Uinta Brewing Co.'s Dubhe Imperial Black IPA

   
     Always giddy to try a new black IPA.  It's not too common to find an imperial-style black IPA, and this one definitely deserves that title at 9.2% ABV. Its pours a very dark black but there is some brownish amber shining through on the edges.  Pouring produced very little head, though it appears to be decently carbonated.  Hops hit very heavy on the aroma with some sharp pine and pungent citrus.  Also getting a very coffee-like roastiness. The hops blend well and the malt character, while subtle, really helps to accentuate everything else.
     First impression upon tasting is that it is very spicy and piney.  Definitely getting a lot of wood character from the hops as well.  Hidden in this is some very sharp, burnt malt character and some rich chocolate.  Alcohol is evident, but it seems to mix well with the intense hop flavors.  You would never guess it was 9.2% ABV based on taste alone.  Bitterness is pretty strong and definitely seems to linger longer than anything else.  Alcohol warming.  Body is a little on the lighter side but works well with a strong carbonation.
     I've decided that all Cascadian dark ales are black IPAs, but not all black IPAs are Cascadian dark ales.  Hope that makes sense.  Anyway, this is definitely what I would consider a CDA; just has that wonderful pine/wood Pacific Northwest hop character with a splash of roast that defines the style.  Would recommend, would drink again.

Bridgeport Brewing Co.'s Ebenezer Winter Warmer

    
     Ah, Bridgeport.  I'll always have a soft spot for these guys.  Anyway, the Ebenezer pours a cloudy light brown color with some orange hue shining through.  Got about half a finger worth of tan head which quickly drained to a thin surface.  Aroma is dominated by some very toasty, bready malt.  Some caramel and sweet brown sugar are evident.  A bit yeasty. Herbal hops.
      First impression upon tasting is that is has a very toasty, almost-astringent malt quality.  Hits dry and evolves to some super sweet candy malt and subtle bread. Pretty fruity; getting some dark apple-like esters.  Hops are quite flavorful.  Ends pretty bitter with some wood and spice notes.  Dry finish.  Pretty thin body.  Very well-carbonated. 
     My biggest problem with this one is that the malt is just too sharp. It's not exactly something I would describe as rich (which is to be expected of a winter warmer).  Definitely a tasty brew, but it needs to thicken up the body and tone down the toasted malt.

Great Divide Brewing Co.'s Hibernation English-Style Old Ale

    
     It pours a pretty clear dark amber color.  Small skimming of head which seems to be sticking around from decent carbonation.  Huge malt aroma; getting lots of sweet candy and raisin.  Very rich; strong. Very toasty. Some plum-like esters mixed in.  Hops are very earthy and clean, but they are definitely taking a backseat to the malt.  Not smelling any alcohol, which at 8.7% is rather impressive.
     First thing I notice upon tasting is a very rich, dark crystal malt.  It's like a super robust caramel with a sharp sweetness.  Noticeable esters; no one particular fruit flavor seems to stand out.  I like to refer to this as "general fruitiness".  Well-balanced bitterness mixed with some spicy hop flavor.  No alcohol evident, but definitely gives off that warming sensation.  Full body; strong carbonation.
     Perfect seasonal.  Definitely the type of ale you kick back to with a fire going.  Solid for the style and just an overall very impressive brew.

Elysian Brewing Company's Bifrost Winter Ale

    
     Got a chance to visit these guys in Seattle this past weekend.  Had one of their signature stouts, which I have to say was quite impressive.  Anyway, the Bifrost pours a nice dark honey color, definitely not what I was expecting from a winter ale.  Pretty hazy; light yellow color around the edges. Almost no head produced; seems to not be carbonated too strongly. Nose is full of very sweet, candy-like malt.  Some rich caramel. Definitely some strong esters; getting some banana and maybe a bit of cherry.   Hop presence is definitely noticeable; mostly earthy, little wood and citrus. 
     Malt character upfront is very subtle.  What does shine through are some nice toffee and caramel notes.  This quickly evolves into an ester presence that seems to dominate a lot of the taste.  It would best be described by me as some general fruitiness, but it does seem quite plum-like if I did have to narrow it down to something.  Finishes off some some nice hop spice without being noticeable bitter.   No noticeable alcohol taste even at 7.6%.  Some candy sweetness lingers.  Medium body
     This is definitely something much different that what I think of as a winter ale.  Typically, a winter ale is a dark, full-bodied, malt/ester bomb.  The ester notes and candy-like malt definitely make this a very seasonal, holiday sort of brew, though.  Good stuff. 
     

Silver Moon Brewing's Hound's Tooth Amber Ale

     I remember having this at GABF 2010 and thought it was pretty impressive.  Excited to give it another try. It pours a very hazy dark orange color with about a finger of head.  Seems to be draining rather quickly and retaining a nice skin of foam.  Some much lighter orange coloring shines through on the edges.  Huge hops in the aroma.  Very sharp notes of citrus, pine, and earthiness.  Also has a very strong, candy-like sweetness. Some more subtle malt flavors can be detected, too.  Little bit of biscuit.  Little bit of cherry-like esters.
     First impression upon tasting is that it is pretty hop heavy; spice and herbal notes tend to dominate the entire mouth.  Malt flavor is a pretty strong blend of rich caramel sweetness. Very well-carbonated; makes the spice flavors really sting a bit. Hop flavor kind of reminds me chewing a cone right off the vine.  Some caramel and herbal flavor lingers.  Pretty oily. Thin body.
     I'm kinda torn on this one.  It really feels like there is a fantastic beer hiding somewhere in here, but it just needs some minor tweaks in every category.

Boulder Beer Company's Flashback India-Style Brown Ale

  
     This is a style I've been thinking about quite a bit lately.  It is certainly not popular, but with how successful CDAs and now India-Style Red Ales are getting, it seems that the "India" would spread out to other styles (the most obvious one being the Brown). It pours a pretty-hazy blood orange color.  Very small head upon pouring, but it seems to be holding quite well.  Decent lacing.  Actually, a strong carbonation seems to be creating a long-lasting, creamy head.  Getting lots of sweet malt on the nose.  Lots of rich caramel, warm biscuit, and subtle toast.  Some dark, raisin-like esters are mixed in there.  Hops are there but nothing too overwhelming.  What I am picking up is a some pine/earthiness mixed with some citrus spice.
     My first impression upon tasting is that it has a delicious malt profile.  It's just toasty enough to let the sweet caramel shine through.  This blends smoothly with some fruity esters and finishes off slightly bitter.  Hops seem more bitter than flavorful.  What I am picking up for hop flavors is rather herbal with a bit of spice and citrus.  Some nice toast and herbal notes linger in the mouth.  Little oily. Medium body.
     I really like this, but I think it could just as appropriately be called an Imperial Brown Ale.  Hops here are definitely prominent for a Brown, but I don't think it's right that the malt outshines the hops on an India-style beer.  I think this is a style that might still need some tweaking, but I would most definitely drink the Flashback again.

