Julius-Tree House Brewing Company

I received a message recently from Eric of Nine State Brewing. He asked if I had ever tried anything from Tree House Brewing Co. I explained that I hadn't but would love the opportunity and, just like that, I received a packaged containing these four beers. Eric's only request was that, in return, I provide my readers with honest and in-depth reviews of each beer. Challenge accepted!

After doing some research on each of the four beers, I decided to start with Julius and work my way through each one, posting a review as I go, based on the hop profiles of each beer,taking into consideration the beers that should be consumed fresh.

Brewery: Tree House Brewing Co.
Location: Monson, MA
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.8%
Beer Apostle's Final Grade: A+

Julius is Tree House's flagship American IPA. Julius has a perfect score of 100 on both BeerAdvocate and RateBeer, and has become one of the more sought-after American IPAs as of late. Just a quick glance on any of the beer trading forums and you'll quickly see there is a considerable buzz around Julius. However, I will state for the record: I am not one to fall in line with the hype around beers. Without naming specific labels, there are several "whales" that dominate the ISO forums that, in my humble opinion, are not worth the trouble people go through just to get their hands on a beer that may not be much (if any) better than the beers brewed at your local microbrewery. With that being said, I trusted the endorsements given by many who have tried Julius and was eager to give it a taste for myself.

As soon as I opened the can, the aroma from Julius instantly fill the room. Just as if I had lit a candle, the kitchen filled with vibrant scents of citrus and tropical fruits. There was also a considerable amount of orange notes detected.

Julius pours a deep haziness. This is as cloudy as I have seen an IPA. The color is spot-on: a beautiful orange hue to match the theme and label.

Complex layers of citrus and tropical fruits attach the palate. Julius is just as sweet and juicy as advertised, and full of oranges--both fruit and rind flavors. But for as juicy and fruity as Julius is, there's also a good amount of bitterness that balances this beer. I have seen some reviews labeling Julius as sweet with little bitterness, but I would have to disagree. I get a good amount of bitterness, but it's just not overpowering. As for a malt profile, there's not much of one. Julius is juicy, tropical, and citrusy.

Overall, Julius is as near a perfect IPA as I have tried. In many ways, I find this to push boundaries on what my archetype of an American IPA is or was. Julius' juiciness is unmatched. And the amount of fresh orange flavors that are packed into this beer is impressive. As far as I can tell, Julius deserves the credit and even the hype. It's refreshing and delicious, and I wish I would have received more than just one can.

To see more from the Beer Apostle, be sure to check out the Archives section! Have questions or feedback, contact me and share your thoughts! And don't forget to join in on the discussion by following  on Twitter and Facebook!

21st Amendment Brew Free or Die IPA

Brewery: 21st Amendment Brewing
Location:San Francisco, CA
Style: English India Pale Ale
ABV: 7%
Beer Apostle' Grade: B

West Coast IPAs sometimes get mislabeled for being "all hops and no balance." While there's a time and place for everything on the IPA spectrum, I generally seek IPAs that have a nice malt foundation to help digest some of the bitter hop flavors.

Brew Free or Die IPA was recommended to me by a friend who knows what I like. I rarely turn down an opportunity to try a new beer, so I quickly took him up on the offer!

Appearance: The design on the can is patriotic and fun. I'd like to think the artwork on the can and his country. The beer pours a pale yellow with a nice creamy head. 
captures the raw emotion and passion that every American craft beer drinker feels about his beer

Aroma: Fruit odors with a mild malt presence. The hop aroma provides a pleasant dose of grapefruit and earthy notes.

Taste: The citrus hits the palate first, followed by a bready and caramel malt backbone. The back of the palate contains some lemon zest, a dry earthiness, and more sweet caramel flavors. 

This is a well-balanced IPA. Sessionable. I enjoyed the paleness of this beer. It's bready with a nice blend of hops and malt that make this beer quite drinkable.

Special shout out to Ryan for sending me this can to check out! Keep 'em coming, buddy!

Thanks for reading the Beer Apostle and for supporting craft beer! Join in on the discussion by following me on Twitter and Facebook! Cheers!

Grasslands' Big Cypress Brett IPA

This is a recurring monthly series in which I taste and share my thoughts on a different beer from Grasslands Brewing Co. as they progress on their journey to open their doors to thirsty craft beer lovers THIS SUMMER!  Grasslands is an up-and-coming brewery out of Tallahassee, Fl. that centers their philosophy on making quality "earth first ales." I will taste pilot batches and share my thoughts with the BeerApostle community. You can read past posts about Grasslands beer in the archive section of this blog.

Brewery: Grasslands Brewing Co.
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Style: Brett IPA
ABV: 7.5%
Beer Apostle's Grade: B+

It's hard to believe this is my twelfth review of a Grasslands brew, and the third time I am reviewing a Big Cypress iteration! It's been an absolute blast covering Gabe Grass' journey as he gets set to officially open the doors of Grasslands Brewing Co. Over the last year, I have been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of Gabe's experimental and innovative batches. I am not sure why he's entrusted a schmuck like me with such a high honor, but am thankful nonetheless!

