Saku Õlletehaas - Porter

I had never seen this beer before in my life so of course I had to try it.  Also, while I have had the porter style before I do not believe I have ever had the pleasure of sampling a beer from Estonia.  In any case, I love a good porter (especially one with 7.5% ABV).  Enough said.  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only

Aroma 10/12
Loads of chocolate assault the nose right off the bat.  A toasty, dark malt aroma is behind it, but still very rich.  There are also suggestions of dark fruit, which is a little unusual, but not unpleasant.  As the beer warms and the head settles, warm chocolate, coffee, and oatmeal become more pronounced.  A very nice touch.

Appearance 3/3
This looks exactly like a porter should.  It pours a medium-bodied brew that produces more than a fair amount of head.  Through it is essentially an opaque brown, there are shades of mahogany and dark sienna.  Very pretty.  Head maintains for a fair amount of time, covers the top equally, and remains as a collar throughout the pint.  No lacing.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 18/20
Having no idea of what to expect can sometimes lead to pleasant surprises!  The first sensations are the sweet, dark malt and the tiny, prickly carbonation.  The main structure is toasty, almost smoky malt and the dark caramel carried in the aroma.  After holding the brew in the mouth, an oatmeal sweetness arises in conjunction with the coffee bitters to round out the earlier sweetness, yet the dark caramelly sweetness is still very present.  The finish continues to grow the toasty and coffee flavors, as it should, and then gives way to an after taste that features the coffee, but also includes a light yet distinct hop bitter.

Note: After finishing the review for this beer, I let two things happen that had very interesting results. First, the beer was allowed to warm a bit more than usual.  Second, I drank a bit of the beer directly from the bottle.  The warmth almost completely changed the malt flavor of the beer.  Gone was the caramel dominance!  Now it was a dark, bready wonder.  Drinking from the bottle allowed more oxygenation of the beer (much like a strainer/bubbler pouring gadget on a bottle of wine).  I could not believe how much more distinct the chocolate flavors became!  What was dominant in the aroma and overwhelmed in the chilled backbone of this beer finally reared its head and took a more important role in the overall scope of this brew.

Mouthfeel 4/5
While the carbonation of this beer borders on being a bit too prickly, everything else is spot on for the style.  The body is medium-full and suggests creaminess, but could use more.  The alcohol is hidden well and is not detectable by my palate.  The carbonation, while not abundant, is (as aforementioned) tiny, prickly, and a bit distracting/contrasting from the other smooth, dark complexities in this beer.

Overall Impression 8/10
This beer is extremely solid technically.  It does not add a whole lot to the style, but it takes care of all the essentials with flying colors.  Body is sound, appearance is dead-on, and the flavor is complex and appropriate.

Total 43/50
Despite having never heard of this beer, this score puts it toward the top of the "Excellent" category.  This brewer reminds me of a Samuel Smith's; while it does not add anything fancy or insanely memorable it nails the style so well (and richly) that you cannot dislike this beer.  It's a dang good beer and I would not hesitate to buy another Saku if I should finally find it again in stores.  "Tervist!" to my Estonian friends!  You know a good beer when you have it.  Solid beer.  Amazing price.  I whole-heartedly recommend picking it up.  You will not be disappointed.

Berghoff - Winter Ale

Some of you may be asking, "How can you review a winter ale during the beginning of summer."  The answer is, "Easily!"  I have kept this beer stored properly and if anything the extra 6 months have given its flavors a chance to mature and enrich.  However, 6 months is about the longest I will trust any bottle not specifically known for maintaining its longevity.  That said... Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 10/12
A lot going on here, especially for a winter ale.  Normally one expects brown, roasted malts and more spices than an oriental trade route.  This aroma meets us halfway.  A sweet "red" malt has been substituted and gives a sharp, sweet backdrop for a myriad of other smells.  Dark fruit (dates) and warmth are present as well as some subtle spicing.  Hints of cinnamon and clove are not difficult to detect and go nicely with an almost banana-like ester.  The banana could be my own misinterpretation of a vanilla flavor mixed with spices, but in any case there are some strange malts afoot.

