Prairie Coffee Noir

Prairie Coffee Noir, Prairies Artisan Ales, Tulsa, OK
(Imperial Stout, Rated 90)

The coffee variant of the Prairie Noir series pours black with a thin, mocha head. Aroma of coffee, fudge, and an ashy roastiness. Taste is slightly bitter to start with coffee and caramel flavors. Mild whiskey sweetness with a soft oak finish. Alcohol lingers on the tongue. Clocks in at 11.2% abv.

All That Is and All That Ever Will Be

All That Is and All That Ever Will Be, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Sweet Stout, Rated 98)

Pours dark black with a nice, mocha-colored head. Aromas of mocha, coffee, and sweet lactose. Taste follows the nose. Sweet, chocolaty, tootsie roll candies, rich roasted coffee, touch of vanilla, and sugar. Medium body with a super, creamy mouthfeel and a dry finish. Extremely well balanced. Awesome!

Curiosity 27

Curiosity 27, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial/Double IPA, Rated 97)

Curiosity 27 features Amarillo hops. Pours a nice, cloudy, orange with a good white head. Aroma is complex but subdued with notes of oranges, tangerines, and peaches. The taste follows the nose. Initial taste is like biting into a fresh mango or peach. Totally juicy. Has a bready malt character. Finishes with a medium bitterness and lingering citrus rind flavors. Fantastic! 8% abv.

In Perpetuity

In Perpetuity, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(American IPA, Rated 100)

Brewed with Citra and Nelson, this IPA pours a hazy, bright orange topped with a nice white head. The aroma is a bouquet of subtle, yet impeccable tropical and citrus notes.  Oranges, mango, pineapple, and ripe peaches. Bit of a bready character. Taste is a juicy blend of sweet pulp and tangy bitter orange and lemon zest. Soft, creamy mouthfeel with a long, bittersweet finish. Checks in at 6.7% abv and standing tall with the upper, echelon of Tree House beers. Absolutely delicious!

Double Dry Hopped Sleeper Street

Double Dry Hopped Sleeper Street, Trillium Brewing Company, Boston, MA
(IPA, Rated 99)

Dry hopped with a double dose of El Dorado hops, this tasty specimen pours a hazy orange with a thick, fluffy white head. Aroma is oranges, mango, guava, passionfruit. It's dank and herbal. The tropical fruits come through in the taste led by orange juice and citrus rind. Medium mouthfeel with a mildly tangy-bitter finish. Clocks in at 7.2% abv.  Delicious!

Stillings Street IPA

Stillings Street, Trillium Brewing Company, Boston, MA
(IPA, Rated 99)

First review of another New England brewing company that is capturing the beer world by storm with their juice bomb IPAs. This IPA pours an extreme hazy orange-yellow. The aroma is heavy tropical fruits and pungent citrus. Has a light biscuity/cracker character and a dank, earthiness. The taste is of passion fruit, cantaloupe, apricots, orange zest, and grapefruit pulp. Mildly soft, chewy mouthfeel. Crisp hop bitterness. Checks in at 7.2% abv. This is a fantastic beer!

King Jjjuliusss

King Jjjuliusss, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial IPA, Rated 100)

Tree House continued their anniversary celebration by powering up King Julius just like they did Julius by adding an extra kettle hop and extra dry hop.  Pours a cloudy, orange-yellow with a thick, white head. Aroma exudes oranges and tropical fruits. A little bready and a faint grassiness. Taste is mostly oranges, mangos, and peaches. Starts off smooth with a juicy sweetness. The finish isn't as grapefruit bitter as Jjjuliusss. Still an exceptional beer!

Jjjuliusss

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

Brewed specifically for Tree House's third anniversary, Jjjuliusss pushes the level of citrus to new heights through additional kettle and dry hopping of the base beer, Julius. Pours an extremely hazy orange with a nice, frothy, white head. As you would expect, the aroma is heavy on the citrus, oranges, mangos, passionfruit, grapefruit, with a subtle grassiness. Taste is an explosion of orange juice, citrus pulp, and grapefruit zest. Light sweetness up front followed by a mild bitter, tanginess - well balanced. Full body, creamy mouthfeel, and rich hop character. Amazing!

