Fat Head's Sorceror (9/10)

As a home brewer, I can say with a degree of certainty that getting a Belgian-style beer right is a challenge.  You need the right mix of malts, the right sugars, the right yeast, and the right fermentation conditions.  Getting that beer to taste like something you might actually buy in a store that came from Belgium isn't simple.  It's taken me a while to get there in my own brewing activities.  That's one reason I can really appreciate the work that the good folks at Fat Head's have done in Sorceror.  This Belgian Strong Ale is undoubtedly one of the best brewed on this side of the Atlantic.  Best of all, it's an Ohio brew!

It pours a dark mahogany with thin white head that lingers a bit.

The aroma is sweet and malty, with hints of cloves and other spices. Some fruit can be detected as well.

The flavor starts mildly sweet, with cloves, Belgian spiciness, and dark fruit all playing a part.  Finish is mildly sweet and lingering.  It's a very tasty beer if you like Belgian style ales.

I'm giving it a 9 out of 10, but I'm not alone here.  Beer Advocate gives it an 85 out of 100.  Rate Beer gives it a 92 overall.

As far as I know, this beer is only available on draft, as is Fat Head's (also excellent) Belgian style Christmas beer Pimp My Sleigh.  If you see either of these on the menu, they're worth ordering.

Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron (9/10)

Dogfish Head consistently delivers unusual beers that tend to speak right to my tastebuds.  I love several of their Ancient Ales like Ta Henket and Chateau Jiahu.  I like Raison D'Etre and Festina Peche as well.  One of my favorites, though, has to be Palo Santo Marron.

The base beer might be nothing to speak about. It's a brown ale, rated at 50 IBUs, and 12% alcohol by volume.  What makes this beer special is that it's aged in Paraguayan Palo Santo wood vessels often used for wine.  The wood imparts an incredibly complex array of flavors into the beer that transform it from a standard brown ale into something much more.  Time in the barrel also mellows out the hops, making it seem much less hoppy than it might otherwise.

The beer pours a deep dark brown with thin tan head that doesn't stick around long thanks to the high alcohol content.

The aroma is complex, hinting at sweet malt and a wine-like flavor.

The flavor is bold from the start.  It opens with intense malt and wine-like elements, followed by some roasted grain and vanilla.  Despite being 50 IBUs, it's relatively sweet.  The mouth feel is substantial, like drinking a milkshake.  I also find that as much as I love drinking this beer, finishing more than one of them is difficult.  It seems to sit in my stomach for a while, as though my stomach is enjoying it and refusing to share it with the rest of me.

I'm not alone in my love for Palo Santo Marron.  Beer Advocate gives it a 93 or "outstanding" rating. Rate Beer gives it a 99 overall.   I give it a very solid 9 out of 10, and on a good day I'd be willing to nudge that all the way to a 10.

This is one of those beers I buy again and again, and like having in my refrigerator.

You can find Palo Santo Marron at most Columbus area retailers who carry Dogfish Head products.  I've seen it at large grocery chain stores, Whole Foods, The Andersons, Kenny Road Market, and other retailers.  The price the last time I bought a four-pack was around $15, so it's not a cheap beer but not the most expensive either.

De Struise Tsjeeses Belgian Christmas Ale (9/10)

Some of you are wondering "Why the heck is he reviewing a Christmas Ale in August?"  That's a fair question, with a simple answer, this Christmas Ale seems to be available year-round and it's one of my very favorite ones.

The image on the label, and the name of the beer itself, generates a certain amount of discussion. Some friends and family members find the image upsetting, seeing it as depicting a famous religious figure with a Santa Claus hat on his head.  Others say the image looks nothing like that religious figure and is probably just a picture of one of the brewers with a hat and sunglasses on him.  Whatever it is, it might lead you to take the beer less than seriously.  It might even convince you to pass it by on a store shelf.  That's fine with me, because it leaves more available for me to buy.

The label says "Tsjeeses is a jolly, blond winter ale with a fluffy white cap.  Its aroma is elegant with hints of fruit, spices, refreshing herbs, and noble hops. The taste is robust, very complex, and quite dry for its style.  This warming ale is our gift to you for the holidays. Enjoy!"

Tsjeeses pours a nice coppery brown with an extremely generous off-white head that lasts a while.

The aroma is sweet, hinting at dark fruit, caramel, spice, and a strong alcohol presence... all as the label suggests.

The flavor starts sweet, malty, and with definite dark fruit notes.  The warmer the beer gets, the more pronounced the sweetness and fruitiness.  The colder it is, the less sweet it is and the more the hops bitterness is noticeable.  Ideally, I like it the upper 40's and lower 50's Fahrenheit.  Your taste may vary. To me, this is pretty much everything a Belgian beer should taste like.