Appearance 2/3
The beer pours thin and produces a small amount of soda-like head that dissipates almost immediately to a collar.  On the bright side, the collar doggedly sticks around until the end of the pint (no lacing) and the beer itself is very aesthetically pleasing.  A dark, barely translucent brew, but when held to light reveals several gorgeous, dark red shades.  When the red combines with the brown/chocolate tones, they almost appear a dark purplish-red.

Picture is my own.

Picture is my own.  See all those red shades?  The purples show up even more when  not held up to bright light.

Flavor 17/20

While initially starting out with a thin body and little flavor, this beer makes up for lost time almost immediately.    The malt shows first.  It not only seems toasty, but also perhaps a bit smoked.  When held in the mouth, sugary sweetness arises with the dark fruit from the aroma.  The malt takes a bit of a backseat here, even if its toastiness does not.  The finish again showcases the warmth and smokiness with the sugar sweetness and a building creamy presence.  The aftertaste is clean but ebbs into a light hop bitter - a very nice touch for a malt-based brew.

Mouthfeel 3/5

Nothing especially earth-shattering here.  Medium to medium-light body, a light level of creaminess, and very low/subdued carbonation even at the beginning of the pint.  Nice bit of warmth in the finish as well.

Overall Impression 7/10

Not a bad winter ale at all: medium body, subtle spicing, well-hidden hops that show in the end, and a sugary sweetness.  The malt easily is more "red" than the traditional brown used in wintertime brews, but that does not hurt this beer's flavor or score.

Total 39/50

I'm as surprised as anyone about this score.  This bottle is actually from a variety 12 pack I bought some time ago and I was not very pleased about the rest of the pack.  However, this bottle has several interesting flavors that fade in and out.  The sugary sweetness was a interesting twist as opposed to the traditional spices.  It definitely makes the beer a little less "seasonal" and a much more drinkable throughout the year.  While this beer is far from something that will knock you socks off or take home any prizes, it sure was a nice surprise from Berghoff.  I would have to recommend it if you are a fan of winter ales or red ales with a kick.

New Glarus - Unplugged Imperial Weizen

This beer already has a lot going for it and I have not even opened the bottle yet.  First, it is made by New Glarus Brewing company, a brewer that not only makes phenomenal beer, but is also enjoying an extremely high level of success.  Every time I hear about them in the news it seems that there are enjoying some new (deserved) accolade.  Second, it is a hefe.  Hefes are one of my favorite types of beer because they are one of two styles that started me drinking beer AT ALL, not just craft beer.  Needless to say, we go back a little ways and I always enjoy a pilgrimage to see this old friend.  Third, it is an Imperial.  Imperials are becoming a bit of a personal favorite as of late.  Their abundance of bold flavors combined with a high alcohol content make this style right up my alley.  Enough blabbering.  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

 Aroma 12/12
A knockout punch!  It is debatable if one could add anything to improve the aroma of this beer.  An onslaught of banana esters, alcohol, biscuity malt, and appropriate spices.  In fact, a drinker could swear they had just put their nose into a bananas foster.  The banana appears to be paired with a spiced rum.  However, when broken down into the components of a strong warmth and spices (brown sugar, clove) it is easy to see how one could get that impression.  Do I detect some apricot as well?

Appearance 3/3
This brew pours a sediment laden yellowish-ochre with bright golden hues at the glass' edges.  Even a gentle pour produces an enormous ivory head which ascends as a meringue pillar in the glass.  Eventually the head turns to a soap sud texture and leaves copious lacing.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 19/20
Unreal.  It is everything a hefe should be.  The initial flavors are malty, banana, vanilla, and light touches of citrus.  This beer wastes no time and dives into a backbone full of more banana and brown sugary sweetness(!).  If held in the mouth the sweetness becomes dominant bit eventually a citrus hoppy flavor (grapefruit) to show itself.  The beer finishes in a slick banana warmth that finally begins to reveal the true hop bitter in this beer.  Hop bitter in a hefe?  You better believe it.  It only gets stronger in the aftertaste and encourages you to take that next sweet sip.  Amazing flavor!

