Zoe

Zoe, Maine Beer Company, Freeport, ME
(Amber Ale, Rated 99)

Is there anything from Maine Beer that isn't good?  This amber ale pours a clear, auburn, rust color with a thick, pillowy head. Aroma is piney, fruity, with bready malts. Taste is piney, citrus, bitter dominant, but not overwhelming. Sticky resin with an earthy, lemongrass maltiness. Creamy, smooth finish. Fantastic amber/red ale!

Lil One

Lil One, Maine Beer Company, Freeport, ME
(American Strong Ale, Rated 98)

Pours a clear reddish, copper. Aroma has a caramel sweetness, citrus hops, and an earthy quality. Taste is bittersweet with hops up front followed by that caramel sweetness and a sticky, resin finish. Complex flavors reminiscent of a barley wine. At 9.1% abv, this one packs a punch too.  Another fantastic beer from Maine!

Beer III

Beer III, Maine Beer Company, Freeport, ME
(Black IPA, Rated 94)

Dark brown pour with a thick, tan head. Aroma is mild citrus, roasted malts, and a touch chocolate brownie. Definitely get some chocolate in the flavor along with mild citrus hop.  Light mouthfeel with a dry finish. Easy drinker at 5.5% abv, but lacking in taste. Not my favorite from Maine.

Hustle

Hustle, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial Porter)

Everything I have had from Tree House has been nothing short of spectacular. Why would this one be any different?  Pours nearly black in color with a thin, mocha head. Rich aromas of chocolate and dark roasted malt. Taste is rich with chocolate, molasses, and sweet brown sugar. Creamy smooth mouthfeel. 7.8% abv.  A really delicious porter!

Double Shot - Sumatra Mandheling

Double Shot - Sumatra Mandheling, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Stout, Rated 99)

Dark, chocolaty brown pour with a thin toffee-colored head. Huge coffee aromas on the nose with wafts of chocolate. Equally huge flavor profile. Chocolate-covered coffee beans, roasted mocha java espresso, milk chocolate, and a bit of sticky molasses. Mouthfeel is rich and creamy. Complex and absolutely delicious!

Curiosity Twenty-two

Curiosity Twenty-two, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(IPA)

The Curiosity series is simply Tree House's exploration into flavors and ideas. This exploration pours a hazy, orange with a thick white head. Tremendous fruity aromas that include peach, papaya, oranges, and apricot. Taste is a fantastic blend of sticky, fruit. Lot of peach, orange rind, and papaya. Full, but delicate, sweetness balanced well with mild bitter finish. 7% abv. Fantastic IPA!

Eureka w/Citra

Eureka w/Citra, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Golden Ale/Blonde Ale, Rated 99)

Tree House brews some of the most amazing ales. This Eureka pours a cloudy, golden-orange with a thick, white head. Aroma is all citrus and tropical notes with a bit of earthiness. Taste is similar, a total citrus juice bomb. Dank orange flavors. Fresh with a dry finish. A total session beer at 4.1% abv. Would love to have a cooler full of this one.

Fall Line

Fall Line, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Pale Lager)

Pale, straw-yellow pour with a big, light, white head. Aroma is lemony, grassy, light bread, and a little peppery. Clean and crisp with a dry finish. Pretty tasty lager and, at 5% abv, it's crushable.

That's What She Said

That's What She Said, Tree House Brewing Coming, Monson, MA
(Sweet Stout, Rated 98)

The beer that spawned a thousand jokes? Or was it a thousand jokes that spawned this beer? EIther way, this sweet stout is amazing! Pours deep, dark, brown with a nice, thick mocha head. Aroma is roasted coffee and chocolate sweetness. Jam packed full of rich flavors of dark chocolate, mocha coffee, and lactose sweetener. Rich creamy mouthfeel. Crushable at 5.6%.  When it comes to flavor, this is a big one.  "That's What She Said"

Good Morning

Good Morning, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial Stout, Rated 100)

The hype is real with this imperial stout. Pours pitch black with a creamy, mocha head. Fantastic, bubbly aromas of rich milk chocolate, fresh roasted coffee, and maple syrup. Taste is rich, roasted mocha coffee with creamy, melted chocolate, with sweet maple syrup. Full body with a creamy velvet mouthfeel. So complex and so delicious! All I can say is "Wow!".

