This beer pours a clear orange color with a light ring of white head. This is an imperial IPA at 10%.
The aroma is full of lovely flavors. Woody notes, vanilla, and dark Malts. Some hops as well on the flavor.
Tastes dry and woody. Sweet vanilla flavors with oaky notes and light touches of alcohol. Very tasty and I certainly recommend it.
Cheers!
Long day; late night. Got a good beer that I’ll sip on for awhile. I’ve got a special treat lined up for tomorrow however!!!
Harpoon Brewing is based out of Boston, MA. They started brewing a Leviathan series a few years back that are all usually big beers or high in alcohol. This is their Imperial IPA at 10%.
This beer pours a clear bright orange color with a fizzy white head.
Aroma is lots of hoppy notes and grapefruit. Fresh hops, resin and tree sap with perhaps a touch of wood.
Flavor is earthy and wet, sticky hops. Sweet citrus with a tart grapefruit flavor. Woody and bitter on the finish with a big tingle from the alcohol. Pretty good.
Cheers!
I was at a DCI watching party all night and just barely squeezed in a beer before midnight. For some strange reason, I forgot to type it up! Man I’ve really gotten out of my stride over summer. Hope I can get back in soon.
Squatters Pub (otherwise known as Salt Lake Brewing Company) is based out of Salt Lake City, UT. Only very recently have we started receiving their beers in north Texas. Not only that, but I’ve noticed a few other Utah companies sporting their wares around town. Wasatch is another that I’ve seen on tap, and the rumor is Uinta is looking to come here too. That would be awesome if that is the case! Today I’m reviewing a beer given to me by a friend and it looks to be a good one! Hop Rising is an Imperial IPA and has an ABV of 9%! I’m liking the looks of this already!
Pours a fairly clear rich amber color that edges on orange. Nice foamy off-white head billows up and lingers.
Aroma is pretty hoppy. Lots of wet hops, resin and sappy notes, grapefruit and lots of woody notes. Pretty hefty smell for sure.
Flavor is sharp hops, mixed with a sweet fruity sense. Bitter woody notes fill the finish. Nice hoppy flavor for sure. This is pretty solid. Good tingle down the throat on the finish.
Cheers!
I found a treat while out at the Meddlesome Moth in Dallas, and it comes in the form of an Imperial India Pale Ale from Maui! On tap and served in a delectable snifter.
Maui Brewing of course is located in Hawaii. I have reviewed several beers from them thus far and I am glad to see this one in front of me today. This is classified as an Imperial IPA with an ABV of 8.5%. Can’t enjoy too many of these consecutively now. I think I’ll just have 1.
Pours a very rich rouge color with slight touches of orange. Foamy off white head. Very large head response, and it looks nice.
Aroma is very hoppy. Lots of pine notes, sap and resin. Not overpowering though and that’s always a plus for me and big hoppy beers. Sometimes I like to be bowled over with hops but not all the time. This is pleasant and I like it.
Flavor is super sweet hops, lots of tree sap and resin, earthy grassy notes that leave a big tingle on the palate. Very hoppy, very sweet. Altogether I rather like it.
Cheers!
I’ve put off today’s beer for long enough. I was really hoping that I could find this one in a bottle somewhere so I could enjoy it in one of my many Dogfish Head specialty glasses but to no avail. I have seen bottles of this before, but as of January 2nd (when I officially started this project) I have yet to see them return. It seems North Texas gets an odd assortment of DFH now, on tap and in bottles. Maybe I just haven’t been looking in the right place, I don’t know. But anyways, today I’m buckling down and will be enjoying one of Dogfish Head’s top sellers.