Focal Banger

Focal Banger, The Alchemist, Waterbury, VT
(IPA, Rated 100)

One of the very best IPAs out there, Heady Topper's "little brother" pours a golden-yellow with a light haziness and a nice, frothy, white head. Dank aromas of citrus, pine resin, grapefruit, and hop spiciness. Taste is chewy citrus pulp, grapefruit zest, light pine, and an intense hop flavor explosion. Medium mouthfeel makes it chewy and sticky. All that flavor and 7% abv. A big, tasty hop treat!

Echelon Six

Echelon 6, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(American Pale Wheat Ale)

Pours a light, straw-yellow with a large, white, airy head. Aroma has citrus notes with an earthy, grainy, wheat. Taste is similar with that grassy, dry wheat character with a cracker malt followed up with a very light, subtle citrus. Light, delicate, with light body and a dry finish. The 4.3% abv makes this an easy drinker.

Single Shot w/Vanilla Bean

Single Shot w/Vanilla Bean, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Sweet Stout, Rated 96)

Chocolaty-brown pour with a mocha head. Aromas of roasted coffee beans, cocoa, vanilla, and chocolate. Tastes of milk chocolate sweetness, smooth black coffee, rich vanilla, and a touch of lactose. Bit of a smoky char. Medium bodied with a sweet, lingering, coffee finish. An easy-drinking 6.4% abv. Nothing short of delicious!

Echelon Five

Echelon Five, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Belgian Golden Ale/Blonde Ale)

Every now and then Tree House will throw out something other than the juicy IPAs they are well known for. This Belgian blonde pours a straw-yellow color. Aroma is typical Belgian, grassy, earthy, with faint spice. Taste is crisp, earthy wheat malt, and faint hop bitterness. Light mouthfeel with a dry finish.

Bright w/Nelson Sauvin

Bright w/Nelson Sauvin, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial IPA)

This Bright variant is brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand. Pours a hazy, yellow with a nice, white head. Aroma is that typical juicy aroma with oranges, grapefruit zest, pineapple, and definite herbal, earthy, floral notes. Flavor is huge tropical fruit and citrus sweetness with mild grapefruit bitterness. Creamy mouthfeel, a lingering dankness, and a clean, dry, earthy finish. A deliciously light imperial IPA at 7.8% abv.

Curiosity Twenty-six

Curiosity Twenty-six, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(American Pale Ale, Rated 98)

Curiosity Twenty-six is another juice bomb brewed primarily with El Dorado with a little Citra hops. Pours the typical cloudy orange with good amounts of head. Amazing aromas of orange zest and citrus pulp. Taste is all citrus, all the time, with orange the prominent flavor. Nice sweet malt backbone and a grassy, herbal bitterness. Finish is crisp, a bit dry, with mild hop bitterness.

Curiosity Twenty-five

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

Curiosity Twenty-five is brewed with El Dorado and Kohatu hops. Pours a cloudy, golden yellow. Aroma is earthy, floral, tropical, with notes of pineapple and citrus. Taste is similar, with a juicy explosion of pineapple sweetness, citrus zest, and tropical fruit. Soft mouthfeel, mild hop bitterness and a bit of a dry finish. Delicious!!

Rome is not just for wine lovers

I recently returned from a trip, with my girlfriend, to Rome followed by a seven day Greek Isles cruise. It was my first time in Europe and my first cruise as well. I had no idea what to expect, but went with an open mind. I did, however, do a little bit of research about what the beer scene is like in Rome before I left. Let me tell you, Rome isn't just for wine lovers.

While you can mostly find European lagers and macro beer all over, I was pleased to discover three legitimate craft beer bars right in the middle of wine country. Our first stop was a place called Open Baladin, a pub just East of the Tiber River, right in the middle of the city. 