This Big Cypress Brett IPA is something I have really been looking forward to. Having tried batches #1 and #4 of the base recipe, I am curious to see how the Brett yeast affects this beer. To see my reviews of Big Cypress IPA without the Brett, click here and here.

You might be wondering, "What is Brett?" Brett is short for Brettanomyces, which  is a form of yeast that traditionally imparts a level of “funkiness” or ”sour” tones to its beers. While this is often the case, there are various strands of Brett yeasts that give floral and tropical impressions. The latter is the form of Brett yeast that's used in this Big Cypress IPA.

Let's get to it, shall we?

Appearance: This Brett IPA pours an unfiltered, hazy copper hue. There is minimal head that quickly dissipates.

Aroma: Earthy hops come to the front of the nose. I pick up a citrus undertone--lemon and orange zest.

Taste: This is an in-your-face tropical IPA! I get a lot of citrus and tropical fruits, mainly grapefruit, mango, and lemons. There is a mild spiciness that comes towards the back of the palate; this is
possibly given off by the Brett. The finish includes a subtle sweetness capped off with the aforementioned spice.

Mouthfeel: Big Cypress Brett IPA is a medium bodied beer. Without a ton of malt sweetness, this beer feels lighter than it is.

Overall: With this being the first 100% Brett IPA that I have tried, I really didn't know what to expect. I also had no point of reference for comparison. And I must admit that prior to the first sip, I fully expected to get some funky notes from the Brett. I definitely fell into the "Brett trap." While there are no elements of "funk" in this beer, it is a bold-flavored IPA. There's really nothing subtle about  Big Cypress Brett IPA. The tropical fruit flavors, citrus bitterness, and spicy finish makes this an IPA that leaves an impression.

I appreciate the willingness to innovate here. As I take a look back at the past 12 beers I've reviewed from Grasslands, I can confidently say they've proven that when they open in just a few months, their beer will be anything but status-quo.Grasslands will push the envelope on various styles and will be cutting-edge in the product they deliver to beer fans. It's going to be fun to watch (and taste).

Interested in becoming a Grasshopper?

If you're interested in getting your hands on any of Grasslands' brews before 2014, register for their Grasshoppers Club which is your ticket in to getting exclusive releases from the brewery before they open. As a Grasshopper, you'll be eligible to enter the monthly lottery drawings to sample beer and provide critical feedback that may contribute to the final product. You can also check out Grasslands on Twitter and Facebook for more information.


Thanks for reading the Beer Apostle and for supporting craft beer! Join in on the discussion by following me on Twitter and Facebook! Cheers!

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

Brewery: Dogfish Head Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 15%-20%

I've had 120 Minute IPA a few times, but never fresh. Until now, the only times I have ever come across a bottle of this is during a bottle share when a friend has gone deep into the back of his cellar to pull out a finely aged 120. I've heard stories of how this beer tastes fresh, and have been eager to jump on the opportunity to experience it myself.

This particular bottle has a date of 3/19/14, making it about 5 weeks fresh. I expect the hop characteristics to be much more present then in the cellared versions I've tried in the past.

And before I move onto the actual review, I also want to give some much-deserved attention to what this beer actually is. I suspect some of you, may not be fully up-to-speed on the context of 120 Minute IPA.

Dogfish Head first released this mammoth of a beer in 2003. It's been labeled as "The Holy Grail" of IPAs, and that's due to two things: The insane amount of hops that go into this beer and the amount of alcohol it contains. 120 Minute IPA is continuously hopped for two hours (hence the name), is then dry-hopped in the fermenter for 30 days, and, as if that's not enough, DFH then ages the beer on whole-leaf hops for another month. In other words, there's A LOT of hops that go into making a batch of 120!

Appearance: The bottle is pretty unassuming, aside from the cap that dons a "caution" symbol, signaling its contents to be something special. 120 Minute IPA pours a beautiful caramel color with shades of amber. The head is minimal and fades quickly.

Aroma: Liquor aromas mixed with floral hops dominate the nose. It's tough to pick up anything else as the alcohol is quite strong and in the forefront of the scents.

Taste: The first thing that registers is alcohol, and lots of it! It's almost like drinking a hopped cocktail of sorts. 120 initially hits the palate with a lot of heat and then finishes with the floral and bitter notes from the hops. There's also a wine characteristic to this beer that comes from the boozy bite and heavier body. Allow the flavors to linger a bit on the tongue and you'll be able to pick up some of the malt sweetness, albeit a subtle sweetness.

As this beer warms, it feels more like I am sipping on a sweet whiskey. The initial alcohol bite subsides and allows some of the maltier notes to come forward. I could sip on this all night!

Mouth: There's a good level of carbonation, but that doesn't stop this beer from being big bodied and heavy. The texture is generally smooth and slightly creamy, though it's not nearly as creamy as it will be once it ages a while. I've had 120 at the 3 year mark, which is about when this Double IPA turns into a smooth and rich barleywine.

