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Saturday, November 30, 2013

Narwhal Imperial Stout

Narwhal Imperial Stout, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA
(Imperial Stout, Rated 99)
Opaque black pour with nice lace for this imperial stout. Aroma packed with licorice, dark roasted malts, with some molasses and chocolate. Taste is heavy on the roasted malts and dark chocolate. Sweet licorice. Roasted coffee. Finishes with a slight bitterness, a bit of an alcohol burn (10.2% abv), and lingering chocolate.

Autumn Maple

Autumn Maple, The Bruery, Placentia, CA
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Rated 93)
This was my dessert from Thanksgiving. This Belgian-style, Fall seasonal from The Bruery pours a nice reddish brown with a nice, but quickly dissipating head. The aroma is full of spice, sweet yams, and malts. The taste is a complex mix of pumpkin spices, sweet yams, molasses, with a slightly sour finish. The balance between sweet and sour is very nice. A great choice for the holiday.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Warlock

Warlock, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY
(Imperial Stout, Rated 98)
Warlock is an imperial stout brewed with pumpkins. Pours black with a nice frothy head. Aroma is amazing blend of pumpkin, spices, buttery sweetness, with some roasted malt and vanilla notes. Nutty and aromatic. Taste is a great combination of pumpkin pie and roasted chocolaty malts with spices and a dry finish. Great beer! I might prefer this to Southern Tier's Pumking.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Bad Axe Imperial IPA

Bad Axe Imperial IPA, Big Wood Brewery, White Bear Lake, MN
(Imperial/Double IPA, Rated 91)
Nice orange pour with a white head that dissipates rather quickly. Really great hop aromas of pine, mostly citrus, sweet orange, and spices. Taste is sweet caramel malts up front followed by citrus and floral hop notes. Nice hop bitter finish. Well balanced and even at 10% abv, it hides the alcohol well.

Morning Wood Coffee Stout

Morning Wood Coffee Stout, Big Wood Brewery, White Bear Lake, MN 
Chocolate brown pour with a thick tan head. Aroma has burnt malt and a bit of coffee. Taste is dry roasted malts, coffee, and a touch of chocolate. Has an earthy, dry finish with the coffee flavor lingering. An easy drinker.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout, Lexington Brewing Company, Lexington, KY
(Imperial Stout)
This barrel aged stout pours black with very little head. Aroma has coffee, malts, chocolate, and a little black licorice sweetness. Taste is sweet, coffee, with a little vanilla. Very disappointing. No sign of the bourbon. Very light bodied. Bland finish.