Long Trail Brewmaster Series Double IPA (Vermont) Lovely, lifted aromaticsI dont, as a rule, enjoy sniffing beer, but this smells pretty enticingwith, yes, confident hoppiness but very good balance. Theres complexity here that forces one to pay attention. If I rated the things I drink, this would be the point score: I bought a case, and I havent bought beer by the case since college. (8/10)
Long Trail Brewmaster Series Imperial Porter (Vermont) I used to love porter, but now I tend to find it an in-between style thats not as appealing to me as something clearer or something more opaque. This is a fair brew, browned and nutty with a caramelized anise lacquer, but I cant quite warm to it. (10/10)
Berkshire Brewing Co. Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale (Massachusetts) A bar I frequent in my summer months used to serve this on draft, to my great joy. Alas, my joy was not shared, and the tap now pours something of less interest. This is a powerful, flavorful ale, full of spice, richness, and presence; it feels Belgian, even though its not by geography or construction. (10/10)
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale (Delaware) I almost never like brown ales all that much, and this weirdo brewerys attempt does not change my mind. Tan-flavored, tan-colored, tan-mooded. Yes, I know thats not a word. (9/10)
Ommegang Cup O Kyndnes Scotch Ale (New York) Heavy, as befits the category, but Ive never had a domestic version of this style that I thought really captured the balanced weight of the original, and this is no exception. Sweet metal and armored stone fruit with a sandy finish. And, in case it needs stressing, quite boozy. (9/10)
Rogue Chatoe Rogue Dirtoir Black Lager First Growth (Oregon) Theres a lot going on with that name. Perhaps more than is going on with the beer, though theres a wrinkly appeal to its heart (and skin, and organs) of darkness. I like it, but I wouldnt want to drink it in mass quantities. (9/10)
Shipyard Pugsleys Signature Series Smashed Pumpkin Ale (Maine) Kind of the neutron bomb of pumpkin ales, absolutely exploding with both the raw and spiced versions of the squash, and yet managing to hold onto its ale status just enough for one to remember that this is a beer, not a Halloween soup. Pretty extraordinary. That said, I doubt everyone will like it; its really a lot to take. (9/10)
White Birch Aloha Belgian Style Ale (New Hampshire) Awful. Just awful. Not flawed, just as watery as any mass-market brewexcept, of course, higher in alcohol. Ive come to expect a lot more from this brewer. (11/10)
Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Potts Landbier (Massachusetts) and? (7/10)
Long Trail Brewmaster Series Imperial Porter (Vermont) I used to love porter, but now I tend to find it an in-between style thats not as appealing to me as something clearer or something more opaque. This is a fair brew, browned and nutty with a caramelized anise lacquer, but I cant quite warm to it. (10/10)
Berkshire Brewing Co. Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale (Massachusetts) A bar I frequent in my summer months used to serve this on draft, to my great joy. Alas, my joy was not shared, and the tap now pours something of less interest. This is a powerful, flavorful ale, full of spice, richness, and presence; it feels Belgian, even though its not by geography or construction. (10/10)
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale (Delaware) I almost never like brown ales all that much, and this weirdo brewerys attempt does not change my mind. Tan-flavored, tan-colored, tan-mooded. Yes, I know thats not a word. (9/10)
Ommegang Cup O Kyndnes Scotch Ale (New York) Heavy, as befits the category, but Ive never had a domestic version of this style that I thought really captured the balanced weight of the original, and this is no exception. Sweet metal and armored stone fruit with a sandy finish. And, in case it needs stressing, quite boozy. (9/10)
Rogue Chatoe Rogue Dirtoir Black Lager First Growth (Oregon) Theres a lot going on with that name. Perhaps more than is going on with the beer, though theres a wrinkly appeal to its heart (and skin, and organs) of darkness. I like it, but I wouldnt want to drink it in mass quantities. (9/10)
Shipyard Pugsleys Signature Series Smashed Pumpkin Ale (Maine) Kind of the neutron bomb of pumpkin ales, absolutely exploding with both the raw and spiced versions of the squash, and yet managing to hold onto its ale status just enough for one to remember that this is a beer, not a Halloween soup. Pretty extraordinary. That said, I doubt everyone will like it; its really a lot to take. (9/10)
White Birch Aloha Belgian Style Ale (New Hampshire) Awful. Just awful. Not flawed, just as watery as any mass-market brewexcept, of course, higher in alcohol. Ive come to expect a lot more from this brewer. (11/10)
Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Potts Landbier (Massachusetts) and? (7/10)