Overall: Very different from my past experiences with 120. As I mentioned, my only experiences with 120 have come after it has aged for a few years. So, all I have known about this beer was how richly sweet, flavorful, and heavy it can get. Fresh, this beer is a completely different beast. The hops and alcohol are incredibly strong, and yet, it's still a delicious beer. And when I say that the hops are strong, I don't mean they're strong in the same way Palate Wrecker is strong. The hop characteristic in 120 are fresh and inviting. The citrus and floral flavors are quite enjoyable, and they, in no way, dominate this beer. As I've mentioned, the alcohol and subtle sweetness help to bring some semblance of balance, especially as the beer nears room temperature.

Proceed with caution, but do so with high expectations that won't leave you disappointed. I'm so glad I was able to try this fresh, and even gladder I bought a few extras to store away in my cellar, where they'll stay until the year 2017...at least.

Thanks for reading the Beer Apostle and for supporting craft beer! Join in on the discussion by following me on Twitter and Facebook! Cheers!

Brew Bus Last Stop IPA

Brewery: Brew Bus Brewing (brewed at Cigar City Brewing)
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 7.2%

Brew Bus Brewing originally started out as a Craft Beer Bus tour in Tampa. The Brew Bus was designed to be the ultimate experience for craft beer fans: a city-wide brewery tour aboard a bus fully stocked with craft beer!

The Brew Bus eventually partnered with Cigar City and now brews their own craft beer, thanks to the facilities and space provided by Cigar City.

Having never had anything from Brew Bus Brewing, I came across Last Stop IPA and, without hesitation, grabbed a six pack.

Appearance: The fun and light-hearted can design touts this as a "crushable IPA" that's "sure to be a crowd pleaser." The beer pours a clouded gold color with a thick white head.

Aroma: The citrus is bright and vibrant on the nose. Very refreshing aroma. Grapefruit, pine, and a light malt sweetness.

Taste: The citrus flavors follow the nose. There's a refreshing dose of grapefruit, tangerines, pine, and lime. The citrus flavors are followed with a mellowing dose of biscuity malts and a touch of honey on the finish.

'Crushable' is an accurate adjective to describe the drinkability of this IPA. It's incredibly easy and enjoyable. I enjoyed Last Stop IPA's approachability and refreshing qualities. The citrusy hops are balanced nicely by the malt and biscuity backbone. Last stop has a creamier body, which also works to cut some of the citrus. This isn't going to blow hop heads away, bit it's a nice IPA that brings balanced flavors and a palatable citrus profile.

Thanks for reading the Beer Apostle and for supporting craft beer! Join in on the discussion by following me on Twitter and Facebook! Cheers!

Sourcing Suds: Bell's Hopslam (2014)

This is the first article in a new series entitled, "Sourcing Suds,"  in which I not only review a beer, but also highlight the place where the beer can be found. The people and places pouring for us are what make the craft beer community what it is. I hope to capture some of that craft culture in this new series. Each month, I will highlight a different craft beer location and a beer from their tap list. Enjoy!

Source: Silver Cow

Silver Cow recently opened their doors to the Riverside area of Jacksonville's "Beer District" on King Street. The space is small but packs charm. The exposed brick walls, antique lamps, whiskey barrel table-tops, and dim lighting give a eloquent sophistication that's intriguing and welcoming.

And there's beer.

The Silver Cow has 25 rotating taps that provide craft delights that are sure to please every beer fan. In addition to beer, Silver Cow offers various wines and food dishes.

Owner, Regina Heffington (you might also know her as the Jax Brew Bitch),is usually behind the bar to greet you with a smile as you walk in. And if Regina's not there, her bartender, Kelsey, is just as welcoming and friendly. If you're looking for a cozy neighborhood bar where service truly comes with a smile, then this place is for you.

Silver Cow was one of the first places to tap a keg of Hopslam, and I was there to get a first taste of this year's popular IPA from Kalamazoo.

Suds: Hopslam

Brewery:  Bell's Brewery
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 10%

The annual release of Bell's Hopslam, and its subsequent appearance on local shelves, never fails to create quite the stir. It's become known as one of the best IPAs in the country and sells out usually within hours of hitting the shelves. 

Bell's Hopslam recently made its official appearance in Jacksonville, and like years before, the beer was gone before most people ever knew it was here. If you are one of the fortunate who secured some Hopslam off the shelves, go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back. If you are among the many other less-fortunate, fret no more! Several local bars around the city will begin tapping Hopslam in the coming days (if they haven't already). And this is a beer you want to grab fresh. Trust me.

Appearance: Hopslam was poured in a snifter and is a vibrant amber color and a healthy white head that leaves mild lacing.

Aroma: It's citrusy and fresh smelling. Very appealing. I can also detect an inviting sweetness on the nose, likely honey-related.

Taste: Lemon, grapefruit, pine, and honey. This is surprisingly smooth and drinkable. And the flavors are wonderfully complex. It's a multifaceted IPA that doesn't just wreck the palate by throwing a truckload of hops at your tongue. The bitter hop flavors are balanced by a sweetened malt backbone. The finish is mildly bitter with a touch of honey and lingering pine.