Bottles on the back wall behind the bar at Open Baladin

Open Baladin is a dimly lit bar that boast 35 taps, 2 casks, and more than 100 different labels of Italian craft beers. They even have their own line of Baladin beers. They were strict on how many people were allowed to enter as standing room was not allowed. If there were no seats, you had to wait outside until people left. This made Open Baladin very comfortable, fairly quiet, and very relaxing. It was toward the end of the evening when we finally went. Certainly wish we could have spent more time there.  The food menu looked fantastic. It seemed just like the kind of crafty, artisan food you find in most American craft beer bars, certainly in Milwaukee, but with a definite Italian twist. Too bad we had already eaten dinner. Beers had: Miss Molly, a fruit beer by Birrificio Toccalmatto that tasted like passion fruit througout; Defunkt!!!, a fantastic sweet stout with creamy chocolate, cappuccino and vanilla by Extraomnes; and a Brewers Reserve Barley Wine, that was nutty, oaky, dark fruit, and sweet bourbon from Makers Mark bourbon barrels by Lervig Aktiebryggeri.

Our second and third stops happened back to back and come recommended by a friend who had visited.  After a fantastic Italian pizza dinner at Dar Poeta in the fabulous Trastevere neighborhood, we walked around the block to Bir & Fud, a modern, bare-brick cafe/bar that also specializes in Italian craft beer. Bir & Fund boasts 30 always rotating taps and a fantastically, delicious looking food menu that we didn't partake in. 

Taps at Bir & Fud

The 30 taps were perched on a long bar in a narrow entryway that opened up toward the back where there were tables for dinner patrons. The bartenders were extremely friendly and welcoming. Yet another beer bar that we could have spend a lot more time at.  Beers had: Frühlingsgose, a traditional German gose, by Bayerischer Bahnof Gasthaus & Gosebrauerei; Quarantot, an imperial IPA by Birrificio Lambrate; La Mummia (2013), a sour/wild ale aged in wine barrels by Birrificio Montegioco; Quarta Runa (2014) a soured fruit beer with loads of peaches by Birrificio Montegioco; and Frambueza, a fruited lambic by 'A Magara.

The third and, unfortunately, last craft beer stop was just across the street from Bir & Fud, a smaller pub called Ma Che Siete Venuti A Fa. They have sixteen taps and a bottle selection that is only for on-premise consumption. The bartender was a little douchy. I guess they get those in Europe too. Despite the less-than-stellar bartender, I was happy to have had Cantillion's Kriek 100% Lambic from the tap. A definite highlight to the evening. It's interesting to see what other patrons order. Most were ordering IPAs and pale ales. I guess they are spoiled by having Cantillion on tap all too often.

I know there were a few other craft beer bars within and around Rome, but these were the three that we were able to visit. I love how walkable Rome is and we would definitely return. Knowing that Rome has a small, but very healthy, craft beer scene was a very pleasant surprise. Cheers and safe travels!

Liquid Confidential

Liquid Confidential, To Øl, Copenhagen, Denmark
(Imperial Stout)

Pitch black pour with a dark, mocha head. Aromas of dark chocolate, roasted dark malts, and a little bit of burnt caramel. Taste is dominated by roasted dark malts and dark chocolate.  Has a sweet creaminess. Thick, smooth, and a bit chalky. The chili finish is subtle but lingers. Packs a nice punch at 12.3% abv,  Not all pepper beers need to burn out the mouth. Many add nice complimentary flavors, like this one.

I've Seen Bigger Than Yours

I've Seen Bigger Than Yours, ToOl, Copenhagen, Denmark
(Fruit Beer, Rated 94)

Though categorized as a fruit beer, this is more of a barley wine with some amazing flavors added. Pours a reddish-brown color. Aromas of oranges, raspberries, dark fruits, raisins, and breaded malt. Tastes like a fruit cocktail mixed drink with those same oranges, raspberries, light citrus, dark fruit sweetness, and caramel malt. Medium mouthfeel and juicy as hell. The 14% booze is surprisingly subtle. Absolutely delicious!

