Kulmbacher Eisbock

I've had Kulmbacher Eisbock once before, quite some time ago, before I really got into taking notes or keeping track of what I've tasted.  I remember enjoying it, and I've been wanting to try it again, so when I saw it for a decent price, I bought it:

Vittles:
Eisbock
9.2% abv

Score:
Appearance: 9/10
Aroma: 24/25
Taste: 38/40
Mouthfeel: 9/10
Style: 5/5
Drinkability: 8/10
Overall: 93/100

Impression:
Eisbocks are basically made by freezing beer and removing the ice crystals that form, thereby concentrating all the deliciousness that remains (and the alcohol content, but that's just gravy!).  This eisbock is rich in complex roasted malt flavors, along with nutty, bready, and dark fruit tones.  I like the brown sugar/molasses notes, too.  Figs pop out at me, a little bit of raisin, and a somewhat vinous quality hides slightly in the background.  The medium-heavy mouthfeel is very satisfying, and it finishes slightly dry.  This is the perfect beer to enjoy after dinner.

Cheers!

Unibroue La Fin Du Monde

I've been wanting to try Unibroue La Fin Du Monde for quite some time now, so when I found it pretty cheap, I snagged it:

Vittles:
Tripel
9% abv
19 IBUs
5.5 SRM

Score:
Appearance: 10/10
Aroma: 24/25
Taste: 39/40
Mouthfeel: 9/10
Style: 5/5
Drinkability: 9/10
Overall: 96/100

Impression:
I love the cloudiness and the color right off the bat.  The head was decent, but it didn't persist very long (I was visiting, so I wasn't using one of my own glasses, which I know are free of head-destroying soap residue).  The aroma very nearly made my mouth water -- yeasty and citrusy, with notes of clove, banana, golden raisins, and a slight grassy hint in the background.  The flavors were much the same as in the nose, and they were very well balanced, interestingly complex, and insanely enjoyable.  The medium-full mouthfeel rounded it all out nicely, and the effervescence kept the beer lively on my tongue.  I was surprised at how smooth and easy to drink this beer was, and I was also very surprised by how quickly my glass emptied.  Very well done overall.

Cheers!

Great Divide Hercules Double IPA

Another of the IPAs I picked out for my husband and I to share was Great Divide Hercules Double IPA.  While he loves IPAs, especially American and Imperial IPAs, they're not my favorite style.  However, I do seem to have more IPAs than anything else, and the style is continuing to grow on me:

Vittles:
Imperial IPA
10% abv

Score:
Appearance: 9/10
Aroma: 22/25
Taste: 37/40
Mouthfeel: 8/10
Style: 5/5
Drinkability: 8/10
Overall: 89/100

Impression:
It poured nicely with a decent head, but the head did not persist long.  It did leave a fair bit of lacing, though.  The aroma is sweet, like bread and honey, with some grapefruit, floral, fruity, woody, and slightly spicy notes.  I like the maltiness in the background; the toastiness is a great complement to the hops.  I also liked that I tasted some hints of dark fruits and nuttiness.  The creamy smoothness of the mouthfeel just makes this beer stand out even more.  I would love to try this one on tap sometime -- I bet it would be fantastic.


Cheers!

Founders Centennial IPA

My husband is a fan of American IPAs, especially if they have Centennial hops in them.  So, when I mix myself a 6, I usually try to add a couple beers he'd like as well, and we enjoy them together.  One of the IPAs I picked out for him this time was Founders Centennial IPA:

Vittles:
American IPA
7.2% abv
65 IBUs

Score:
Appearance: 9/10
Aroma: 23/25
Taste: 37/40
Mouthfeel: 8/10
Style: 5/5
Drinkability: 8/10
Overall: 90/100

Impression:
Nice clarity and decent head when poured, but the head fell fairly quickly, leaving decent lacing behind.  The malt is present but subdued in the nose, leaving the grapefruit/citrus and pine characteristics to dominate the forefront.  The malt backbone does a great job of supporting the rich and intense hops flavors without taking too much attention away from the grapefruit/citrus and pine.  There're also some floral, herbal, and spicy notes in the background, too.  The flavors themselves are clean and crisp, surprisingly refreshing considering the fuller-bodied but very smooth mouthfeel.  I've said before that IPAs aren't my favorite style, but I found this one to be particularly enjoyable.

Cheers! 

Otto's Hefeweizen

It seems like every time I go to Otto's for food and beer, I forget to snap a pic of my beer before imbibing.  Oh well.  So you don't get to see any pretty pictures of the Hefeweizen I had at Otto's.  I'm sure you'll survive.

Vittles:
Hefeweizen
5% abv

Score:
Appearance: 8/10
Aroma: 21/25
Taste: 33/40
Mouthfeel: 8/10
Style: 5/5
Drinkability: 8/10
Overall: 83/100

Impression:
The beer pours a cloudy golden straw color, but by the time the beer got to my table, there was only a slim ring of a nearly-white head left.  The aroma was largely wheat, clove, and banana, with some herbal and earthy notes underneath.  The flavors followed nicely, with a bit of lemon and some spiciness added in.  A medium body and a somewhat dry finish round it all out very well.  This is one of my favorite kinds of beer, especially in the summer months, and Otto's does a fairly good job on this style.

Cheers!

Erie Mad Anthony's APA

So far, I've been fairly pleased with the Erie beers I've had.  The next one I pulled from my sampler box was Mad Anthony's APA:

Vittles:

American Pale Ale

5.5% abv

40 IBUs

Score:
Appearance: 9/10
Aroma: 21/25
Taste: 36/40
Mouthfeel: 7/10
Style: 5/5
Drinkability: 7/10
Overall: 85/100

Impression:
This beer is about on par with the rest of the Erie beers I've had so far.  There's a slight metallic taste in the background, which isn't all that pleasant, but it isn't very distracting, either, and it dissipates as the beer breathes.  The aroma is about what I'd expect: fresh bread dough, grassy, sweet malt aromas backing a mild fruity-citrusy scent.  After the aroma, I was mildly surprised at the dry character of the beer.  The bitterness takes a little bit to kick in, and the primary flavors are more earthy/herbal/grassy, with the fruity-citrusy hops characters coming in on the back end.  I was a little disappointed in the lighter mouthfeel, though it did have a fairly smooth drinkability to it.

Cheers!

Founders Dirty Bastard

I got to go to one of my favorite beer stores recently while visiting, so I made myself a mixed 6 of beers I've been wanting to try.  One of the beers I picked was Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale:

Vittles:
Strong Scotch Ale
8.5% abv
50 IBUs

Score:
Appearance: 9/10
Aroma: 24/25
Taste: 38/40
Mouthfeel: 9/10
Style: 5/5
Drinkability: 8/10
Overall: 93/100

Impression:
I love the deep, rich, ruby color, and the light yellow of the head looks and smells like hoppy deliciousness.  The malt backbone is complex and crackery with notes of toasted malt, caramel, molasses, and dark fruits.  There is also a touch of hops character on the back end.  The flavors are about what I expect with a nose like that, and the sweetness of the malt balances nicely with the hop bitterness.  I also taste some estery notes and a little warm vanilla after I swallow the beer.  The mouthfeel is very full-bodied and creamy.  This may be the best wee heavy I've had so far.

Cheers!