Exalted IPA

Just funky and thick with chewable hop flavor! Maybe not as juicy as others (more to come), but damn, we have some choices now when it comes to true hop flavor in a brew. MB

12oz can, 7% ABV
Stone Brewing Company
Escondido CA & Richmond VA
purchased at Binnys

Pineapple IPA

I LOVE me a pineapple IPA. This is the 3rd I've had, and ranks pretty much 3 behind Sweetwater and Ballast Point at number 1. Maybe 2.5? It sounded weird when I first heard of it, but man IPA + pineapple is just good! This one has no stand out pineapple flavor, the flavors are so equally balanced that you might not know it has pineapple, nor know it's an IPA. Somehow, it just works as its own thing, and it's good. MB

12oz bottle, 7.5% ABV
OddSide Ales
Grand Haven MI
purchased at Maria's in Canton

Hoplicated Imperial Citra Pale Ale

This is not that complicated. It is good, flavorful, high gravity, and you can taste the citra hops. But I love citra hops, so I just wish the flavor was stronger. That's not much to complain about, so I won't. It just earns a MB-.

12oz bottle, 9% ABV
OddSide Ales
Grand Haven, MI
purchased at Maria's in Canton

Cherry-Lime Allure Berliner Weiss

I'm disappointed that this didn't hold it's head at all, which is strange with wheat. But the taste is just bursting with lime, real lime not the fake lime flavor that comes with mass-produced beers, and a hint of cherry. Wow, I could really pound this on a summer day! Refreshing and tart, almost sour! MB

12oz can, 4.6% ABV
Pollyanna Brewing Company
Lemont, IL
purchased at Kenwood

Spruce IPA

Slightly fruity, and florally hoppy. Not too bitter. But deliciously unique, and priced below average for craft. All that together makes it MB

12oz bottle, 7% ABV
Alaskan Brewing Company
Juneau AK
purchased at Kenwood

Northwest-Hero IPA

A bit piney, and plenty bitter. I nice simple IPA. ID

12oz can, 7.1% ABV
Revolution Brewing Company
Chicago IL
purchased at Kenwood

Juice Bigalow Hop Gigolo IPA

Very juicy! I'm having a hard time believing this citrus flavor is all hop flavor, because this tastes almost like a shandy, beer cut with grapefruit juice! Pretty neat, and tasty. ID++

16oz can, 6% ABV, 69 IBU
Rochester Mills Beer Company
Auburn Hills, MI
purchased at Maria's in Canton

Oak-Aged Siracusa Nera

This is nice: a Russian imperial stout with syrah grape must added. DFH seems to do a lot with mixing beer and wine flavors now. This has the nice roasty chocolate flavors of stout with the lighter fruitiness of wine, kind of swirling around in a suspension in every sip. And halfway through a glass, my grumpiness is lifting! Just what I needed. It's on the heavier side, so I'll only drink one, but this is a great option for when you're only having "one drink"! ID++

12oz bottle, 10% ABV
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton DE
purchased at Kenwood

Denali Hero IPA

This is a nice funky and bitter hop. And the grain comes thru pretty strongly on this one (maybe because it's warmer as my beer fridge door was open, ugh). So a nice chewy full flavored IPA, at a decent ABV level, so I like it. ID++

12oz can, 7.5% ABV
Revolution Brewing
Chicago IL
purchased at Kenwood