Peach Jungle Boogie

Peach Jungle Boogie, Marz Community Brewing, Chicago, IL
(Wheat Ale)

Cloudy, orange pour with a nice, frothy, white head. Huge aromas of peaches and apricots. Taste is predominantly peach throughout with a lingering, earthy, grassiness. Medium mouthfeel with a mildly dry, bitter finish.  Delicious beer!

Chilly Water Pale Ale

Chilly Water Pale Ale, Tighthead Brewing Company, Mundelein, IL
(American Pale Ale, Rated 87)

This wheat-based pale ale pours a clear, golden-yellow with a nice thick, white head. Smells of citrus, orange zest, and a faint grassiness. Taste is fruity, light grapefruit, earthy pine, with a slight dank finish. No bitterness. Clean and crisp. At 4.8% abv, this is one delicious Session IPA!

Ruby's Tears

Ruby's Tears, Marz Community Brewing Company, Chicago, IL

(Grodziskie/Gose/Lichtenhainer)

Pours a color reminiscent of pink grapefruit juice. Subtle aromas of must, yeast, and floral notes. Bitterness is light in the nose. Taste is lemony-citrus up front with some sweet berries. A nice, tolerable acidic, salty, tartness. A very mild, tasty gose and crushable at 5.1% abv. These are great for hot, Summer days.

Very Hazy

Very Hazy, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial IPA)

Pours a cloudy, golden-yellow, with a thick, frothy head. Right away you are hit with an immense amount of pungent tropical and citrus aroma from mango, pineapple, oranges, and muted grapefruit. Taste that mango and pineapple sweetness upfront with orange and grapefruit zest. A fantastic balance between sweet and bitter.  That earthiness is there. Smooth, creamy mouthfeel with a sticky resin. At 8.8% abv, this is one dangerous juice bomb!  Hats off to Tree House for another amazing beer!

Double or Nothing

Double or Nothing, Oak Creek/Lawson's Finest Liquids, Middlebury, VT
(Barley Wine, Rated 95)

This collaboration pours a deep mahogany. Fantastic aromas of caramel malt, dark fruits, and sweet maple syrup. Taste burnt sugar and dark fruits up front, buttery caramel, sweet maple syrup, and finishing with a nice, mild whiskey warming. Well balanced. A nice 10.5% abv kick as well. I really enjoyed this beer!

Old Man

Old Man, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Premium Bitter/ESB)

Here's a style that is definitely a departure from the more regular pungent beers in Tree House's portfolio. Pours a dark, amber with a thin head. Aromas of sweet malts, caramel, little bit of clove and banana. Taste follows suit. Sweet caramel malts, bready, with notes of cloves and bananas. Very smooth and lightly bitter at the finish. Well done!

Aún Más Café Jesús

Aún Más Café Jesús, Evil Twin Brewing Company, Brooklyn, NY
(Imperial Stout, Rated 100)

Pitch black pour with a thin, mocha head. Intense aromas of burnt coffee, dark roasted malts, and notes of chocolate. Roasted coffee beans and dark, bittersweet chocolate dominate the flavor. Touch of sweet molasses. Alcohol (12% abv) is present but subdued. Creamy fudge mouthfeel. This is one fine dessert!  My favorite of the three.

Aún Más Chili Jesús

Aún Más Chili Jesús, Evil Twin Brewing, Brooklyn, NY
(Imperial Stout, Rated 99)

Pours a deep black with a mocha-colored head. Aromas of roasted, dark coffee, cacao, toasted malts, and faint green chilies. Taste is chocolaty sweet up front, roasted dark malts, salty soy sauce, and an abundance of chili. Rich, creamy mouthfeel.  Has a very, nice chili burn throughout that lingers after the finish. Like spicy food, pepper beers appeal to different palates. This beer has an incredible amount of flavor that is accentuated by the chili heat. 12% abv.

