Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale

Brewery: Cigar City Brewing Co.
Location: Tampa, FL
Style: Pale Ale
ABV: 5%

Cigar City had some fun with this one. The back of the can tells the story of a city that's been invaded and under siege for the last century. Out of options, CCB joins forces with the blasted buccaneers and brews up a tropical pale ale that's sure to please patron and pirate alike!

Invasion is a session ale that pours a cloudy yellow with a decent sized fluffy head.

The aromas are all hops: pine and citrus. This smells like a hop bomb...much hoppier than I would expect from a pale.

Taste: The first sip is full of grapefruit. It's tart at first, but then I get the tropical sweetness from various fruits. The finish includes more citrus notes--I get a lot of lemon zest that's balanced with a piney bitterness.

The headline around this beer is hops. The hops literally invade every aspect of the palate as this beer is consumed. However, there is complexity here. I noticed a yeasty-wheat aftertaste with the lemon zest. And call me crazy, but I pick up some fresh cilantro too.

I appreciate the folks at CCB calling out that this beer should be consumed fresh. The hop flavors literally make this beer and time does not treat hoppy beers well. However, I have one piece of critical feedback: if I am expected to drink this fresh, make sure I can read the date that's printed on the can. I think this one says it was bottled on Nov. 25th, but I can't be too sure.

Overall: This is a sessionable beer at just 5%, but I question whether it's something I could continuously drink by the pool. While it's light in alcohol and calories (estimated at only 150), the citrus, pine, and zest make this beer a bit too abrasive for a session beer. But if you're looking for a beer that packs a punch in the mouth but not on the waistline, you've found your match!

Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout

Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Style: Dry Irish Stout
ABV: 4.7%
Price: $9.99/6pk

Brooklyn's Dry Irish Stout is brewed using a traditional recipe that is meant to render a sessionable beer that is light in both alcohol content and calories. Brooklyn has done a solid job in that respect as this is one of the lightest beers the New York brewery produces seasonally.

Brooklyn Brewery has always been one of my favorite micro-breweries because I've been a fan of what they've been able to do in the market. I believe Brooklyn is one of the more recognizable labels out there and they've done a respectable job creating a national presence for themselves. Plus, they are the creators of Black Ops, which may or may not exist.

This review, however, turns the spotlight to one of Brooklyn's less notable brews--Dry Irish Stout. There's nothing gimmicky or fancy about this one. It's a light(er) craft beer trying to appeal to folks with an appetite for roasted malts, chocolate, and espresso in their beer.

Appearance: Pitch black with a rusted-cream head.

Aroma: Sweet malts and bitter chocolate. Not a very appetizing smell, to be honest. Saying I smell chocolate might even be misleading. The nose is faint and stale.

Taste: There's a blend of bitter-sweet tartness that hits the palate first. I faintly pick up on the roasted malt, coffee, and hazelnut flavors before the beer transitions into something very unexpected. The finish is overwhelmingly tart and fruity (raisins and dates). I say this is unexpected because I was waiting for the bitterness from the chocolate and coffee to take over, but it never does.

Mouthfeel: The body of this beer is medium to heavy. There's more carbonation than one might assume and, like the flavors, I don't think it completely works.

Overall: Something just seems "off" with this beer. The beer smells flat. The flavors don't mesh well. And the amount of carbonation doesn't fit with the heaviness of the body. It's as if this beer is going through an identity crisis. And honestly, I have enough problems of my own to be dealing with its drama right now.

Sorry, Brooklyn. I love ya, but this one just didn't do it for me.

Slainte!