Troegs - Jovial

Troegs Craft Brewery

Jovial - Belgian Stlye Dubbel Ale

The beer needs to be poured very carefully or else it will take a long time to pour it all or enjoy it.  The has a large pillowy head that is beige in color and fluffy like the top of a root beer float.  The head takes a long long time to go down.  Beer is a reddish copper, but looks extremely red in direct light.  The beer is very deep and is only translucent.  

The aroma is masked by the high foamy head, but when it does go down you get hints of caramel, rot malt, raisin and fig.  There is a hidden spice to the aroma as well.  It's a pleasant and balanced aroma Leading to you want to drink the beer, also making to get in close to really take in all the beer has to offer.  

On the palate this carbonation is pleasant and complimentary to the beer.  It's a beer that is thick on the tongue but doesn't feel very heavy.  The caramel, fig and raisin flavors are nicely done, mixing together well on the tongue and not fighting with each.  The finish has a slight bitterness that helps balance out the moderate sweetness.  There is no alcohol flavors this beer even though it is 7% abv.  I have had a few of these beers, and I will say this, I actually prefer this beer out of a bottle more than being poured into the glass.

Overall this is a pretty good beer.  The aroma is nice, the color is nice looking, and the flavor is pretty good too.  Nothing about this beer is amazing, it is just a quality beer.  Like I said, try it in a bottle and a glass and see how you like it better.  I don't know why, but this beer tastes better from a bottle.  I give this beer a 4 out of 5.  It is just so balanced it can't get a lower score.

Allagash - Odyssey (January 2014)

Allagash Brewing Company

Odyssey (January 2014) - Oak-aged Dark Wheat Beer

This beer pours with a high, pillowy head that exceeds an inch in height.  The beige head sits on a dark chestnut colored beer that is barely translucent.  The head fizzles down slowly, leaving a pillowed lace on the side.  The beer is almost mysterious looking.  You can see tints of red around the edges of the glass, but you really have to look for it. 

The aroma is muted at first due to the head, but it soon comes into its own.  A sweet candied sugar scent is paired with that of raisins and a hint of alcohol.  The beer also gives you a little bit of toffee and a mild amount of roasted malt.  Overall it is a pleasant aroma that is subtle but well balanced.

On the palate this beer is introduced to your tongue by subtle carbonation.  Odyssey is uber smooth with a wonder blend of flavor.  Raisin and dates coat your tongue then give way to toffee and roast malt.  The beer finishes with a hint of vanilla.  Warmth spreads all around the back of your throat and tongue then slowly is dissipates leaving the slightest bit of hop.

Overall I feel this beer is pretty fantastic.  The color is rare.  The depth and the way the light goes through is pretty wonderful.  The aroma is extremely subtle, but it has a lot going on, a nice balance of sweet and alcohol.  Finally the taste... it is smooth and balanced, even with the apparent lack of bitterness.  I think this beer is very well done.  I let it age for 15 months before drinking it so it was just passed the middle of the 2 year window of aging.  This 10.4 % abv beer will cause you to take pause while drinking! so if you intend to drink the entire bomber, give yourself sometime.  I give this beer a 4 out of 5. 

Lagunitas - Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale

The Lagunitas Brewing Company

Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale - American Pale Wheat Ale

The beer poured a crystal clear straw color with about a third of an inch of thick foamy head.  The head went down at a decent pace and left a little ring around the glass.  The straw color color is rich and full.  It looks like a beer that should be drank, but there is nothing pretty about it.

The aromas given off by this brew are a mix of bitter and fruity sweetness.  The hops come right to your nose and then introduce you to the rest of the scents.  I get a mix of lemon, grapefruit, pine and orange.  It's a little bit of a wild combination, but it smells really good.  It's the kind of aroma that leads to take a nice first sip.

On the palate the beer has mild carbonation that gives way to an extremely tasty beer.  The tongue gets hit with a cascade of flavors; pine, grapefruit, orange, lemon, a bready malt, and then finishes as you would expect, with a slight bitter bite.  The really interesting thing is that the fruit flavors then come back as the after taste, leaving s sweetness in the mouth.  This beer also leaves a fruitiness on the lips.  Finally, it warms the back of the throat with just a hint of alcohol.  It's a hard glass to put down to be honest.

This beer is pretty freaking awesome.  The color is clean, the aroma is plentiful coming at you with a wide variety of scents without being overbearing, and it's full of flavor hinting ona wide variety of citrus and levels of hop and malt.  I really enjoyed this brew and wish I bought more than just one.  I give this a 4.5 out of 5.  Go get a Little Sumpin' Sumpin'.

Shawnee Craft - Saison Cuvée 2014

Shawnee Craft Brewing Co.

Saison Cuvée 2014 - Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale

This beer has a light fluffy head that sticks around for a long time.  The head is like a decorative pillow on top of the beer, and looks awesome.  The color of this beer is a crystal clear gold that is alluring and enticing.  It's a beautifully clear beer that looks cleans and well made.

The aroma is sweet, and wine-like.  There is a mild spice, some yeastiness, and fruity notes.  The aroma is well balanced and subtle.  The notes tickle the nose and have you take notice in a good way. It's a wonderful smelling beer that makes you want to savor every sip.

On the palate the barely there carbonation leads way for a beer the is sweet and tart.  The mild spice blends in well with the mild fruitiness.  The beer has a white wine like essence that leaves the mouth feeling clean and crisp.  There is a hidden bitterness that helps balance the sweetness.  The beer is light and easy to drink which is while it goes down so easily.  

Overall this beer is pretty damn good.  It has a great look, and the fluffy head stay with the beer for a long, long time.  The aroma is wonderful, sweet, and subtle enough to entice you.  The flavor of this beer was fruity and tart, the wine like aspects mixed with the clean mildly bitter finish.  This is a wonderfully done saison, I give it a 4 out of 5.

Weyerbacher - Verboten

This Belgian-Style pale ale has mild carbonation that leads you to a beer that starts off with a sweeter piney citrus and finishes crisp and clean with a hint of bitterness.  The aroma is mild and fresh giving off a mild citrus notes.  It's a solid beer and made year round which is nice. I give it a 3.5 out of 5.  A good staple to have in the fridge.