Chimay Peres Trappistes Premiere Dubbel

   
     Thought I'd splurge a little today and try one of the Trappist ales.  The Premiere comes in at 7% ABV and was first brewed in 1862.  The first thing I'm noticing is that it is extremely carbonated.  Huge pop upon opening and a good three fingers worth of creamy head.  Head drained quite a bit, but it appears to be sticking around.  It's a very dark red, almost-copper color.  Very hazy, which is to be expected given that these are traditional beers. Aroma is a nice blend of rich malt and fruit bouquet.  Getting some sweet caramel and a touch of pear.  Alcohol is evident but subtly mixes with everything.  Easy on the nose. Pleasant.
     My first impression upon taste is that it is extremely flavorful without any single aspect coming out too aggressively.  Tons of malt flavor on this one.  Getting some toasty bread, caramel, and raisin.  Lots of fruitiness as well.  The malt seems to blend in with the apricot and pear flavors and finishes off with something darker, more plum-like. Well-balanced bitterness.  Light herbal hop flavor. Some spice and strong sweetness linger.  Silky; coats the mouth well.  Medium body really thickened by strong carbonation.
     I still haven't been completely sold on Belgian beer.  I get the appeal and they deserve all the respect they are given as a brewing nation, but their fermentation practices just don't do it for me.  I must admit, though, that this is damn impressive.  I've honestly had few other beers that have been so intricately flavorful yet perfectly balanced at the same time.

Lagunitas Bavarian-Style Doppel Weizen

    
     It pours a very dark honey color; almost an orange.  Definitely lighter on the edges due to a thick haziness.  It seems to be very well-carbonated, fizzy. Huge alcohol (8.5% ABV) leaves no head; decent lacing. 
     Aroma is absolutely dominated by fermentation bouquet. Lots of fruitiness in general, but the banana really does shine though. Alcohol is evident and really accentuates those fruit notes. Very strong and heavy on the nose. 
     Some bready malt is there upon first taste, but it is quickly washed away by raw banana. Some bubblegum notes are shining through.  Alcohol makes this very bitter and some spice lingers in the end.  Overall, this is pretty impressive in regards to the style, but I'd prefer something a little less tart and intense.

Full Sail Brewery's Elevation IIPA

 
     It pours a very cloudy, dark orange color.  Really hazy throughout; color lightens around the edges.  Not much for head or retention, but appears to be decently carbonated.  Decent lacing.  Smell is pretty evenly blended with hops and malt.  The hops are grassy with a mellow citrus quality.  Rich caramel malt shines through with a splash of toast. 
    First impression upon taste is that the malt is very subtle and basic.  Not quite what you would expect from the color or aroma.  It is quickly dominated but a very sharp bitterness.  Some lemony, earthy hop flavor is there, but it does get lost in the bitterness.  A bit of spice and bitterness really linger in the mouth for a bit.  Alcohol is noticeable (7.5%) but pleasant.  Pretty thin body.
     Can't say I'm crazy about this one.  I like my IPAs super bitter, but without any real flavor, it's just not working for me. 

Dick's Brewing Company's Cream Stout

     It pours a dark black with a fizzy, tan head.  Doesn't look to be holding too well.  You definitely would expect a frothier head on a cream stout.  Aroma is nothing too out of the ordinary for a typical stout.  Pretty chocolatey.  Some roast character and esters shine through as well.  It's very easy on the nose, clean, and lager-like.
     Upfront it is very dry and hits with some strong roastiness.  Very subtle, pale malt flavor.  A chocolate character sneaks up and is washed away with some herbal hops.  Very light body and not too silky or creamy, which is something you expect from this style.  Goes down smooth and is very sessionable. Nothing strong or distinctive lingers.
     This really isn't a bad session beer, but I can't imagine many people would consider it a cream stout unless it was printed on the label.  Not a bad beer but definitely far from being on style.

Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA

    I've addressed this issue before, and it is getting a bit lame amongst the craft beer community, but I feel I have to talk about the name of this style again.  I wouldn't feel the need to do this if Stone hadn't publicly made a big deal out of the fact that they are calling it a Black IPA (and not a Cascadian Dark Ale) when this was first unveiled a few weeks back.  They argue that Cascadian Dark Ale masks the history of the style and that Black IPA just makes sense (since it is a black beer that is hoppy).  Like I've said before, this is a style to me that is unique enough to not be labeled as IPA in any way.  India-Style Black Ale is fine by me; it's just the association with the IPA that rubs me the wrong way.  I also like Cascadian Dark Ale because of my Pacific Northwest pride.  It may have started out as Black IPA, but I feel with how popular it is becoming, it's time to break off and be recognized as the individual that it is. Ultimately, it's a "who cares" sort of thing.
     It pours a very opaque, no-hue black with a solid finger of brown head.  Seems to be draining a bit but definitely holding it up.  Doesn't have a huge nose on it;  quite subtle all around.  Some citrus hops, but not as much pine as you expect from this style.  A sweetness shines through blended with hints of roast.  Quite yeasty.  Burnt malt.
     Hits the tongue with some sharp, roasty, chocolate malt and is completely washed away with alcohol and heavy, herbal bitterness.  Can't emphasize the alcohol enough on this.  It's 10.8% ABV, and it definitely shows.  It's very harsh.  Leaves the back of the mouth with a warming alcohol sensation and a tingle. Once the bitterness and alcohol mellow out a bit, it does have some very pleasant spice hops and toastiness.
     I'm not feeling this one.  One of my key components of making a big alcohol IPA is the ability to mask it.  That's not to say it shouldn't be there, as it is part of the style, but it shouldn't be the defining characteristic. 
 

Sprecher Brewing Company's Black Bavarian Schwarzbier

    
     First off, I have to say thanks to my brother for not liking "dark beer" and giving me this.  This review is taken from notes and won't be too detailed.  It is a super dark black; no hue.  Hardly any head was produced and what did surface drained just as fast.  Aroma is a very overpowering richness.  A very full, chocolatey hit to the nose.  Very sharp malt, almost to the hint of licorice.  Not too roasty.  Sweet caramel. 
     Hits the mouth a tad on the dry side and super roasty.  Malt is primarily dominated with rich caramel and smooth chocolate.  Hints of burnt malt.  Definitely a noticeable bitterness with some subtle herbal, spice hop flavors.  Very clean aftertaste; nothing lingers.  Strong carbonation helps to lift and carry the light body.
     Pretty spot on for the style.  Can't say I've had a lot of Schwarzbier, but this seems pretty impressive from what I do know.  Would drink again (and again and again).

Mt. Shasta Brewing Co.'s Mountain High IPA

    
     It pours a very nice honey color.  Got about a finger worth of head and it seems to be holding very well due to a very lively carbonation.  Hazy.  Decent lacing and solid retention after about 10 minutes.  Huge hop aroma.  Very floral, earthy, and piney.  A strong spice, too.  The aroma is similar to smelling fresh hops off the vine.  Some bready malt comes through carried by a strong yeast presence.   Overall the aroma is just dominated by a warming herbal quality.
      You're introduced up front to some nice caramel malt; not too sweet, not too dry.  This is quickly overtaken by an intense astringent hop bitterness.  I'm a huge hophead and bitterness is rarely something that makes a strong impression on me, but this thing will make any beer drinker pucker a bit.  Beyond the bitterness, there are some spicy herbal flavors.  Very oily; coats the mouth thickly.  The only time any citrus seems to shine through is in the aftertaste.  Strong carbonation helps carry the thin body.
     I'm not too crazy about this one, though I will say I definitely enjoy the strong bitterness.  Being a California brewery, you might expect more West Coast IPA character here, but they were definitely going for something a bit different. 