Alter Ego

Alter Ego, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(American IPA, Rated 100)

Cloudy, orange pour with a fluffy, white head. Aromas are citrus, tropical, and fruit juice. Fruit flavors explode with this one. Taste is sweet orange zest, citrus pulp, followed by a nice Mosaic hop bitterness. Well balanced with 6.8% abv. Another fantastic juice bomb from Tree House!

Ma

Ma, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Amber Ale, Rated 95)

Cloudy, brownish-red pour with a faint head. Aroma is spicy, piney citrus, light notes of caramel, and malts. Huge flavors here. Abundance of citrus, floral hops. Piney resin. Rich caramel malt backbone. Medium body with a clean, sweet finish.

Green

Green, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(IPA, Rated 100)

Cloudy, yellow-orange pour with a big, creamy, white head. Fantastic aromas of pineapple, mango, and grapefruit peels. Taste is meaty tropical fruit, grapefruit, peaches, mild citrus hop bitterness, and a bit of an earthy finish. A tropical, citrus bomb with mildly sharp bitterness. Full body with a creamy mouthfeel. This is one amazing IPA!

Arroz con Leche

Arroz con Leche, 5 Rabbit Cerveceria, Bedford Park, IL
(Specialty Grain)

Golden orange pour with no head. Aroma of light malt, cinnamon, and fruit. Taste is as advertised, sweet vanilla, cinnamon, rice milk. Mouthfeel is milky, creamy. 7.5% abv. Sweet finish. Bit too sweet to drink too much.

Curiosity Twenty

Curiosity Twenty, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial/Double IPA)

The latest in Tree House's Curiosity series pours a nice golden, yellow with a fluffy white head. Amazing aromas of orange sherbert, citrus peels, floral, and sweet lemongrass. The taste is a juice bomb, exploding with tropical fruit and oranges. Light mouthfeel with a nice clean hoppy bitter finish. Comes in at 8% abv. Oh that mosaic hop! Another fantastic beer from Tree House!

Eureka w/Citra

Eureka w/Citra, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Golden Ale/Blonde Ale, Rated 99)

Pours a cloudy, pale, yellow with a nice, frothy white head. Aroma is loaded with citrus, with a light, grassy, earthiness. Taste is fresh, fruity, with citrus, and a bit of bready malt. Lightly hopped. Light body with a creamy mouthfeel and a clean finish. Super delicious and, at 4.1% abv, super crushable! By far the best blonde ale I've had to date!

Haze

Haze, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial/Double IPA, Rated 99)

Slightly hazy, golden, orange pour with an immense white head. Fantastic citrus aromas of orange, muted grapefruit, with some tropical notes. Flavor follows suit. Fruity orange, grapefruit zest, little bit of peach, and a sticky resin. Great body, delicious mouthfeel, and a total juice bomb. 8.2% abv is subtle.  Amazing IIPA!

Forerunner

Forerunner, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(American Pale Ale)

Golden orange pour with a thick, foamy, white head. Leaves great lacing on the glass. Aroma is mild with earthy, grassy hops, herbs, and orange peels. Taste is a blend of Mosaic and Citra giving it flavors of mango, orange, citrus,  Crisp, dry finish. Crushable at 5.2%. Very nice!

Imperial Doughnut Break

Imperial Doughnut Break, Evil Twin Brewing, Brooklyn, NY
(Imperial Porter, Rated 100)

Pours black with a thin, dark, mocha head. Aroma is chocolate, vanilla, and sweet doughnut glaze. Taste is dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and brown sugar. Rich, creamy, full bodied. Most people prefer their doughnuts fresh and room temperature and that's exactly how this beer should be served. At 11.5% abv, this is the best doughnut I've ever had!

