Single-Wide IPA

Clean and with a good hop bitterness and touch of hop flavor. Better than the average beer that might be in the fridge. I'm good drinking this one. ID

12 oz twisty bottle
Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO
purchased at Kenwood

The CENSORED Rich Copper Ale

A roasred grainy taste with the tiniest bit of sweetness. Good hop bitterness to make it refreshing, but no overt hop flavor like the many other beers from this maker seem to just naturally possess. Not bad, and drinkable, but just a bit xweeter than I prefer, and some dry hopping could make this grand, but I guess the brewers know they need to serve more than just my segment of the market. ID

12 oz bottle, 6.75% ABV, 25.08 IBU
Lagunitas Brewing Company
Petaluma, CA
purchased at Kenwood

Namaste

Very light in color with a wheat grainy nose and flavor. I'm usually not much for the flavors in a wheat beer, but everything is well balanced in this one. Nice and bitter so it is refreshing with the lemon citrus rounding out the flavor. And not at all "lemon Pledgey" like a shandy. A nice summer brew which seems to have dropped my body temperature by 5 degrees. On a hot day, a bottle of this will do you right. MB

Another 25.4 oz champagne looking bottle, 5% ABV
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, DE
purchased at Kenwood

Eighteen Rye Saison Ale

I again find this strange flavor of sweetness I found in Palm and a few other recent beers. This must be a result of the Belgian yeast? Here it is not as pronounced as there is plenty of hop bitterness to hold the sweetness back. Quite drinkable, especially in the summer. ID

22 oz bottle, 8.12% ABV
Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, CO
purchased at Kenwood

Arrogant Bastard Ale

A very dark brown color and roasted grain flavor, almost burnt grain flavor. Very bitter, enhancing the burnt feeling to this ale. I grabbed this knowing the brewery but not reading the label, which is hilarious. This is a unique ale in both color and flavor. Worth a try if you like dark, bitterness, and attitude. ID

22 oz bottle, 7.2% ABV, wish the IBU was listed
The Stone Brewing Company
Escondido, San Diego County, CA
purchased at Kenwood

90 Minute Imperial IPA

Citrus aroma and flavor. Crisp bitterness and solid flavor. A bit of an alcohol taste, but not at all unpleasant. I'd had this once before, but this is better than I remember. I tiny sweetness at the back of the throat, and slightly spicy on the edges of the tongue. No flaws here, and a good buzz for sure. MB

12 oz bottle, 9% ABV
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, DE
purchased at Kenwood

Dragon's Milk

The aroma is of roasted grains & whiskey, I guess from the oak barrels it's aged in. Very little carbonation. It is a slightly sweet stout, but dry as well. The immediate aftertaste is whiskey, which fades to sweetness and then on to roasted grain. Normally I can't tolerate a booze taste in my beer (you may not see me rate a scotch ale) but I gotta say this works. Really warms the throat, so I guess nursing prepares a dragon to breathe fire. So if you like dark beer, and want something different, give this high gravity dragon a ride. ID

12 oz bottle, 10% ABV
New Holland Brewing Company
Holland, MI
purchased at Kenwood

Maximus IPA

Hoppy nose and flavor that this brewery always seems to deliver. Great bitterness makes this incredibly drinkable. I've got this one out of the freezer cold and it is very refreshing. Not heavy or sugary. Another winner here. MB

12 oz bottle, 8.2% ABV, 72.41 IBU
The Lagunitas Brewing Company
Petaluma, CA
purchased at Kenwood

SAHTEA Sahti Beer

This beer has a funky sweetness and aroma that is immediately recognizable, but just seems like a brew gone bad. Some nice bitter and complicated flavors. After about the 4th sip, what started as strange and unpleasant morphs into a very interesting drink. The sweetness lines the sides of the tongue. There is almost a hint of a mint-like flavor, probably from the juniper berries. Definitely different. Not something I would drink regularly, but this is an archeology trip that all beer drinkers should take at least once. ID but MB once.