This is an Imperial IPA from Dogfish Head, and in my opinion it’s one of their best. I didn’t always feel that way however. When I first started trying new beer, I came across this brewery with a funny name, Dogfish Head. Well at this point I had only been drinking beer for a matter of months and had no idea what an India Pale Ale was, much less that this was the Imperial version of that. I had no idea what 90 minute stood for and frankly didn’t care. I split a 6 pack with some buddies of mine and we all opened the bottles at the same time. I can’t describe to you the utter horror and frustration that escaped the apartment at that moment. No one knew that a beer could (and should) taste like this. We were taken back and I was angry. Yes I was angry! From all the commercials I had seen, I was under the impression that beer should be light, crisp and refreshing; and come with 2 busty babes dripping with water. Well it took many years to re-educate myself on beer but I gathered the nerve to try this beer again and I found that it was not what I originally thought it was. I actually found myself craving the taste of hops and the rest is history. I actually haven’t tried this beer in awhile so I’m quite excited to try it again! 9% alcohol…yikes! (I’ve got a killer beer planned for Friday.)
This beer pours a slightly hazy orange color that appears very bright when put to the light. It holds a foamy off-white head that sticks around for quite a bit.
The aroma is wow! Intense! I smell lots of sweet hops, fruity and floral in nature. Very fat smelling.
The flavor is certainly hops. There is a big tingle over the palate from the raised alcohol levels. Sweet, almost syrupy sugar flavors touch on spicy hops and pine. I remember this being super piney and sappy before so I wonder if they have changed the recipe? Regardless it still remains a very good beer!
Cheers!
Just got back from a vacation and had a lovely hoppy beer waiting for me.
Breckenridge started making small batches of different styles of beer several years ago, and this is their big IPA version. It is so big in fact that it is classified as an Imperial IPA. The ABV is at 9.2% and I am glad I’m splitting this bottle with a few people!
This beer pours a clear golden orange color with a foamy white head. Looks quite nice.
The aroma is quite hoppy. Wet drippy hops with resin, syrup and some woody notes. Smells quite hoppy.
Flavor is very orange, like big orange peels. The hops provide a gentle bitterness with a huge citrus flavor. Man this is nice! I am down with this beer.
Cheers!
Just like that, my week of IPA is over. Don’t worry folks, I’ll be sending her out with just as much glory as we began. I saved today’s beer especially for today as it is the craziest, most intense beer of the week! Hold on to your hats…
The Maharaja is big and bad and certainly knows it! It’s brewed by Avery Brewing Company and is part of the Dictator series from them. They have released several beers that are named after different dictatorship positions. All of them are huge. This one is an Imperial India Pale Ale and comes in at a strong 10.54% ABV. The IBU’s (International Bittering Units) are also interesting to note at 102. In terms of bitterness this is near the high end of the spectrum.
BTW I also wanted to give a big shout out to my DALLAS MAVERICKS who are the NBA Champions for 2011! Gotta love the home team!
This beer has a bright orange color with lots of carbonation. Bubbles continuously emanate from the bottom of the glass and form into a foamy white head at the top.
The aroma is very sweet. Lots of tree sap, syrup, resins and hops! Major hops and sweet fruit are in this beer. The aroma is very intense!
The flavor of this beer is very hoppy and quite bitter. Lots of woody notes and aged characteristics can be tasted. Sweet grapefruit leads to a dry finish. Man this is crazy.
Well it was a great week of IPAs. I had several very good ones and had a great trip out to a beer tasting. I have a feeling that I will be picking up some dark beers for this coming week….too much of a good thing is never great. Congrats to my Mavs too!
Also sorry about the Easter bag in the background…leftover from some of my students haha!
Cheers!
Decided to toss in a double IPA for today. Good opportunity for a good beer in honor of the MAVS WIN last night! This beer ought to be pretty big so I’ll be sipping on it for awhile.
Great Divide Brewing Company is out of Denver, Colorado, and I believe I have reviewed something from them before. Yes! The Yeti Imperial Stout and boy was that a good one. Well today’s beer shouldn’t disappoint either as it is big and bold. The Hercules is an Imperial IPA and rings in at a heavy 10% ABV. ”Hercules is not for the faint of heart but fit for the gods.” This should serve as an appropriate midpoint to my Week of IPAs.