Mouthfeel 5/5
Medium body with a high level of creaminess; both of which are excellent compliments to the flavor.  High level of warmth detectable especially during the finish, but less noticeable in the backbone.  Everything is to style and nothing is distracting.

Overall Impression 10/10
As just said in the last sentence, "everthing is to style."  Though I have never had an Imperial Weizen before it takes the absolute best from each and offers it in 12oz bottles.  Strong flavors from all the best parts of the hefe, yet the strong alcohol and bitter of an imperial make this brew unforgivable to miss if given the opportunity.

Total  49/50 (Outstanding)
This is currently my highest rated beer to date.  The only thing keeping it from being perfect was the detectable warmth levels.  The best imperials will hide it perfectly.  Granted, this beer did not have the dark roasted malt to work with that an imperial stout would, so it still retains high marks.  Some of you may be saying I went into this review a bit biased what with my intro paragraph and all which could easily be entitled, "Three Reasons to Love This Beer Before Even Trying It."  However, there have already been several blogs of various brewers which have left me disappointed despite my high hopes and I have not be afraid to "call it as I see it."  It is the double-edges sword of high expectations.  They can reconfirm your experience or leave you dissatisfied.

This beer somehow manages to showcase its strong, amazing flavors without trying to knock you down with them or becoming a one-trick pony.  It excellently exhibits everything that the style demands and adds nuances that improve it further still!  This not only goes down as the best hefe I've ever tasted, but also as one of my new top beers of all time.  Dan Carey can hang his hat high on this one.  Kudos again to New Glarus!  I only hope I can travel up to Wisconsin again before these bottles are off the shelves.

P.S.  Psst!  Dan & Deb... May I strongly suggest putting this out year round, even if at a premium?  Heck, if you decide to grow the brewery larger than just WI (yes, I know you're already bigger than you want to be), may I suggest that THIS be the flagship that you send to new shores.  The nation will not be disappointed.

Rogue - American Amber Ale

This is a beer that I'm again sharing with a close friend in honor of American Craft Brew Week.  Thankfully, this particular brew happened to be available in a growler!  This review is for Rogue's American Amber Ale and let me first just say that I LOVE the variety of containers in which Rogue puts their beer.  I've now seen growlers, sixers, bombers, mini-bottles, mini-kegs, drafts, and I'm sure many more.  Combining novelty with great beer?  Sign me up!  As for this growler?  Let's pour!



Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

 Aroma 10/12
A wonderfully balanced aroma.  The caramelly malt is a primary aroma (and a classic smell), but this brew does add some hops to the traditional stylings.  The scent is remarkably subtle and could easily be confused with a lack thereof, but as the beer warms the aromas definitely become more defined.

Appearance 3/3
A beautiful pour!  Lovelyl shades of red, copper, amber, ochre, and bright orange.  While the brew didn't have true "legs" the carbonation rising to the top was hypnotizing.  Think of "The Matrix."  Now imagine the letters cascading bottom to top, more spaced out, and in red hues.  Not much lace to speak of, nor was the head retention anything about which to write home.  The gorgeous and various shades of red combined with the soapy head were enough to earn this high ranking, even if it is based more on pure aesthetics than technical qualities.



Picture is my own.

Flavor 14/20
This is not what one expects in an Amber Ale.  Initial sips are that of a red caramelly malt that border somewhere between clean and bland.  Luckily, this lackluster beginning does not last and quickly transitions to a backbone of much more distinct caramel malts and a strong hop bitterness.  While there should be a good balance, this brew leans a bit to heavily on the bitter for the style.  The bitter is far from dominating, but it is excessive in an amber ale.  More hop flavor would not be out of place, but the hops in this brew lend mostly their bitter flavor to the backbone, and a dry hop bitter along with a peppery spice in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel 3/5
A medium light body is great in this brew.  It excels in creaminess and the carbonation is nice even until the end of the pint.  One could put down several of these very easily.