25.6 oz bottle, 9% ABV
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, DE
purchased at Kenwood

Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA

I've been waiting for this one. Saw it on the menu a month ago at their brewpub, but with many miles to go on a motorcycle trip, I couldn't bring myself to drink a high octane for lunch and instead went for some pub only brew since I knew I could get this at home. Not much on the nose, but a pretty heavy sweet flavor with lots of bitterness and some hop flavor. Sip this monster carefully. Nothing unpleasant with this monster encounter, I had just hoped for more hop flavor. Maybe my tastebuds are toast, since the bottle claims "huge hop flavor". Will have my favorite Hop Juice next to recalibrate and amend this post if I'm off. ID

12 oz bottle, 9.1% alcohol
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Cleveland, OH
purchased at Kenwood

Krank Shaft Kolsch Style Beer

My second lager in a row, quite odd for me. This is really light, I'm thinking like Pilsner Urquel. A bit of a funky smell, but good taste, and similar to mass-produced fare. Use this microbrew if you're afraid to look cheap by serving Miller at your parties. Personally, this reminds me I need to go back to drinking ales. ID

12 oz bottle
Metropolitan Brewing
Chicago, IL
purchased at Kenwood

(Imperial) Farmer's Tan Pale Lager

The name describes it right. It is very light in color and flavor, dare I say it, like a mass produced beer (Bud, etc) but with a nice bitterness, and a slight sweetness at the back of the tongue. Before it sounds like I'm dogging on it, it is very good, light, refreshing, tasty, just not like the ales I'm usually drinking. Not heavy on the stomach at all, and here's the kicker: 8.6% alcohol! This is malt liquor strength, with such a clean light flavor you'd never know, and I almost don't believe the label. Usually a high alcohol lager I get like this is European and they are always too sweet. This American farmer is perfect when this is what you want to go for. MB

22 oz bottle, 8.6%ABV
Southern Tier Brewing Company
Lakewood, NY
purchased at Kenwood

Hop Head Red Ale

A sweet grain nose, like an amber. Roasted grain flavor with pronounced bitterness. Smooth and tasty with the hops and grain really fighting an even battle for control of the flavor profile. Given the name, I was expecting more flavor hops not just bitterness. A decent red, but again given the name, I had hoped for just this roasted grain flavor, but combined with a kick ass aromatic hop flavor. I guess I've been spoiled by some such reds in the past. ID

12 oz bottle (4-pack), 6.4% ABV
Green Flash Brewing Company
San Diego County, CA
purchased at Kenwood

'Hop' Wallop

With a name like this, my interest is peaked, and expectations are high. As opposed to my last post, this beer is a little on the warm side 'cause I just couldn't wait. My nose is a bit stuffed so I should probably quit rating. This is definitely hoppy, but the hop flavor just doesn't cut through and slap you in the face like I was hoping it would. It has everything I want in a hop beer, except that extra little flavor kick to knock me on my ass. Maybe it is just struggling against the sweetness from the high alcohol content, but a fair balance is struck. My mood is improving with every sip though, as it often does with hoppy beers. Is St. John's Wort a plant in the hop family? Anyway, a good hoppy ale, and I reserve the right to correct this rating later if need be. ID

12 oz bottle, 8.5% ABV
Victory Brewing Company
Downingtown, PA
purchased at Kenwood

The Bitter End Pale Ale

Drinking this ice ice cold, which is not the serving temperature for an ale, I'm sure, but it is just so hot here with no relief in sight. Very little aroma (on 2nd thought, just a hint of grain), but crisp and refreshing. Pretty bitter for a pale ale, and just a hint of hop flavor. Very clean finish and goes down very easy. When in the mood for pure refreshment from an ale, without extra flavors or a heavy feeling, this is your ale. To steal a popular phrase from a mass produced beer that doesn't deserve it, this is "great taste, less filling" to a tee. MB

12 oz bottle, 5.2% ABV, 30 IBU
Two Brothers Brewing Company
Warrenville, IL
purchased at Kenwood

