Filed under: Great Divide, IPA (shaker, tulip) | Tags: balanced, bitter, bitterness, burning, classic IPA, clear, coating, copper, crisp, drying, enticing, flour, grapefruit, intricate lace, long finish, nice, nicely crafted, sandy, spicy, strong finish, very persistent, white head
ABV, Volume & Calories: 6.8% in 12 fl oz. estimated at 170C
Purchased at: OakTree Buy Rite, South Plainsfield, NJ for $2.49
Aroma: nice, enticing, spicy, grapefruit, burning. 8 out of 10.
Visuals: clear, copper, white head, very persistent, intricate lace. 5 out of 5.
Taste: flour, grapefruit, classic IPA, balanced, bitterness, nicely crafted. 9 out of 10.
Palate: drying, bitter, crisp, coating, long finish, strong finish, sandy. 4 out of 5.
Overall: Reminds me of many other IPAs, but a high quality example with an exemplar in the visual area. I’d have it again in a minute. It seems like a regular go-to pick. Very well crafted. 18 out of 20.
Filed under: IPA (shaker, tulip), Stone | Tags: appealing, balanced, bitter, delicious, flowers, grapefruit, hazy, heavy, hoppy, lemon, long lasting, remarkable, resin, sour, sweet, warming
ABV: 6.9%
IBU:
Volume: 12 oz
Glass: Tulip Goblet
Purchased at: Hopewell Valley Wine and Liquor
Consumed on: Friday, February 15th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
first impression: A quickly dissipating head and a slightly unfiltered, hazy appearance gives a mixed bag of anticipation, but I’ve had this beer before, and know what I’m in for. The grapefruit is amazingly present in the aroma, and the color, while not the most interesting or poetic, is certainly not unappealing. The taste is remarkable. It warms, and travels down the chest with a trail of hops. It is a beer with a taste history to it. You can remember the flavor for minutes after, and it is a great flavor. Wonderfully bitter with heavy malt undercurrents. It is an exemplar of an IPA.
Aroma/Olfactory:
Malt is roasted, toasty, and weighs heavily on the flavor.
Hops are resinous, very flowery, and brimming with grapefruit and lemon.
Yeast/Bacteria reminds one of a stack of stone slabs, a hint of surface water but not odoriferous or negative in impression.
It is tasty, heady, commanding, intoxicating, present, heavy, and delicious.
Visuals/Appearance:
Color is pale, orange, single noted, and without real depth.
Liquid is just a bit hazy and quiet.
Head is gone, but the lace is remarkable present. Hangs more on the glass than the volume itself. Quite white at the start.
Taste/Flavor:
Sweet in a slight way, but more bitter
Bitter is the overarching sentiment here, and it delivers in droves. It’s not ruination, but it’s not far off, IMHO.
Sour notes come with the bitter and citrus components.
Beatifully balanced in hops and malt.
Palate/Tactile:
Body/Mouthfeel is full and long lasting.
Texture is slightly cloying, not in a sweet way, and not like a stout, but it does not dissipate quickly.
Carbonation is crisp but not visually active.
Finish is quite bitter, and nicely so.
Second impression: Overall, this is a great beer, a fantastic example of an IPA, a strong exemplar of Stone’s lineup, and just a pleasure to have. One of my favorite beers, by far.
Filed under: Baltic Porter (pint, stem glass, tulip), Southampton | Tags: balanced, bitter, black, caramel, citrus, coffee, dark, impressive, molasses, nice, Nut, peppers, resin, roast, strong, Toffee
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| Glass: pint, stem glass, tulip Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJPrice: $4.99 Size: 22 fl oz ABV: 7.2% IBU: n/a Estimated Calories: 350 C RateBeer Rating: 94 Aural: silent opening, little carbonation, dark, quiet pour |
Aroma 7 out of 10Intensity: faintBalance: sweet
Impression: nice Malt Aroma: caramel toffee chocolate roast coffee Hops Aroma: resin citrus Other Aroma: peppers Notes: A simple, faint aroma of molasses. |
| Appearance 5 out of 5Color: blackClarity: mostly opaque
Head Retention: persistent Lace: poor Notes: A dark and impressive looking beer. |
Flavor 8 out of 10Intensity: strongBalance: bitter
Impression: nice Malt Flavor: nut caramel toffee chocolate Hops Flavor: resin citrus Other: alcohol, some metal Notes: A bitter beer, and surprising considering the style. Lots of tasty malt and bitter hoppy balance. |
| Palate 4 out of 5 MouthfeelSensation: drying warming Body: full Carbonation: average Finish Length: long Intensity: strong Balance: bitter Notes: The finish, other than a bit metallic, is very nice. |
General Impression: 17 out of 20Craftmanship: excellentFreshness: fresh
Personal Taste: liked Notes: A very tasty beer, at a good price, and a great finish. |
Filed under: Belgian Strong Ale (trappist, tulip, tumbler), Chimay, Uncategorized | Tags: avergae, balanced, boisterous, Bread, delicious, exciting, fruit, Grain, hazy, herbal spice, nice, Nut, overstimulated, sweet, warming, wet
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Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ
Price: $4.29
Size: 11.2fl oz
ABV: 9%
IBU: who @!#$%^&*() knows
Estimated Calories: 200 C
RateBeer Rating: 99
Aural: opening was boisterous, exciting, and wet. carbonation was overstimulated, but controllable, pour was about average, but with caution.
