicious and dangerously drinkable at 10% ABV. The body is medium to full with ample carbonation. Lots of tiny bubbles on the tongue give this a smooth and almost silky texture, finishing with a bit of alcohol heat in the chest.

Well, honestly this beer is simply awesome. There’s plenty of citrus and fruit character, backed by a great amount of sweet honey and malt. It’s big, bitter, citrusy and sticky – perfect for an Imperial IPA in my book.

Rating

96
out of 100

Title photo from: Flickr

Out of the 22 ounce bottle the Maximus has a great orange color with a two-finger fluffy white head. There is plenty of sticky lacing on the glass and some good visible carbonation. Aromas of grapefruit, hop spice, a bit of earthiness, and a slight hint of alcohol come through. The grapefruit and citrus aromas are great. The malt also lends some light caramel notes in the background.

There is a hit of bitterness upfront on the palate, enough to let you know what you’re drinking. This is followed by plenty of citrus, which is to be expected given the nose. The grapefruit is joined by orange peel and some spices from the hops that are weaved together nicely. There is some added complexity from the malt and yeast elements, with some malty sweetness and bready notes coming though. The hops are great throughout with a good amount of bitterness. The 8.2% ABV is well hidden and the mouth feel is crisp yet smooth, with a lingering finish of bitter citrus.

This was a great, well rounded IPA and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The complexity is nice and the bitterness plays well. The craft beer nerd will appreciate all this beer has to offer, while the novice will like how approachable the beer is. I do wish that there was a little less sweetness, as the citrus and sweet elements from the malt make for a stickier beer than I wanted. Even with that this is one to go for.

Rating

89
out of 100

Excluded from this list was any beer I tried prior to 2011. So, as much as I love Pliny the Elder and Founders KBS as the next guy, they were eliminated from the nominations since I’ve had them before. Without further ado, here’s the compilation:

10. Voodoo Black Magick – Smooth and full of bourbon, this Imperial Stout packed a decadent and boozy flavor.

9. Cigar City Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout – Chilies, chocolate, vanilla beans, cinnamon? Yep, all here balanced beautifully.

8. Round Guys BerlinerWeisster-WeissterBerliner – Tart, light, crisp and refreshing – this is one to look out for from this up-and-coming brewery.

7. The Bruery Black Tuesday – Even at its massive 18+% ABV, this bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout drinks so easily and has tons of complexity to go with it.

6. The Alchemist Heady Topper – Probably the best Double IPA you’ll find in a can. With their cannery up and running, there’s plenty hoppy, resiny goodness to go around.

5. Goose Island Rare Bourbon County Stout – Complex bourbon, wood, chocolate and dark fruits lead this one-time brewed Imperial Stout aged in Pappy Van Winkle barrels into the Top 5.

4. Samuel Adams Utopias – At 27% ABV, this drinks more like a fine spirit than anything. Sweet maple syrup and rich malts along with plenty of heat (and the price tag!) make this a special occasion “beer.”

3. Firestone Walker Abacus – The outstanding rich, malty and fruity base of this beer was perfect for bourbon barrels, and what an outstanding beer it became.

2. Dark Horse Barrel-Aged Plead the 5th – My favorite barrel aged Imperial Stout so far. Bursting with overwhelming bourbon notes, wood and plenty of chocolate, this beer is easily a top-notch selection if you can find it.

1. Kern River Citra DIPA – Juicy citrus fruits, oranges, mango, pineapple and the like are seemingly bursting from this beer. Hoppy, bitter, fruity and so drinkable – it was my favorite beer of the year. Once the glass was finished, it was a sad, sad moment.

I wasn’t surprised to see a majority of the selections were Imperial Stouts, as they are one of my favorite styles. All I can say is that I hope 2012 brings as much fantastic beer as 2011 did. And thank you to all who’ve shared or been part of partaking in these fine beers with me. Cheers!

Spring and summer seasonals are difficult to come by in the winter months, so you have two choices: stock up or go with a year-round option. A lot of breweries sell white beers, light pale ales, and lighter lagers all year so these shouldn’t be too difficult to come by. The actual “only released in warm months” seasonals will probably have to be saved in the back of your fridge.

So why do I do this, and think you should too? Being able to enjoy any beer at any time is great, and I do try and not discriminate. If I’m at a bar in January and see a wheat beer that I haven’t tried before I won’t dismiss it simply because it is January. There are also times where a lighter refreshing beer is good in the winter, like when you come back from the gym, or after a long day at work. Save the warming stuff for when you come inside from shoveling snow, I probably wouldn’t be drinking a wheat beer then.

This turned into more of a PSA than I planned, but I wanted to get the message out. Don’t ignore quality beers because they don’t match the season. You may find that in some odd way a Witbier or Hefeweizen are great beers to have in the winter, if only to remind you that warmer months aren’t that far away.

Title photo from: Flickr

Episode 29: Three Floyds Behemoth (2011) from Passion Beer on Vimeo.

The beer lives up to its name on first glace, coming out of the bottle it looks like liquid coal. Once settled, it has a dark brown/black color with some mahogany highlights. There is a one finger tan head that diminishes and leaves some spotted lacing. The lighter than expected aroma consists of bready malt, roasted malt, coffee, and some hop spice. The hop spice and the chocolate/coffee aromas work well together.

On my first taste I was greeted by some roasted malts, some chocolate and other sweet malt notes, and the same spice from the nose. It’s truly one of those beers where the aromas and flavors march hand in hand. I do wish that there was some variation between the flavors, they are all kind of lumped together except for the lingering bitterness of hops. The 8% ABV is hidden very well and the mouth feel is creamy and smooth. No flavor elements were present that took this from stout to “holiday stout” – some of the hop spice maybe, but I don’t think it is enough.

The Lump of Coal is a good stout – I think that it tastes good and has a good mouth feel. Even with the aromas lacking I think that it is well rounded. Like I said before, I don’t know why this would be considered/labeled as a holiday beer. The flavors also need some separation, although the transition between flavors and melding is OK but having them in one lump is not a good thing in my opinion. I do, however, recommend this beer because while it may not live up to the label it is still a good stout.

Rating

83
out of 100

Poured from the 750 ml bottle into a snifter, Fall Migration falls exactly in line for what you’d expect from a barrel aged Belgian golden ale. It has a hazy golden-yellow colored body that became more hazy as I got to the end of the bottle, due to the yeast sediment – pour carefully. A nice fluffy white head sits atop that did dissipate somewhat rapidly, leaving a little lace and retention.

On the nose, aromas of dry oak wood, white wine, white grape flesh, funk, hay and a minor citrus note towards the back end all come into play. It does have some floral hop notes giving it a decent balance of aromas. Very nicely done, and I certainly hope the taste is going where the nose does. One sip and again you’re tasting lots of dry oak up front, followed by a crisp and clean Chardonnay quality. The use of the wine barrels is quite evident. The base beer comes through mid-palate, bringing a nice amount of yeast and spice, bitter lemon and funk. The brett gives it a good bit of funk, not sourness – ending with a very earthy and hay-like quality.

It’s crisp, clean and the barrel didn’t take much away from the body which is good. Only my second “limited” beer from Evolution and this is really well done. I shared this with wine lovers, one who loves Chardonnay, and they really enjoyed this. It’s one beer that showcases how versatile beer can be, especially with the use of wine barrels. Once again, nicely done Evolution.

Rating

93
out of 100