Overall Impression 5/10
A good balance of malty, caramelly goodness and hoppy flavors/bitter is important to an amber ale.  Unfortunately, this one tends to lean on the bitter a bit too hard.  It keeps the beer from being a sweet, refreshing crisp brew and changes it into a bitter, malty unexpected surprise.  Other technical aspects (body, appearance, head, carbonation) are sound.

Total 34/50
Meh.  I suppose my biggest source of disappointment is that I expect more from Rogue Brewery.  There are other amber ales that keep a malty emphasis in their balance without resorting to an excess of sweetness.  For the price, this was not a bad deal at all, $13.99 for the growler.  Heck, at most brewpubs you can't even get a fill for $13, let alone the growler AND the fill!  That considered, I can't be too disappointed.  However, I would gladly pay more for a growler full of something with which I will be thrilled.  When considering that last sentence AND the fact that there are other cheaper (and superior) amber ales out there, I'd probably pass on this one and try out one of the other AMAZING Rogue brews that we know are out there.

Picture is my own.

Stone - Smoked Porter

Well, friends American Craft Brew Week is almost ended.  I hope you did it up right by drinking tons of your favorite AND LOCAL craft beers this week.  Extra brownie points if you shared a few with a friend or two.  I'm about to share some with a friend in a few minutes, but right now I'll write a review for a brew I shared with my long-time friend Jon who was back in town from Washinton DC.  Jon loves his nut brown ales, porters, and a good stout.  I picked up a few brew selections and this was one of them that we sipped on catching up on new stuff and reminiscing about the old.  What more could you want?  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 7/12
Starts with a dark, bready malt that mixes with a spicy smokiness.  The hops are nonexistant in the aroma at first, but eventually show up as a little earthy and spicy after the head dissipates.  Some distinct, comlplimentary flavors, but ultimately not a lot going on here with regards to complexity.  I think it mainly lacks the chocolately sweetness to go hand-in-hand with the malt.

Appearance 3/3
This looks like a perfect beer.  I mean, look at it.  The beige head is the proportionally perfect size and it leaves ridiculous amounts of lacing on the way down.  The dark brown color is very nice in this porter, yet still leaves ruby glints at the bottom of the glass.  The head pits dramatically and has an unusual texture (lumpy gravy?) before settling across the top of the beer.


Picture is my own.

Flavor 17/20
It is a pleasant discovery to find that the flavor profile is much more complex than the aroma.  The beer's first sip instantly relays its creamy texture which, in turn, blends with the first flavors.  The first sip hides how truly brown the malt is in this brew, but eventually it fades into a sweet, traditional, dark malt flavor.  The backbone is extremely malt heavy and leaves little room for other flavors to shine through it.  There are bitter dark chocolate notes, but the creaminess contrasts with it and the other dark flavors that this beer offers.  The longer it is held in the mouth, the more the complex chocolate bitters and coffee notes rise to the forefront.  The finish focusses more on a bold coffee note and a hop bitter, though with the strong malt presence from earlier, this is anything but a bitter beer.  In case you hadn't noticed, there is not much written in regards to the smoke in this "smoked porter."  The smoke flavor is moderate in the of beginning bottle, but your palate and nose quickly become accustomed to it and it is barely more than a suggestion as you continue.  It is still present, but extremely mild.

Mouthfeel 3/5
The light mouthfeel was one of the first noticeable traits about this brew.  For a traditionally dark, robust style, the body was lighter than expected.  However, it has redeemed itself with its abundance of creaminess.  The beer is smooth as silk and goes down remarkably well. 