Laughing Dog Brewing's Cream Ale

    
     Another review for Laughing Dog.  I'll always have a soft spot for this brewery, though I haven't had any of their stuff in a while.  I'll be attending the 2011 Oregon Brewer's Fest and will definitely be checking out their booth.  Hear they are going to have an imperial coffee porter.  Can't wait to see their take on it.  Anyway, I've had this once before, but it was about a year ago, and it certainly wasn't my first drink of the night.  I'm not crazy on cream ales, but I remember really liking this one.  Let's see how it holds up.
     It's a very light straw color.  Pretty hazy.  Seems to be decently carbonated but can't hold a head.  Sweet malt on the nose.  Little sour and sharp citrus.  Just a bit toasty, too.  Some well-balanced herbal, grassy hops.  Has a very pilsner-like aroma. 
     If I had to describe the taste of this beer in one word it would be "subtle".  It's incredibly smooth and just goes down like water.  What does stick out are some faint notes of sweet, grainy malt and a stronger presence of earthy hops.  Dry.  Definitely tasting some of the toasted malt, but it is all so minimal.  Bitterness is low, but it definitely has a strong hop flavor, like all of their beers (regardless of style).  Body is pretty thin for a cream ale.
     This is definitely a great session beer. Far from a traditional cream ale. Not something I would run out for, but would definitely be a great BBQ beer.  I can't imagine anybody who likes beer wouldn't drink this, which you can take as either a positive or negative I guess. 

El Toro Brewing Co.'s El Toro Oro Golden Ale (English Pale Ale)

  
   It's kind of hard to go wrong with El Toro Brewing.  Their oatmeal stout is impressive and they just have some all around great stuff.  Something I find interesting about this one is that it is labeled as a golden ale, which typically means something much different than a pale ale in the States, yet it won the 1994 gold award for English pale ale at GABF (proudly displayed on the label).  Just goes to show how interpretive beer styles can be.
     The first thing I notice upon pouring is that it is extremely well-carbonated and produced nearly two fingers worth of solid head.  Looks fizzy, but the strong carbonation is holding it very well.  It's a very light orange, almost yellow color.  Hazy.  Very strong hop aroma.  Earthiness and spice really shine through.  Some sweet, honey malt blends well.  Rich bready malt, too, like a dessert cake. 
     Hits the top of the tongue a little dry and quickly blends into some faint caramel and subtle herbal hop spiciness.  Bitterness is low, and overall it is is very sessionable.  Has a really pronounced honey quality.  Body is incredibly thin and lively.  Some herbal flavors linger in the back of the throat and washes away with some breadiness.
     A fine brew.  Definitely nailed the English quality of this beer. Flavor is strong yet goes down smooth.  The only thing it truly lacks as a classic English pale is the body.  It's very thin and watery. 

Lagunitas Brewing Company's Lucky 13 Strong Ale

  
     I feel like I've reviewed a lot of Lagunitas beer at this point.  They really do make great stuff considering the prices they ask.  Why does this have alt on the label?  It seems pretty clear that an OG of 1.085 and 8.9% ABV pretty much disqualifies it from ever being classified as such.  More appropriately, many websites have labeled this as a strong ale.  Many places list it as an alt, though, which they can't be blamed for given that's what it says on the label.  I really don't know what they were going for.  Anyway, the only other thing the label indicated is 76.92 IBUs (they are always precise). 
     It's a very clear orangish gold color.  Seems pretty fizzy when poured but left no head whatsoever, which is likely thanks to the huge alcohol.  Fierce citrus hop and alcohol aroma.  The alcohol really seems to give a sharp zing to the citrus, making it most reminiscent of a lemon.  This absolutely dominated the nose and little can be said about anything else in here.
     Upon tasting, definitely getting some strong toasted malts with maybe a splash of biscuit.  Little sweet and caramely. This is taken over almost immediately by a soothing alcohol flavor with an impressively well-balanced bitterness.    Hop flavor is very grapefruity and piney, which like the aroma is really given a zing by the alcohol.  There is a bit of alcohol burn, but is actually very warming and pleasant.  The pine definitely seems to linger more than anything.  Medium body with just enough carbonation.
     Very good, no major complaints.  A stronger malt backbone could have balanced out the huge alcohol/bitterness, but it still works just fine.  I must say that the brewers definitely handled the alcohol content with the hops bill quite well.  I guess my biggest criticism would be the confusion it has created with the name.

Ninkasi Brewing Company's Spring Reign Ale

    
     It's hard to go wrong with Ninkasi.  They are always consistent in making some very quality beers.  You know what I really don't like, though?  I really wish more breweries would get out of the habit of just putting "ale" on their beers without specifying a style.  I know this is a spring beer, but that could still fall into several different styles.  I've seen it listed as both a blonde ale and a pale ale, but who knows for sure what they were really going for.
     It's a light orange color that seems to be very-well carbonated, but it is just producing large bubbles without any head or retention.  Very hazy.  Aroma is primarily characterized with bready and toasty malt.  Very clean and easy on the nose.  Definitely some light floral notes and a splash of citrus from the hops. 
     I have to admit that this has an incredibly impressive malt profile.  Very sweet yet it has a warming sensation similar to fresh bread.  All of this is encapsulated by a pleasant toastiness.  Hop flavor is dominated by floral notes and is actually a little bit spicy.  Decently bitter, too.  Very clean on the mouth.  That spiciness from the hops lingers more than anything else.  Lively carbonation.  Light body.
     I'm impressed.  This is a mighty fine seasonal.  I don't really have anything I would improve about it.  I can see now, however, why they may have been reluctant to specify a style since it kind of blends several.  Definitely something you could drink all day long.  Will buy again. 

Deschutes Brewery's Hop in the Dark CDA

   
     Yet another Cascadian dark ale.  Like I said, I can't get enough of this stuff.  I know I've had this one before, but I honest couldn't say too much about it at this point.  If I remember correctly, I just had a sample of it at their brewhouse in Bend, OR.  CDAs were still pretty new to me at the time.  I can definitely say now that I've had my fair share of beers in this style that I am incredibly excited to see how Deschutes handles it.
      First thing I have to say is that this has a huge aroma.  I just opened it, and I can already smell nothing but hops coming two feet from the bottle.  Pours a very, very dark color with almost no hue.  Got about a fingers worth of light brown head that seems to be sticking around.  As I mentioned, big nose.  Very sharp pine with a nice mix of citrus.  There is some roast and sweet malt coming through, but it's hardly worth mentioning.  Big orange zest; almost stings the nose a little bit.  Little bit of clean yeast notes.  Great aroma.
     Hits the tips of the tongue super sweet.  Definitely a very rich, strong caramel malt character.  Some burnt malt and roast shine through, but it is subtle.  Very, very minor ester and yeast notes; kind of blends with the subtle roast and really lets that sweet malt shine through.  This is 70 IBUs, and it is definitely a bit bitter.  Hop flavor is very piney and spicy.  It's quite heavy and really leaves a bit of tingle in the back of your mouth.  Some of the darker malt character sneaks up on the aftertaste.  Your mouth will be coasted with a very nice rich chocolate flavor.  Leaves the mouth very clean, which is surprising given how much this has to be dry hopped.  Little alcohol burn.  Pretty light body.  Medium carbonation.
     This one definitely ranks up there for me in this style.  I'm still liking HUB's Secession a lot, but I will be getting this one again for sure.  My main thing I would change on this one is that roast and malt character.  It's great in the aftertaste, but there is almost no roast buildup to the hops.  Regardless, fantastic stuff.  