Aún Más a Jesús

Aún Más a Jesús, Evil Twin Brewing, Brooklyn, NY
(Imperial Stout, Rated 100)

Pours deep black with a thin, mocha head. Bold roasty aromas of coffee, dark malts, dark chocolate, and a definite hint of booze. Flavors are complex, but well blended. Dark chocolate, cocoa, roasted malts, burnt toast, and touches of molasses and vanilla to add a faint sweetness. Full bodied. Rich, creamy mouthfeel. Bitter baker's chocolate finish. 12% abv. This is one fine beer!

Barrel-aged Cider

Barrel-aged Cider, Citizen Cider, Burlington, VT
(Cider)

This is the first cider I've ever written about. Pours a clear, straw-yellow. Pleasant aroma of tart apples and faint bourbon notes. Taste is similar. A nice apple sweetness with subtle bourbon and a nice, moderately juicy finish. Clean, crisp, and refreshing with a 6.9% abv.

Dramanatrixxx (2015)

Dramanatrixxx, Saugatuck Brewing Company, Douglas, MI
(Foreign Stout)

Deep, black pour. Aromas of vanilla, dark roasted coffee, dark malts, and sweet bourbon. Flavors are complex with sweet, dark, baker's chocolate, burnt brown sugar and molasses, some dark fruit, touch of vanilla, and smooth bourbon. So creamy and smooth. Nice bourbon warming at the finish. 10.4% abv. Everything I have had from Saugatuck Brewing has been excellent! Cheers!

Juice Machine

Juice Machine, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial IPA, Rated 100)

This aptly named beer pours a cloudy, almost creamy-like, orange with a nice, thick, white head. Could definitely pass for a glass of fresh OJ. Pungent tropical aromas of mango, papaya, oranges, and grapefruit zest. Those same tropical fruits come through in the flavor beginning with a mango / papaya / orange sweet, juiciness and finishing dry with a little pink grapefruit tartness. Mild hop bitterness. This is a fantastically, crushable double IPA! Be careful of that 8.2% abv though.

Bright

Bright, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial IPA, Rated 96)

Slightly hazy, orange pour with a nice, thick, white head. Aromas of apricots, dank citrus juices, and sweet mango. Taste is grapefruit rind, tangerines, apricots, and light pine. Little bready malt character.  Smooth mouthfeel and a mildly bitter finish. 7.8% abv.  This one is a little different than the usual Tree House juice bombs, but equally fantastic!

Single Shot

Single Shot, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Sweet Stout, Rated 99)

A coffee milk stout, Single Shot pours a deep, dark, brown with a nice, mocha-tan head. Aroma is full of rich coffee and milk, with roasted malts. Tastes accentuates the aroma with lots of cold-brewed coffee, milk, roasted malts, and sweet cocoa. Medium mouthfeel and creamy smooth with 6.4% abv. One of the finest milk stouts I've had! Super delicious!

Ape Snake

Ape Snake, Prairie Artisan Ales, Tulsa, OK
(Saison, Rated 97)

Dark brown, almost black pour, with a tan head. Aroma has a bretted, faint barnyard funk to it. Some dark fruit along with pine and floral hops.  Taste has hops up front muted by a faint tart funkiness. Not much dark fruit in the flavor. Getting a nutty character.  Light in the mouthfeel and a dry finish. Extremely tasty and very drinkable. No way this is 7.9% abv.  Cheers!

Doppelganger

Doppelganger, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial IPA, Rated 98)

Doppelganger is Alter Ego's big brother. Side-by-side, they look related too. Doppelganger pours a cloudy, hazy, golden color with a pillowy, white head. Pungent aromas of grapefruit, lemon, pine, and tropical fruits hit the nose. Taste is similar with sweet grapefruit pulp, orange zest, and bit of mango. Juicy, dank, mild bitterness, and a dry finish. Well balanced. Too smooth for 8.2% abv.