Garde Dog Biere De Garde

Described as a traditional French farmhouse ale, the sweet grain nose and flavor remind me of the beer I just had at a French restaurant. Mellow with a complex palate of flavors and spices. When you're in the mood for something different, but not strange different, this is drinkable for sure. ID

12 oz bottle, 5.5% ABV, 27 IBU
Flying Dog Brewery
Frederick, MD
purchased at Kenwood

Ol' Woody Pale

Slight hop nose. Cloudy with some good yeast poop at the bottom of the bottle. Crisp and refreshing with 90+ degree temperatures at nearly midnight. But not much for flavor on this one. ID

12 oz bottle
Mad Anthony Brewing Company
Fort Wayne, IN
purchased at Kenwood

Horizon Red Ale

Big head, and big grain flavor. Dark roast flavors are hard to separate from the bitterness. Quite interesting with a tiny bit of sweetness at the back of the throat on the aftertaste. A solid red. ID

12 oz bottle
Summit Brewing Company
St. Paul, MN
purchased at Kenwood

Tsingtao Beer

Skunk smell as one might expect of a green glass bottle travelling from the far East. A gift from Serena who determined she was not enough of a frat girl to polish this off on top of the rest of the drinking on this trip. Drinkable with the Heineken skunk after taste. I won't complain as I drink this after leaving a great bar and wandering the borough in search of smokes. They journey complete, any wet booze is comfort. Sorry to the dude I pointed in the wrong direction to the subway, but I said I wasn't local. Neither is this brew but it is good enough for tonight. ID

12 oz green glass (why?) bottle
Tsingtao Brewery Company, LTD
Quingdao, China
purchased somewhere in Brooklyn

Brooklyn IPA

This is a must miss. Funky potpourri tones on the aroma and taste. So impressed with the lager, I thought I had to try this. I think it is weak. Good bitterness, but I don't like to drink bong water. SK

16 oz draft, 6.8% ABV says the chalk board (what is with Brooklyn and chalkboards? I have one in my hotel bathroom of all places!)

Brooklyn Brewing Company

Brooklyn, NY

purchased at The Brazen Head

Brooklyn Lager

A little darker than a normal lager. A slight sweetness, which is normally a defect in my mind, but this really works. Really soft on the palate and just the right bitter to balance. Drink local!! MB

16 oz draft
Brooklyn Brewing Company
Brooklyn, NY
purchased at The Brazen Head

Hop Czar Imperial India Pale Ale

Perfumey aroma, and strange potpurri flavors. None of the normal hop flavors or smells. Maybe this is old, or just weird like that Portlandia show that I just couldn't get into. I know I must have had a few bottles of this before since I found one more hidden in my fridge, but either they were fresher then or I choked 'em down. Not liking the flavors, and I've had enough good IPAs lately of all types that this gets the SK.

12 oz bottle, 7.5% ABV, 87 IBU

Bridgeport Brewing Company

Portland, OR

purchased???  another surprise fridge find

Cane and Ebel Red Rye Ale

Like a Christmas present, I considered picking this up at the store today, but decided not and found one of these hiding in my beer fridge! I guess I bought this awile back when we last had a party. No aroma, and just a bit of grain flavor. Perfect bitterness complements the grain. Grain taste with no sweetness or heaviness - genius. A perfect red when you're not in the mood for hop flavor, which fits my mood just now after a few hoppy beers already. MB

12 oz bottle, 7% ABV, 68 IBU

Two Brothers Brewing Company

Warrenville, IL

purchased??? a christmas-in-july surprise

Maierfest Lager

Some spices in the aroma and at the back of the throat. Very thirst quenching and drinkable. I like this. Nuff said. ID