Red Wheelbarrow

Red Wheelbarrow, Maine Beer Company, Freeport, ME
(Amber Ale, Rated 98)

Amber red pour with a huge, foamy, off-white head.  Hop forward aroma, zingy, with a bit of caramel. Tastes of mild citrus and grapefruit zest. Robust caramel malt character that lends to sweetness. Bitter, earthy finish. Smooth and flavorful. 7% abv. Maine Beer can do no wrong!

Yodo Con Leche

Yodo Con Leche, 5 Rabbit Cerveceria, Bedford Park, IL
(Imperial Porter, Rated 99)

Dark brown pour with a thin, mocha head that dissipates quickly. Fantastic aromas of cocoa, sweet caramel, and coffee.Taste is smooth, melted caramel and chocolate poured over lightly roasted coffee. Light carbonation, big mouthfeel, and silky smooth finish. Amazing!

Raspberries Gone Wild

Raspberries Gone Wild, Cahoots Brewing, Oak Park, IL
(Imperial IPA)

A pleasant surprise! Pours a darker amber with a thick, fluffy, head. Aroma is tart with raspberries and slight pine. Taste is loaded with raspberries up front, giving a bit of fruity tartness, followed by a mild earthy bitterness. Finishes with a nice alcohol burn due to the 9.7% abv.  The raspberry fruit flavors are throughout. Like raspberry jam!

A Tiny Beautiful Something

A Tiny Beautiful Something, Maine Beer Company, Freeport, ME
(American Pale Ale, Rated 98)

Pours a hazy, golden, yellow with a thick, frothy, white head. Aroma is biscuity, grassy with floral notes. Brewed with El Dorado hops. Taste is  strong citrus, orange zest, malty oats, with an earthy sweetness. Light with a dry, clean finish.

Weez

Weez, Maine Beer Company, Freeport, ME
(Black IPA, Rated 99)

Pours black with a nice, inch-thick, tan head. Nearly reminiscent of a stout in terms of color and viscosity. Aroma is char-roasted malts, coffee, and piney hops. Medium bodied and carbonated. Taste is chocolate and roasted dark malts up front with burnt grain and a dry, bitter, pine finish. Impeccable example of this style! I love black IPAs!

Curiosity Sixteen

Curiosity Sixteen, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(IPA)

First impression = Wow! Pours a bright, straw-colored, yellow with a nice, white head. Aroma is dank pine, juicy orange and papaya, and lemon. Taste is totally pungent and loaded with citrus and tropical hops up front. The finish is impressively sweet, smooth, and dry. Carries a nice 6.2% abv. Definitely lives up to its commercial description. Another fantastic IPA from Tree House!

Julius

Julius, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(IPA, Rated 100)

One of the more sought after IPAs from the East Coast, Julius pours a hazy, orange color with a nice, thick, frothy, head. Huge citrus on the nose with mango and other tropical notes. Taste is full of orange zest and citrus. Nice hop bitterness with a dry finish. This is a citrus juice bomb! Fantastic! One of the better IPAs I've had and crushable at 6.5%.

Lights On

Lights On, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(American Pale Ale, Rated 98)

Nice little treat from the East Coast, this ale pours a hazy, golden, yellow, with a nice, thick, white head. Aroma is loaded with sweet, tropical fruit. Mango, papaya, citrus, and floral notes. Taste is light on the malt with tons of juicy citrus. Soft, light, and fluffy mouthfeel. Smooth, dry finish with a hint of orange zest. A daily drinker at only 5.6% abv. This is one fantastic beer!  Cheers!

Mean Old Tom

Mean Old Tom, Maine Beer Company, Freeport, ME
(Stout, Rated 99)

Maine Beer Company has quickly become one of my favorite breweries. Each and every beer I sample from them is fantastic. This stout pours a deep, chocolate-black color with a small mocha-colored head. Aroma of burnt, roasted malts, cocoa, and faint vanilla. Flavor is roasted chocolate, vanilla sweetness, and burnt coffee. Silky mouthfeel. Very, very nice beer!