I typically see this at Whole Foods in Dublin, at The Andersons General Store in Dublin, and at Weiland's Gourmet Market.  Even at $6-9 a bottle, I'll tend to pick one up any time I see it, unless I know I have a couple at home.

De Halve Maan Straffe Hendrik Quad 2012 (10/10)

Warning: If you're not comfortable spending $25 or more for a large bottle of beer, you may want to stop reading right here.

De Halve Maan of Belgium produces Straffe Hendrik Quad, a true Belgian brewed Quadrupel which is barrel aged before bottling.

It pours a dark brown, bordering on mahogany, with thin beige head that lingers a while.

The aroma is sweet and malty, with notes of dark fruit and spice.

The flavor follows the aroma, with a well-balanced malty sweetness and dark fruit element.  Cherry and brown sugar also make an appearance.  Hops bitterness is detectable but by no means obvious. The finish is dry with some tannins in it.  It's a very smooth beer and easy to drink.  The 11% alcohol comes through as a warming note in the finish.  I can't do this beer justice in a verbal description except to say that it's absolutely delicious.

The Beer Advocate crowd rates it a 91 or outstanding.  RateBeer gives it a 99 overall.  I'm giving it a 10 out of 10.

There are very few beers I'm willing to pay $20 a bottle for, or more.  I've paid $27 a couple of times for this one at World of Beer, and I picked up a bottle at Savor Pint for $25 a few months ago.  Those are the only places in town I've seen it.  I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.

J.W. Lees Harvest Ale 2013 (10/10)

In late January, I found myself at The Winking Lizard on Bethel with a good friend.  I wasn't finding too much on the draft menu that interested me, so I took a chance on a bottle of J.W. Lee's Harvest Ale from 2013.  I'd never had the beer before, so it was something of a crap shoot, but I knew at least that as an English beer it was unlikely to be over-hopped like most American ales tend to be.

The beer pours a cloudy brown with thin white head that leaves behind rings of white lacing that gradually reincorporate into the beer.

The aroma is one of spice and dark fruit.

The flavor, in a word, was outstanding.  It combined all the best elements of sweet malt, dark cherry, dark fruit, and a warming alcohol presence with mild bitterness.  It was a complex but extremely pleasing array of flavors.  Despite the price of the bottle, I ended up ordering a second.  It was that good.

Lest you should think I'm exaggerating here, consider that Beer Advocate rates JW Lees Harvest Ale a 100/100 or world-class beer.  Rate Beer gives it a 99/100 overall.

I've only seen this on the shelf at Kenny Road Market and in the Cellarville room at The Winking Lizard on Bethel Road.  You might find success elsewhere in town, but you might want to call first. Shelf price at Kenny Road Market when I last bought a bottle was $8.99.

New Holland Night Tripper (6/10)

New Holland's Night Tripper is an Imperial Stout.  Their web site says "An abundance of roasted malts and flaked barley create rich, roasty stout with deeply intense, lush flavors."  It's rated at 11.5% alcohol by volume and 45 IBUs, which is relatively low for a stout.

Night Tripper pours a clean dark brown with hints of mahogany. A thin tan head atop the beer lasts a while.

The aroma combines bourbon, alcohol, and malt.

The flavor starts sweet and malty, turns to bourbon, and finishes smoky and bitter... far more bitter than you'd expect for 45 IBUs.

It's an OK stout, but nothing I'm in a hurry to have again.  I'm giving it a 6 out of 10. RateBeer likes it much better than I do, giving it a 99 overall.  Beer Advocate also likes it much better, giving it a 90 overall.  They must see something in it that I don't... or maybe I was just having a bad day.

I tasted this at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington back in 2014.  I haven't seen it locally in a while, but BeerMenus.com claims you may be able to find a bottle at Pace High Carryout for $8.99.  I'd check with them before making the trip unless you're heading there for another reason.

Kentucky Ales Old Fashioned Barrel Ale (6/10)

Generally speaking, I like Kentucky Ales' line of barrel aged beers.  They aren't anything exceptional, but they're solid beers with a good barrel-aged flavor to them and are easy to drink. They are also easy to find, being on most store shelves around town.  This makes them an easy go-to beer if I'm in a hurry to grab something.

Old Fashioned Barrel Ale attempts to replicate the experience of drinking the cocktail known as an Old Fashioned, combined with a barrel aged beer.

The beer pours a clear copper color, bordering on mahogany, with a thin beige head that doesn't last long.

The aroma is malty and oaky. There's a hint of fruit but this is mostly subdued.

The flavor starts malty, mildly sweet, and oaky.  A slight warming note is felt at the back of the throat. The cherries and orange peel mentioned on the label are detectable but only barely so.