Overall Impression 7/10
Some really good flavors are present(malt, dark chocolate), but noticeably absent in others (smoke, caramel).  The "cream/milk" flavor seems to dominate the backbone which lightens this beer considerably.  Unfortunately, light is not what one often seeks in a porter and conflicts with the dark delicious flavors that this beer stuggles to wholly deliver.

Total 36/50 (Very Good)
True to its scoring, this is a "very good" beer, but not as exceptional as everyone claims.  I feel like the bitter from the finish and after is supposed to influence the drinker to think that the whole brew was a very robust porter.  In fact, the backbone is quite creamy and malty leaving the bitter, dark, robust flavors to be handled by the finish and aftertaste.  The main structure of the beer had potential to offer a lot more strength that it did and it seems as if the contrasting "milky" flavors were meant to compliment the chocolate and coffee flavors, but ultimately ended up watering it down.

Dogfish Head - Sah'Tea

I do not thing I need to explain to anyone that Dogfish Head Brewery (hereafter referred to as DFH) makes some crazy, experimental, mindbending beer.  Almost any time that I open one of their bottles I expect a flavor and experience way past anything I could have conceived.  I am usually correct and never disappointed.  That said, today's review is for their Sah-Tea an "ale brewed with black chai tea and juniper berries."  See what I mean about "way past anything I could have conceived?"  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 12/12
This is unlike anything you will ever smell in a beer.  There are any number of ways to describe it and here they are:
1.  Sweet, minty tea
2.  Raw sugar & chaw
3.  Spicy sweet tea, but more rounded and mellow
4.  Cinnamon-y black licorice

All of the ingredients listed in the above combinations are present (well, not the chaw) as are a healthy amount of cloves.  No hops are detectable.  Had I not already known that rye was used, I would have guessed a pale malt since the rye flavors are so complimentary to the cornucopia of other ingredients.  A very nice theme.

Appearance 2/3
Proof that appearances can be deceiving, this beer has more aroma than ANY similarly colored beer that this reviewer has sampled.  It pours a bright yellow and emits an more-than-ample head of white, tiny, loose bubbles.  There is rye in this?  I think most would be fooled by the final color.  Low head retention and no lacing.  (Note: As I got to the bottom of this bomber bottle, the clarity changed dramitcally.  An abundance of sediment not only made this beer all but opaque, but changed the color to appear as if it were a lightly whipped hefe!)

Picture is my own.

Flavor 18/20
Where to start on this big, complex beer?  First taste is crisp, yet sweet and citrusy (I assume coriander) and waits a moment or two before fading into some rather aggressive spicing.  Oddly, most of the spices remind one of pumpin pie, though the beer tastes nothing of pumpkin.  Most of the spice profile is likely the chai, though it seems built on a much larger list of spices: cinnamon, coriander, clove, ginger, and juniper berries (hence the chaw aroma from earlier).  The finish is reminiscent of a spiced-up witbier!  The spices from earlier are all present, but a distinct banana ester now joins the mix and ties everything together along with a faint glimmer of bitter.  The aftertaste is honed down to the sweet tea and juniper flavors.  The juniper is supposed to taste like pine (a lá gin), but when combined with the chai ends up tasting almost like a faint spearmint tingle on the tongue.  It is a very neat sensation.  If any warmth is to be detected it is during the aftertaste, but it blends so subtly with the juniper and chai tingles that one has to pay close attention to what they are experiencing in order to fully pick up on it.

Mouthfeel 4/5
The 9.0% ABV is almost nowhere to be found on the palate of this beer. The medium-full body is accompanied by a med-light level of creaminess that goes nicely with the banana esters and keeps the spices from becoming too abrasive.  Its sweetness does leave a bit of stickyness on the sides of the tongue.

Overall Impression 8/10
A big bodied, robust flavored, complex beer.  Complex in the way of spice profile, but ultimately not in balance.  While the flavor is certainly unique and nothing short of an experience, it seems to lean on the sweet and spicy flavors rather heavily.  A bit more balance would be needed to give this beer top ratings it comes so close to already.