Mouthfeel: This is a full-bodied IPA. At 10%, I wouldn't expect anything less. Hopslam is sweet and sticky, but has plenty of carbonation to keep it from being syrup-like.

Overall: Hopslam is worth the hype. Every year, I expect to be disappointed by this beer. I so badly want to be the one to provide that sobering review that says, "Hopslam is just a Hypeslam!" And yet, every year I find myself at this same conclusion. Hopslam is every bit worthy of the hype. It's just that good.

To read my review of last year's release of Hopslam, click here.
To read more about Silver Cow, check out my full review here.

Firestone Walker Double Jack

Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Location: Paso Robles, CA
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 9.5%
Price: $6.99 22oz (Purchased from Wegman's in Buffalo, NY)

Double Jack is a double IPA from the highly acclaimed California brewery that took home a bronze medal for this beer at the Great American Beer Fest in 2012. This is the first ever Imperial IPA from Firestone Walker; it's done quite well, receiving ratings of 100/100 and 97/100 on Ratebeer  and  BeerAdvocate, respectively.

Appearance: Copper/reddish hue. Clean and filtered. Quarter inch head with nice retention that laces the glass.

Aroma: Sweet, hoppy, and herbal nose with lots of malt and caramels. This is really pleasant. The hops and floral notes are rivaled by the sweet sugary malt scents. I expect this one to have a really well-balanced malt backbone...and that gets me VERY excited!

Taste: The hops are far more prominent on the palate than they are on the nose. For a split second, I thought this was going to be a sweeter beer, but that notion was quickly denounced by the wave of earthy dryness from the hops. The taste begins with a touch of citrusy sweetness that is quickly washed away by pine and zest. The flavors are quite herbal in the middle, and the hops have a drying effect as the beer moves towards that back of the palate, where the finish is piney and dry. There is a nice malt undertone that I am able to pick up the more I drink this beer (probably has something to do with the warming of the beer as well).

Mouthfeel: This is a medium-bodied beer, maybe even on the lighter side of Imperials.

Overall: This is very enjoyable and drinkable. This is a 9.5% beer that hides the alcohol well. The flavors are vibrant and complex. Double Jack definitely lives up to the accolades it's received online and within the beer community. I'm glad to have had the chance to try this.

Also, something I failed to highlight earlier is the price-point of this "World-Class" beer (based on BeerAdvocate's standards). At $7, I doubt you'll find another bomber of beer that's as highly regarded and delicious as this one is. When was the last time you bought an imperial beer that's rated as high as this one for under $10? Yeah, didn't think so.

Cheers!

This is as pretty as an empty glass gets.

Grasslands Big Cypress IPA (Batch #4)

This is a recurring monthly series in which I taste and share my thoughts on a different beer from Grasslands Brewing Co. as they progress on their journey to open their doors to thirsty craft beer lovers (2014).  Grasslands is an up-and-coming brewery out of Tallahassee, Fl. that centers their philosophy on making quality "earth first ales." I will taste pilot batches and share my thoughts with the BeerApostle community. You can read past posts about Grasslands beer in the archive section of this blog. 

Brewery:  Grasslands Brewery
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Style: IPA
ABV: 7.5%

Yesterday, I posted my review of Batch #1 of Big Cypress IPA, and now I turn my attention to Batch #4. Nothing has changed with what Grasslands wants to accomplish with Big Cypress (they want a smack-you-in-the-face) IPA that is "unique and compelling." Batch #4 used a different combination of hops to create a whole new flavor. So, here we go!

Appearance: Sandy Brown, almost muddy in color. Lots of carbonation and sediment on the bottom of the glass. Unfiltered, without a doubt!

Aroma: Orange and Lemon zest. Grapefruit, and Pine. Caramel/malt comes through with warming.

Taste: This is a citrus-hop bomb! Grapefruit, lemon, and orange stand out. Hopped up finish. Bitterness lingers on the aftertaste. After the beer warmed for about 15 minutes, I was definitely able to pick up on the malt more. It was subtle, and more present on the nose, but it was there. The malt adds a sticky, caramel, flavor to the bitterness of the hops, which helps to calm this beer down a bit. But make no mistake, this beer is exactly what Grasslands said they wanted it to be: it smacks-ya-in-the-mouth and then some!

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Lots of carbonation.

Overall: This is up there with some of the "palate-wrecking" IPAs on the shelves and is, by far, the hoppiest beer I have had from Grasslands (and maybe all of Florida). This is a one-two-punch IPA with a very strong citrus and hop profile that'll give IPA-lovers what they ask for.

Batch #1 vs Batch #4: This, in no way, was a competition. I appreciate that Grasslands experiments with recipes and solicits feedback from the Grasshoppers to help them land on the best beers possible. However, because I was fortunate enough to try these two batches side-by-side, it's impossible not to compare them.

When it comes to IPAs, I prefer a balanced approach. I like my hops to be accompanied by a strong malt backbone. Batch #1 did this perfectly. In fact, it's probably one of the best East Coast IPAs I've had; I think it could even give Jai Alai a run for its money.