22 oz bottle, 29 IBU

Rogue Ales

Newport, OR

purchased at Kenwood

Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Aroma of dark roasted grains, about the same smell as if you had opened a bag of grain. Very little carbonation, and noticably thick on the first pour. Sweet with alcohol taste at the back of the throat, but not at all unpleasant. But still not one to be guzzled, and I'm worried at this late hour if I can manage to put down a whole bottle. Really warms the throat. As a hophead now, I'm not one to rave about this dark a beer as I would have ten years ago, but I do think this is good, I just don't have much in memory to compare with. When a porter just isn't dark enough, go imperial. ID

22 oz bottle, 10.5% alcohol
The Stone Brewng Company
Escondido, San Diego County, CA
purchased at Kenwood

Double Jack Double IPA

Hops on the nose and double silky down the throat. A sweetness and alcohol is carefully balanced with hop flavor, though there is an alcohol after taste, but look at the percentage. Probably won't remember this post in the morning, but that's cool with me. I'm good with this one. Let's get Wild and walk on fire! MB

22 oz bottle (God help me), 9.5% ABV
Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Paso Robles, CA
purchased at Kenwood

American Amber Ale

This thing exploded when I opened it, not unlike mentos in coke. A big strike against it as I lost like 20% of the bottle all over my laundry room floor. Cloudy so it is either bottle conditioned or unfiltered. I'm not a big fan of ambers, but needed to switch up after a bunch of IPAs. Sweet smell and taste with substantial bitter to balance it. A lot like the Lobster Red I skunked a few days back. The malt and hops seem to clash a bit. Maybe this thing is old. They've been brewing it since '89 but I don't know who buys it. Again, not an amber fan though I had one from the makers of Honey Brown, a beer we drank regularly in high school, so I thought I'd give amber another shot. Always curious, I'll do it again after this one, and it's not like I'll pour this out (anymore than I did at the crack) but save your money for the many great beers out there and avoid this SK.

22 oz (minus the spillage) bottle, 53 IBU, blah, blah . . .
Rogue Ales
Newport, OR
purchased at Kenwood

Lagunitas IPA

Just a hint of citrus on the sniff. Not quite as clean as the last one by DFH. A little heavier, and a little more hop flavor. Also not so bitter that the occasional ale drinker would find this too extreme, or else the last few days of this whirlwind ale tour has burned off all of my tastebuds! I had hoped for more hop flavor on this one considering the great experience I had with their last few beers. But there's nothing wrong with this one. Just thought these guys were so into hops if they put out a vitamin water it would be dry hopped. An all around great ale, but my heart is back with their Little Sumpin' Sumpin'. That will be the next ale I repurchase. ID

12 oz bottle, 6.2% ABV
The Lagunitas Brewing Company
Petaluma, CA
purchased at Kenwood

60 Minute IPA

Clear and very soft on the tongue. Surprisingly almost no aroma of hops. Just bitter enough to be refreshing and no overt hop flavors either. Easy drinking on this one, just tamer than I had expected, since this is their "minute" ale targeted at hopheads. I expect this is popular well beyond that market. ID

12 oz bottle, 6% ABV
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, DE
purchased at Kenwood

Ruination IPA

Hop nose and flavor. I'm drinking this a little warmer than fridge temperature because I just couldn't wait any longer. That makes this silky smooth across the tongue. It is bitter and with a hoppy flavor, but not so much as the label tries to sell it. I can't believe the IBU is as high as claimed. Though there is a lasting bitterness in the aftertaste at the back and undersides of the tongue. I think it is more subtle than crazy, but it really comes together nicely. The bottle is going down faster than I can type this review. I want to rate this lower since I think the label mis-hypes this to the hophead, but it is such a fine combination, I gotta go MB.