Total 44/50 (Excellent)
At the tip top of the "Excellent" category, this beer is a treat for anyone that enjoys a spiced beer (Winter seasonal fans, look no further).  Its sweet flavor, mellow tones, light color, and comforting spices are all a disguise that allows this brew's alcohol to go down almost too easily.  Only the body and creamy nature betray its true inner workings.  The complex spice flavors come and go with each subsequent sip, allowing each one to be showcased in its entirety.  In hindsight, the rye is there, but has such a similar taste (almost sour, almost sweet) to the chai that the blend is perfect.  Just like Italian seasonings add to and build off of each one (oregano, thyme, basil, etc) this beer is a perfect bouquet of similar yet distinct flavors and aromas whose sum is greater than its parts.

If you love craft beer, it is an experience you need to try.  Even at $12.99 for a 1pt 9oz bottle.

Left Hand - Fade to Black Vol. 1

This is another bottle traded to me by good friend Keith.  While there is no shortage of Left Hand in my area, this particular bottle is not carried locally.  I have been holding off on reviewing this one because I respect Left Hand's stouts and know that I am going to want an adequate amount of time to sit and savor.  That said, if it flops, I will not be afraid to call it as it is.  Before we begin, this bottle not only gets extra points for its awesome label art, but also because it includes a Metallica reference.  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 9/12

A dominant smell of smoke.  The beer does not indicate a style on the label so this could be indicative of a rauchbier or malt so darkly roasted that it was burnt a bit.  Once the head settles a bit, the smoke differentiates itself from the also present darkly roasted malt.  There is even a hint of "milk" from a milk stout.  This mix of darkening and lightening ingredients is intriguing.

Appearance 3/3

This brew is called Fade to Black and does not disappoint.  Even when held immediately next to a lightbulb, there is not even a glimmer of light that escapes this glass.  No ruby shades.  No brown edges.  Just completely opaque black.  It pours thick from the bottle and gives a medium-large sized head the color of frothy mud - a barely lightened brown.  EBC is infinity.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 19/20

Despite the aroma not showing much, the flavor is complex, robust, and not overwhelming.  Initial flavors are of dark fruit(!), which was a completely surprise having been grossly absent from the aroma.  The dark fruit hangs around into the backbone which adds charred coffee notes, small hints of dark chocolate, and wisps of smoke.  Absolutely fantastic!  The finish pares down the list of flavors and focuses on the charred malt and dark fruits, leading to an aftertaste that while still featuring the smoke, features a "coffee and cream" that slips gently into the bitter that one expects from a good stout.

Mouthfeel 5/5

A stout body with medium-high levels of tiny carbonation bubbles which make it very appropriate for the style  and delicious.  A moderate yet hidden warmth and wondrously creamy texture combine to aid this beer's flavors in wrapping up your taste buds like a perfect smoking jacket.  Stylistically excellent and superbly complimentary.

Overall Impression 10/10

A fantastic beer!  An excellent representation of the stout style while adding complex yet undistracting flavors.  Technically solid.  There is so much that is excellent about this beer, it would simply be a redundancy of the entire review to list them all.

Total 46/50 (Outstanding)

In case you could not tell, I am a bit enthusiastic about this beer.  I had high hopes for the Left Hand stout and they not only met them, but destroyed them!  You will love the technical wonders of this beer for the same reason you respect a Ferrari.  A Ferrari can go practically 200 mph (and over in some cases), but it also can turn like a jackrabbit.  The same applies here: power and nuance.  There are some bold flavors here, but each one is presented with nuance and keeps this beer from being a one-trick pony.  Besides having amazing flavors (yes, plural), the mouthfeel can easily be classified as a "man's beer."  It is a heavier body, smooth creamy goodness, and a great warmth.  I don't think you should be able to drink this under the age of 25 and if you have one in your hand there should be some sort of mandatory swagger.

Buy this.  Buy it now.  Buy a lot.

Brownie point inducing bottle art.  I own no rights to this art.

