New Belgium - Lips of Faith La Folie (2011)

The bottle says: "Seriously sour, this Flanders-style reddish brown ale was fermented 1 to 3 years in french oak barrels for mouthpuckering perfection." It's 6% ABV. I often forget that outside of the beer geek world, the concept of sour beer is unfamiliar and even off-putting to most. In truth, even after I'd been exploring craft beer for a short while, I really didn't like sour beer at all. Now I've come around and find it to be consistently complex and refreshing. Unfortunately, sours are time- and space-consuming to brew and are therefore usually limited releases and/or expensive. New Belgium's La Folie, an annual spring release, is priced at around $15 here in Southern California, but at least they give you a 22oz big bottle.

Appearance: Mahogany (brown with a reddish tinge,) a modest head of 1-2 fingers that recedes fairly quickly and doesn't leave any lacing behind. There is a thin ring of foam still on top of the beer, but not much other evidence that the head was once there.

Smell: Tart dark cherry, tannin/leather, earthy wood and funk. Overall it's sharp but not abrasive.

Taste: Much like the smell, the taste is funky cherry and oak. It's crisp and tart, with some definite leathery/tannin presence in there as well, but it's not off-putting in any way. Behind the tartness, there is actually a bit of a sweet character, perhaps from the fruit, or a touch of vanilla?

Mouthfeel: Light and dry, and the sourness definitely does make me pucker a bit! My mouth is watering too. It seriously feels so, so light. So perfect for sitting in the backyard -- crisp and refreshing, as sours often are.

Overall: I haven't reviewed a lot of sours on here yet, but I can say that especially for the price point (again, $15 for this size bottle is actually pretty damn good) this is a top-level sour. It's full-tasting and complex, but it's not heavy on the palate or in the stomach. If you see this around, definitely pick it up! Its wide availability should make it easy for anyone to acquire, should they be interested in trying out sours, and it's a great example to start out with.

4.5/5

Sierra Nevada - Hoptimum

Hoptimum is a 10.4% (yikes!!) DIPA from Sierra Nevada, best known for their mass-market Pale Ale and some seasonal releases. This is one such seasonal limited release, but it saw pretty wide distribution thanks to Sierra Nevada's huge network. It actually wasn't that easy to come by in LA, strangely enough (SN is from California, so you'd think they'd have LA covered) but if one was willing to leave the cocoon of 818/310/213/323, you could find it less centrally.

Appearance: Gorgeous clear honey color, with a thick, tall head that slowly recedes leaving a mess of webbed lacing on the glass. This is a great looking beer.

Smell: Floral and citrus notes, but a little subdued. Deeper sniffs reveal a hint of malt as well, but overall the nose is underwhelming.

Taste: Interesting! It's not overly fruity or piney, which are the two usual motifs in big IPAs. There is fruit, sure -- a bit of citrus, like in the nose -- but there is actually more of a peppery character, and some grass. It's primarily sharp and earthy, with some fruit and sweetness from the malt to round it out.

Mouthfeel: It's actually on the fuller side, and smooth, but a bit sticky. It lingers in the mouth a bit and the bitterness makes my mouth pucker and water a bit. I'm being a bit more descriptive than usual with that (I know, I'm trying to avoid saying the same things over and over again) but this isn't too unusual for a super-DIPA.

Overall: This is pretty good, especially for the price point. Despite this being a blog about beer, I rarely mention the buzz-factor and try to just talk about the characteristics of the beer. I'm going to cast that tendency aside for a moment and mention that I drank this in between meals (i.e. on an empty-ish stomach) and I absolutely have a decent buzz going. This is all meant to be evidence of the "good for the price point" claim, since this 12 oz bottle is approximately $2.50 and definitely gets the job done. Now, back to "craft" characteristics: the taste was slightly different from what I've come to expect, and good, but I think I am biased a bit in the "fruity" direction, as I tend to enjoy those more than I enjoyed Hoptimum; also, as I mentioned I was underwhelmed by the nose. But this is definitely a very good DIPA, especially considering the high volume level of production Sierra Nevada undertook in making and distributing this.

3/5

Stone, Ninkasi, and The Alchemist - More Brown than Black IPA

This was a one-time collaboration between these three breweries that was distributed through Stone's collaboration series (a new one ever few months.) It's simply labeled "India Pale Ale" on the bottle, but it's clearly meant to be a lighter version of a Black IPA/Cascadian Dark Ale/whatever you'd like to call it. Though it's lighter in color and not as robustly roasted as a true Black IPA, it's still not light in alcohol and checks in at 7.4% ABV.

Appearance: It looks exactly like Coca-Cola. Chestnut brown, with a thick brown-tinged head that's about 2-3 fingers in height. Lots of visible yeast suspended -- I didn't pour carefully enough, I suppose.