22 oz bottle, 7.7% ABV, 100+ IBU

Stone Brewing Company

Escondido, San Diego County, CA

purchased at Kenwood

Panzer Imperial Pilsner

A mix of sweet and bitter. Maybe handled better than the Dogfish I just rated, and with 2% more alcohol to boot! Again this light pilsner is not my usual fare, but with this one I'm getting f-ed up so who cares! Totally drinkable, but that crazy head. After having 3-4 sips, I attempted to pour the rest into my big 22 oz glass and still ended up with white water rapids all over my table. Carbonation in all realms seems so over the top today, it would be nice to drink a beer without committing to burping uncontrollably for the next hour. Still a nice brew and surely an even better buzz. ID

22 oz bottle, 9.5% ABV

Port Brewing Company

San Marcos, CA

purchased at Kenwood

Walker's Reserve Porter

Dark and sweet, just as a porter should be. Appropriately bitter on the sip with sweet roasted grains on the back of the tongue. I could definitely pound these, which is rare for something as dark as a porter. I think everyone should take a walk with this one if you find it in your neck of the woods. MB

22 oz bottle, 5.8% ABV

Firestone Walker Brewing Company

Paso Robles, CA

purchased at Kenwood

Rye Hatter Rye P.A. Ale

Bit of a rye grain aroma on the nose but very faint. Clean and refreshingly bitter with a nice subtle hop flavor at the back of the tongue. I always like trying beers with rye, and this one does not disappoint. A crisp ale with watery refreshment that could be handled in bulk. Shall I send you a case? Nothing wrong with this hatter. ID

22 oz bottle
New Holland Brewing Company, LLC
Holland, MI
purchased at Kenwood

My Antonia Pilsner

An imperial pilsner lager from an ale brewer. A bit on the sweet side, but balanced well with hop bitterness, still maybe a little sweeter than I'd prefer. This had a huge head as you can see. Even made a second pour into a wide mug and had the same thick head. Just had to wait a bit and it calmed down, no problem unless you're dying of thirst. Solid alcohol for a pils. Great way to start an Independence Day celebration. ID

25.4 oz champagne bottle, 7.5% ABV
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Inc.
Milton, DE
purchased at Kenwood

Reprieve Schwarzbier Lager

Malty and kind of thick. Just the right balance of sweetness and bitter. Not heavy on the stomach. It's been awhile since I've been big into dark beers, but this one has me coming back around. A perfect dark. All grains on the nose, and I'm not wishing for more hop flavor for once. Puts Guinness to shame! Crafted to honor the dead. When I go, pour one of these out for me. MB

22 oz bottle, 5.5% ABV, 28.1 IBU
Two Brothers Brewing Company
Warrenville, IL
purchased at Kenwood

Shark Attack Double Red Ale

Cloudy and unfiltered or bottle conditioned. A little bit sweet, but loaded with hop flavor and aroma, just the way I like my reds. A bit heavy on the stomach, but that is a fair trade for the elevated alcohol content without an alcohol taste. Just the right bitterness to keep the sweetness caged. I recommend you get bitten by this shark! Probably deserves the highest rating, but since I give so many, I'm going a bit lower since I'm full, and the heaviness is getting to me. But on an empty stomach, don't jump this shark. ID

22 oz bottle, 9% ABV
Port Brewing Company
San Marcos, CA
purchased at Kenwood

Anchor Summer Beer

Very light and refreshing like a lager, but the label says it has 50% malted wheat brewed with ale yeast. This tastes like a pilsner, your standard mass produced beer, but has more flavor, soft but crisp on the tongue, and a little grain taste, I'm sure from the wheat. Not the kind of beer I usually drink, but when I'm in the mood for something standard, it sure beats an MGD or a Bud. ID

22 oz bottle
Anchor Brewing Company
San Francisco, CA
purchased at Kenwood

Black Hatter Black I.P.A.

A unique idea. I was thrown by the first taste. Seeing the color my mind expected a dry or sweet ale, but the first taste is hops. On the second taste, I was doubting that this idea could work as the flavors really seemed to clash. But by the 3rd and 4th taste the hop nose mellowed significantly and the flavor profile really started to work. There's a tiny sweetness at the tip of the tongue, followed by a soft bitterness through the rest of the mouth. The aftertaste is of the dark roasted grains, and there's still plenty of hop flavor. A tough one to rate, since I really like it and encourage you to give it a try, but I need to rate it ID.

