NAME: Fat Head’s Head Hunter IPA
ORIGIN: Cleveland, OH
TYPE: American IPA
ABV: 7.5%
REVIEW: Crisp pine notes on the nose, aggressively hoppy with nice grapefruit on the back of the tongue, and very even mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Super bold, super smooth, super IPA. Thanks @simplystuart
goodwilltasting grade: A! Well done, Cleveland!
NAME: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 2013
ORIGIN: Chico, CA
TYPE: American IPA
ABV: 6.8%
REVIEW: Dark amber color, strong thyme and pine smell, nice strong hop bite at first, mellows out to a malty and spicy sweetness with clove and anise notes. Crisp mouthfeel with a smooth finish. This ale is ubiquitous for a reason. Nice warming winter IPA that would go well with any thanksgiving feast.
goodwilltasting grade: B+
Collaboration time! Same recipe, 3 different breweries (Dogfish, Victory, and Stone). This version was brewed by Stone.
NAME: Saison du Buff
ORIGIN: Escondido, CA
TYPE: Saison
ABV: 7.7%
REVIEW: I reviewed this over the summer and posting this is making me pine for warmer temperatures. Too bad the polar vortex is coming. Blurg. Brewed with parsley, sage, thyme, and rosemary. Golden wheat color, light bubbly head, fresh lemony aroma, sweet nutty herbaceous taste with a bit of black pepper at the end. Sharp mouthfeel, good carbonation. I really don’t usually like Saisons but with a collaboration like this I had to try it. I’m glad I did. Great summer beer that’s refreshing to drink but strong enough to take the edge off a hot September day. Would go well with a hearty fish dish or a light pasta. B+.
Brought this beer to Christmas Dinner at a friend’s house. Here’s the review:
NAME: Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout
ORIGIN: Brooklyn, New York, NY
TYPE: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10%
REVIEW: Pours jet black, with a light champagne color head. On the nose you get cocoa, coffee beans, a little vanilla. The taste is smooth, roasty, nice bitterness that reminds me of dark chocolate, a little boozy and smoky at the end. Velvety mouth feel, kind of heavy. I’m usually not a huge fan of Brooklyn Brewery stuff but this was a solid, full-bodied stout, went great with our roast rib eye and mashed potatoes!
goodwilltasting grade: B+
I’m a few days late but I wanted to keep sharing some of the Christmas beers I’ve been enjoying this winter. Seasonal beers are what make this miserable season worth enduring. Especially here in frigid Boston!
Heavy Seas Yule Tide Imperial Red Ale. Brewed with ginger and aged in rum barrels. Baltimore, MD. 9% ABV.
Dark copper color, minimal head, fruity smell, heavy on the ginger, notes of coconut. Really gingery taste with good malty backbone, smooth, not too boozy for a 9% beer aged in rum barrels, sweet finish. Pretty complex and spicy beer to ring in the holidays.
goodwilltasting grade: B
Here we have Anchor Steam’s 2013 Christmas Ale! This is something I look forward to all year. The recipe changes year to year so it’s always a surprise what they’re coming out with.
Winter Warmer Ale, 5.5% ABV. Dark black coca cola color, minimal head with moderate lacing. Pine, nutmeg, clove on the nose, nice nutty, roast-y taste with subtle sweet hop finish. Well done Anchor! I like it more than the 2012. But not as much as the 2011.
goodwilltasting grade: B+
Duchesse De Bourgogne Flemish Sour Ale. Brouwerij Verhaeghe, Belgium. 6.0% ABV.
Dark amber color, fruity acidity hits you right on the nose, tart taste with notes of cherry and plum, crisp mouthfeel with pretty strong carbonation, delicate finish. Oddly enough this is served at Han Dynasty in Philly with their spicy schezuan-style Chinese food. And I think it pairs nicely.
goodwilltasting grade: B-
Full Disclosure: I’m generally not a fan of sour ales so take my grade with a grain of salt.
Mikkeller Black Buffalo. Denmark. Imperial Stout aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels. A whopping 19.4% ABV.
This beer is serious. And you should be too if you’re taking on the Black Buffalo. Jet black, used motor oil color, roasty malt smell with a hint of that bourbon, rich bittersweet chocolate notes that give way to straight sweetness, heavy, velvety mouthfeel with a warming finish. Drink it after dinner as a digestif like you would a nice port wine. Could go well with some dark chocolate and berries, but for sure stands up on its own. Drink it closer to room temperature. People drink stouts too damn cold.
goodwilltasting grade: B+
Coronado Brewing Co Idiot IPA. San Diego, CA. 8.5% ABV.
Golden amber color, medium hop nose, bitter citrus notes, smooth sweet finish.
goodwilltasting grade: B
goodwilltasting 