Lagunitas Brewing Company's Imperial Stout

    
     Three dollars.  Three dollars for a 9.9% imperial stout.  I just can't get over that.  If this is half decent I think I'll have to run back and stock up on these.  I think this is my third Lagunitas review now, and I have to say that its starting to grow on me.  I had their IPA on draft the other night and it was definitely better than I remember.  Anyway, this thing is a beast; an original gravity of 1.092 and an IBU count of 72.45.  I'm really excited for this one.
     This one is about as dark as they come.  Can't really describe it much better than just black with a dark red hue.  Got about a finger of brown head when poured, and it drained by the time I finished this sentence, but that's to be expected.  Seems very well carbonated and fizzy. Aroma definitely isn't dominating on this one. Getting a strong worty character on the nose and some subtle roast.  Definitely some strong esters most comparative to a raisin.  Some hop presence as well, primarily pine and just a splash of spice. 
     Hits the tip of the tongue very hard with lively burnt malt.  It evolves into a very rich blend of coffee, chocolate, and fruity esters.  This is very carbonated and fizzes throughout your mouth.  Some spicy hop bitterness in the end, but even at 72.45 IBUs, they really just work to balance out such a huge beer.  You can taste some alcohol, but you'd never guess it was 9.9%.  Leaves a bit of a burn in the back of the throat.  Leaves a lingering raisin-like sweetness.  Pretty thick body.
     This one is pretty good, not great, but definitely an impressive brew given just how huge it is.  My biggest problem is that the flavor is mostly characterized by esters, which don't really do it for me in stouts.  Great job at alcohol masking and rich stout qualities, though.  At $3 dollars a bottle, this is definitely worth checking out. 

Lakefront Brewing Inc.'s India-Style Black Ale

    
     India-style black ale?  Black IPA?  Cascadian dark ale?  Personally, I like Cascadian dark ale and would like to see the name become disassociated with IPA.  It may be well-hopped, but the malt and hops are not traditional of an IPA at all.  It really is a unique style that deserve better recognition.  Regardless, I can't get enough of this stuff.  Whenever my eyes are scanning the beers at the local shop, I've immediately made my decision as soon as I see the CDA.  Never had anything from this brewery before, but I'm excited to see what this has to offer.
     Most beers in this style aren't incredibly dark, but this one is definitely a shade of black with a very small red hue.  Seems to be decently carbonated, got about a finger of brownish head when poured.  Seems to have some decent retention as well.  Heavy pine hops on the nose.  Their website claims this is made with Zeus and Cascade hops, but it really smells like it was dry hopped with a heavier pine variety like Simcoe.  A little yeasty, too.  Little bit of citrus as well, but nothing too overwhelming.  The citrus actually blends well with subtle notes of roast and sweet malt.
     Super sweet on the tip of the tongue.  Quickly evolves into a roast character with some undertones of esters.  Little bit of astringency in their as well.  Not too bitter, but some spice and citrus definitely shine through.  Leaves a bit of alcohol burn in your throat and the back of the mouth.  Coffee-like roast will linger on your tongue for a bit after each drink.  A medium body and pretty easy to drink.
     Not one of the better CDAs I've had, but still an impressive brew all around.  I didn't mention it before, but it is actually a rather pretty beer; the head is very frothy and uniform.  I think this would benefit from being a bit more bitter and maybe cutting back on the darker malts. 

Cascade Lakes Brewing Comapny's 20" Brown Ale

  
     "Named after the enormous Brown Trout found in Northwest streams, this beer lives up to the legend".   A friend left one of these in the fridge the other night, and he told me to have at.  I've picked up a six pack of this a couple times when the price was right, and I remember being pretty impressed.  Let's see what it has to offer.
     It pours a blood orange color with very little head and doesn't look to be very carbonated.  Very hazy.  Huge malt sweetness on the nose.  Heavy caramel, some dark fruit, and estery.  Little spice from hops, very clean on the nose, crisp.  Tons of malt here; getting some biscuit, some breadiness, and some toastiness.  Very well-rounded aroma.
     Hits the tip of the tongue super sweet and caramely.  Some very noticeable fruitiness at the midpoint.  Finishes with a decent presence of herbal hop flavor, fairly bitter as well.  Definitely leaves a strong coating in the mouth.  Some very pleasant toast and bread flavor stick around.  Medium body, very smooth and seassionable.
     All in all, this is probably the best beer I've had from Cascade Lakes.  It's one of those beers that's delicious and too easy to just burn through a six-pack without realizing it.  The fruitiness would be my primary criticism, but given that it's very sharp and tart, it works well enough.

Lagunitas Brewing Company's Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Strong Ale

     
     Figured this would be a good one to review since I haven't done any big alcohol ales yet.  This is a big boy at 9.87% alc/vol and 72.41 IBUs.  My opinion on Lagunitas seems to fluctuate quite a bit, and I'm very excited to dive into this one. 
     It pours a very pretty reddish orange and I can already tell that the aroma is very strong from sitting about 18 inches away.  It's a little hazy and has produced no head whatsoever, both of which are to be expected with this style.  Huge citrus hop aroma, which you really don't see on a lot of strong ales.  Definitely some pine and bit of spice in there as well.  Very sharp, pungent bouquet.  Definitely has a lot of characteristics of an IIPA.  Getting some alcohol in the nose, but not too noticeable given the actual numbers.  Faints hints of sweetness.
     Starts out a bit syrupy on the tip of the tongue and becomes rather intense very quickly. Malt flavor here is very sharp. Pretty sweet and toasted at about the midpoint. Not a crazy amount of hop flavor, but what is there is a tad floral, spicy, and citrusy.  What really takes the cake is just intense hop bitterness/astringency and alcohol burn.  Your mouth will definitely sizzle for a bit after each drink.    Aside from the alcohol burn, you don't really see it in the flavor profile.   The body is medium and carbonation isn't too crazy.
     This is a very interesting beer.  Lagunitas jokingly  lists it on their website as an "imperial mild" and it doesn't actually say that it's a strong ale anywhere on the label.  It definitely doesn't share a lot of the characteristics of a strong ale, such as high esters and balanced hops.  Regardless, it's a tasty brew.  I always love beers that are offensively bitter, and this is definitely one intense ride.

Leavenworth Biers' Eightmile Alt

   
     Well, here is the Eightmile Alt from Leavenworth Biers.   I was really impressed with the dunkelweizen that these guys make, and I've been curious to see what else they have to offer.  This alt comes in at 4.6% alc/vol and pours a brownish orange.  It doesn't appear to be too carbonated and almost no head was produced when pouring.  Definitely a bit of chill haze. 
     Aroma is dominated by some very bready and toasty malt.  There's a touch of sweetness in there and you can pick up some very subtle German herbal hops.  Almost getting a sort of brown sugar sweetness to it.  Not too strong of an aroma and pretty smooth on the nose.  Not very crisp as you would expect from something that has been cold conditioned.
     The first thing that hits you upon taste is a strong toasted malt flavor.  Sweetness is very subdued and it really holds back in carbonation.  There's almost a bit of astringency in here; it's small but it's there.  It actually works pretty well with the toasted malt.  In the end, there's not a huge hop presence, but what is there is rather earthy and quire refreshing.  It pretty much wipes your mouth clean of the malt flavor and ends with a very clean profile. 
     Overall, this is good.  The big thing it is lacking is the carbonation.  It would definitely benefit from being just a little more crisp.  Would also like some stronger hops to balance out the very strong malt.  Would drink again and would recommend.  Still looking forward to their Marzen. 
    