Venganza de la Panela

Vengza de la Panela, 51st Ward Beer Company, Westmont, IL
(Imperial Stout, Rated 95)

A little change-up from all of those IPAs and pale ales here. Pours a deep, black in color with no head. Aroma is molasses, carmelized sugar, dark fruits, and chocolate. Mouthfeel is creamy and slick. Taste is sweet, burnt brown sugar, and rich molasses. Nice roast with just a bit of a tart, acidic finish. Not harsh though. The 11% abv certainly warms the throat.

Very Green

Very Green, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(Imperial IPA, Rated 99)

Let me introduce you to the big brother of Green. In many ways the same beer, only on steroids, so to speak. The term "imperial" refers to a stronger version of the style that is associated with higher alcohol, more hops, more malt, and more ingredients. Very Green pours that same cloudy, yellow-orange with a creamy, white head. Almost looks like orange juice. Pungent aromas of oranges, grapefruit, mango, pineapple, and tropical notes. Taste is another juice bomb explosion, orange juice, grapefruit zest, tangy mango, and a touch of pineapple sweetness. Slightly bitter and dry finish. Smooth for 8.6% abv. Tree House IPAs are world class!

Curiosity Twenty-four

Curiosity Twenty-four, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(American Pale Ale, Rated 92)

Would you look at this beer! Curiosity Twenty-four is brewed with Columbus and Citra hops. Pours a cloudy, orange with a nice, white head. Aromas of herbs, orange peel, lemon zest, tangy papaya, with a grassiness. Aroma is a great prelude to the taste. Flavorful citrus, orange sweetness, mild grapefruit pulp, herbs, and a mild lemony bitterness at the finish. Light mouthfeel with a dry finish. At 5.4%, one of the more poundable offerings. Thank you Tree House for another great beer!

Sap

Sap, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(American IPA, Rated 99)

This is the newer Sap recipe. Hazy, golden, yellow pour with a light, but frothy, white head. Aroma is very dank and citrusy. Tastes of juicy, tropical fruit, mango, and pineapple. The citrus sweetness gives way to a very subtle, yet sticky, pine resin finish.  On par with those other famous Tree House juice bombs. Fantastic beer!

Barrel Chested Barleywine Ale

Barrel Chested Barley Wine, Upland Brewing Company, Bloomington, IN
(Barley Wine, Rated 91)

Pours a deep burgundy color. Sweet aroma of molasses, light dark fruits, and just a bit buttery. Tastes of melted cherries, roasted malts, little nuttiness, and sweet caramel. Nice bourbon warming with a thin, oaky finish.

Curiosity Twenty-three

Curiosity Twenty-three, Tree House Brewing Company, Monson, MA
(IPA, Rated 94)

Continuing Tree House's hop exploration with Curiosity Twenty-three using Galaxy and Amarillo. Pours a hazy orange with a thick, white head. Aroma is such a fresh fruit bomb with citrus, mango, pineapple, and apricot. Pungent fruit flavors explode in the mouth. Ripe oranges, mango, and apricot sweetness. Little bit of melon. Medium mouthfeel with a dry finish. Those hops though! Typical Tree House amazingness!

King Julius

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

Don't mind the white label, this is King Julius. Not sure if the ink was so fresh it rubbed off during shipping or what. What really matters is what's in the can! If Julius is one of the best IPAs around, his big brother, King Julius, is one of the best IIPAs around.

King Julius pours a cloudy, murky orange that looks like glass of fresh, pulpy, orange juice. Light, pillowy, white head. Pungent citrus aromas, tropical, and a bit dank. The flavor is like a glass of juice, light sweetness, little bit of bitterness, not harsh at all. So smooth, creamy mouthfeel, and super juicy.  Tad dry in the finish. Cannot tell this is 8.3% abv. Fantastic! Tree House continues to kill it!