22 oz bottle
New Holland Brewing Company, LLC
Holland, MI
purchased at Kenwood

Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale

Dark but not thick. Malty aroma and dark coffee malt aftertones. Hops are not pronounced, but create a subtle bitterness that balances what could have been too sweet a mix. Really well planned, an excellent brown. Drink up! MB

12 oz bottle, 7.2% ABV
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, Delaware
purchased at Kenwood

Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale

Light color and BIG hop nose and flavor. Very light drinking but so much hop flavor. I have to quote the label because it captured my thoughts exactly, "12 fluid oz's of hops, malt, hops, hops, yeast, hops, water, and hops." That's 5 mentions of hops if you missed that! This company and I are definitely on the same page: it's all about the hops. And for those afraid of bitter beer, I'd say it is not, despite the IBU rating. Get a little sumpin' sumpin' and you'll not be disappointed if you dig hops (did you figure out the sumpin' is hops?). MB
Editing this post now to say that I'm on my 2nd bottle and thinking this might just be the perfect ale! The buzz is the happiest I've had in a long time. Such flavor and so easily drinkable, though I have a fridge full of other stuff to try, I may be reaching for some more sumpin' sumpin'!

12 oz bottle, 7.5% ABV, 64.2 IBU
The Lagunitas Brewing Company
Petaluma, CA
purchased at Kenwood

400 Pound Monkey English-Style IPA

Slight citrus nose and flavor. Light and very drinkable without the heavy sugar feel of many American style IPAs. Not too bitter which makes this very easy going. Just about finished the whole bottle getting notes for this taste. When you want an IPA without over the top hops and bitterness, this mild monkey is for you. MB

12 oz bottle
Left Hand Brewing Company
Longmont, CO
purchased at Barley & Hops

SVEA Lilja's Pulling Boat Pale Ale

Light in color (flash on photo makes it look darker) with just a hint of malt aroma. Sharp and fully bitter especially at the back of the tongue. Not a complicated ale, just bitter and refreshing. ID

12 oz bottle
Sand Creek Brewing Company
Black River Falls, WI
purchased at Barley & Hops

Wells Banana Bread Beer

Years ago I had a wheat beer at Glacier BrewHouse in Anchorage, AK and swore it was like drinking a slice of banana bread, so when I saw this label I had to try it. The aroma of this is 100% banana. This brew is clean and sharp on the tongue with a banana finish at the throat. So it is banana beer, but I'm missing the "bread" flavor wheat could provide, and I think the taste is more "banana flavor" than actual bananas, as the label says both. The Alaskan was certainly the off tones produced by the yeast, and probably not nearly as good as 10 years of memory adds to the legend, but I had hoped for more from this one. Not bad, and doomed from the start at living up to a legend in my mind, but unique enough to be worthy of a taste if you happen upon it in a mood for something different. ID

16.9 oz bottle, 5.2% ABV

Wells & Young's Brewing Co. LTD

Bedford, UK

purchased at Kenwood

Lobster Ale Red Ale

A strong barley wine like odor and after taste. Not a lot of flavor but a hint of sweetness and nice bitterness. I can drink this, but awhile back a beer-drinking friend couldn't finish a glass and at the time I agreed, hence the rare skunk rating. I'm a big red fan and this doesn't quite measure up to many other fine specimens. Also past its freshness date, so maybe not the brewer's fault but the store's. SK

12 oz bottle

Belfast Bay Brewing Company, Inc.

Belfast/Portland, Maine

purchased at Barley and Hops

Bridgeport Kingpin Double Red Ale

Deep red color and sweet malt flavor covered in a very heavy hop bitterness. Nice when you want it very bitter & dry. Very little flavor hops to go along with the bitterness: I like to have both. Even the aroma is sweet malt with no hop nose. ID

12 oz bottle, 7.5% alc. by vol.
Bridgeport Brewing Company
Portland, OR
Bridgeportbrew.com
purchased at Kenwood