Two Lakes Triple IPA Brewed with Grapefruit

Two Lakes Triple IPA, Tyranena Brewing Company (Lake Mills, WI) - Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee, WI)
(Imperial IPA)

In the last year or so, it seems beer brewed with grapefruit has been a hot commodity and IPAs are the perfect style for it. When it was learned that two of my favorite Wisconsin breweries were going to collaborate on a grapefruit IPA, I was thrilled. Man, did they deliver. This beauty pours a clear, golden, orange hue with a nice white head. Huge aromas of grapefruit and citrus. Citrus hop bitterness throughout the taste with loads of grapefruit flavor. Perfectly balanced between the bitterness and the grapefruit tartness. Let's also not forget that this is a triple IPA with abv around 9.5%. Unlike other beers brewed with fruit that often turn out more like a shandy, Two Lakes is a fantastic beer!

Sure Bet

Sure Bet, Pipeworks Brewing Company, Chicago, IL
(Imperial/Double IPA, Rated 97)

Pours a hazy, yellow-orange color, almost looking like a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Aroma is packed with citrus hop juice, grapefruit, tropical fruit, and sweet malts. Flavor opens with mango goodness and citrus tang. Little bready. Finishes with a hop bitterness that fades allowing the tropical fruit to linger. Totally juicy and delicious!

MO

MO, Maine Beer Company, Freeport, ME
(American Pale Ale, Rated 99)

Clear, golden, amber pour with a nice, frothy white head. Pleasant aromas of citrus, mango sweetness, pine, and a grassiness. Tastes of citrus hops, mango, and passionfruit. Has an earthy quality with a slight malt sweetness. Light with a nice dry finish. Another fantastic offering from this brewery.

Citra-Tasm

Citra-Tasm, ZumBier, Waukegan, IL
(American Pale Ale)

Part of ZumBier's Hop-Tasm Series highlighting specific hops. It's citra this time. Pours and amber, copper color with a thick, head. Aroma has an abundance of citra, as expected. There's a juicy, fruity, tropicalness to it. Taste is so juicy. Lots of tropical, floral, and citrus. Has a caramel chewiness and a mild malt backbone. Solid pale ale with lots of hops.

Grand Arbor

Grand Arbor, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, NY
(Saison, Rated 94)

 Golden, yellow pour with a nice finger-thick white head. Aroma is sweet, banana, citrus, biscuity, and light funk, just like a saison should.  Taste is a little complex, earthy, yeasty, almost Belgian-like. Yeast lingers. Mild malt and clove. Maple and spice almost hidden in the background. Nice balance and a dry finish.

Dorothy's New World Lager

Dorothy's New World Lager, Toppling Goliath, Decorah, IA
(California Common)

This is Toppling Goliath's flagship beer. That's according to the commercial description. It's arguable. Only my second California common in this blog, this one pours a nice, light, hazy, yellow.  Aroma is light bread, grassy, with a little banana. Lot of the same in the flavor. Sweet, light earthiness, lemony, nice malty balance with a slight dry finish. Nearly pilsner-esque. A very refreshing lager.

Smoked Coffee Porter

Smoked Coffee Porter, Brouwerij Emelisse, Kamperland, Netherlands
(Porter)

Pours as black as night with a very thin, tan head. Aroma is nearly all smoke. Picking up faint coffee and cured bacon. Taste is dark malts roasted over a campfire, salty, almost like a chicory beef-stick. The coffee is definitely beat down by the smoked flavor. Dry finish.

Dwarf Invasion

Dwarf Invasion, B. Nektar Meadery, Ferndale, MI
(Mead, Rated 96)

This one's a mead, brewed with honey, water, and often other fruits. They can range from sweet to bitterly sour. This great specimen is all cherries. Pours a ruby red. Aroma is sweet honey, floral, and cherries. Flavor is dominated by juicy, tart, dark cherries with subtle honey sweetness. Amazing flavor!

