Shorts - The Magician

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I wasn't expecting an Irish red ale. I was hoping for something hoppier. This was fine enough. Nothing spectacular. Not terrible. 

Flying Dog - Green Tea Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

There's green tea in this? Otherwise a nice, if unremarkable stout. 

Hardywood - Singel

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Very yeast forward. I wish DC Brau's Citizen tasted like this. Nice enough. 

Heavy Seas - The Big DIPA

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Re-formulation. Now aged on oak spirals!!

Heavy Seas is going through yet another re-branding.

Okay. After having Heady Topper the other day I'll just go ahead and call bull-shit on this beer.

Weirdly bitter. Very malty and sweet. The oak is definitely there. And it just adds a completely undesirably element to the beer. Do not buy again.

Hardywood - Sidamo Coffee Stout

Old review. Picture lost to the gods. 

Yet another coffee stout. Nothing says May or Summer quite like a coffee stout.

Fine enough. I wouldn't go out of my way to get it again. Doesn't have a super strong coffee stout, but there is some bitterness here. 

Driftwood - Old Cellar Dweller

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The last beer from my Let's Pour order.

Its a barleywine. Not in the super hoppy range, but definitely super boozy. The bitterness is at just the right level to offset the alcohol and overall sweetness (typical dark malts, toffee, blah blah blah). Definitely enjoyable, but once again, not magnitudes better than other beers. 

Maine Beer Co - Mo

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Aroma on this is fantastic. Definitely a hop forward pale ale. No mistaking it for an IPA though (or maybe you could for a "session" IPA, I dunno). Lightly bitter, slightly sweet malt body.

Super drinkable. But again, I paid $7-8 for the bottle. ONE BOTTLE. I bought a six pack of OTWOA two weeks ago for $18. The MBC beer is almost twice as expensive per ounce. I'll stick to their beers on draft once I've tried them. A shame because they're all pretty darn good.

Stone - Oak Smoked Old Guardian Barleywine

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I do not like the regular Old Guardian. I've tried it fresh and aged and whatever weird variation they put out two years ago.

Somehow this one works for me. The hops are still abrasive, but the subtle smoked malt balances it out in the aftertaste. 

Allagash - FV 13

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Woo this is tart. Starts off a little sweet and then... bam. Tart cherry. Carbonation is perfect for the style. Not too sweet, tartness fades so its not ridiculous to drink the whole bottle.

Only downside was the price, but it wasn't too much more expensive than the Old HLT that I purchased at the brewery. Recommended if you see it. 

Evil Twin - Imperial Biscotti Break

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Super smooth & silky. Vanilla really comes through, along with  coffee and chocolate. Much more enjoyable as it warmed up. Probably one of the better non-barrel aged stouts I've had recently.

Recommended (if you can get past the $16 price tag). 

Ballast Point - Victory at Sea

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Billed as an imperial porter.

Pretty darn enjoyable. Good amount of vanilla, chocolate and coffee flavor. I was worried it would be too thin, but the mouthfeel is perfect. Just enough carbonation. Not super thick or sweet. Enjoyable brew. Was easy to drink the whole bottle myself. 

DC Brau - Yonder Cities

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

From a growler.

Nice aroma from citra & simcoe hops. Pretty bitter. Slightly peppery yeast. 

DC Brau - On the Wings of Armageddon

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Finally in cans! (and slightly more reasonably priced than a $10 bomber; $18 for the six pack)

Still enjoyable. Decent amount of sweetness balanced by a nice bitterness.

Devils Backbone - Schwarz Bier

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Tasty. Slightly roasty. Great price. Solid beer. 

The Perfect Crime - Hollow Point

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Seems a little thin for a quad? There's something slightly off about this. Its very drinkable (for a 10% brew). Nothing spectacular. Do not feel compelled to purchase this. 

New Belgium - Cascara Quad

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Pretty enjoyable. Fairly sweet (even for the style). Slight bitterness on the finish. Not bad. Worth a try. 

Uinta - Birthday Suit

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

"Sour Brown Ale" - they should have called it "sort of sour brown ale."

Its actually pretty enjoyable. Not a great beer, but drinking the entire bottle by myself wasn't a complete chore. 

Stillwater - Lower Dens

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

http://www.stillwatersensory.com/

This is supposedly a colaboration brew inspired by a song by Lower Dens (a Baltimore band). I listened to the song. Shrug (I think I had similar feelings about the Pearl Jam beer).

The beer itself is nice. A hint of fruitiness. Really balanced, maybe a hint of wheat in there. Pricey for the size (I think it was $7). Glad I had it, probably won't buy it again.

Lost Rhino - Pretty in Pink

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Not bad. Magnitudes better than the New Belgium Kriek last night. Would be a decent beer for the summer.

Sixpoint - 3 Beans

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Cocoa, coffee and ??? (kidney beans? chickpeas?) I think the box had some reference to barley beans or something. Instead of looking it up online, I'll just assume they added baked beans into the beer.

Rodenbach - 2010 Vintage

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

A sour (and expensive) ale!

Tart and cherry and vinegar. I haven't had the original in a while, and while this is nice, it probably wasn't worth the exorbitant cost. 

Mission St Hefeweizen

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Very good for the price. Nice yeasty banana notes. Good carbonation level. Another win by Trader Joes.