Batch #4, to me was a completely different beer. While it's probably not the IPA I would choose, I think there's a HUGE market for this beer among hopheads who enjoy beers with a hop presence strong enough to tear into the lining of their stomachs. I also think Batch #4 is a bit more bold and unique. If released, it would quickly build a reputation for itself, similar to what Green Flash has done with some of their IPAs.

This was an incredibly fun two-part review! I want to thank Gabe Grass for sharing his batches with a schmuck like me.

Interested in becoming a Grasshopper?

If you're interested in getting your hands on any of Grasslands' brews before they open, register for their Grasshoppers Club which is your ticket in to getting exclusive releases from the brewery before they open. As a Grasshopper, you'll be eligible to enter the monthly lottery drawings to sample beer and provide critical feedback that may contribute to the final product. You can also check out Grasslands on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Cheers!

Grasslands Big Cypress IPA (Batch #1)

This is a recurring monthly series in which I taste and share my thoughts on a different beer from Grasslands Brewing Co. as they progress on their journey to open their doors to thirsty craft beer lovers (2014).  Grasslands is an up-and-coming brewery out of Tallahassee, Fl. that centers their philosophy on making quality "earth first ales." I will taste pilot batches and share my thoughts with the BeerApostle community. You can read past posts about Grasslands beer in thearchive section of this blog. 

Brewery:  Grasslands Brewery
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Style: IPA
ABV: 7.5%

This is the first of two reviews I will be posting for Grasslands' Big Cypress IPA. This is Batch #1. According to Owner Gabe Grass, the intent with Big Cypress IPA is to brew a "unique and compelling IPA"  using East and West Coast influences to create a "smack-you-in-the-face IPA."  What an exciting and fun way to describe this beer and it only increased my excitement for trying it!

Grasslands has experimented with a couple variations of the recipe and were gracious enough to send me Batches #1 and #4. Tomorrow, I will be posting my review of #4 and will synthesize my notes from both tastings to give an overall recommendation on which of the two I prefer and why. This is an exciting two-part review, so check back tomorrow to see how Batch #4 compares and which comes out on top!

Now, let's check out Big Cypress IPA Batch #1 and see how it is!

Appearance: Cloudy tangerine color with a fairly serious head that sticks around, creating a nice lacing down the glass. The carbonation is visible and mobile at the base of the head (as seen in the picture below).

Aroma: Fresh hops and pine. There's also a nice sweetness that I can smell, but I can't exactly pinpoint what it might be. Malt and caramel? Either way, this is one of the best-smelling IPAs I have had. Very floral and fresh.

Taste: This IPA starts off with a sweet malt base and quickly moves on the palate towards a piney finish that bursts with hops, pine, and citrus notes. The presence of sugars right away brings a well-balanced flavor that moves nicely from malt to hops. Despite the piney finish, this beer isn't bitter at all. In fact, it's quite clean and leaves a pleasant, but minimal, aftertaste. This is a crisp IPA that has a palate-cleansing effect.

Mouthfeel: The body is on the lighter side, mostly due to how much carbonation there is. The IPA cuts across the tongue easily, rendering a clean, crisp, and zesty product.

Overall: This is a great brew! The taste was great, and as I mentioned earlier, the aroma was wonderful and added to the drinking experience.. The hops were so aromatic and pleasing that they brought a really nice contrast to the malt sweetness that first hits the palate. This is a well-constructed beer. Gabe Grass has done it again!

Don't forget to check my post tomorrow to read about Grassland's Batch #4 for this Big Cypress IPA.  

Interested in becoming a Grasshopper?

If you're interested in getting your hands on any of Grasslands' brews before they open, register for their Grasshoppers Club which is your ticket in to getting exclusive releases from the brewery before they open. As a Grasshopper, you'll be eligible to enter the monthly lottery drawings to sample beer and provide critical feedback that may contribute to the final product. You can also check out Grasslands on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Cheers!

Stone R & R Coconut IPA

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Location: Escondido, CA
Style: IPA
ABV: 7.7%
Price: $7.99/22oz

This collaboration beer was originally created for the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) homebrewing contest in 2013. As stated on Stone's website, R & R Coconut IPA won in the contest and made quite the splash among those who were there. The recipe calls for a crazy amount of coconut (280 pounds, to be exact) and a clever blend of hops and toasted grains. All of this culminates into a refreshingly-tropic-yet-familiar-flavored-IPA.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy orange color with a minimal head that sticks around. The color is pretty, but not what I expected. Resembles what you'd typically see from a wheat/hefeweizen beer.

Aroma: Grapefruit and fresh hops. Semi-sweet, but I really don't pick up on the coconut.

Taste: Very citrusy from the grapefruit and (maybe) orange or lemon zest. The back has a subtle sweetness from, what I imagine, is the coconut. But, like the aroma, it's really played down and not nearly as prominent as I hoped or expected. The finish is crisp and clean with a lingering sweetness. This is a gentle and enjoyable IPA--one that should appeal to the masses. The hop-bitterness is present, but the fruits and sugars really bring a nice balance.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a good amount of carbonation. Refreshing.

