Hoppin' Frog - Barrel Aged Naked Evil

Today is a bottle that has been a long time coming.  I received it as a Christmas gift from my father and its name alone qualifies it as one of my more rare/interesting beers.  First off, it's barrel aged.  This is more often than not a good start to a great beer though far from a prerequisite.  Second, those barrels are whiskey barrels and not bourbon barrels.  Not that there's anything wrong with bourbon barrels, I just happen to be much more familiar with whiskey than bourbon, with few exceptions.  Third, this is a barley wine - a style that lends itself unusually well to being made into big ol' beers.  Fourth, it's a Belgian-style barley wine.  This is just another layer of complexity that I'm looking forward to having wash over my taste buds.  The bottle has this to say,

"On a recent trip through Belgium visiting the monastery breweries, we discovered an excellent barrel aged ale that had an incredibly satisfying flavor combination.  Aging in oak barrels added a memorable richness, that we seek to achieve with this barrel aged Belgian-style barley wine-style ale. Being the ideal celebration beer to release on our 5-year anniversary, Barrel Aged Naked Evil is fermented with both British and Belgian yeasts and aged in whiskey barrels for a lightly spicy twist on this old-world beer style.  Sweet malt flavors will become smoother and rich dark fruit characteristics will build with time to add a wonderful complexity and depth of flavor."

Aroma 12/12

I smell this and instantly feel like I should be in more formal surroundings.  You are immediately embraced by dark boozy fruits, raisins, vanilla, whiskey, and a lesser oak.  It is simply a fantastic blend.  As it warms the whiskey takes the forefront with strong tones of vanilla, toffee, a lesser oak, and a faint Belgian spiciness hidden in the back.  The dark fruits are still very present, but know their place.

Appearance 3/3

Pours like silk with very little head.  In fact, one wonders if they'll receive any head at all until it begins to fade in at the middle of the glass and slowly push its way to the top like a person newly awakened and slowly making their way through the first of their morning routine.  The ale's legs on the other hand are ridiculous.  They stick to the glass and show virtually no signs of falling.  The color is a bright copper with an abundance of ruby glints, sunset orange hues, and earthy reds.  Gorgeous.

Flavor 20/20

Oh my!  This begins in the same sweet fashion as the aroma with boozy fruits, but makes a gradual and seamless transition into vanilla, toffee, candi sugar, and more whiskey.  Somehow the oak is not completely subdued by all these imposing flavors and still manages to make its own small contribution.  Sitting in the mouth it continues to enjoy all those confectionery inspired flavors and ceased to be quelled.  The finish is like the smoothest, sweetest shot you could imagine.  Think high end, "no burn" whiskey, and caramelized hardened sugar.  Oh, but add amazing dark fruits and oak.  Enticed yet?  The aftertaste adds some bitter, but it appears to be a result of the dark fruits and alcohol, not so much that of hops.  Absolutely wondrous, rich flavor as complex as it is harmonious.

Mouthfeel 5/5

The mouthfeel was the first clue that this beer was not going to be Belgian-style in a yeasty, banana, bubble gun, clove, spicy kind of way.  It was going to be a Belgian-style in a quad, knock your socks off, highly carbonated, dark fruit kind of way.  Carbonation is initially pretty strong, but fades to a perfectly appropriate level; being present to provide texture, but never allowing that sensation to become too strong or to distract from the flavor.  It also never threatens to lighten the medium-full body.  Obviously, the whiskey provides some heat to the beer at 11.3% ABV, but again in congenial way where it never threatens to usurp the other more important flavors.  The spiciness incorporated by the brewers doesn't hurt one bit either, nor does the way it leaves the mouth sticky with caramel in the aftertaste.

Overall Impression 10/10

A masterpiece for Hoppin' Frog!  By far the best offering of theirs that I have ever tasted.  It is a rich, superbly blended cornucopia of Belgian quad goodness: active carbonation, dark fruits, whiskey heat, and smooth as you please.  Good gracious!  Can we all sign a petition so that they'll make this again?

