Sixpoint - Resin

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This is unexpectedly delicious. I mean, I liked the other Sixpoint brews that I've had. But this one is really good. Sticky sweet, but in a good way. Piney bitterness. I don't think I usually like sweet DIPAs, but this one is really good. I'll buy it again.

Bayrischer Bahnhof Leipzig - Porticus

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This isn't like a normal porter. First of all, it practically poured itself out of the bottle. Secondly, its tart. Not overwhelmingly tart, but its definitely there in the finish.

New Belgium - Cocoa Mole

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The smell is dominated by cinnamon. No hint of heat at all. Its a lot thinner than I was anticipating. The cinnamon is still strong, but there are definitely peppers in here. Slightly tingly on my tongue and back of the throat. Its interesting, but I don't want to drink a lot of it. There's just something missing. It doesn't have the body to stand up to the peppers & cinnamon. I wish I had someone to share the bottle with. Half a glass was enough for me.

Weyerbacher - Insanity (2011)

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The 2012 - Its nice. Pretty hot. The bourbon is pretty strong, lots of vanilla.

The 2011 - The bourbon & vanilla isn't as prevalent. The barleywine comes through more. More caramel flavor than the 2012. I think I like it better with a year on it.

Lost Rhino - New River Pale Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Very mild and understated (compared to say, Public Ale or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale). Much sweeter, not very bitter. Smells nice enough. Eh.

Stillwater Artisanal Ales - Premium

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

A bretted ale. Slightly bitter, with some lemon and pepper. Not bad for what it is.

New Belgium - Biere de Mars

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I didn't really like this. Its pretty malty. I got no brett. Some orange or other citrus flavor, possibly. I didn't bother finishing the bottle.

Dogfish Head - 120 Minute IPA

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this and so it sat in the closet for a few months.

It is quite hoppy. Not the most bitter beer I ever tasted (which I was half expecting). Smells great though. It tastes pretty sweet. Like really sweet. And it almost has an anise flavor to it. Semi-strange.

DuClaw - Retribution

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Barrel 20 of 20

I also saw barrel 2 in a store in Maryland, but I saw a lot of bottles of 20 around DC and VA.

This is really sweet. Not really chocolatey or bitter. Some vanilla and bourbon flavors. Maybe some anise in the aftertaste. Its fine. Eh.

North Coast - Barrel Aged Old Rasputin

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This has a nice chocolately finish. The bourbon isn't overwhelming. There's just something a little off in the middle. Is it the carbonation? Its enjoyable, but for the price point, I'd definitely pass in the future.

Sierra Nevada - Ruthless Rye IPA

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I was hoping for so much more. The rye isn't really prevalent though. Drinks like a cross between their pale ale and Torpedo. Its a nice beer, but not one I'd probably seek out.

Founders Devil Dancer

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

So I bought a four pack of this earlier in the summer and stashed a bottle to see if it would become more drinkable.

Low and behold... a lot more drinkable. Still really bitter, with the dank/musty hops still coming through strong. But its actually agreeable now. I might just buy a four pack next year and drink it all six months later.

Anchorage Brewing - Love Buzz Saison

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This was enjoyable. The barrel aging adds a nice flavor. The brett isn't overwhelming either. A little spicy and lemony. Mandy thought it was bitter, I guess I can see that.

I think this was a lot better than the bitter monk a few weeks ago.

Great Divide - Old Ruffian

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Mandy enjoyed this (when it was cold).

This was okay. Not ridiculously bitter, not ridiculously sweet. Lots of caramel. I dunno, sort of middle of the road for an american barleywine. The hops didn't really wow me. Its just okay.

I think I'm just in the mood for Bigfoot to be released.

Fantome de Noel

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This was... unexpected. Its malty, but slightly sour (less sour than say either Rodenbach). Not really carbonated. Some fig/dark fruit flavors too.

I guess it was fine? I wouldn't buy another bottle though.

Stillwater Artisanal Ales - Folklore/25 to One

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I really liked this when I first had it months ago, and was sad that it was a one off brew. I found two more bottles of it randomly during the summer that I snatched up without blinking. I drank one a few months ago and stored this one thinking it'd be the last I'd get to have. Luckily, Stillwater decided to brew this as a regular, but now rebranded as Folklore.

The 25 to One is probably about a year old at this point. Still really enjoyable. Lot of roasted malt flavor, only slightly bitter.

The Folklore...

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

It's a lot more carbonated than the 25 to 1 was. Still delicious. I'm not sure there's a lot of difference between these, besides the carbonation levels. Finishes fairly dry for a dark ale or stout. I love it. The roasted malts and yeast balance out nicely. Glad its being brewed again.

Anchorage Brewing - Bitter Monk

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This smells pretty intriguing. The actual taste is... interesting. It has a really dry and bitter finish. The brett and barrel aging are major tastes here. Had the bottle not been labeled as a double IPA, I'm not sure I'd even consider it an IPA. It may have something to do with the fact the bottle is from July (almost 7 months old at this time).

Due to the outrageous price tag on this ($17), I'd pass. The Whiteout Wit was a lot more enjoyable for me.

Goose Island - King Henry

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Magically stumbled across a bottle of this for $15 or $16. There were still 5 or 6 other bottles when I bought this. Had I been thinking, and also willing to go through the effort of trading, those probably could have netted me whatever my heart desires.

Well, it's a bourbon barrel aged barleywine. No hop presence. Really sweet, with the standard vanilla and oak notes. Its pretty enjoyable, but there's no way I would've been satisfied paying an outrageous price for this.

Mandy also found it unoffensive, which is a glowing review for a barleywine (especially one barrel aged).

Founders Pale Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Mildly bitter, a lot maltier than I expected. I wouldn't have picked out cascade hops unless I had looked at their website.

Its a fine beer, I wouldn't go out of my way to get it again though.

Schmaltz & Terrapin - Reunion Ale 11

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This went well with humus and cheese. I was expecting a stout, based on the addition of cocoa nibs, vanilla and chili pepper, but its more of a strong ale. Hints of the cocoa nibs are definitely present. Its mildly sweet. The chili pepper is undetectable, which is disappointing. I'd pass. Nothing remarkable.

New Belgium - Belgo

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This is a pretty enjoyable belgian IPA. Nice hop profile, not too bitter. Maybe a little too sweet? Definitely an IPA with belgian yeast vs. a hoppy belgian ale. On the style of raging bitch.

Founders Imperial Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Fresh this is a lot more bitter, especially with a lingering sharp bitter/burnt coffee aftertaste.

With one year on it, the bitterness has really dropped off. The aftertaste is now more chocolatey, with a hint of anise as well. Almost like a completely different beer. I like it a lot. I'll definitely age the remaining two I have from 2011.