Overall: I enjoyed this beer. It's one I could drink a lot. This was particularly enjoyable after a long day in the sun and on the water. Based on the flavor alone, it's not nearly as innovative as the recipe makes it sound, but it is a pleasant and tasteful IPA that is well-balanced between the bitterness and malts/sugar.

Cheers!

Lagunitas Sucks

Brewery:  Lagunitas Brewing Co.
Location: Petaluma, CA
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8%
Price: $9.99/6pck

Ok, so truth be told, Lagunitas actually doesn't suck. In fact, they're pretty amazing cool people. What other brewery is so confident in themselves that they would 1) admit that there was an issue with brewing a batch according to its recipe, 2) brew that beer anyway with a substitute ingredient, and then 3) make fun of themselves by saying they "suck"?

Lagunitas is kind of like that friend who we all have and no matter the circumstances, things just always go right for this person. Bad luck brings good fortune. Yeah, that's exactly what happened to Lagunitas.

I recall when Lagunitas Sucks first came out in 2011. I was skeptical about the whole story behind the beer, but bought it anyways. After trying the beer, I remember calling a buddy of mine and telling him he had to go out and buy some because it was actually better than the original. As it turns out, a lot of people had that same reaction and Lagunitas decided to brew some more...on purpose this time.

Naturally, I felt compelled to buy Lagunitas Sucks once more. This time, however, I am more interested to see if they were able to recreate the 2011 release. So here are my tasting notes...

The appearance, as you can see, is a golden amber color with a quarter inch head that laces the glass as the beer is consumed. The carbonation is easily seen rising from the bottom of the glass, so I am expecting a nice zing from the CO2.

The aroma is a lot of pine and grapefruit/citrus hops. I don't really get a ton of depth beyond that; just hops.

The taste follows suit with the aroma--pine, grapefruit, lemon zest. As I expected, the carbonation is a nice factor in how the hops dance on the palate. The flavors of the various hops come into play due to the carbonation. There is a mild sweetness in the middle that works to balance this drink. The malt is subtle, but it's there. The finish is dry and bitter and long.

It's drinkable and, dare I say, refreshing? I love the body of the beer which is on the fuller side for the style. Despite the fact that this is undeniably a hop bomb, there's a lot going on here.

Lagunitas Sucks is affordable AND highly rated, a combination you don't fine too often. Oh yeah, and you can also get this in 32oz Quart jugs. #MindBlowing.

Cheers to you, Lagunitas, and all your good fortune.

Good til the last drop. Love the lacing.

Dogfish Head Rhizing Bines Imperial IPA

Brewery:  Dogfish Head
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8%
Price: $10.99/750ML

I absolutely love when breweries collaborate and bestow their own styles and specialties to a particular brew. It's a creative way to bridge the regional gaps that exist among breweries from across the country.  In this variation of Life and Limb, Dogfish Head and Siera Nevada team up to create this sweet and pleasantly mild Imperial IPA. Here's the commercial description of the beer:

Rhizing Bines is a collaborative IPA using the best of both coasts: Carolina-grown red fife wheat and Dogfish Head’s continual-hopping from the East and Sierra Nevada’s estate-grown caramel malt and Torpedo dry-hopping from the west.

Now let's move on to the tasting notes...

Appearance: Clean and crisp look. Carbonation is easily seen rising to the top, where a one inch thick white head has formed. It's golden-amber hue is inviting.

Aroma: Sweet citrus and spicy hops. There's really not a lot going on here. Mild and subtle all the way around. Surprisingly nonchalant for a DIPA.

Taste: Sweet is the first thing that comes to mind. Again, surprising when compared to other beers in this style. To me, this performs more like a pale ale than a double IPA. Besides the immediate sweetness, there are mild citrus flavors (lemon, grapefruit, orange, and melon), mixed with a balanced hop and malt profile. The finish is slightly dry and overly sweet.

In general, I think this beer is mislabeled and will therefore let people down. Unfortunately, this just doesn't live up to the style and would be better suited as a pale ale or imperial amber. Rhizing Bines missing the mark for the style, but I still enjoyed the beer and would even buy it again. In fact, the overall subtle flavors make this beer very drinkable. I was able to finish back-to-back pints and I could have easily gone back for thirds. It's sweeter than your normal IPA, but it's not too sweet. Definitely not as sweet as a barley-wine or some ambers I've had. The mild hops also makes this a great beer to share with friends who are normally turned off to IPAs. I think this would be a wonderful gateway beer, even if it is a bit misleading in terms of the style.

Cheers!

Saint Arnold Sailing Santa

Brewery:  Saint Arnold Brewing Co.
Location: Houston, TX

Style: American IPA/Blend
ABV: 7%
Price: Unknown (Given as gift)

Texas' oldest craft brewery, Saint Arnold has literally helped define Houston's craft beer scene. In fact, Saint Arnold is what I refer to as my personal gateway brewery. I owe my craft beer allegiance to this brewery. I am forever a fan and advocate of this brewery!