Milk & Cookies

Milk & Cookies, Ten Ninety Brewing Company, Zion, IL
(Sweet Stout)

Decided on this for dessert tonight. Dark, dark brown pour with a thick, mocha-colored head. Aroma is sweet chocolate, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Taste is chocolate and ginger up front followed by gentle releases of other spices. Not overly spiced though. Smooth and creamy and rich. Finishes dry.

Baird / Ishii / Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA 10.1% (2015)

Baird / Ishii / Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA, Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA
(Imperial/Double IPA, Rated 97)

Hazy, golden, orange pour with a little, white head. Pleasant aromas of citrus, orange, grapefruit, and green tea. Little spice to the nose. Taste is sweet up front with orange zest and grapefruit with a honey-like smoothness. Hop bitterness is mild for a double IPA. Finishes dry. Not my favorite tee-infused IPA, but this is a great beer.

Coronado/Devil's Backbone Devil's Tale

Coronado/Devil's Backbone Devil's Tale, Coronado Brewing Company, Coronado, CA
(IPA, Rated 96)

Hazy, gold pour. Aromas of pine, grapefruit, and tropical notes. Taste is strong citrus to start. Tropical fruits, pine resin. Very juicy. Nice hop punch with a dry finish.

Habanero Sculpin

Habanero Sculpin, Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Rated 89) 

Ever since I had my first beer brewed with peppers, I was a fan. I'm just amazed at how "foodie" beer has become. Pours a clear orange with a very thin head. First waft past the nose and the pepper aroma is apparent. Not so much that it burns the hair in your nose, but just enough to let you know its in there. Mild grapefruit citrus in there as well. Taste starts with a nice grapefruit sweetness that gives way to a developing, lingering habanero pepper burn that stays through to a dry finish. Delicious!

Triple-Goddess Raspberry Kombucha Beer

Triple-Goddess Raspberry Kombucha Beer, Unity Vibration Living Kombucha Tea LLC, Ypsilanti, MI
(Sour Ale/Wild Ale)

The bottle reads, "The ancient art of Kombucha brewing is thousands of years old. United Vibration has combined this age-old tradition with a uniquely American brewing process and tasting experience. A sour and distinctive gluten-free beer that is full of character and flavor." When this one hit my glass, I seriously thought it was Kool-Aid. Pours a pinkish-red with no head. Aroma was vinegar, nail polish, maybe a touch of raspberry. Taste is raspberry tart bitterness up front. Definitely vinegar-like. Slowly adds a mellow sweetness. Finishes tart. One of those beers that I'm not 100% sure I like, but I certainly can't stop drinking it.

Terrapin Side Project Pineapple Express Smoked Pineapple Helles

Terrapin Side Project Pineapple Express Smoked Pineapple Helles, Terrapin Beer Company, Athens, GA
(Fruit Beer/Radler, Rated 80)

This beer was a winner at Terrapin's first annual Employee Homebrew Challenge. It's a winner here too. Hazy, golden-yellow pour with a gushing, light, white head that seemed to go on forever. Took a while to settle down. Nice, simple aromas of pineapple, lemons, light malt, and grass. The taste is fantastic with a pineapple sweetness that is just slightly subdued by a smooth, smoky finish. Not overly fruity and not overly smoky. A refreshing beer.

Indra Kunindra

Indra Kunindra, Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
(Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Rated 95)

I'll be honest here. I didn't even read the entire label on this beer until just before opening it. I assumed "India-style export stout" might be a hopped up stout. I was wrong...very wrong. Just before opening, I read the description at the bottom of the label, in very small print, which read "Stout with Madras Curry, Cumin, Cayenne, Coconut & Kaffir Lime." I remember thinking this was going to be one very interesting beer. I found out as soon as I opened it and was hit with a waft a curry, a very distinct aroma. Pours a deep, dark brown with a mocha-colored head. Curry and other Indian spices overtake the nose. Flavors other than curry did come out in the taste. The cayenne pepper gave off a little heat. Toasted malts and coconut sweetness with a little hint of the lime toward the end. Finishes with a tangy spice.  One of the most intriguing beers I've had in a while.