Total 50/50

Well, Hoppin' Frog has joined the elite ranks as one of the few beers to earn a perfect score on Sud Savant. Deservedly so.  This beer is fantastic!  The barleywine style that they claim in their descriptor can be difficult to find sometimes, especially if the drinker is more accustomed to the more common "American Barleywine" style.  However, as a traditional or "English barleywine," this beer is a marvelous blending of styles.  It incorporates all the malty, caramel-laden, fruity, boozy, silky goodness that we've come to know and love and combines it with even more dark fruits, active carbonation, and spice from the Belgian style.  On top of that it throws in whiskey and oak!  What else could you want?!  The correct answer?  Some in your glass and then some in your stomach.  Top marks to Hoppin' Frog!  What a beautiful bruiser!

The specs.

Hoppin' Frog - Hop Heathen

I love beer trades!  Today's beer I would normally never have had access to were it not for a trade catalyzed by "teh interwebz."  The new trading partner responsible for this brew, Eric (http://itsmedoublee.wordpress.com/ ), assures me that this brew, Hoppin' Frog Hop Heathen (Imperial Black Ale) came right off of the bottling line and I'm not one to sit around and let the hops fade away.  So let's pour!

Aroma 9/12

The aroma is not as strong as I would have hoped for considering that this brew utilizes some ingredients that are quite easily accessible to olfaction.  Pine is readily present as is a grapefruit citrus, but otherwise fairly clean as far as hops go with the exception of a distant, peppery, spice note.  As this beer warms the malts take over and they do a fine job.  The dark roast is first and initially seems somewhat mild (relative for the style) until the cocoa aroma blends with it and brings a bit of toffee along for the ride.  The three together are an excellent harmony.  Granted, I'm on the tail end of a cold, so my sniffer might not be 100%, but I can still breathe rather well through my nose, so I assume everything is in working order.  Boy!  Do those cocoa and toffee scents really ratchet things up as the beer warms!  Even the ABV shows up to play!  Spectacular.  I only wish it was a more powerful smell, because what they have here they should be proud of.

Appearance 3/3

All things appear to be black as night in this IBA, but when held to a window, the bottom of my glass revealed a nice coffee brown hue and even a ruby glint or two!  Unexpected and welcome!  The head is just over a finger high and the same creamy texture and tan shade you might find on top of a Guinness (ok, so initially it's more soapy).  It leaves a little lacing on the way down and maintains a higher than average retention.

Flavor 19/20

You're given a brief warning shot of cocoa and toffee before being flooded with burnt, roasted malts and a resinous hop.  It's a great combination that is bitter and means business, even if it is eventually cut with a lactose.  In any case, they settle down a bit and allow other flavors to play their part.  The resinous hops also show a piney note and the toffee comes in to sweeten the lot.  The reprise of the toffee is gently brought in, as well as an occasional, very authentic grain note, like toasted whole wheat bread (you know, the good kind with the nuts in it).  As it is held in the mouth the charred, bitter malts are primary, but now bring a strong, peppery spice with them that settles all over the surface of the tongue.  The finish enjoys the strongest collaboration of the brew as the pepper, charred notes, prickly alcohol warmth, and hop bitter all come together at just the right time and the result is fantastic!  All those flavors even allow for a bit of the hops' grapefruit to peek out and truly showcase the complexity of this beer.  Can't say enough about this beer's finish!  The aftertaste is bitter and in a way that is more char and less hops.  It doesn't linger long though and I attribute that to the other hops characteristics present in this beer.  Please ensure that you only drink (or serve) this beer lightly chilled.  Even as this bottle warms, the beer as a whole becomes so much sweeter as the toffee and lactose sugars become increasingly bold.

Mouthfeel 5/5

I'd say that the carbonation is dead on for this brew, even down to the end of the bottle.  I also enjoy a lot of the tactile sensations that the beer gives: the eventual warmth, the peppery prickle, and the moderate-full body.  Nothing is distracting and the things that are distinct go well together and contribute to the overall experience.

Overall Impression 9/10

The beer starts out as a solid IBA, but as it warms it truly sets itself apart as the sweetness of the contributing flavors rises to the level of the primaries and creates a more balanced, delicious beer that is both dark and hoppy.  I've had some IBAs before, but this one seems to stand alone.  It has slightly less sweetness that some of the super-agressive IPAs have (120 Minute, etc), an equal alcohol presence, much less hop profile, but replaces the majority of that hop profile with dark, roasted malty goodness.  Excellent technical qualities (appearance & mouthfeel) only add to the experience.