I give the beer only a 6 out of 10.  Reviewers on Beer Advocate liked it quite a bit more, giving it an 85 out of 100 or "very good" rating.  RateBeer's reviewers were tougher on it, rating the beer only a 48 overall.

The beer can be found at many Columbus area retailers, including most large grocery chains.

Actual Brewing Temporal Abbey Ale (6/10)

Back in late March, I picked up a bottle of Actual Brewing's Temporal Abbey Ale.  This review is based on notes taken at the time I sampled it.

Temporal pours amber color with some orange to it. It has a creamy beige head that lasts a while.

The aroma is malty with a hint of sourness to it.

The flavor starts with malt and hops in balance and then the hops swells up slightly and a kind of sour funk appears. The finish is bitter and lingers a bit. On balance, it's not what I expect from an abbey ale so I can't say I'm overly fond of it.

As of this writing, there are only 3 reviews on Beer Advocate.  These score it at 3.79, 2.81, and 3.82 out of 5.  If you average those scores and convert them to a 10-point scale like the one I use, it works out to a 6.94.  So other reviewers seem to like Temporal a little more than I do, but not a lot.

I've seen this beer on a number of store shelves around town, most notably Kenny Road Market.

Actual Brewing Woodford Reserve Barrel Aged Red Ale (7/10)

Actual Brewing of Columbus has produced a number of very nice beers.  When I had the opportunity to sample their Woodford Reserve Barrel Aged Red Ale, I didn't hesitate.

Although I'm not a huge bourbon fan, I did learn (thanks to a sampler at The Winking Lizard a couple of years ago) that I do like Woodford Reserve's bourbon.  Since I also like several of Actual Brewing's beers and barrel-aged beers in general, it seemed like a match made in beer fanatic heaven.

The beer pours a medium brown with finger thick white head that lasts a little while, then leaves behind line like lacing as you can see in the photo.

The aroma is malty and oaky, hinting at the bourbon flavoring in the beer.

The flavor is roasted malt at the start, then the bourbon and oak flavors rise up, followed by hops bitterness.  It's pretty well-balanced, though a tad dry and hoppy for my taste.

I give the beer a 7 out of 10 overall, which means I like it but simply don't love it.  You'll have to go with my opinion on this, as there's nothing on Beer Advocate or Rate Beer for it as of this writing.

I haven't seen the beer anywhere other than The Daily Growler, and it's long been off the menu there.

Actual Brewing Saison Du Poincare (8/10)

Here's a pro tip for reading beer reviews on this blog. If the picture shows much less than a full glass, the odds are very good that I enjoyed the beer so much that I almost finished it before realizing I had a photo to accompany the review...

I sampled Actual Brewing's Saison du Poincare late in 2015 at their taproom near the Greater Columbus International Airport.  Sadly, it looks like this beer may no longer be available... so consider this review a recording for posterity as to how good it was.  (I'm basing this on the fact that it's not listed on their web site.)

Actual describes this as "a dark saison, brewed with everything we had left in the 'cabinet' at the end of the brewing season."  I think they're being a bit modest with that description.

Saison du Poincare pours a hazy amber with white head that lingers and leaves no lacing.

The aroma has the typical Saison funk to it with some fruity notes.  I get a bit of tartness as well.

The flavor starts with a mix of sweet malt, citrus, and Saison funk.  Hops bitterness is well balanced, which is what I look for in a Saison.

I'm giving it an 8 out of 10.  Untappd gives it a 3.63 out of 5.  Beer Advocate had no reviews until I added mine.  RateBeer doesn't even have the beer listed.

Barley's Peach Infused Point of Origin (8/10)

Every year, Barley's Ale House near the convention center prepares a batch of their Origins Game Fair inspired Belgian golden ale Point of Origin. 

Brewmaster Angelo Signorino does a great job with the beer, which sells well to the thirsty gamers in town for the convention. Today he did something a little different, tapping a cask of the beer infused with peaches.

This version of Point of Origin pours a slightly orange gold with creamy white head.

The aroma is a mix of peach, orange, combined with Belgian fruity and spicy notes.

The flavor begins with a nice slightly sweet malty note with Belgian fruit and spice elements. These give way to a mix of peach and orange rind, with a touch of hops bitterness. The orange rind and hops bitterness lingers in the finish.  As a cask conditioned ale, it's a bit smoother than the standard Point of Origin, while no less tasty.

The only place you'll find this is at the Barley's Ale House location on High Street across from the Greater Columbus Convention Center.  Price is $6.99 per pint, while it lasts.

I hope Angelo considers putting this one into regular rotation in his brewing schedule.  Really nice. I'm giving it an 8 out of 10, possibly a 9 if a second pint is in my future...