I moved to Houston right out of college in 2007 and "craft beer" was not anywhere on my radar. Once settled, there were two Texas breweries that I took a liking to: Shiner and Saint Arnold. Both have important places in my beer journey, but I credit the latter for my love of craft beer.

Unfortunately, craft beer can be expensive and I was just a budding professional on a humble teacher's salary. Luckily, Saint Arnold held affordable $5 brewery tours every Saturday (the brewery has since moved locations, grown significantly, and now holds daily brewery tours for $7). It was at these tours that I began learning about hand-crafted beer; and it was there, in the middle of their brewery tour, standing beside a few hundred pounds of barley, that I became a born-again beer drinker.

Now that we've gone down memory lane and tears have all but dried on my cheeks, let's get to today's review.

Image taken from saintarnold.com

Sailing Santa is a seasonal blend of their Elissa (IPA) and Christmas Ale. The beer pours a nice copper/amber color. The head thins quickly and leaves a minimal lacing around the glass.

The aroma is a great blend of sweet malts and earthy hops. Given that Saint Arnold has labeled this beer as an IPA, I would say the aroma is a bit incongruent to the typical aroma of an IPA.

This beer is malt-forward. Again, I think it's mislabeled. The taste and aromatic profile fit more as a winter warmer in my opinion. The front flavors are all malt, caramel, toffee, and maybe a little maple syrup. The hop profile from the Elissa IPA portion of the blend are mild and subtle. Pine sneaks in towards the finish of this, which is also a tad dry. I do pick up on the cinnamon that was apparently added to the 2012 version. It's a pleasant flavor that lingers nicely.

Overall, this is a solid winter beer, but it's just not an IPA. I understand that Saint Arnold wants to capitalize on the blend which uses Elissa IPA, but it disappoints if being compared to true IPAs. Style aside, this is an enjoyable blend that's highly drinkable and perfect for the season. As I said above, this reminds me more of an earthy winter warmer. I appreciate the subtle hops in this beer, but the prevailing flavors are the heavier malt profiles and warming spices.

Cigar City Jai Alai vs White Oak-Aged Jai Alai

 Brewery: Cigar City Brewing
Location: Tampa, FL
Style: IPA
ABV: 7.5%
Price: $10.99/6pk (Jai Alai) $9.99/4pk (White Oak Aged Jai Alai)

With the recent release of White Oak Aged Jai Alai, I have been itching to pair it with the regular release and share my notes and critiques of each. Also, this was just a good excuse for me to pour myself two beers simultaneously without looking like I have a drinking problem.

Most importantly, I am excited to record my thoughts on how much Jai Alai changes after being aged on the white oak. I have always loved Jai Alai by itself and am curious to see how the white oak variation compares.

We'll start with the regular release of Jai Alai.

Jai Alai pours an orangish-red hue with a strong head that remains in the glass and puts out a pretty good lacing.


The aroma is beautiful. Lots of grapefruit and lemon with a malt sweetness underneath. This is exactly what I imagine a citrus farm smelling like as you walk through the rows of fruit-bearing trees (I've never been to a citrus farms, but that's how I imagine them).

The flavor comes at you with a stinging sharpness from the hops. There's no doubting this is an IPA and Cigar City doesn't shy away from the bitterness. Once Jai Alai passes the front of the palate, there is a subtle yet distinct malt-sweetness that quickly fades in a dry and bitter finish. After a couple sips, I noticed that the beer started to taste sweeter. It's almost as if my taste-buds adjusted.

Now we move to the White Oak Jai Alai:

The White Oak-Aged Jai Alai pours a cloudy yellow with hints of amber.

The aroma is dominated by the oak. The citrus notes still come forward, but they are mellowed in comparison and a bit more complex. There's a nice scent of vanilla that comes through on this as well. There's a lot going on, but I really like how this one smells.

What a great flavor! The body is much creamier than the regular version of Jai Alai. Like most IPAs after they've been aged, the citrus/hops are mild and balanced by a malted sweetness. The hops are not nearly as prolific as the regular release, but the flavors are balanced and enjoyable. The vanilla finish is nice. Smooth. And unlike other beers that have been oaked, there's not a smokiness that comes through prevalently with other beers (see Oaked Arrogant Bastard).

Which Do I Prefer?

Tasting these together really presents a nice opportunity to pick up on the different complexities in each beer, and analyze the affect of aging Jai Alai on the white oak. Cigar City pulls both off excellently. Each variation offers something unique to patrons looking for something bitter, hoppy, and complex to satisfy the palate.

Although I think it's probably a bit silly to name one a "winner" over the other, if I had to choose, I would go with the regular Jai Alai over the aged version. When fresh, Jai Alai is a superb IPA with a wonderful citrus profile that's simply exceptional.

But as I said, it's silly to name one a winner because they are both great beers; each presents a unique beer-tasting experience for the consumer. If you have a chance to taste both, I recommend you trying these together and see for yourself how the oak changes the flavor profile of the original.