Big Sky Brewing Co.'s IPA

 
     I fell in love with this beer at the Portland Spring Beer & Wine Festival (which happens to be coming up this April 22nd/23rd) in 2009, and it won my vote for the best beer of the event.  In the last two years, it definitely has become more readily available, and I was quite shocked when the big grocery stores started carrying it regularly.  Seems to be joining Moose Drool in the signature Big Sky category.
     Not a huge IPA by any means at 6.2% ABV.  It pours a dark orange and doesn't look to be very carbonated.  It is as clear as they come and is a very pretty looking beer.  A small head developed but drained before you could really get a good look at it.  Definitely some citrus in the aroma; getting lots of orange zest. Definitely some spice and pine hops in there as well.   Very light alcohol, a bit estery, and some sweet malt to round it out.
     Definitely a strong sweetness to kick things off along with some nice caramel and toastiness. It quickly evolves into a very strong spice, pine, and woody hop character.  The bitterness is noticeable but nothing too offensive.  The sweetness and spice are the lingering note as are some sticky hop oils.    It all blends and evolves very well and is a wonderfully balanced beer.  Body is on the light side and is quite east to drink for an IPA.
     I've always been a big fan and supporter of Big Sky, and I gotta say that this is probably the best they have to offer.  Definitely some unique characteristics for an IPA, but it all works well.  This is a very impressive beer in my book.  I doesn't pack quite the punch as I remember, but it is one of the beers that will just always jump out to me when I think of IPAs.
     

Widmer Brothers' X-114 IPA

    
     Wow, I didn't think I'd ever have this beer again.  This use to be my absolute favorite at the Gasthaus, but I haven't seen it there for quite some time.  Needless to say, I was very excited when a strolled past this at the store this evening.  Let's see if it lives up to all my hype.
     It pours nice dark golden color that teeters on the edge of being a light amber.  It seems very lively, but almost no head was produced and what does form quickly drains.  Solid alcohol lacing throughout.  Perfectly clear.  A very strong yeast aroma blends well with some woody and pine hops.  Definitely getting some strong citrus character, pretty lemony, and some very sweet, candy-like malt.  It's a very sharp aroma and definitely demands attention.
     The first thing I notice from the taste is a strong wood character to the hops that you don't really expect from an IPA.  It has a very noticeable astringent hop bitterness that evolves into a lingering spice.  It's incredibly sweet; not too much noticeable malt flavor, just sweet.  It actually all blends together pretty well.
     This beer is about how I remember it, and it's still great.  This is very unique for an IPA, though, and really doesn't fit too many of the guidelines for the style.  From a marketing standpoint, however, I guess it works well enough. 

Dogfish Head's Indian Brown Ale

   
     Well, I figured it was time that I reviewed something from Dogfish Head.  I think it's great how big of a name they have made for themselves, and they really do a lot of interesting things, but I have to say that I find them a bit overrated.  They've become the poster child for the craft beer industry, which they get a lot of credit for with their great beer and marketing, but it has created an image for them that really no brewery could live up to.  They really do make some fantastic stuff, though.
     The Indian Brown Ale pours a rather dark brown with a bright cherry red hue.  A solid finger of creamy, frothy head was produced with great retention.  Upon sniffing, the aroma is dominated by a very, very sweet malt aroma that would be described as brown sugar.  I'm getting some strong spice character to it like a cinnamon or a ginger.  A woody spice hop bouquet is there, but it is definitely taking backseat to the malt bomb.
     Like the aroma, this thing is just incredibly sweet and could be described as drinking a cookie with lots of brown sugar.  Definitely picking up some added spice that doesn't seem to be hops or malt.  The sweetness does mellow a bit and ends with some herbal hops. 
     Definitely a solid beer, and I love the blend of styles, but I think they need to balance it out some more.  With Indian in the name, I'm definitely expect a stronger hop presence than what is here.  Just some minor tweaks to the sweetness and hops and this would be one hell of a drink. 

Leavenworth Biers' Boulder Bend Dunkelweizen

    
     Leavenworth Biers, established in 1992, is a brewery based out of Olympia, Washington that specializes in German beers.  I was very excited to find this at my local beer store; you really don't see dunkelweizens very often.  I can't say I've heard too much about them or seen their beers for sale in very many stores.  A lot of German styles really aren't very popular in this part of the world.  
     It pours a nice chocolate color which is quite clear for a wheat beer.  A very small head was produced, composed of large bubbles, and it quickly drained.  Wheat tends to produce monster heads with nice retention, but dark malts can produce virtually no head at all.  Perhaps there is a much higher ratio of dark malt to wheat in this.  Aroma is slightly astringent and a little worty.  From my calculations, this would have ended at a gravity of around 1.024, which could definitely be giving it that wort smell.  It has a plum scent that you find in a lot of dark German lagers and there is a noticeable wheat character, but it doesn't jump out at you. 
     It's a very heavy malt bomb upon first taste.  When it hits the tip of your tongue, there is a noticeable dryness that quickly turns into a very rich chocolate and roast flavor.  It mellows out in the end with some spicy hop and wheat character and subtle fruitiness.  It has an incredibly thin body, which is uncommon for a wheat.  In the end, it leaves a very long, lingering aftertaste of very tasty and clean crystal malt.
     I think they handled this excellently.  The wheat is used to sort of mellow out the strong dark malt and it actually makes for a very pleasant and balanced beer.  It's just the perfect amount wheat to make for a very smooth, rich, and refreshing beverage.  I'm impressed, and I'll definitely be looking into these guys again.  I see that they brew a Marzen, and I'm already looking forward to that. 

Laughing Dog's Rocket Dog Rye IPA

  
     I first had this beer at GABF in 2010, but I've never sat down and really given it the attention it deserves.  I remember liking it, but it gets hard to keep great mental notes when surrounded with 2,000 beers.  Rye in IPAs is a style I've noticed to be picking up in recent years, and I'm curious to see how the guys at Laughing Dog handled theirs. 
     It pours a very light golden/yellow color and given its monster head, really is very reminiscent of a pilsner at first glance.  Rye produces a very light colored beer, and this is definitely one of the lightest IPAs I've seen.  I got about three fingers of head when I poured this, and it is showing no signs of going anywhere.  Extremely well-carbonated.  Slightly cloudy with some sediment floating about.
     Rye definitely shines through in the aroma; a very noticeable spice character.  Seems they blended in with a little bit of spice hops and a strong dose of citrus.  It's all very intense; really hits your nose kind of hard.  Also getting some fruity sweetness.  Definitely some ripe notes. 
     Upon first taste, it is very, very citrusy - most reminiscent of a lemon and quite acidic.  There's a bit of spiciness to the finish, which seems to be an even blend of hops and rye. Not too bitter, but the intensity of the citrus will make most people pucker through their first few sips. It is all very thin and incredibly dry. 
     As I've mentioned, I love Laughing Dog, but I don't think I'll be picking this one up again.  For the style, it really is very well done, but I'm not just not a big fan of noticeable rye character in beer.

