Chocolate Milk Stout

Definitely chocolatey, and not a bad flavor. I definitely don't like milk stouts, but this is pretty good. I can dig this. Dry and thin, but oh so chocolatey. I want to pan this because of how poor the peanut butter version was, but this is just too good, so I can't. MB

22oz bottle, 5.5% ABV
4 Hands Brewing Company
St. Louis, MO
purchased at Kenwood

Revelry Imperial Red Ale

I love a hoppy red, so I decided to pay $15.99 for this sixer when I saw that it claims 124 IBU, which I believe is the limit for bitterness that a human can taste. This is plenty bitter, but not oppressively so, and balances the big malt backbone well. So now I understand that IBU is not an absolute measure of tasted bitterness, but relative to the sweetness of the brew. So maybe my own Black IPA No. 1 is in fact that bitter, as I intended. I have had brews that tasted much more bitter, so it must be about the entirety of the recipe. I'll drink this one any day. Solid brew from an outfit that I expect that from. They don't disappoint! Drink up my high gravity lovers! MB

12oz bottle, 124 IBU, 9.5% ABV
Two Brothers Artisan Brewing
Warrenville, IL
purchased at Kenwood

HI-RES

I believe this is a triple IPA. Very nice hop aroma, close to my home brew that "cheats" by having hops in the keg. It has been a long time since I have smelled so much hops in a commercial beer. And the taste is right on. A tiny hint of booze, but this baby is packing so much, how could you hide it? But it is only the tiniest hint. This is not a sweet beer. Fully bittered, the sweetness is only slight, on the back of the throat, but it is defined by hop flavor and perfectly balanced bitter and malt. A++ in my book. I think the only other 3xIPA I've had was Devil Dancer, and it pales by comparison. When I say this is "easy drinking" I mean it for folks accustomed to a strong beer. In that category, this is a light, high gravity beer! Kudos, to a brewer of one of my favorites, Resin, you just may have outdone yourself. I look forward to tasting these two side by side! MB

12oz can (do these guys bottle?), 115 IBU, 10.5% ABV
Sixpoint Brewery
Brooklyn, NY
purchased at Kenwood

Plum Noir Imperial Porter brewed with Italian Plums

While pouring this I could see a red hue to the color, I assume from the plums. This has a nice dark flavor while being exceptionally light and velvety smooth. The plums add a really excellent hint of flavor, I'm thinking of prune juice from my youth, which just meshes so well with the dark roasted grains! This has been in my beer fridge a long time, because it just sounded weird, and I haven't had a mood to match, but this is perfect for any mood. I'm really glad I chose this right now! MB

22oz bottle, 8% ABV
Southern Tier Brewing Company
Lakewood, NY
purchased at ??