Pensacola Bay Li'l Napoleon IPA

Brewery: Pensacola Bay Brewery
Location: Pensacola, FL
Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.3%
Price: $6.99

Continuing my exploration of Florida's finest, today's review comes from Pensacola Bay Brewery. This brewery is located in the heart of Pensacola's historic district. In fact, it's the city's first full-scale brewery since prohibition, and for a while, they were not actually allowed to sell beer on their premises. So, to get around the laws, patrons could buy the glass (empty) and receive free beer. Not a bad deal!

I picked up Li'l Napoleon from Total Wine in Jacksonville. This is actually my first taste of anything from Pensacola; so I was quite eager to give it a go!

The aroma is pretty mild. There are hints of hops on the nose, but there's nothing overwhelming. I was pretty surprised at how absent the aroma is given that it's an IPA--a style that usually has a strong aroma.

For everything the nose is lacking, the flavors make up. Li'l Napoleon is a citrus punch in the face. Lots of hop-bitterness, citrus freshness, and not a whole lot anything else (and that's not a bad thing). Very little sweetness or malt to speak of beyond the fructose-like-flavors that come from the citrus profile. The finish is crisp, clean, and slightly dry. Overall satisfying and exactly what I'm looking for in an IPA.

As I mentioned above, this is my first beer from Pensacola Bay and it definitely doesn't disappoint. Li'l Napoleon is just an old fashioned American IPA and that's all it tries to be. I appreciate the fact that Pensacola Bay Brewery didn't try to be too experimental with this. It's exactly what a solid IPA is supposed to taste like. It's hoppy. It's floral. It's refreshing. What more do you need from an IPA?

Terrapin Hop-Karma Brown IPA

Since my relocation to North Florida, I must admit that I have spent most of my time exploring locally brewed concoctions and have not ventured beyond the Sunny State all that much. Recently, however, I have been turned on to Terrapin and have been mostly glad with what I've discovered.

Terrapin Beer Co., out of Athens, GA, used to produce Hop-Karma under a different name (India Style Brown Ale). Wisely, they moved away from the former name (because it was just plain boring) and gave this beer a spunky new title. There's a fun little Indian-inspired design on the label that caught my attention and interest. So, kudos to the Terrapin marketing team for designing something fun and interesting!

Now to see if that same spunk was found inside the bottle.

Hop-Karma Brown IPA's aroma is full of roasty malts and something sweet--caramel, chocolate, and molasses maybe. I can also smell a hint of fresh hops, but I only detected it after I took a couple of sips. No doubt, the smell is overpowered by the malts and sugar notes.

The taste is far more complex than the smell. Sure, there are flavors of roasted malts, caramel, and molasses on the front end of the taste, but those flavors are quickly washed away with a citrus kick from the hops. The flavor finishes with a touch of bitterness and dryness, but leaves a unique after-taste that is very pleasant. There are echos of orange peels and chocolate flavors that linger--it is really quite enjoyable.

This is a well-balanced beer that has the best of all worlds. Hop-Karma Brown IPA is a beer that will please hop-heads and malt-bomb lovers alike. It's not too heavy and at just 6% ABV, it's not too dangerous either. There's not much to complain about with this one. It's a beer with which I could easily keep the fridge stocked.

Cheers!

Stone's Enjoy By 12.21.12 IPA doesn't Disappoint (Even if the Mayans Did)

BREAKING NEWS: The Mayans couldn't foresee their own demise let alone ours. Today is the well-hyped apocalyptic day, or as I call it, Friday. If you are just emerging from your underground bunker, I hope this review prompts you to grab a cold one and celebrate being alive today. And tomorrow. Until the day you die.

Following Stone's instructions, I cracked this bottle open last night to avoid the bottle's expiration date of 12.21.12. Stone made it very clear that this is meant to be enjoyed immediately and one should not plan to cellar any for later. As soon as I popped the top, I understood where Stone is coming from. The scents immediately escape the bottle as if it had literally just been brewed and bottled. Indeed, this is one you NEED to enjoy fresh.

This double IPA pours a slightly hazy amber color, which is quite beautiful. There are some amazingly fresh and citrus scents on the nose--very green. Not so much piny as it is citrusy, and I also catch a scent similar to fresh-cut grass.

The earthy, grass-like, scents come through on the flavor, though there's a sweetness that is very unexpected. I am reminded of sugar-covered grapefruits. The flavors are pretty complex. The body is surprisingly heavy with an almost syrup-like mouthfeel that coats the tongue, letting the flavors hang around and linger awhile until you take the next sip.

The front of the palate is hit hard with the freshness of the hops, but then there is an intense wave of sugar, citrus, and malt that complete the taste. It should also be noted that I tasted this with a buddy homebrewer who immediately picked out the Amarillo hops that dominate this beer's flavor profile. This also explains why this is not nearly as bitter as one would expect from a DIPA coming from Stone.

This is a really solid beer. I recommend sharing this with any friends who are turned off by IPAs that are "too bitter." This one is a crowd pleaser. It's also 9.4% which pleases the crowd even more!

So, here's to Stone's Enjoy By and to the world not ending.