Deschutes' Obsidian Stout

   
     This is another one of my go-to beers.  If I'm ever in the mood for a stout, Obsidian is the first thing pops into my mind.  As far as Deschutes' beer goes, this one doesn't seem nearly as popular as the rest of the year-round stuff.  Maybe that's more that style than anything, though.
     It pours a light black color with a orangeish hue.  A solid finger of creamy, frothy head was produced and it retained throughout the duration of the beverage.  A very pretty looking beer.  The aroma is very rich and clean.  Definitely some strong chocolate and roast notes with a splash of dark fruit.  A fantastic aroma.
     The beer kicks things off with a dark malt bomb with a very slight astringency.  It mellows out into a very rich chocolate about midway through and finishes very toasty.  You can taste some subtle hints of esters and alcohol, but they are definitely background and actually work well with mellowing out the ride.  It is very creamy and will leave a solid coating in your mouth.
     As I said before, I absolutely love this stout.  What I really don't understand, however, is why every bar that gets this on tap insists that it be served on nitrogen.  I'm sure it sells better as a creamier and smoother beer, but it really takes away from its great richness.

Oakshire Brewing's O’Dark:30 CDA

   
     I really am hooked on this style.  As of right now, there is nothing I'll put ahead of a new CDA when browsing the beer stores.  I've always loved IPAs, and the ones that have always stood out for me are the ones with unique malt character.  Along comes the CDA, and I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect.  Anyway, here's Oakshire's take on the style.
     Simple to call this one black, but  it definitely comes out as a very dark brown when exposed to strong light.  The head was a slight-tan and barely skimmed the surface.  It drained quickly and left little lacing.  Definitely not too carbonated.  The aroma isn't incredibly strong on this one.  What does come through are piney hopes with a splash of citrus.  There's also some noticeable spice.  A bit yeasty and definitely a much stronger burnt, rich malt character that I haven't seen from most others in this style.
     My first impression upon tasting this is that is has a very nice bitterness.  Nothing to offensive but enough to take notice.  The flavor of the hops would best be described as woody.  There's a ton of malt flavor in this.  It's very dark, dry, and a little burnt.  The malt lingers in the end with some roasted and chocolate notes. The body is pretty thin and the entire flavor profile is very mellow and smooth.
     This one is good, but definitely far from my favorite in the style.  It seems they wanted to put a stronger emphasis on the malt character, which works great if that's what you're looking for, but I prefer a hop grenade. 
   

Southern Oregon Brewing Co.'s Pin-Up Porter

    
     Southern Oregon Brewing Co. is a small brewery based out of Medford, OR.  They are one of Southern Oregon's top breweries, but they haven't really caught on or made much of a buzz around Portland.  Their barrel-aged stuff and barley wines always get great reviews, and I think they will definitely be getting more recognition in years to come.  I haven't been too impressed with the few beers I've had from them, but I figured I'd give this porter a go.
     It pours a very dark chocolate sort of brown with big brown head.  It drained almost immediately and there was no lacing.  The aroma is a very clean, dry malt with bit of a dark fruit character. Rich chocolate aroma that almost smells a bit burnt.  That plum/dark fruit aroma is really shining through the more I smell it.  Not getting any roast notes or other predictable scents you'd find in this style. 
     First impression upon taste is an overdose of chocolate.  This might be one of the most chocolatey beers I've tried that doesn't actually have cocoa in it.  Right before the chocolate burst, you can definitely pick up on some very dark, dry, bitter malt notes.  It ends with a strong roast flavor that lingers in your mouth, which works perfectly after such a strong chocolate bomb.  It is very thick and flavorful, though pretty easy to drink.
    Southern Oregon Brewing Co. has really yet to catch my attention, but I think I'll remember this one.  I have several friends that would just love this sort of thing, and it will make for great recommendations for anyone seeking a very chocolatey sort of beer.  Well done, guys.

Lagunitas Brewing Company Hop Stoopid IIPA

    
   Surprise, surprise; another IPA review.  I've never really been too blown away with Lagunitas, though I did have their Little Sumpin' Wild the other night and it was quite impressive.  I've noticed this one several times at the store, but tonight was the first time I figured I'd give it a try.  With 102 IBUs advertised at the top of the label, I'm surprised it has taken me this long. 
     It pours a very pretty, clear dark honey color.  I found myself looking at this one quite a bit, and it is just a great looking beer.  It is very well-carbonated and produced about a finger of head when poured, the vast majority of which stuck around throughout the duration of the beverage.  Solid, continuous streak of lacing.
     First thing I noticed on the aroma is actually a strong yeast character, similar to the aroma you get in the first couple days of fermentation.  There is definitely some citrus hops in there, but nothing too overwhelming on the nose.  It has a very floral, dry hopped character as well.  Malt is there but extremely subtle.  The whole aroma is extremely clean.
     Definitely a noticeable alcohol character.  For 102 IBUs, it just doesn't taste that bitter to me.  I expect something a bit more noticeably offensive with those numbers.  Malt is very evident, but it is a very base, pale sort of flavor.  The hops have a bit of spiciness to them, and it definitely has a floral taste.  Not getting much of that citrus from the aroma.  A bit oily from the dry hopping and a medium body.
     For 8% alcohol and high IBU count, this one is definitely a great deal for the price.  I really enjoyed it, but I don't see myself running back to the store for more of it.

El Toro Brewing Company's Poppy Jasper Amber

    El Toro has become a recent favorite of mine.  Their oatmeal stout has always been one of my favorites in the style, and I'll have to get around to reviewing that one eventually.  Their IPA is quite impressive as well.  They are based out of Morgan Hill, CA and are still definitely up and coming.  I decided to check out their amber ale for the first time the other day.
     It is actually a very light amber color; more of a dark gold I would say.  It is very well-carbonated and produced a huge head when poured that had solid retention.  The product is definitely hazy.  The malt aroma is very clean and reminds me of a Marzen.  There's some faint caramel in there and a little bit of fruity esters.  I'm also getting some quite noticeable spicy and herbal hops.
     The first think I noticed upon drinking this is that it is very fruity.  The esters here kind of dominate the malt character.  The final product is pretty dry, light, crisp, and has a thin body.  There's definitely some noble character to the hops.  Aside from the esters, everything about this is extremely similar to a Marzen. 
     Overall, I liked this one, but I don't think it will become a regular of mine.  I enjoy well-hopped amber ales, and this one is definitely fits into that category, but I think it could benefit from stronger malt. I'll have to pick up and review their IPA and oatmeal stout since I think those represent the brewery much better.   

