Weyerbacher - Last Chance IPA

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Perfectly acceptable IPA. A little more bitter and less sweet than Loose Cannon. Not bad, not great.

Uinta - Anniversary Barleywine

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Ooo. This is pretty good. Very hoppy. Reminiscent of Bigfoot. 

Flying Dog - International Arms Race

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

A "Zero IBU IPA." So this beer is made with basically zero hops. But they wanted to try to have it maybe be mistaken for an IPA.

It doesn't smell nor taste like an IPA. It smells like a beer with a bunch of random spices. Tastes about the same. Not very sweet. Pass. 

Sam Adams - Noble Pils

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

A pleasant pilsner. Slightly fruity hops. I think its the best beer out of the mixed six (Whitewater IPA and Latitude 48 were the others). 

New Belgium - Tart Lychee

Certainly tart.

Old Dominion - Gigi Farmhouse Ale

This was a lot sweeter than I expected. I'd pass.

Boulevard - Sixth Glass

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Very alcoholic. Very enjoyable. Recommended. 

DC Brau - Stone of Arbroath

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This is maybe better than I remembered? Very malty. Slight chocolate flavor. A little bitter. Not a bad beer, but I'd sooner get a six pack for $10 than pay the $8 or $9 for the bomber of this beer.

Elysian - Blight Pumpkin Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This smells more like an apple pie than a pumpkin pie. All you can smell (and taste) is cinnamon. Lots and lots of cinnamon.

I did not enjoy this at all. 

Devil's Backbone - Stripped Bass Pale Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Yet another beer from Devil's Backbone

This is a bready, lightly hopped pale ale. Ever so slight bitterness to it. Very crisp. Nice enough, but I wouldn't recommend it for the price ($7 for the bomber).

Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Previously reviewed here

I think I stand by everything I said in the original post, except maybe the hops are on the fruity side instead of the piney side. Perfect amount of bitterness. I found this for a decent price for the six pack ($15 vs. the $20 places in VA were charging). Much better deal than a $9 or $10 bomber.

It actually reminds me a great deal of DC Brau's On The Wings of Armageddon.

Recommended!

Surly - Furious

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This was pretty enjoyable. Citrusy. Simcoe or Citra in there? One or the other potentially. A lot darker for a standard IPA than expected. Pretty bitter. Mildly sweet.

Definitely a good IPA. Pick it up if you're in Minnesota. If not, I wouldn't spend a ridiculous amount of money to get this. I picked it up at a store that gets a lot of out of market beers and I'd say it was worth the one time $5 expense. 

Surly - Coffee Bender

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I was maybe expecting even more coffee flavor and aroma out of this, but maybe I'm just used to drinking strong coffee. As it warms up, the smell gets a little stronger. The beer is okay. I was anticipating something a touch sweeter. 

Stone - Mint Chocolate Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This definitely tasted like a mint stout with a good amount of chocolate. Enjoyable enough. 

Stone/Stillwater/Evil Twin - The Perfect Crime

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

A smokey, fairly bitter saison. Nothing crazy. Nice enough. I wouldn't go out of my way to get it. 

Victory - Red Thunder

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I really liked this. There are definite traces of red wine left here, but they're not overpowering. Light cherry and wine flavors to go along with the roasted malt. Recommended. 

Stone - Vertical Epic 12.12.12

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Another year, another weird beer. This one isn't totally off the wall though. The cinnamon definitely comes through. I wouldn't go out of my way to get this...

Trader Joe's - Mission St Brown Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Decent brown ale for $3. Not bad, not great. If the malt came through a little more vs just sweetness it would be better. 

Trader Joe's - Providential Golden Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

A spiced belgian pale ale, sort of close to a white ale but not quite there. The alcohol burn is a little high. Its good, not great. Good price, but I'm not sure I'd get it again. I'm just not in love with the style. 

Williamsberg Alewerks - Cafe Royale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Really smooth barrel aged stout. Vanilla, bourbon and oak really stand out. Slightly bitter on the finish. Not heavy, pretty light for a stout. I was expecting the coffee to come through a little more. Good enough for the price. 

Boulevard - Rye on Rye

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

A lot more mild than I expected. It certainly smells like it has rye in it, although I'm not sure whether that's from the barrel aging or the beer itself.

This may honestly be one of the most boring barrel aged beers I've ever had. Its really sweet, with malt, oak, vanilla, etc. basically dominating. I don't know, it could use the balance of some bitterness or roasted malts or something. Just fine. 

Fantome - La Dalmatienne

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Well this was interesting and somewhat unexpected. Slightly sour, a slight muskiness from brett also. I thought it had a slightly chocolate or cocoa taste to it, but Mandy said she thought it tasted smokey which is probably more accurate. Its not super smokey or anything, but its definitely noticeable.