This beer pours a heavy orange color that lightens to a soft gold near the bottom of the glass where it tapers down. It also sports a heavy foamy white head which does not dissipate quickly in the least.
The aroma is surprisingly softer and less intense than some of the previous week’s selections. For example the Stone IPA was very intense and put its hops RIGHT in your face, while this beer is more subdued. That’s not in any way meaning it is any less complex however! I can detect a gentle mix of sweet and tart fruit. Definitely like a grapefruit/orange/plum type of nose. The dark fruits round out the aroma to make it more full than the standard IPA. There is also a bitter/woody type nose that gives this more of an aged feel. Lots of flavor on the nose.
The taste itself is very woody, with a bitter grain flavor that shows up first. The fruits come in second but are immediately beaten away by the hops that overpower the flavor and leave a lingering bitterness through the aftertaste. The major quality here is in the sweet flavor in the middle, and that’s the part you want to savor. The bitterness calms down significantly as you get used to the drink and it warms up. Good beer, well done but certainly a 1 and done type of beer.
Cheers!
Well I’ve made it to Day 130. It’s a rainy gloomy day but I decided to do something special today. I get REPEATED requests to feature more Dogfish Head beer on my site all the time, but as I have mentioned several times before their beer has become increasingly difficult to come by. The success of their show “Brewmasters” catapulted them into a new mainstream beer market in which the demand was far greater than their production levels. Since then, I have only seen a few DFH bottles available locally and a few more options on tap. They even pulled their distribution model out of 4 states and several countries to match demand in their other markets. Texas was lucky not to be on the chopping block, but we did lose access to some of their more limited offerings.
Well I received a text from a friend of mine today while at work alerting me to a lovely opportunity to grab some rare Dogfish Head beer. The only problem was, it’s being held at the Meddlesome Moth. You may recall this location from one of my previous posts found HERE. I was very impressed by them the last time I went and feel it’s worth it to head on out there again. They are tapping 5 different beers all brewed in 2007. 2 of these beers I have never had before and am excited to try. So for all you Dogfish Head fans, here’s a 5 for 1!
2007 Batch.
The Red & White is actually a blend of two separate fermented drinks. It starts as a Belgian wit and is blended with Pinot Joir wine juice. It then gains the classification of Belgian Strong Ale. A small portion is aged in Pinot Noir barrels and then reblended before packaging. This is where the name comes from; a blending of a white beer with red wine. At 10% ABV, this is the lowest in alcohol beer I will have tonight. Yes, you read that correctly. 10 is on the low end.
This beer pours a cloudy reddish orange hue with a light amount of off-white head. Slight lacing on the glass.
Aroma is woody right off the bat, with a fair nose of wine grapes. Very light spice but not much. While it was brewed with coriander it seems time has faded most of it off.
Flavor is a fruity burst of flavor right off the bat. It has a sudden tingle on the front edge of the tongue that leaves a warming sensation that snakes down your throat. It also has a woody, clay type flavor. The wine aspect of this beer has most certainly taken over and has moved it into a more fruity barley wine flavor. It’s very good but I know this was not the brewer’s original intent.
2007 Batch.
Burton Baton is a blend of and English Old Ale (of which I have yet to rate this individual style) and an Imperial IPA. They initially ferment these beers separately then blend it in oak barrels to age and develop in flavor. Classified as an Imperial IPA. This also comes in at 10% ABV.
This beer pours a murky, ruddy orange color with a fine beige type head. Small amounts of lacing.
The aroma is woody, musty and earthy. I remember this now the first time I tried this beer. It took me and my buddies ages to finally decide what the aroma was like. Granted this was the first beer of this type we had come across, but we decided on wet ad rotting wood, that when you step on it it crumbles easily. That’s exactly what I smell. Certainly outdoorsy and aged. No real fruit to speak of, or vanilla as the description suggests.