Total 45/50

While IBAs might not be my favorite style on the planet, it would be impossible to deny that this is a damn tasty beer.  Now is this beer all hops?  Despite the name, no.  Rather, they are presented in a fashion that most are not accustomed to (including myself).  Allow me to explain:  most hop-laden beers are several groves worth of citrus, a pine tree or two, some grass, and a healthy dose of resin.  This brew focuses instead on the hop spiciness and a lesser amount on the resinous quality.  In fact, I get more of the dark malts than I do the hops.  That said, hop heads might be a bit disappointed if they are looking for nothing but hops.  However, those open to tasty experiences regardless of the label's description will be pleased nonetheless.

Hoppin' Frog - Frosted Frog Christmas Ale

Let me start right off by saying that I know nothing about this beer.  No preconceived notions.  No press.  Nothin'.  All I do know about is that my introduction to this beer was their seasonal pumpkin ale this past fall and I immediately felt bad for neglecting their wide availability in my area.  I picked up a few more bottles right away and this was one of them.  Today's review of Hoppin' Frog's Frost Frog Christmas Ale is rarin' to go!  Let's pour!

Aroma 9/12
Ahhh!  Finally a Christmas Ale that utilizes the "traditional" mix of spices.  I love a beer that breaks from the norm, but thus far it seems like all I had been drinking were those beers that dared to tread off the beaten path. This beer is a refreshing return to conformity.  Right off the bat, it's a mellow mix of sweeter Belgian yeasts and spicy cinnamon that has me thoroughly convinced this could be served for dessert.  I'd swear that molasses is present because of the color and dark sweetness, but the strong cinnamon makes it difficult to tell.  The ginger (which is almost citrus-like) and nutmeg hang back a bit, but are also present.  I also have a sneaking suspicion that a nice warmth is mingling in with those spices.

Appearance 2/3
The color on this beer alone could have earned it a three if the head were not so dismal.  The color is gorgeous and spans everything from tea browns to bright coppers, and shows tons of scarlets and magentas!  The high clarity lets the light play in the glass and the results are smile-evoking.  The head on the other hand is difficult to coax out, small when produced, and hisses as it quickly settles into a ring.  It didn't even give me time for two quick snapshots!

Neat magenta color and extremely high clarity!

Flavor 12/20
The caramel is given a brief show before the spices take over.  They are rampant!  Cinnamon is almost bitter with its strong presence and the nutmeg is extremely earthy.  The caramel malt is the only sweetness and seems to serve less of a purpose of flavor than simply balancing out the heaps of spice.  The ginger is all but covered up, but the alcohol is anything but shy.  A slurp brings out more of the Belgian yeast flavor and reinforces the warmth.  That warmth carries this beer into the finish where it becomes a bit medicinal and combines with an oriental trading route full of spices.  The Belgian yeasts are all but swallowed up by spices and can only be perceived by paying attention to the inhale while drinking.  The aftertaste is... oh who cares.  This is the hydrogen bomb of spice and hides almost any notion of a beer behind it.

Mouthfeel 5/5
It starts as a mouth-filling, über-smooth, full bodied beer.  I really enjoyed the way this beer filled the mouth and seemed to take charge.  In fact, it was the first thing I noticed about this beer, even before the spices, so it definitely attracted my attention in a good way.  The warmth is not camouflaged in this beer, but in a winter warmer I'm quite happy with that.  The carbonation is lively and sharp (though mellows nicely at the end of the bottle), and helps detract from the fact that you're drinking a bit of a heavier beer containing no less than one metric ton of spices.

Overall Impression 4/10
In case I made it vague, I was not pleased by this beer.  The spices were simply too much for my taste and did not let any of the other ingredients come to play (with the exception occurring in the aroma).  The color is fantastic, the aroma is pleasing, and even the mouthfeel is highly desirable... but those SPICES!  They make drinking the entire bomber seem more of a challenge (A cinnamon challenge?) than an enjoyable experiment in craft beer.

Total 32/50
I feel that this score is appropriate with the given system.  While there are no flaws that would earn it a score below a 30, the flavor is so out of line with my personal preferences that I cannot score it any higher.  If you love a super spiced winter warmer that has a nice alcohol presence, then this bottle is for you.  I actually mean that when I say a "nice" alcohol presence; I enjoyed the stronger tones in this winter warmer.  Upon finishing the bottle, I discovered that there is still a thin layer of residual spices covering the bottom of this bottle.  holy crap!  How much spice does a beer need?!?!