New Glarus - Unplugged ABT

They say that good things come to those who wait and I have been waiting a long time to review this Abbey Ale from New Glarus.  OK, so it has not been that long, but my impatience sure makes it seem that way.  I love Abbey ales.  I love the robust fruit flavors, the warmth of high ABV levels, and their dark malty goodness.  Too much writing, must drink now.  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 7/12

Initially, this beer yielded only the strong smell of a bready, lightly caramel, but barely roasted malt.  It was not a good start.  Once the head began to die a bit all the wonderful aromas began to arise.  There is a dark fruit medley, almost the smell of wine, crumbles of brown sugar, and the warmth of alcohol.  It is everything one loves about an abbey ale, though the aroma is a bit muted.

Appearance 2/3

This brew pours with the consistency of a cola, but the colors are much more flattering.  A soft, dark copper with ruby glints and topped with a foamy, beige head.  Low head retention and almost no lacing.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 15/20

Initially sips are crisp, sweet, and show the sugar involved in brewing this beer, but the sensation is not long before giving way to this beer's backbone.  The main structure seems to be more of a dunkelweiss or weizenbock than a true abbey ale, as initial flavors are the caramelly malt found in the aroma.  There are also the banana/vanilla flavors present accompanied by a high (and VERY tasty) level of creaminess.  This is not to say that this beer is not true to style.  The flavors that we love about ABT are all present and can really be brought to the forefront with a quick slurp in much the same way utilized by wine tasters.  A quick slurp shows flavors of tart cherries, plums, figs, clove, and even apples!  This flavor remains through the finish, though in addition to the dark fruit it also reveals the uncamouflaged warmth of alcohol and a faint bitter tinge.  The warmth and spicy bitter tinge are continued in the aftertaste with only faint remnants of the delicious dark fruits.

Mouthfeel 4/5

"Brownie points" for a high and very nice level of creaminess.  The color is nice and the carbonation is moderate.  Warmth is not high for the style, but is not hidden very well amongst the normally strong flavors in an ABT.  Body was extremely pleasant.  Not too thick or syrupy as too many often put out in an effort to have intense flavors and high ABVs.  Its body was heavy enough to meet the style's demands, but still allowed the brew to go down nice and easy.

Overall Impression 7/10

Overall, the fruit flavors of this beer are always competing with some other sensation.  Be it the hearty malts, the warmth, or even sugar, the fruits are fighting to be seen.  Hops are all but absent except for a distant spicy bitterness in the finish and aftertaste.  The alcohol takes advantage of the muted fruit tones and makes its presence a bit too noticeable in the flavor.

Total 35/50

The thing I appreciate most about this beer is that it is not fake.  In the same way that I cannot stand an IPA that beats you over the head with hoppiness, an ABT that assaults you with fruit and alcohol simply because it is (somewhat) acceptable for the style is inappropriate and overall unpleasant.  This beer does not placate drinkers with false levels of artificial flavor, but I'm not quite sure it delivers on the expected boldness of an ABT.  Perhaps those that find ABTs to be too sweet (or have had the "fake/placating" versions) will appreciate this more authentic offering.  However, there are plenty of good, authentic ABTs out there that also provide a superior, bold drinking experience.

I love New Glarus and I do hold them to a higher standard.  If this were just any bottle of beer, I would definitely rate it as a superior bottle.  It offers flavor, creaminess, and warmth while not suffering drinkability.  But because it is New Glarus I know they can nail down this style.  This is anything but a bad variant from the style, just not the expected level of perfection.  Cheers, New Glarus!  You have set your bar high and that is never a bad thing.