Flavor is immediately sweet sugar and browning fruit. The hops provide a bitter touch and mouthfeel with no real impact on the flavor. Not surprising as hop flavor fades considerably with time. It has a large woody flavor with, yes…vanilla. Wow, this one also has a tingle down the throat. Man this is SO much better than the first time I had it. This ages very well with a dry type finish.
2007 Batch.
Immort Ale is one of the only distributed Barley Wine that DFH makes. They have some others that they’ve experimented with but this one remains one of the 2 that I can think of that they distribute. The description includes maple syrup, peat smoked barley, juniper berries and vanilla. This one is also aged in oak barrels. 3 of 3 for the night thus far. 11% ABV….getting stronger!
This beer pours a bright reddish color with small bits of sediment floating around. Not much of a head to speak of, even after agitation.
Aroma is hmmm. Prepare yourself. Hay, barnyard, manure, wood, and a touch of band-aid. I’m believing this might have an infection from odd yeast. Literally this is like walking into the animal pens at the stockyards. This beer is close to room temp by now also as I’ve been here for an hour.
Flavor is also smacky band-aid, sharp flavors, a huge mix of maple and smoked malts with a large burning on the tongue. Maybe a little sweetness hiding but this is not good. I’ve had this beer before and it tasted nothing like this. Definitely infected. Sometimes infections come from wild yeast getting in the beer, but that usually results in sour flavors. Band-aid flavors come from either poor sanitation or a high presence of initial yeast produced phenols. Gross.
2007 Batch.
Raison D Extra is a amped up version of one of their best-sellers, Raison D’etre. (Which I have yet to review) It starts more or less as the same brew but they multiply the ingredients to make this beer HUGE. The ABV of this sucker is an astounding 18.5%! Damn! Now you see why it’s taken me an hour to drink 15 ounces of beer. This is classified as an American Strong Ale.
This beer pours a dark maroon color with very little to no carbonation. Looks heavy.
Aroma is very raisiny with sharp notes of vinegar and alcohol. This has developed a bit of a tart nose which I also do not recall from previous tries. Slight hint of maple in this.
Mouthfeel leaves a HUGE tingle on the tongue. Holy crap this is super warming. Definitely a maple and raisin flavor with a touch of wood. Finishes with a sweet flavor that tingles like hell. This is fairly solid. (minus the vinegar smell)
2007 Batch.
Fort is another 18% beer, this time being a Fruit Beer. It says it was brewed with a ton of pureed raspberries, and I’ve got a feeling this is no hyperbole. My buddy raves and raves about this beer but only after it sits for several years. For this reason I have always shied from trying it as I have little patience for cellaring beers. However, now that I have the opportunity to try a 4 year old version of this, I’ll jump right in!
This beer pours a super murky brownish-orange red. Like all the colors of beer mixed together to create this. Not much carbonation or head either.
Aroma. Holy crap aroma! So at this point I’ve been sitting at the bar for an hour and a half with these five beers in front of me and every so often I would catch a whiff of something ridiculously fruity. Well turns out it was this beer. The aroma is a gloriously intense raspberry, all the way. Very nice and fresh. Wow!
Mouthfeel provides a familiar tingle but the flavor is great. Lovely tart raspberries with a solid sweet flavor. Dries out the mouth considerably however but still remains fantastic! I’m very glad I saved this one for last. Now I can just relax and savor it.
Special note: I finally reached the bottom of this glass and it has sediment like crazy!
So there you have it folks! I’ve gone Dogfish Head crazy for this post!
Holy crap. So I was seriously about to walk out of this place and post my blog when the manager comes by and drops this gem in front of me. “It’s only a taste” he says but when I see what beer it was I could care less.
So if you have seen the first episode of “Brewmasters” you will know it is about this beer. It goes through the life of it, from the planning stages, research and production of it. I’m very pleased to see this beer tonight. It is an Imperial Stout at 9%. Aw I guess that means this is now the lowest ABV beer I’ve had tonight. 