Hoppin' Frog... c'mon.  I know you can make great beer.  I've tasted it!  There's no reason to hide behind all this spice and such.  I actually want to taste your beer.  I do!  I understand the desire to make a strong flavored beer and I of all people can appreciate that.  I love a big, bold, flavorful beer.  However, it has to have more than one flavor.  "Big" and "nuanced" are not concepts that are mutually exclusive.  This simple beer seems to hide behind an intimidating veil of spice in the hopes that no one will notice that the behind said veil isn't actually the Wizard of Oz it claims to be.  I'm disappointed.  Although with such beers as Hoppin' Frog's B.O.R.I.S. and D.O.R.I.S. remaining unsampled (one of which is in my cellar), I hold out great faith that this brewery will more than redeem itself.

"Mama Mia!  Thatsa spicy craft-a bierra!"

Hoppin' Frog - Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale

One good pumpkin beer deserves another, right?  This is actually a brand that I have not sampled before, despite their strong local presence and fairly local brewery location in Akron, OH.  Today's review is from the Hoppin' Frog Brewery and I'll be tasting their Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale.  I can't say I've ever had a "double pumpkin" before, but this one looks to be a bit bigger than most regular pumpkin ales and rings in at 8.4% ABV.

Aroma 12/12
This aroma is a pumpkin smashed and liquified into a glass!  There are loads of creamy pumpkin and a detectable vanilla that blends delightfully with the pumpkin. Together they're almost are like a pumpkin ice cream.  The spices are fantastic as well!  Cinnamon abounds, the alcohol warmth is noticeable without being overwhelming, the ginger adds some interesting peculiarities, and the nutmeg is a softer spice that really adds to this beer.  The cloves show up as well, but are much more subtle than other pumpkin beers.  As a whole bouquet it almost comes across as a pumpkin with a hint of mint.  The spices are just that delicate and tickle the nose just so.  This is great and a wonderful balance to boot!


Appearance 2/3
I hate to compare pumpkin beers to the color pumpkin, but in this beer it is unavoidable.  It absolutely glows pumpkin orange, with golden pilsner-esque highlights, and a variety of other appropriate burnt harvest tones.  The head was paltry after a moderately aggressive pour, left no lacing, was gone before I could even take a second picture, and is barely detectable even as I write this.

Flavor 18/20
The initial flavors are very interesting.  The pumpkin is strong up front, comes with faint roast malt, and a bit of the bitter side of the spices.  The backbone is dark and bready (with the bit of sour that comes with good bread), but quickly gives way to the minty pumpkin flavor and lots of it.  The backbone finishes up with a reprise of the roast malt and an über-smooth caramel.  A quick slurp shows a lot of the alcohol warmth.  The finish continues the caramel tones, but the ginger really comes out and I think contributes to the drying finish.  The mint sensation also continues and I'm not sure which of the spices, or combination thereof, is responsible but it is distinct.


Mouthfeel 5/5
Smooth.  Smooth to the Nth power.  It's a great characteristic to have in a pumpkin seasonal since it goes so well with the natural qualities of the pumpkin.  Please don't confuse that with a cream-laden, full body.  The body is actually surprisingly light for the style and the high level of smoothness.  The alcohol warmth is pleasantly present and actually lends a little bitter to the overall blend.  The carbonation is also appropriate for the overall texture of the beer, but without making the beer feel flat.


Overall Impression 9/10
I really like this beer.  Excellent mouthfeel, superior smoothness from the ingredients, plus some very delicious flavors and aromas all make this beer one to purchase.  The minty sensation is unusual, but not unpleasant, and I'm pretty sure is the way the strong ginger is interacting with the other spices.  I love a variation on a style!


Total 46/50
I really enjoyed this beer!  The pumpkin/spice ratio was fantastic and the spices, despite being undeniably minty, were a really nice twist on a great seasonal style.  The mint never clashed with the pumpkin, only contrasted with it in an appropriately spicy way.  As a whole, it's more spicey than pumpkin-y, but neither one is lacking or excessive at any point.  The body and carbonation worked in tandem and were great characteristics for the style.  It's a unique brew that deserves a taste (or two or three).  This will definitely a brand I'll be looking at more closely in the future!

I feel like I'm not doing this beer justice in my description, but it's only more reason for you to try it for yourself!  Even the burps are good!