Farm to Face - Ale brewed with Peaches (5.7% abv)
Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, ME)
Bottled July 16th, 2015

This farmhouse ale is a hazy, burnt orange with no head and light carbonation. The aroma is fruity, sour, and sweet. If SweeTarts made a peach candy this is what I think it would smell like. All the flavors feel like they are brightened by the tiny champagne like bubbles. It’s lemony upfront with lots of underripe peach and finishes with just the perfect amount of tartness. I’ve had this beer several times, different vintages and ages. It establishes itself time and time again as one of my favorite sour/ fruit beers I’ve ever had the pleasure of sampling.

99/100

Higher Math - Golden Ale Brewed with Chocolate and Sour Cherries (17% abv)
Dogfish Head Brewing (Milton, DE)

Higher Math pours an cloudy, tawny color with zero head. There is definitely no hiding the booze in this beer. It smells more like a port or madeira than a beer. Besides the booze there is plenty of grape skin, cherry, and vanilla in the aroma. The flavor is unlike anything I’ve tasted before. It’s a combination of sour cherry, mead, chocolate, with Belgian yeast esters and significantly boozy finish. Honestly not sure where they were going with this one and it’s not bad…but there was also no way I could drink the whole thing myself so I dumped half. I would honestly skip this one, Dogfish Head has so many other amazing beers worth trying first.

76/100

Annie Oatley - Pale Ale with Oats (4.9% abv)
Night Shift Brewing (Everett, MA)

Annie Oatley is a very enticing looking beer. It’s a soft, hazy yellow-orange color with a thin white head. The aroma is mouth watering with a medley of fresh fruits (pineapple, papaya, and grapefruit standout the most). It’s hard to stop sipping this beer because it’s so good. The citrus peel and pineapple flavor are enhanced by the super smooth mouthfeel (a hat tip to the oat addition I presume) that finishes just slightly bitter. My only qualm is that the finish is a bit watery but this beer is only 4.9% abv (less than Bud Heavy) so I shouldn't really be surprised. Overall an excellent brew for those seeking an easy drinking, exceptionally flavorful New England Style Pale Ale.

93/100

Duvel Tripel Hop - Belgian Golden Ale (9.5% abv)
Duvel Moortgat (Belgium) - $4.99/ bottle

Duvel is a Belgian golden ale that normally uses two hop varieties (Saaz and Styrian Golding). Once a year, the release a special batch with a third hop included. This year they chose experimental hop HBC 291.

This special edition of Duvel is a slightly hazy, light-orange ale with a frothy head. The smell threw me through a loop at first. Upon first pouring this it smelt floral of rose and green tea. But as the head settled, it smelt much more like the Duvel I know with aromas of pear, hay and booze but with now with some citrus (I’m guessing from the new hop addition). The taste mimics the later aromas of pear and booze with some light pepper mixed in with the citrusy finish. This is certainly a beer worth trying if you’re someone who loves golden Belgian ales but make sure you’re ready for some extra hop kick in this one at the end.

82/100

Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge - Flanders Red Sour Ale (5.5% abv)
Brewery Omer Vander Ghinste (Belgium)
Bottled 07/14/2015 - $7.99/ bottle

This ale is a clear mahogany with red highlights around the edge of the glass and has no head. The aroma on this is incredible. Definitely not for everyone because you really have to know what to expect or you’d be completely put off. There’s so much in here; sour cherry, balsamic vinegar, vanilla, and something smokey that reminds me of teriyaki beef jerky (weird, I know). The taste starts sweet, oaky, and vanilla before quickly being overtaken by the sour raspberry/ cherry finish. This bottle is almost a year and a half old and I love it! I wish I had a newly released bottle to compare it to. If you’re into sour beers get your hands on this beer ASAP. I’m definitely going back to the store tomorrow to buy a few more bottles.

99/100

Doppelgänger - Double IPA (8.2% abv)
Treehouse Brewing (Monson, MA)

Doppelgänger is a bright orange beer, almost the same color as an orange Gatorade. The head is thin, white and disappears quickly. Just pouring this into a glass all I can smell is oranges. There’s a slight piney/ grassy note to the aroma as well but it’s mostly fresh orange flesh. The flavor mirrors the smell. Orange, pine, and grass combine in perfect symphony. My only (small) grievance is that Doppelgänger has a bit more bitterness in the finish than their other DIPA Haze but I’m really just splitting hairs here between two epic beers. Hop lovers should go out of their way to get their hands on any of Treehouse’s awesome IPAs.

95/100

Awake - Porter aged with Coffee (6.7% abv)
Night Shift Brewing (Everett, MA)

Awake is a deep, black beer with a beautiful, think caramel colored head. The aroma (surprise surprise) is coffee forward but smells much sweeter than other coffee porters I’ve had. If I’m really being honest it smells like a Guinness with Bailey’s in it (which I love). The taste on the other hand isn’t sugary at all. It’s roasty, dry, slightly bitter and has a lightly chocolate aftertaste. As far as porters go this one is right on the nose for what you’d want. Personally I was hoping a bit more of the coffee flavor would come through but it’s hard to complain when drinking a beer this well balanced.

89/100

Green IPA (7.5% abv)
Treehouse Brewing (Monson, MA)

Green is milky, soft orange colored beer with a thin white head that leaves great lacing on the glass. Honestly it’s not the prettiest beer to look at but it sure smells good. Pineapple and orange are hugely present in both the aroma and beginnings of each sip. Compared to Haze (also by treehouse) Green is much more bitter and resinous toward the end (but in a great way). Certainly would not recommend this to people who dislike hops but if you’re an IPA lover like me, give this one a shot if you can get your hands on some.

92/100

Haze - Double IPA (8.2% abv)
Tree House Brewing (Monson, MA)

Poured into a glass, Haze looks just like the mango-orange Nantucket Nectars drink but with a brilliant white head. Tropical fruits dominant the aroma. It smells like fresh squeezed orange-mango-pineapple juice with a little booze in it. The taste of orange peel and juniper combined with a moderately bitter finish create an all too crushable 8.2% DIPA. Haze is dangerously delicious and should be sought out by anyone who appreciates a good IPA.

96/100

Flannel Friday - Amber Ale (5.7% abv)
Harpoon Brewing (Boston, MA)

Flannel Friday, as advertised, is crystal clear amber beer with a thin white head. The smell is full of caramel malt and baked apples/ pears. The taste starts with the same sweet caramel/ pear flavors as the smell but then fades into a spicy rye and moderately bitter aftertaste. A perfect beer for drinking outside in the fall (hopefully while tailgating). Enough malt and booze to stand up to those crisp fall days but still has that hop bite at the end to balance out the sweetness.

86/100