This beer pours a very very dark brown color with a nice heavy brown head. Very pretty.
Aroma is first off roasted malts big time. It has a roasted chocolate and smoky nose. Sweet nose and very lovely to smell. I hesitate to say this but…….peppermint? Perhaps in the slightest!
The flavor is super roasty with again a spearmint flavor. Not sure where that is coming from but I kinda dig it. It’s different. Roasted chocolate malts that feel rather bitter on the palate. For being the lowest in alcohol beer I’ve had, it’s certainly the slowest drinker I’ve had tonight. Funny how that works. This is really good also. Man I have been pleased with (most) everything I’ve been served tonight.
A most deservedly CHEERS!!
EDIT: Again before I walked out I ran into the official DFH rep that was here and was able to chat with him for a bit. He asked my favorite and I replied with Burton Baton. He absolutely agreed with me and had lots to input on the beer and how it typically ages. What shocked me was when he said his favorite was the Immort Ale which I completely despised. He really digs the smoky flavor and the sharpness that comes with it. Well I’m doubtful he had my particular bottle but, to each their own. It’s been a great night.
Day 90. I’m only 10 days from day 100 which is hard to believe already. I still feel like I’m just getting started on this blog and there are SO many beers that I am wanting to review!
So many reasons to feel good about today. It’s Friday, Rangers opening day, weather is nice outside…so I’m going to treat myself to yet another great beer.
The Divine Reserve series from Saint Arnold began in 2005 and has turned into one of the most anticipated and sought after limited release series’ in Texas. Each batch is only made one time and then never again (under the DR name anyway) and are always very limited in size. It really gained popularity by the 5th installment and that hype has never relaxed. These beers are always a special recipe, often times the winning recipe in a homebrew contest. The release of these beers is anticipated by beer geeks all over the state, so much so that the stores that receive shipments in are sold out within a short period of time. With each release, Saint Arnold maintains that they increase production, but they have a delicate balance to walk. Release too little and few people try it; release too much and it loses it’s limited luster. When I first got into beer, they were already on release number 7. I had figured that I would never see any of the earlier beers, ESPECIALLY number 1. Through the generosity of some good friends, I have been fortunate enough to have tried all 10 of these beers now, and will be trying number 11 today.
Divine Reserve #11 is classified as an Imperial IPA, and weighs in at 8.9% ABV. According to Saint Arnold this is the first Divine Reserve that they have filtered. All the beers before now have gone unfiltered to keep all the juicy goodness in the bottles. This beer was filtered due to concerns about bottling with lots of hop particles still present. I will be trying this in both a bottle and on tap.
Typically beers of this style need to be enjoyed as fresh as possible, otherwise many of the hop elements begin to fade. However, Saint Arnold is commenting that they expect this beer to develop interestingly over time. I recommend to try it fresh if possible.
I’m in downtown Fort Worth tonight at the Flying Saucer. If you aren’t from around here, the FS first opened up in Fort Worth in an aging textbook warehouse. It’s a historical building, and it gives it a fantastic vibe. They tapped a special cask of the DR11 tonight an I am proud to let it settle in front of me.
Even for it being filtered, it still maintains a fair bit of haziness. It pours a bright reddish/orange color with a foamy beige head. Looks quite elegant.
The aroma is RIDICULOUSLY hoppy. I mean, one sniff and I feel like I’m walking through a Christmas tree lot while bathing in sap and sweet grapefruit juice. Holy crap! Loads of sweet aromas pack this beer. Very fresh smelling indeed.
Smooth mouthfeel with a load of hops in the flavor as well. Lots of pine needles, tree sap, candied sugar, bitter touches that fades into a very wet, hoppy, bitter finish. Wow one for the hopheads for sure. The cask gives it a smoother mouthfeel than in the bottle, and also allows for a more even balance of flavors.
This is fantastic and certainly well worth the trouble to come about it.
Cheers!
