Maine Beer Co - Lil One

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

A slightly strange brew. Sweeter than I'd want a barleywine, but its not a barlewine. Truly an american strong ale.

For a strong brew, its mildly sweet and only mildly piney-hoppy and bitter. I don't know. There's nothing offensive about it. Its enjoyable. But its just not great. 

Firestone Walker - Firestone XV Anniversary Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

So after not seeing this in stores when it was released last year (2011), I was a little surprised to see it at the expensive beer store in the neighborhood this week just as the XVI is also being released. After my positive experience with their DDBA, I figured I'd give this a shot too.

Very much in the style of a barrel aged barleywine. Some slight roasted malt notes in the finish. Vanilla and bourbon is very prevalent. Not overly alcoholic for the 12% abv. 

Firestone Walker - Double DBA

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I was pretty skeptical that this would be good. The barrel aging isn't completely ridiculous here. Its much better than Backwoods Bastard, another beer with a lower alcohol %. Much better than some of the barrel aged barley wines I've had. I'd recommend it as a barrel aged non-stout.

Stone - Bottleworks 13th Anniversary Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Bell's 25th Anniversary Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Packaged on August 12, 2010; Stored in various places in two apartments.

Now very nice and malty. Lots of caramel flavor. Only slightly bitter. I can't really remember what this was like before it aged, but it was still enjoyable now.

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.

Bell's Batch 10,000

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Hmm. Not sure why I didn't review this last year when I initially got the six pack.

This is fairly unremarkable. Pretty malt driven, with a slight bitter finish. Eh. I'll probably drink the other one I have left soon.

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Grand Cru

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I liked this so much when it came out last year that I went out and stashed another in my closet. It's still fairly tasty, but not as mind blowing as I remember. At this point it tastes like an aged Bigfoot. It finishes really dry. Nice, but I wish I had just drank it last year.

Dogfish Head - Immort Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Woah. Heavily peated malts in this. Also sweet. Slightly dark fruity?

The peat malt is the overwhelming taste here. I'd pass if I saw it again.

21st Amendment/Ninkasi - Allies Win the War!

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Yet more cool artwork/labeling from 21st Amendment.

The beer contained in the box (and cans) is enjoyable enough. Mildly sweet, maybe a hint of the dates. Decent enough bitterness. Not really memorable or anything to go out of your way to get.

Sierra Nevada - Life & Limb

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I'm very glad that I didn't buy a bottle of this from the last batch when I saw it for sale (twice) for $25. I picked this up for $10.

Smells slightly sweet and there's a hint of birch in the smell.

Its not as sweet as I thought it would be. Slightly malty, fairly smooth. A slight bitterness to the finish. Its honestly fairly nondescript.

I wouldn't recommend it.

Hopworks Urban Brewery - Deluxe Organic Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

We received this (along with 3 other bottles) from Mandy's brother. He brought them to DC in a suitcase he had picked up from Goodwill. I greatly appreciate the effort to smuggle alcohol across state lines (and from the west coast).

This was mostly dominated the malt, caramel and bready. Maybe a hint of bitterness at the finish.

Lagunitas Undercover Shutdown Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Hmm. I think my problem with Lagunitas is that most of their beers aren't easily distinguishable from memory.

This is fairly bitter, pretty sweet and matly. Maybe more bitter than Hairy Eyeball. But who knows.

I mean, its good. But if I can't pick it out of a mental line-up I'm probably not going to buy it again.

Bonus Mandy Thoughts:
I think I'd like it more if it was colder. It has a slight bacony aftertaste. It'd be a good breakfast beer. You should put it in a coffee mug and bring it to work. [I think she was joking].

Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball

Really malty. I can't really taste the alcohol in it. Probably dangerous. Only a slight hint of hops.

Not bad. Not my favorite.

Stone Double Bastard Ale

I liked this so much that I didn't write down any notes when I took this picture (back in November or December?).

I went out and bought another bottle I liked it so much. Then I stuck it in the closet for a few months and forgot why I initially liked it.

Its not overly sweet, and has a dry, tea-like bitterness to it. I think I may have said the same thing about the Lucky Bastard ale. But this is really terrific. I think this is what I wish all of the overly hopped barleywines tasted like.

He'Brew Jewbelation Vertical (rye whiskey barrel aged)

Wow. Smells like a straight shot of whiskey. Slight chocolate taste in the finish. Really sweet. Some vanilla

Really boozy.

[The wow was not meant in a good way. This is an example of barrel aging gone terribly, terribly wrong. I can't remember now, but I may not have finished this.] [I'm also taking a guess that this was the beer, the menu only said "He'brew Jewbelation Rye Aged"]

Souther Tier Cuvee Series Three

Oak aged, blend of two other beers according to the bottle/box.

Hmm. Its fairly thin. Pretty sweet. Its taste close to cherry cough syrup, with maybe a little hint of vanilla.

Not great.Not terrible. I wouldn't buy it again though.

Stone Lukcy 13asartd Ale

The name is fucking terrible. The beer itself is very enjoyable.

Not as ridiculously bitter as Arrogant Bastard and not overly sweet. Slight hints from the oak-ing. It has a nice dry-piney finish.

Bell's 25th Annivesary Ale

Hmm. I think I like it. Slightly fruity, slight citrusy hop taste. Not heavy or thick. Not over the top at all.

Bell's Batch 9000

Larry Bell says this is not an imperial stout. Not sure I agree. Its fairly similar in taste to Dogfish Head World Wide Stout.

Lots of molasses and some licorice in the taste. Really sweet. Pretty tasty.