Arcadia Ales Hopmouth Double IPA

Nice nose. A very smooth and creamy ale with a solid bitterness. Great flavor, with a slight sweetness. On some sips the bitterness is unpleasant on the sides of the tongue. But overall a very solid ale with a heavy back end, but better hop performers are out there (IBUs not listed). ID

22 oz bottle, 8% alcohol

Arcadia Brewing Company

Battle Creek, MI

purchased at Barley & Hops

Moorhouse's Blonde Bitch

This is just a bit sweet otherwise super refreshing, just a perfect British bitch. Wow, the more I think about it, I'm living on he wrong continent. I didn't think I was a fan of blonde ales but, damn! Everyone's gotta try a ride on this bitch. MB

half-liter bottle, 4.5% alcohol

Moorhouse's Brewery Ltd.

Burnley, Lancashire, England

purchased at Barley & Hops

Captain Sig's Northwestern Ale

A funky smell, maybe from the "free range coastal water" listed on the label. But seriously this is darker like a brown ale with a real nice hop bitterness. And it is very drinkable and refreshing. Would you believe it, I'm doing charity work again. Portions are donated to the Fisherman's Fund. ID

22 oz bottle, 80 IBU

Rogue Ales

Newport, Oregon

purchased at Barley & Hops

2009 Correction Ale

Another great ale from Lagunitas. The first taste was like biting into a grapefruit. So light and refreshing but yet so much hoppy citrus. Light in color and no heavy sugar taste. Just what an American ale should be. Drink it in bulk. MB

22 oz bottle, 6.33% alcohol

Lagunitas Brewing Co.

Petaluma, CA

purchased at Barley & Hops

PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur

God forgive me for this girly drink! I bought this for my wife for her birthday. She is Russian, but not a hard-core drinker. Since it was in my bar, I thought I'd sneak a taste as the theme of this blog is "everything wet you can put in your mouth". A bit tart and fruity. Give to your favorite girl for Valentine's. They'll love it. Me? I think they're coming to confiscate my sack. I promise to wash this down with a proper 80 proof vodka. MB for someone soft in your life.

750 mL bottle, 17% alcohol

Pama Spirits Co.

Bardstown, KY

purchased at Kenwood

Dragoons Dry Irish Stout

When I see "Dry Irish Stout" I'm thinking Guinness. But can another company parallel the 250 year old standard whose quality control is so focused they literally contributed to the development of statistics with the invention of the t-test? Sorry, my day job is creeping in there. This brew is dry and light like a Guinness. With more flavor like the 250. The smell is pure roasting, and a nice charred grain flavor at the finish all its own. I can't find a downside, so it is another MB for me. What, am I a shill for the beer lobby? Maybe, but we just live in a golden age of brewing. Pay a few extra bucks and support these small brewers. Otherwise, the big multi-nationals will eventually absorb them all, and it will be like the 80s with 3 beer companies putting out the same old crap. Long live variety!

22 oz bottle, 5% alcohol

Moylan's Brewing Company

Novato, CA

purchased at Barley and Hops

Hoppe Imperial Extra Pale Ale

This light-colored beauty is very drinkable. Bitter, the tiniest underflavors of the aromatic hops, with no heavy sugar taste. The right balance of flavor and refreshingness (I know I made that word up). I was thirsty when I picked this up and it is going down fast. Should be a good buzz as everything I've had from this brewer is imperial. The American pale ale is not normally my style, but I can't imagine they get much better than this one. MB

22 oz bottle, 8% alcohol

Southern Tier Brewing Company

Lakewood, NY

purchased at Barley and Hops