Fathom India Pale Lager

Fathom IPL, Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
(Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils, Rated 96)

Clear golden pour with a little white head. Aroma of grainy malts. lemon zest, grapefruit, and pine. Tastes is malty sweet with bitter resin and a touch of honey. Has a mild earthiness. Great balanced combination of lager and IPA. Finishes light and smooth.

Blind Pig IPA

Blind Pig IPA, Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, CA
(IPA, Rated 100)

Here's another fantastic beer from Russian River Brewing and one some like better than Pliny the Elder. Nice clear, golden-yellow pour with a frothy, white head. Pungent aromas of pine, citrus, and tropical fruit. Bit of a maltiness as well. Flavors of mango, peaches, citrus tinge, and pine with a tropical sweetness. Extremely well-balanced and full bodied. Dry finish. Eminently drinkable. I'm not sure I like this one better than Pliny, but it's damn good!

Pliny the Elder

Pliny the Elder, Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, CA
(Imperial/Double IPA, Rated 100)

One of the more sought after double IPAs made and one that is on many a beer lover's must-drink list. I was fortunate enough to have a taste of this beer earlier this year. Not only did I drink one, I was lucky enough to take a few home with me, thanks to the graciousness and generosity of a few new friends. Cheers to them! Beautiful pour of clear, orange, with a light, white head. Fantastic aromas of pine, grapefruit, citrus and tropical fruit. Nice hop bite up front followed by a perfect blend of citrus, spicy, fruity, grassy, and piney hops. Amazingly well-balanced and tremendously smooth. There's no way this is a double IPA (8% abv). There's now no wonder why this beer is so highly rated. Cheers!

Grapefruit Sculpin

Grapefruit Sculpin, Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
(IPA, Rated 100)

Ballast Point Brewing has been one of the most talked about, sought after breweries the last few months since they started distributing in Wisconsin. Grapefruit Sculpin just might be one of the beers they are most well known for. With a Rate Beer rating of 100, it obviously lives up to the hype. I'll leave it up to each of you to form your own opinion, providing you can get your hands on one. This beauty pours a clear, orange with a frothy, white head that quickly dissipates. Fantastically gentle aroma of grapefruit, citrus, and juicy fruit bubblegum. Taste is fresh grapefruit and citrus all the way through. No need to pucker up on this one as it is clean, crisp, and smooth. Delicious and thirst quenching, but watch out for the 7% abv. Amazing example of this style!

Dragon's Mile Reserve - Raspberry

Dragon's Milk Reserve - Raspberry, New Holland Brewing Company, Holland, MI
(Imperial Stout, Rated 91)

The original Dragon's Milk is a great beer, but then New Holland produces variants like this one introducing raspberries. Pours dark black with no noticeable head. Aroma is roasted malt, cocoa, with a faint undertone of raspberry. Flavor is sweet, chocolaty, raspberries, and a nice, mild bourbon finish. If served from a chilled bottle or from on tap, let it warm in the glass, as you would with most imperial stouts and barrel aged beers. The flavors of this beer get better as it warms. A delicious treat to the end of my day.

Comfortably Blonde Ale

Comfortably Blonde Ale, Tighthead Brewing Company, Mundelein, IL
(Golden Ale/Blonde Ale)

Straw yellow pour with a thin white head. Pleasant aromas of citrus, pineapple, grains, and light floral hops. Taste is tropical and citrus fruit up front. Bready malts. An earthiness. Very light mouthfeel. Clean, crisp and refreshing. Delicious blonde ale!

Peeper Ale

Peeper Ale, Maine Beer Company, Freeport, ME
(American Pale Ale, Rated 98)

Another fine brew from Maine Beer. I've been really impressed with everything I've had from them. This beauty pours a light, sunny, clear, yellow with a nice, white head. Reminding me of the Spring weather we are having. The hop aroma is inviting and subtle. Notes of malt and grass. Taste is grainy, citrus, lemony, and a little peppery. Very clean and refreshing!