Firestone Walker Brewing Company's Double Jack IIPA

   
     Firestone Walker is a fairly well-known and popular microbrewery out of California.  They've won several awards and just keep getting bigger and bigger each year.  Their Union Jack IPA was one of my favorites at the Spring Beer & Wine Festival in Portland, OR last year, which is why I'm so curious to give this one a try. 
     Pouring produces a very small white head that drained before I could even really get a good look at it.  Seems to be fairly well-carbonated, though.  It's a very light color; some lighter shade of gold.  It's as clear as they come, and the aroma is just fantastic.  It's a huge burst of grapefruit and many other heavy citrus varieties.  The hops here are very clean, and though strong and citrusy, are quite easy and pleasant on the nose.  There's some yeasty notes in there, but very subtle.  I'm also getting some faint, but noticeable, sweet malt aroma. I really respect IIPAs that can mask their alcohol, and being that this is 9.5% ABV, this one definitely gets high marks for that. 
     The hop flavor on this one is definitely very citrusy, floral, and tastes kind of like you're just chewing into a hop cone.  Bitterness is actually quite mellow, but there is a bit of a burn in the back of the mouth/throat from the alcohol.  You can taste some of the alcohol, but it's definitely masked impressively well.  There is some sweet caramel malt flavor, but unless your looking for it, it's completely overridden by the hops.  The whole flavor on this one is really steady; it doesn't evolve from the front of the mouth to the back into anything new or different.  It is just one constant ride of hop flavor.  The body here is on the thin side, but it definitely leaves a solid coating throughout your entire mouth.
     Overall, this one is great, but I really do prefer my IIPAs have a much stronger and offensive bitterness to them.  I think I'd have to say that the aroma takes the cake over the taste on this one, and it is definitely going to be quite memorable for me on just how well it masks its alcohol.

    
     Well, I think this is actually the last beer from Laughing Dog that I've yet to try.  These guys make tons of IPAs, but only recently have I started to notice stores carrying their basic IPA.  They are starting to get a bit more of a buzz around the West Coast, and I would love nothing more than to see them get the recognition I've always felt they deserve.
     It pours an orangeish gold with a huge, slightly off-white head.  The head drained pretty quickly and definitely did not have much going for it in retention.  Like many of their beers, it is definitely a bit hazy. 
      They dry hopped the hell out of this thing.  The aroma on this is just an explosion of hops.  It is very citrusy, but I couldn't quite pin it down to one type in particular.  Definitely some floral notes; safe to assume there's some Cascade in there.  I can't pick up on any malt aroma.  Love the smell on this one; definitely guaranteed to please any hophead.
     Surprising, the taste here as absolutely nothing like the aroma.  The first thing I noticed is a very dominating, heavy caramel malt character.  From here, it slowly evolves into a bit of spicy hops.  There's a tad bit of floral flavor, but I'm not getting any citrus.  The bitterness is pretty mellow, and definitely doesn't pack a hop punch like you would expect from smelling it.  The body is very thin.
     I'm not too crazy about the flavor on this one, but it's interesting just how completely different the aroma and taste are.  Just goes to show the power of dry hopping.  Probably my least favorite in their lines of IPAs, but still a damn tasty brew. 

Hopworks Urban Brewery's Secession CDA

   
    I've always been amazed at how well-known HUB is around the country.  I mean, they certainly are popular in Portland, but I didn't realize they had such a following like they do.  I've always enjoyed their beer, but it usually doesn't come up too often when I'm telling people about Portland beer.  Cascadian dark ales are quickly becoming one of my absolute favorite styles, and I'm very curious to try this one.
     Obviously, it's a very dark color, and though it is easiest to just say black, it's far from being pitch.  It's very well-carbonated and produced a monster head when it was poured.  It also left about a finger of brownish foam throughout the duration of the drink.  The head was very frothy and creamy.
     I think my heart skipped a beat when I took a sniff of this.  It put me right back into the Pacific Northwest wilderness and made me feel like a kid again.  A bit corny, sure, but this really is one of my favorite smelling beers.  Very woodsy, piney, and just a floral hint.  Just has the really fresh smell that you get from Northwest hops.  It's definitely a bit yeasty and there is some sweet roast in there as well.
     The first thing that hit me when tasting this was the woodsy character.  It was most reminiscent of chewing on a stick.  It's not too bitter, but it does have some very strong pine hop character in the back of the throat.  The malt here starts out as a very clean, smooth, roasted coffee and becomes richer towards the back of the mouth as it evolves into the dominant hop character.
     Gotta admit, I love this thing.  Hands down the best HUB beer I've had and it may be my new favorite in the style (though I'll have to have another Dogzilla first).  Hopworks, you've made a believer out of me.

Silver Moon Brewing's Hoptagon IIPA

   
      Silver Moon is a Bend, OR brewery that recently took a bronze at the Great American Beer Festival in 2010 in the pilsner category.  Despite living in Portland, I never actually had anything from them until I was at GABF in 2010, at which time the name stuck with me forever once I had some of their Hound's Tooth.  I made a special stop in Bend coming back from Denver so I could have a proper pint of it.  Anyway, I found this imperial IPA of theirs, Hoptagon, the other night and just had to try it.
     It's a light golden color, typical of that of an IPA but maybe a little light for an imperial.  Pouring produced a huge head and the beer is incredibly well-carbonated.  It dissipated pretty quickly but left a solid surface of foam throughout the duration of the beverage.  Lacing was great and perfectly hazy for the style.
     This thing is dry hopped like crazy.  It really is just an explosion of hops on your nose and is actually quite harsh (great if you're a hophead).  It's a very strong floral, whole hop aroma with some subtle hints of citrus and herbal notes.   The citrus here is most reminiscent of an orange.  Malt is very difficult to find, but there is some sweetness in there. 
     The first think I notice upon tasting is that the alcohol is very prominent.  It really kind of stands out completely as its own character and doesn't mesh or enhance anything else in the beer.  The malt character is incredibly weak and the alcohol just completely overrides it.  It's very bitter, and in combination with the alcohol, leaves a lingering burn in the back of your throat.  Not getting a ton of hops flavor here aside from just general bitterness, but there's definitely some floral character.  The body is very full and final product ends a bit dry.
     That description kind of made it sound like a bad beer, but I really did enjoy it.  The aroma alone made it worth the cost, but I really wish there would have been as much hop flavor in the actual drink.  It can never really get too bitter for me, and the burn from the hops and alcohol actually worked well with each other. 

Big Sky Brewing Co.'s Heavy Horse Scotch Ale

 
     When it comes to craft beer in Montana, the first name almost anybody can think of is Big Sky.  They're known for their Moose Drool Brown Ale, but it was their IPA that got me hooked on this brewery back at the Portland Spring Beer & Wine Festival a couple of years ago.  I'm always curious to try their seasonal stuff, and I never hesitate to try something new from them.
     It pours a very dark amber, which is almost starting to look slightly brownish.   Definitely a lot lighter than most of the scotch ales I've had.  There's almost no head/retention/lacing here and the final product is as clear as it gets.  The first thing I pick up from from the aroma it is fruit notes.  It's a very dark fruit character that reminds me of a lot of bocks I've had.  There's some strong sweet malt with some toasty hints to it.  There are some minor spice hops in there as well.  Very minor.  The aroma all around is very clean and again reminds me of a very malty lager.
     Upon tasting, it's definitely a malt bomb with some strong esters shining through.  The malt here is a little biscuity, roasty, and definitely has some tannins.  The caramel character is very dark and heavy.  The fruitiness of it is quite evident and is similar to a plum.  The whole thing is very rich and syrupy.
     Overall, I'm not crazy about this one.  It's quite good, but I've never been a huge fan of scotch ales to begin with.  It does become very pleasant to drink after several ounces, and I actually found myself enjoying it much more than I thought I would. 

