Mactarnahan's Brewing Co.'s Goose Bump Imperial (Coffee) Stout

    
     The Goose Bump pours a solid black with about a finger of creamy, light brown head.  Head drained pretty quickly to a bare skim. Some sharp roast coming through on the aroma.  Has a little bit of a burnt character and some sweet chocolate.  Noticeable alcohol but blends well with the other elements.  Some dark fruit. 
     My first impression is that it is rather sweet and surprisingly smooth.  Some subtle chocolate and caramel finish out with an alcohol bitterness.  Some roast character lingers in the mouth a bit. Thin body and very drinkable.
     Doesn't pack much of a punch for an imperial stout.  However, it is impressive to have a beer so high in alcohol and smooth at the same time. 

Dogfish Head 120 Minute Imperial IPA

   

    Been waiting years to get my hands on a bottle of this.  It's almost impossible to find in Portland because of how quickly it sells out.  Luckily, Belmont Station gave a heads up about when they would be cracking the cases open on the November release.  The limit was one per customer, which is unfortunate because this would have made a great Christmas present for a number of people I know waiting to try it.  Understandable given the demand of the beer, though.
      It pours a dark amber color.  Pretty clear.  Got about a finger of off-white head that didn't stick around for long.  Aroma has some very sweet malt, rich caramel, and strong alcohol (18%).  The sweetness and alcohol make it very reminiscent of a barley wine.  Getting a lot of pine and wood from the hops.  Little floral. 
     Getting tons of malt out of this one; very bready, sweet, and caramely.  Hop flavor is a sharp citrus with a bit of an earthy character. Getting lots of pine, too.  At 120 IBUs, it's really not as bitter as one might expect.  It mostly works to just balance out the warming alcohol bite in the finish.  Has a medium-thick body and a decent carbonation.  Leaves the mouth a bit oily and alcohol warmth lingers in the back of the mouth. 
     I'm really liking the 120 Minute, but it did surprise me a bit.  Hops weren't as overwhelming as I had expected, but it is an extremely well-balanced beer for 18% ABV.   Reminds me of a barley wine with a sharper finish.

Squatters Pub Brewery's India Pale Ale

    
     Pours a hazy, brownish-orange color.  Looks murky; not the prettiest beer I've seen.  A skin of slightly off-white head covers the surface.  Aroma is just dominated by citrus.  Getting tons of Mandarin orange on this one; very sweet and tangy.  Some bready malt.
     First impression on taste is that it has a very noticeable bitterness.  Very sharp orange flavor with a strong malt backbone.  Light body with a strong carbonation.    Good beer.  Not exactly my kind of IPA, but I can see how it would go over well with the right person. 

Widmer Brothers Brewing's Milk Stout

    
     This one has been catching my eye at the store for a while now.  Finally got around to picking up a bottle of it.  Not entirely sure of what to expect.  It pours an opaque black with about a finger of dark brown head.  Aroma isn't too powerful on this one, but definitely getting some coffee roast and chocolate notes.  There's a cream and vanilla quality to it as well.  Getting some burnt caramel and maybe just a hint of charcoal/smoke.  Little woody, too.
     This one definitely has an interesting flavor profile.  It has that dry, roast character of a stout, but it is mostly washed away and masked by a sweet, creamy caramel shell.  Has a little bit of a burnt bitterness.  Finished rather dry.  Full body, silky smooth, and easy to drink.
     I'm liking this one.  Might not be something I'll run out to buy again, but it's definitely one that I'll remember well and recommend to the right people. 

Oakshire Brewing's Harvest Ale Autumn Seasonal

   
     Coming in at 6.5% ABV, the Oakshire Autumn pours a hazy dark orange color; almost on a shade of red but definitely much more of a lighter orange around the edges.  Appears to be strongly carbonated.  About a finger of really uniform, compact, slightly off-white head.  Very rich, raisiny malt aroma.  Heavy caramel.  Some dark fruit character.  Herbal hops.
     Hits heavy with some intense toast and rich caramel.  Little on the dry side.  Tons of malt flavor coming through.  Earthy hop finish.  Good stuff.

MacTarnahan Brewing Co.'s Noble Scot Scottish Ale

    
     Looks like we've got a new seasonal from MacTarnahan's between the Grifter IPA and the Humbug'r Porter.  The Noble Scot pours a hazy blood orange color.  Strong carbonation produced about a finger worth of slightly-tan head; drained quickly. Aroma is dominated by huge amounts of caramel, biscuit, toast, and other rich malts.  Tons of esters coming through; maybe some strawberry and dark berry.  Earthy, herbal noble hop character.
     First impression upon taste is that it is incredibly earthy.  Ripe berry surrounds a toasty malt flavor.  Ends a little bitter with maybe just a little hop spice.  A phenolic smokey sweetness lingers in the mouth.  Medium body . Medium-strong carbonation.
     Not bad and pretty solid for the style.  A nice deal for the price. 

Pyramid Brewing Co.'s Oktoberfest Autumn Lager

  
     What's with all the pumpkin beers hitting the shelves so early this year?  It's nice to see the fall seasonals, but August is way too soon for pumpkin-flavored anything.  Anyway, definitely not going to complain about the Oktoberfest beers at any time of the year.  I've always been a bit disappointed in the lack of breweries in America that don't take a shot at a good Marzen. Pyramid's take comes in at a monster 6.7% ABV. It pours a very dark orange color; almost like a reddish-orange.  Just a tad hazy. Strongly carbonated, big finger of fizzy head when poured.  Retention seems strong. Nice lacing.  Aroma is very toasty.  Getting a bit of dark fruit character from the crystal malt.  Very clean and crisp on the rose.  Some hop spiciness and herb. 
     Hits the tongue pretty sweet and evolves into a very rich malt character.  Crystal malt is almost candy-like.  Something really standing out for me is that it is extremely well-carbonated.  Seems a tad too bitter, but it's mostly accentuated through carbonation.  Some earth notes.  Candy sweetness and herbal hops linger.
     There's really nothing too special about this one, but what really kills it for me is the carbonation.  It's certainly not helping in any way.  It's cheap, as Pyramid always is, and it seems you're getting what you paid for on this one.