Smell: Floral and tropical fruit hop aroma, including mango. I can also smell sweetness and a very faint roasted character, and toasted biscuit.

Taste: Right off the bat I get roasted characteristics and a bit of sweetness, like sweetened coffee. This bottle is a little bit old, so the hops have faded, but there is still a note of bright fruit that comes through on the palate after the roasted flavor. It blends nicely, and though the hops still contribute bitterness, its more of a fresh bitterness rather than the lingering, often stale-tasting bitterness that coffee can leave behind.

Mouthfeel: Very creamy mouthfeel and a nice, dry finish. It's light to medium bodied. Very pleasant.

Overall: I had this fresh and it was very good; even now it's still not bad at all! The flavors are very nice and the mouthfeel is great. The nose is the only thing that's average -- it's certainly indicative of what the beer tastes like, but it doesn't leap out at you in a living, inviting way. Other than that complaint, this was a nice one to kick back with on a Friday.

3.5/5

Hill Farmstead Brewery - Society and Solitude #3

Remember this tiny brewery? This is my second lucky-to-have-it growler from the back woods of Vermont. S&S#3 is a double IPA at 8%, which Hill Farmstead says is hopped with lots of Columbus. And it's seriously delicious. Can I just say -- I've been on a real streak of trying GREAT beers later? I know, I know. I deserve all of your pity.

Appearance: It's very similar looking to their pale ale that I reviewed a week ago (linked above, or just scroll down.) It's perhaps a little deeper in hue, but the qualities of the head and color are more or less the same.

Smell: Orange, pineapple, and grapefruit -- all huge. There is a bit of a floral/herbal smell as well, but it's mostly a big, pleasing punch of citrus.

Taste: Juicy grapefruit is upfront, with some orange rind/zest. Slight herbal note again, but mostly big and fruity. There is a bit of sweetness, but the hops really shine and the malt backbone is present only as a foundation to bolster the powerful hop flavors.

Mouthfeel: A bit oily and medium bodied, but it finishes fairly dry. The dry finish helps out against the slickness -- not bad.

Overall: A great DIPA. I'd be happy to drink this any time. It holds up pretty well against some of my favorites, but doesn't quite break into the top echelon for me. That still puts it well within the top 15% of beers I've tasted and/or reviewed on this blog though! It's really, really good, and the flavors keep developing as the beer warms. I'm definitely enjoying this one tonight!

4.5/5

Tröegs Brewing - Nugget Nectar

Nugget Nectar is a 7.5% ABV Imperial Amber ale from Tröegs in Hershey, PA. I believe this is a seasonal release that comes out in the winter or spring, and it's distributed where Tröegs is usually sold. We don't get it in California, so this was also received in a trade.

Appearance: Rich red/brown, like auburn, or redwood. The head is fairly impressive and leaves concentric rings of lacing on the sides of the glass. The beer is perfectly clear in the glass.

Smell: Nugget Nectar has a surprisingly hop-forward aroma, considering it's an amber (even an imperial amber!) Pine and floral notes dominate here, with a hint of sweetness from the malt.

Taste: Really interesting, and very good! I definitely get a resiny pine character from the hops that is very upfront, and a bit of sweet nuttiness that blends really nicely with the earthy, rustic profile from the hops. There is a hint of lemon zest, but the earthy notes dominate.

Mouthfeel: This beer is an average medium-bodied beer. It's slightly oily and creamy, and a bit sticky on the finish. It's not super impressive, and probably my least favorite aspect of this brew.

Overall: This is a great tasting amber, with its hop kick that lends lots of character. The mouthfeel, though being medium bodied, had a slickness and stickiness that left the residual impression of the beer being heavier than it was. Other than that point though, this is a pretty enjoyable brew. I've been making my way through a six-pack of this this week, and I've been savoring it!

4/5

The Bruery and Dogfish Head - Faster, Bigger, Better, Bolder

I'll let the Dogfish Head website do the heavy lifting here:
Brewed by Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione and the brew crew out at The Bruery in Orange County, CA Faster, Bigger, Better, Bolder (Gradually, Quietly, Steadily) is an homage to the contrasting lifestyle views of American excess set against the more humble and traditional ways of Japan. Brewed with kumquats and The Bruerys seven spice schichimi togarashi blend along with sake yeast, this is an excessive beer brewed with tradition in mind. One dollar from each bottle sale was donated to rebuilding Japanese breweries and households that were destroyed during the 2011 Japanese earthquake.
The end result is what they called a "spiced ale," and it lands at about 8.25% ABV. It was distributed wherever Bruery beers are distributed in Fall 2011, and it's not likely to be brewed again.

Appearance: Frothy honey colored, with a slight reddish tinge. The head is substantial, and it recedes to a small layer of foam on top of the beer. Very little lacing is left on the sides of the glass. The beer is not entirely cloudy, but you can't see through it either.