Avery - The Maharaja Imperial IPA

What have I gotten myself into?  I generally do not find myself drinking IPAs as much as other beers, let alone Imperial IPAs.  They are usually proud to unapologetically destroy your mouth with hops.  While I do look for intense experiences in my beer (read: intense, rich flavors), I am generally not one for an exercise in painful endurance.  If that were the case, I would train to swim the English Channel or watch a marathon of "Sex in the City."  For the record that is the only Sex in the City reference I will ever make in this blog.  However, I found myself buying this bottle of Avery Brewing Co's - The Maharaja Imperial IPA for several reasons.
          The first is that I wish to develop my own palate.  I like to think I can tell a good IPA when I get it, even if they are not my "go to beer."  The second is that this looks like an amazing example of the style.  It lists the following things on the label:
1.  102 IBUs
2.  10.54% ABV
3.  "Supremely Limited"  (Yes!)
4.  Batch no. 13.  Mar, 2011 (Batch numbers are almost ALWAYS a good sign)
5.  Big shiny label.
6.  Apparently it is part of their "Dictator Series."

While I have not yet looked the "Dictator Series" up online, usually when a brewer introduces a series it means they are pretty damn serious about what they are doing.  It usually takes extra time and money to make as well as new marketing costs.  It is usually something that the brewer is proud of and I am ready to find out if they should be.  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 11/12

Despite the beer's rating of 102 IBUs the primary aroma is not that of hops.  In fact, it is rather sweet carrying with it floral hops and fruity esters of apricots.  A bit of caramelly malt can be detected behind the esters and is an excellent companion to the apricot (caramelization & apricots are both in a good cobbler, right?).  After the head dies down, more traditional hop aromas arise, adding some pine and spice to the mix.

Appearance 3/3

Maharaja pours a translucent, bright, burnt orange.  The more than adequate head is the lightest of beige and leaves copius lacing on my glass.  Head retention is also excellent and leaves a thick collar, even toward the end of my glass.  EBC: 29-30

Picture is my own

Flavor 19/20

There are so many taste sensations that I hardly know where to begin.  Initial sips offer slightly tangy hops, but are overall a bit mellow and belie the IPA style.  There is a lot of the caramel malt that was only faintly present in the aroma, and quite a lot of malt going on here for an IPA, let alone a IIPA.  The caramel flavor blends nicely into the backbone of the beer where the hops become more present and eventually take their rightful and primary role.  The hops are spicy, grassy, and even some herbs are present.  They are all strong, but not overpowering and do not destroy the other flavors in the beer.  What a boquet of hops!  The finish emphasizes more of the spicy hops and brings back the piney notes from the aroma, while the caramel malt still clings to the tongue.  The aftertaste starts with the bitter of the finish, but fades nicely to a pleasant level - a very neat sensation.  The aftertaste is also the only point where the alcohol level of the brew becomes truly present as the warmth can be detected, despite its prior camouflage.

Mouthfeel 4/5

This is a medium-high bodied beer with a higher level of creaminess.  This texture when combined with the rich flavors and the high alcohol content, truly make this beer a "sipper."  The carbonation is spot on and provides the brew with plentiful, tiny bubbles that last until the end and never become prickly.

Overall Impression 9/10

A fantastic beer on several levels.  The hops are featured in several distinct styles and yet are balanced out with a complimentary malt sweetness.  The appearance is near perfect.  Body, carbonation, creaminess, and warmth are all a fantastic aspects of this beer.  Furthermore, one bottle (1 pt, 6 fl oz) on an empty stomach will get you feeling pretty darn good.

Overall Impression 45/50 (Outstanding)

This beer is not only BIG, but it is also appropriately balanced for the style and technically sound on almost every level.  I am pleasantly surprised that this IIPA did not attempt to murder me with hoppy bitterness, but instead featured the flavors of the hops with their bitterness and displayed the malt as well.  For those IIPA or DIPA fans, this will not disappoint.  For those who are reluctant to be slaughtered by hops and bitterness, I strongly suggest you give this one a try.  It is not a mild hop flavor by any means, but it does offer more than punishment.  In fact, it is a damn good beer.  It offers sweetness, body, a complex hop bouquet, and a nice balance.  It is too bad it is only a "supremely limited" release because although strong IPAs are not my #1 choice, I would certainly purchase this again.  Big kudos to Avery for this effort!