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Monthly Archives: January 2013
Heavy Seas Below Decks
Heavy Seas Below Decks
Perhaps Heavy Seas are embarrassed by Below Decks, as it’s not on their website, but I’m not sure why.
Pours a surprisingly crisp mahogany with ruby edges. Inviting aroma full of malt that you’d expect from a barleywine. Really interesting flavor. Rye, raisins, cedar at first. Hops take hold for a bit, then hints of currants and cherries. Lots of warmth and heat from the 10% ABV. Each sip I’m trying to find a different flavor, and it’s there.
Take some time with this one. Savor it.
Grade: A
Left Hand Wake Up Dead Barrel Aged
Left Hand Wake Up Dead
This is a beer I have been trying to hunt down for a while, Left Hand Wake Up Dead Imperial Stout. This is the barrel aged version, which has me even more excited.
Pours black, of course. Sweet vanilla, charred oak, and currants in the aroma. Flavor is even more complex with bourbon, more char, and smoke added. The evidence of the barrel aging is more pronounced as it warms. I’m even getting a hint of cherry, which really works. Cocoa powder and anise in there, as well. Hops finally come in at the end to provide a bitter finish.
A big fan of this. Huge flavors, obvious impact from the barrel aging, complex, balanced, very smooth. And the name? You’d never guess it weighs in at 10.2% ABV!
Posted in Beer Reviews
Tagged Bourbon Barrel Aged, Colorado, Imperial Stout, Left Hand, Stout
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Stone Double Bastard
Stone Double Bastard
Stone Double Bastard is for masochists. Even at an arm’s length away, I can pick up on the obscene hops and substantial malt. It’s just so big. Complex doesn’t even begin to describe the flavor. Pine, toffee, coffee, citrus, toasted rye bread. And that’s all before the hops make you pucker. As expected from Stone, the 11% ABV makes you sit up and notice, too.
Just go get one. Or several.
Grade: A
21st Amendment and Ninkasi Allies Win the War
21st Amendment Allies Win the War
A collaborative brew, this merger between 21st Amendment and Ninkasi is an English Stong Ale. Firmly between a Pale Ale and Barleywine. While it seems to be marketing more as a 21st Amendment brew, it’s not on their website. But it is on Ninkasi’s.
Color is an orange/brown, thin beige head. Malt is a bit on the sweet side with a big hit of hops. Nutty finish. Dates come through even more as it warms.
Busy and tasty. I’d be interested to see more collaborations between these two.
Grade: B
Posted in Beer Reviews
Tagged 21st Amendment, California, Ninkasi, Oregon, Strong Ale
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Southern Tier Krampus
Admittedly, I had never heard of Krampus, naughty child punisher at all until this brew from Southern Tier. Pours with the crisp, clear body you’d expect from a lager with a frothy off-white head.
Lots of interesting flavor, even if it’s tough to figure out what all is there at first. Piney hops definitely come through, along with sweet citrus and caramel. This is positively bursting with hop flavor throughout. Including in a lasting, bitter finish.
A winter lager, but with none of the cinnamon and clove of others. It’s all hops and 9% ABV.
The biggest, baddest lager I’ve had
Grade: A