Firestone Walker Easy Jack. Summer Session IPA. Paso Robles, CA. 4.5% ABV.
Served chilled in a pint glass. Pours a cloudy gold color with a two inch white head. There is very little aroma, with only a slight hint of citrus. Though there is medium carbonation, this feels like a light beer. Taste is pretty bitter, with lemon and hops poking through. This beer finishes dry, and leaves a slight, bitter aftertaste.
Overall this is an incredibly drinkable summer beer from Firestone Walker. This would definitely be something that I would buy again for a summers day by the pool. Firestone is quickly climbing up the list of my favorite breweries. They truly have a brew for any occasion, season or mood. I cannot wait to see what they come out with next. Additionally thank you to Kevin for picking me up a bottle of the 2014 Parabola and 2014 Stickee Monkee. Been on my want list for some time!
87/100
0 Comments
Alesmith Speedway Stout. Imperial Stout. San Diego, California. 12% ABV. I have had this one twice in the past month. The first one was from a bomber, the second served on draught at Upright Brew House. They were both very similar, though the draught tasted fresher and richer. Each time served chilled in a snifter/goblet. Pours pitch black with a two finger tan foam head. Smells are of coffee and dark chocolate. The carbonation is medium to light, though it is a full bodied stout. Once again, coffee and chocolate attack the palate, and leaves a heavily coffee aftertaste. Though it contains so many bitter ingredients, there are some sweet hints in there as well. Speedway Stout ranks highly among my favorite stouts, probably only behind Bourbon County Coffee (I may put this ahead of the regular Bourbon County Brand Stout). It is rich, flavorful, and a pleasant drinking experience. I would highly recommend picking up a bomber to share with friends. 99/100 Founders Devil Dancer. American Triple IPA. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 112 IBU. 12% ABV. Served chilled in a snifter. Pours a reddish brown color with very little head. The aroma is a little boozy, with hints of citrus. The taste attacks the tongue up front, and destroys the palate on the way down. This is the highest IBU beer I have ever had, and it leaves a very dry finish. Overall a pretty intense beer from Founders. I personally love their brewery, and am a huge fan of the triple IPA style. This is one of those beers that seeks to push the limits, and brew something unique and difficult. The alcohol content of this one is actually higher than Palate Wrecker, Hoptimum and Ruination. However, the alcohol smell and taste was not overwhelming, which allowed me to focus on the bitterness and other flavors. While I would not drink this one regularly, I appreciate what they did here, and can see why it was given high marks. Good luck finding one of these-even though it was just released a week ago many places are sold out. It is one of those releases that many places limit people to 1 or 2 bottles per person. Nonetheless, it's a good one to experience. 85/100 Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Black Ale. Harviestoun Brewery. Hillfoots Village, Alva, Scotland. Black Ale. 6% ABV. Pours a very dark black with a two finger tan foam head. Smells of chocolate and nuts. Carbonation is on the lighter side and the beer is relatively light bodied. Tastes of coffee, chocolate, almonds and nuts. The aftertaste is very roasty and chocolatey. I love this beer from Harviestoun. Definitely my favorite Scottish beer over Bellhaven and Innis and Gunn. There is a reason this one receives a 100/100 from the Bros on BA. Can't imagine how great this would taste fresh over there. If you are lucky enough to find this at your local beer store, be sure to snatch this up. Otherwise, ask me to bring one back from NYC! 95/100 Flying Dog Brewhouse Rarities Mint Chocolate Stout. Flying Dog Brewery. Frederick, Maryland. American Stout. 5.7% ABV Goose Island The Ogden. Belgian style Tripel. Chicago, IL Bottled March 24, 2014. 9% ABV Jack's Abby Coffee Framinghammer. Framingham, MA. Baltic Porter. 10% ABV. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Coffee Framinghammer from Jack's Abby. This was another variation of their famous Framinghammer, a Baltic Porter. Many of my readers will remember my first post when I reviewed the Bourbon Barrel Aged Framinghammer, giving it very high marks. Well, this one beat the first. Served chilled in a brandy snifter. Pours a pitch black color with a 2.5 finger tan foam head. The aroma is heavy on coffee and chocolate, as is the taste. The carbonation is relatively light, but the body is on the medium side. The aftertaste is dominated by coffee. I need to know what blend they use so I can brew a cup every morning myself. This was an absolutely delicious beer that closely resembles Goose Island's Bourbon County Coffee Stout. The only difference is the absence of bourbon, which brings the ABV down. It is very drinkable for a 10% ABV beer, and I would rate this one extremely high, and urge everyone to buy this if you can find it. 97/100 Great Divide Rumble. Oak aged IPA. Denver, Colorado. 7.1% ABV I plan on writing another several part series dedicated to my favorite craft beer watering holes and stores. Today's post will focus on my current residence: NYC. Stone Enjoy By 07-04-14. Bottled on 05-30-14. Stone Brewing Company Escondido, California. American Double IPA. 9.4% ABV.
Served chilled in a snifter. This beer pours a beautiful amber/copper color. It pours very clear with a one finger, creamy and foamy head. The aroma is floral and citrusy, and contains hints of peach, orange, pineapple, onion, and pine. The taste if extremely fresh, and has a nice, hoppy component to it. Again, the grapefruit and pineapple lead the way, though there is some bitterness as well. Medium carbonation and body. The aftertaste is sweet and resiny, leaving you wanting more. Overall the near perfect beer. Stone has been famous for putting out this periodic brew. Recently, they have released batches on 05-16-14, 04-20-14, 02-14-14 and 12-13-13. They are trending for around 10 releases per year, and deliver this fresh beer to all 50 states. The beer is unfiltered and unpasteurized, and that "Enjoy By XX-XX-XX" is actually the projected date of expiration. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle, buy it and drink it right away! The other great thing about this beer is that Stone representatives will come to the stores in which bottles did not sell and buy them back. They are so confident in their product that it will sell, and have made a commitment to producing high quality, fresh beer. I will buy this every time it comes out. The definition of fresh and delicious. 99/100 |
About MeScott is a craft beer lover living in NYC who enjoys sampling new beers and educating friends and family on the diverse and exciting world of beer. Archives
February 2016
Categories |