Aroma 8 out of 10
Intensity: medium
Balance: sweet
Impression: reasonable
Malt Flavor: grain bread sweet toast nut
Hops Flavor: herbal spice
Other: fruit
Notes:A very nice scent with a delicious aroma
Appearance 4 out of 5
Color: dark
Clarity:very hazy
Head Retention: poor
Notes: I wonder if the humidity is affecting the head of these beers. 🙂
Flavor 8 out of 10
Intensity: above average
Balance: medium
Impression: okay
Malt Flavor: grain bread sweet toast nut
Hops Flavor: earth floral herbal
Other: fruit
Notes: A very nice fruit style, but does not feel strong, which is kind of a plus. Or maybe a plooooose.
Palate 4 out of 5
Mouthfeel
Sensation: creamy slick drying warming
Body: medium
Carbonation: medium
Finish
Length: long
Intensity: medium
Balance: more bitter
Notes: a very tasty beer, with a nice balance and a nice finish.
General Impression: 18 out of 20
Craftmanship: excellent
Freshness: fresh
Personal Taste: loved
Notes: delicious, very hoppy with a long bitter finish, and a very nice color.
Filed under: Great Divide, Imperial Stout (snifter) | Tags: alcohol, amazing, balanced, bitter, black, caramel, chocolate, coffee, earth, favorite, hoppy, leaves, nice, resin, rich, sharp, strong, sweet, tan
Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
Glass: 4 oz wine glass
Purchased at: Canal’s Discount Liquors, Burlington, NJ – Thanks, Mike!
Price: $7.59
Size: 22 fl oz
ABV: 9.5 %
IBU: 75
Estimated Calories: 400 C
RateBeer Rating: 100
Aroma 10 out of 10
Intensity: Strong
Balance: Sweet and Sharp
Impression: very Nice
Malt Flavor: Caramel Toffee Chocolate Coffee
Hops Flavor:Earth Floral Resin
Other: alcohol, oak, woods, leaves
Notes: What an amazing aroma – off the charts in my personal experience.
Appearance 5 out of 5
Color: un-impenetrably Black
Clarity: Opaque
Head Retention: Persistent
Notes: Everything an imperial stout should be in appearance – absolutely un-impenetrable darkness, a rich tan head, and a very nice presence.
Flavor 10 out of 10
Intensity: Strong
Balance: beautifully balanced between Sweet and Bitter
Impression: so Nice
Malt Flavor: Caramel Toffee Chocolate Coffee
Hops Flavor: Earth Resin
Other: alcohol, garlic, oak, depth
Notes: Simply amazing. Easily one of my favorites.
Palate 5 out of 5
Mouthfeel
Sensation: Creamy Drying Warming
Body: Full
Carbonation: Lively
Finish
Length: very Long
Intensity: very Strong
Balance: Bitter
Notes: The whole mouth is activated – the mouthfeel is wonderful, covering and coating and making the whole mouth tingle. The finish is very long lasting, and imparts a depth of chocolate, coffee, and caramel.
General Impression: 20 out of 20
Craftmanship: Excellent
Freshness: Fresh
Personal Taste: Loved
Notes: Perhaps my favorite beer I’ve tasted yet. Great Divide knows exactly what they are doing, and they should continue doing it forever.
Filed under: IPA (shaker, tulip), Stone | Tags: balanced, bitter, depth, fantastic, favorite, flowery, lace, powerful, sour
ABV: 7.7%
IBU: 100+
Volume: 1 PT 6 FL OZ
Glass: Tulip
Purchased at: Joe Canal’s, Lawrenceville, NJ
Price: $4.99
Consumed on: 02/11/2008 at 11:40 pm and many other occasions
first impression: A very nice lighter colored amber ale. Differs in depth at edge. Head is nice and thick and aroma is spicy and permeating. Flowers are everywhere. Nice lace. No question of its power upon first sip – rich and full of bitterness. Disposition of an angry old man, but balanced with flavor, depth, and character in loads. One of my favorite beers.
Aroma/Olfactory:
A nutty, roasted flavor of malt, just slightly charred.
Resinous hops, sticky and flowery. The hops dominate here.
There is something hinting at sawdust or a woodworking scent. Its beautifully layered.
A medicinal tinge loops into licorice and raisin and leads to a smoky wooden taste.
Visuals/Appearance:
A light stained walnut appearance and flavor doesn’t travel far from it. Sculptural.
This is a quiet, clear and crisp ale. More about taste than visuals, but not bad to look at.
A very white head, flattens in time, and clings nicely in lace.
Taste/Flavor:
A slight sweetness and overwhelmingly bitter, with 100+ IBUs.
Tasty sour aftertaste hangs on back of the tongue with a little bit of salt. This would go great with a curry. Malt keeps up with the hops, surprisingly.
Palate/Tactile:
A light body, despite the wallop. This ale is slick with alcohol.
Soft and quiet carbonation finishes with a bitter impact that is worth savoring.
second impression: Overall, this brew is fantastic – if you like bitter, you should not miss Ruination. Be forewarned, all others will pale in character afterwards. This should be the last brew in a session.