Oakshire's Overcast Espresso Stout

     Oakshire is a very small brewery founded in 2006 out of Eugene, Oregon.  They only have a handful of beers available at any given time (three year round and a seasonal I think), but they've still managed to make a decent name for themselves in Oregon.  I've never been a huge fan of espresso stouts, but I'm always open-minded and curious about any beer I haven't had before.
     The aroma on this isn't very strong; most of what does shine through is quite faint.  In addition to the espresso, there's definitely some very dark, burnt malt character.  You can really get some chocolate hints in there as well.  It works together quite well and makes for a very smooth aroma that is quite pleasant o the nose.
     This one is pretty dark, but you can still manage to see through it just a little bit with some lighting.  Pouring produced a huge head that left about one centimeter of froth for the entire duration of the drink.   Consistent lacing all the way though; definitely a very nice looking beer.
     When it comes to taste, my main criticism of this style definitely shines through, and that's that the espresso is just too dominating.  From the front of the mouth to the back of the tongue it is one steady ride of espresso.  There's nothing wrong with this; it's just a personal thing.  It's pretty sweet and any lingering notes were definitely focused towards the tip of the tongue.  There's definitely some burnt malt character and some chocolate towards the back of the tongue.  The chocolate here overrides the hop character, which is definitely there but obviously more for balancing than anything else.  You can pick up some pine from the hops.  The body is a little thin and just a bit silky.
     To be honest, I'd say this is one of the better espresso stouts that I've had.  Though the espresso is too dominating for me, I like that you can still pick up on some malt and hop character.  That alone makes it shine above most of the others I've had in this style.  

Ninkasi's Believer Double Red Ale

      So, here's one of Ninkasi's staples, the Believer Double Red Ale.  Pretty much everybody in Oregon just loves Ninkasi, and you can't blame them either.  They've made a huge name for themselves in just the few years they've been on the scene and have already reached the ranks of one of Oregon's top breweries.  In their own words, they brew to the "Northwest" style, and they certainly hold true to that.
     Don't have a whole lot to say on the appearance for this one.  It's a solid red with a bright red hue that's very clear.  The head is very foamy, solid, and is just a tad on the creamy side it looks like.  The retention was solid and left solid patches throughout the whole glass.
     The first thing you notice about the aroma on this one is a very rich, toasty malt character.  There's some slight hints of caramel in there as well and it's very pleasant on the nose.  It's a tad estery and fruity; I swear I can pick up some hints of apple in there.  The hops aren't too prominent here but they definitely give off some citrus notes.   The whole aroma is very clean and is quite nice on the nose.  There's tons of stuff going on here and it all works together extremely well.
     Upon tasting, it hits very hard with the rich malt character.  It's quite toasty and then kind of mellows off into a very smooth caramel.  You can taste a bit of the alcohol here, and it actually works quite well with accentuating the rich malt.  Around the center of the tongue you can definitely pick up some yeast notes, mostly fruity.  Finally, we are introduced to the hops, which are quite prominent in a woody and herbal taste.  I've brewed reds with fuggle hops a few times, and it really reminds of that character.  It's probably a safe guess to say that it isn't fuggle, but it's definitely something similar.  The hop character here is a perfect way to smooth out the hard malt and actually works well in making the whole thing quite balanced.  All of this comes with a medium, creamy body.
     I've had this beer several times in the past, but it never really made the impression on me that it did this time around.  I was quite impressed and would definitely say it is one of the better double reds that I've had.  I look forward to drinking more of it in the future. 

Van Honsebrouck's St. Louis Kriek

     I've really wanted to try a kriek (cherry lambic) ever since I first read about them, but given the budget I'm currently on, I've never been able to bring myself to buy one.  I finally broke down a picked up Van Honsebrouck's St. Louis Kriek the other night from Beer Mongers in Portland, OR.  It's a brewery in Ingelmunster, West Flanders, Belgium that dates back to 1900.
      The first thing I noticed when I poured this is that it is extremely well-carbonated.  It produced a huge red head and continued to fizz for as long as I was drinking it.  I can see a little bit of sediment in it, but for the most part it's farily clear.  It's sorta of an orangeish-brown with a very dark red hue.  The bubbles produced were very weak and drained back into the liquid in almost no time.  This really reminded me of champagne in more than one way.
     My first impression of the aroma was a very, very sweet ripeness.  There is, obviously, some cherry in there, but I wouldn't pinpoint this ripeness to just one fruit in general.  I'm talking sweet; it's like smelling candy.  You can smell the alcohol, and it's just a little bit acidic as well.  The aroma is incredibly strong; I could smell it from across the room.
     Upon first sip, this thing is sweet, sweet, sweet.  I really can't emphasize this enough.  The tip of my tongue tingled for a bit after each drink and it was like drinking a Jolly Rancher.  There is some sourness here, but it definitely lingers in the back of the mouth.  A mild taste of alcohol also helped to accentuate the sourness.  It is quite lively in the mouth as the result of being so carbonated, and the body is incredibly thin.
     From what I understand, many krieks allow the cherries to be a natural sweetener and the final product ends up being on the dry side, but there are plenty of breweries out there who add extra sugar after fermentation for an incredibly sweet beverage.  This was just too sweet for me to really be able to enjoy, and definitely wasn't what I was expecting at all.  I still have great hope for this style, though.  To me, the idea of a sour cherry beer sounds fantastic, but that's definitely not what I got here.

Laughing Dog's DogZilla

     Laughing Dog, founded in 2005, is small brewery from Ponderay/Sand Point, Idaho that focuses on producing some seriously hoppy stuff.  They have a handful of IPAs and even their other styles are generously well-hopped.  I fell in love with the brewery at the Oregon Brewers Fest in the summer of 2010 and spent much time at their booth at GABF that following September.  It was this beer in particular, DogZilla, that got me hooked on the name Laughing Dog.
     At first glance, you would probably say this beer is black, but upon a closer (and a more lighted) look, it's definitely about as dark as a shade of brown can go.  It also has a very pretty orangeish-red hue.  It has a very light brown head whose retention wasn't anything worth noting.  Laughing Dog makes quite a bit of hazy beers, and while this one was quite difficult to get a good look through, it seems fairly clear.  Lacing was solid.
     The aroma is absolutely dominated by pine.  To me it's about the same effect as taking several pine needles and sticking them up your nose.  There's still some citrus and floral notes to the hops, but you do have to look for them.  You can pick up some roasty malt notes as well, but again it defenitely takes the backseat to the pine.
     The taste to this has a great buildup of flavors.  Initially, there is a bit of roasted malt which has a slight resemblance to coffee.  I wouldn't call it weak so much as I would pleasant.  The sweetness here is incredibly mild but just enough that you wouldn't call it dry.  From here, it gets a bit more heavy and starts to introduce to some strong chocolate character.  After that, it is dominated by a very pungent bitterness and those piney hops.  There is also a mellow spiciness to the hop profile as well.  All of this comes with a very smooth, almost silky, body.   
     Laughing Dog sells in about a dozen states now, and I always recommend it to everybody.  I've yet to be disappointed by anything I've purchased from them, and a goal of mine is to check their brewery out eventually (though I have no idea when I'll be in Northern Idaho next).  Black IPAs seem to be getting more and more popular within just the past year, but this definitely stands as my favorite in the style thus far.