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.