Smell: Notes of spice, like clove and coriander, and that overall warm aroma that often comes from Belgian yeast. Lemon, wheat, and ginger are also there. The beer has kumquats added, but I don't know what kumquats smell like, so I can't say I pick them out here.

Taste: It tastes a lot like how it smells. My immediate impression is that it tastes like an extra ester-y, spicy saison. Citrus fruit, particularly lemon, is prominent, as well as the clove, similar to the aroma. There is a slight hint of sourness/funk as well that lends an appealing acidic or dry character.

Mouthfeel: Full, with lots of carbonation. Moderately dry finish. It feels like a slightly fuller-bodied champagne.

Overall: This is a pretty tasty, complex beer! My only complaint is that it drank a little heavy and was kind of filling, but otherwise, I really enjoyed this beer. Though I couldn't pick out the particular contribution from the kumquat, the flavors here melded really nicely, and were bold without conflicting. Well done by Dogfish Head and the Bruery!

4/5

Hill Farmstead Brewery - What is Enlightenment?

Hill Farmstead says: "American Pale Ale brewed in honor of our Second Anniversary. Simcoe and Amarillo hops.   5.4% abv"

This is a fun one today! Hill Farmstead Brewery is located in the Middle of Nowhere, Vermont. Check it out:

Their bottles are only available for sale at the brewery, and they do distribute some of their kegs, but it all stays very local. Somehow, by word of mouth, beer geeks across the country have heard about their high quality beers, and they've become very sought after. Basically, you have to be lucky enough to know someone who is willing to make brewery runs for you to try this beer. Today, I am considered lucky, because I have two 750ml growlers in my fridge, and I'm reviewing one of them today!

Appearance: The color of chamomile tea. Almost a slight greenish hue in person. Smallish head with not too much retention or lacing, and cloudy. 

Smell: Such a great nose on this -- orange and orange rind, with more floral hop character, sweet malt, and a touch of grass.

Taste: Great balance and complexity! I taste citrus again, and grassy earth, biscuit, and sweet bread. The malt backbone is perceptible here not by a huge contribution of flavor, but by removing any residual bitterness left from the hops.

Mouthfeel: Viscous and slightly chewy, but with a remarkable dry finish. Love that! Full in the mouth, but not heavy or overbearing. It works really well with the subtle flavors on the palate by contributing richness in the body.

Overall: This was definitely crafted with love, and that care is evident in the subtle flavors and balance. Simcoe and Amarillo can be potent hops, but the brewers have managed to tease out their flavors without the beer being too bitter or overwhelmingly hoppy. For a pale ale, this is the right approach. Very well done, and very tasty.


4.5/5

Jolly Pumpkin - Baudelaire IO (2011)

I couldn't find a whole lot of detail on this one online, so unfortunately my fact-checking is a bit patchy. From what I understand, though, IO is a saison that is released in late winter/early spring, and it can be found wherever Jolly Pumpkin is normally distributed (which includes CA, yay!) Truly, Jolly Pumpkin is a really classy smallish brewery that focuses on doing a few oak-aged beers very well. IO is 6.8% ABV, brewed with rose hips, rose petals, and hibiscus, and is fermented at some point in the process with Brettanomyces.

My bottle has been aged for a year, so I am hoping to have more pronounced Brett character than I remember fresh, but I am also obviously interested in the overall character of the beer after a year's time. 

Appearance: The beer and the head both have a pinkish hue over clear amber. I know in the pic it looks cloudy, but once the pour settled it cleared up. The head was pretty tall but not extraordinarily dense, and it left some really interesting lacing clusters on the glass. Overall it's a really interesting looking beer and the picture doesn't really do it justice.

Smell: Lots of floral character, with definite funk. I definitely smell the hibiscus, but not so much the rose, and there are also strong notes of cherry and apple cider. There is also some peppery spice in there. It's a really interesting, diverse nose.

Taste: The taste is really unique, and great! The rose and hibiscus contribute to an overall fresh floral essence that doesn't scream either rose or hibiscus, but evokes green lawns and blooming gardens. The funk from the Brett is there, too: leather, slightly herbal. Finally, the fruit, similar to the nose, finishes the palate, with tastes of apple and citrus zest.

Mouthfeel: Light, effervescent, and very dry. Really refreshing and satisfying. I love this type of mouthfeel, especially for a saison.

Overall: I love this beer, but I think I do prefer it fresh. The Brett character did deepen a bit, but it didn't really improve the overall quality of the beer, and the cidery aspects of the fruit have started to become a bit more prominent after a year. Obviously though, as you could probably tell from the review notes, I really enjoyed drinking this, and will definitely be seeking it out on a yearly basis when it is released.

4.5/5