Actual Brewing Photon Light Lager (8/10)

Actual Brewing from here in Columbus is one of my favorite local breweries.  I like their approach to brewing, which is a combination of science and fun. They brew some good beers.

On a visit to their taproom in late 2015, I had the chance to try their Photon Light Lager, pictured at left.

Actual describes Photon by saying "This dazzling light lager has a dual nature:  a wave of golden flavor entangled with a quantum of noble hops. A challenge to brew, but a cinch to drink, this beer moves at precisely the speed of itself."

Photon pours a bright pale gold with a white head that lasts briefly. It leaves behind virtually no lacing.

The aroma is a balanced blend of hops and roasted malt.

The flavor is a clean balance of malt, hops, and a mild roasted malt.  Photon is very drinkable and a good example of the style.  The balance between malt and hops is excellent, with neither overpowering the other.  I detected no off flavors in it, either.  A really nice example of the style.

As you can see from the photo, I enjoyed it rather a lot before realizing I hadn't taken a photo yet to accompany this review.  I'm rating it a solid 8 out of 10.  I like the combination of noble hops and roasted malt, and the fact that it's easy to drink.  When I compare it to the "big names" that advertise during major sporting events on television, this is a much, much better beer.  It's the kind of brew I can imagine offering to friends and family who don't care for craft beer and having them love it.

RateBeer doesn't have enough ratings yet to give this an official number, but the existing ratings show in the 11 to 13 out of 20 range, or approximately 6 out of 10.  Beer Advocate had no ratings for the beer until I added mine.

Actual's products are available in their taproom near the airport and at a number of other locations around town.  If you like light beers, I would definitely recommend this one over any of the big-name macro brews.

Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager (6/10)

Abita Brewing of Louisiana makes Strawberry Harvest Lager.  They describe it as "a lager brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops" with "Real Louisiana strawberry juice" added after filtration.

Strawberry Harvest pours a clear yellow with thin white head that doesn't last long. 

The aroma is very definitely strawberry with a hint of beer behind it. 

The flavor is a mix of strawberry, lager, and mild bitterness. The finish is kind of a mix of hops and green strawberries.

Rate Beer gives Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager a 25 overall.  Beer Advocate is kinder, giving it an 80.  I am somewhere in the middle, rating it a 6 out of 10.  I give it a 6 out of 10.

This beer is available at a number of Columbus retailers.

ABV: 4.2%
IBU: 13

Dogfish Head Oak-Aged Noble Rot (7/10)

Dogfish Head Oak-aged Noble Rot

Dogfish Head is one of my favorite breweries, but not because of their much-celebrated 90-minute and 120-minute IPAs.  I'm a fan because of their more "off-centered" fare, like Ta Henket, Raison D'Etre, Chateau Jiahu, Palo Santo Marron, and Noble Rot.  I'm also a fan of barrel-aged beers, so seeing a bottle of Oak-aged Noble Rot on the shelf meant that I needed to bring one home with me.

Oak-aged Noble Rot pours a very crystal clear golden yellow color with a white head that appears and disappears in an instant.

The aroma will remind you very much of a white white wine, which is due to the beer including juice from viognier grapes that have been infected with a fungus or "noble rot".  This fungus reduces the water content in the grapes while amping up their flavor and complexity.  Pinot gris must is also added to the brew.  When all this is combined with pils and wheat malts, the result is something like a pilsner mixed with a white wine.  Toss Noble Rot in with some oak, and the wine elements come out even more strongly.

The flavor starts with a strong oak hit.  This gives way briefly to the malt.  After the malt, the white wine flavors come through in force.  Probably because of the strong oak start, the grape element is much more like wine than it is in the "non-oaked" version of Noble Rot.  The kind of musty, funky elements of the wine grapes make appearances throughout the sip.

To be honest, although I like this beer, the version that's not oak-aged appeals to me more.  The oak in this is almost too much, and takes the beer much closer to a white wine.  This is not to say that I dislike the beer, just that I don't like it as well as regular Noble Rot.

Beer Advocate rates Oak-aged Noble Rot an 87/100.  Rate Beer gives it a 91 overall.  I think I'm in good company saying that I prefer the regular Noble Rot to the oak-aged version.  Beer Advocate's rating on the "regular" beer is 88-90 out of 100, versus 87 for the oak-aged version.  Rate Beer gives the regular Noble Rot a 92 overall, versus a 91 for the oak-aged version.

When I rated Noble Rot back in 2012, I gave it an 8 out of 10.  I intentionally didn't look at that rating until I had decided to give the Oak-aged Noble Rot a 7 out of 10.  Thankfully, I am consistent in my ratings.

When they are available, I see Dogfish rarities like this at most local craft beer retailers, including Giant Eagle, Kenny Road Market, The Andersons General Store, and others.  Being that it is a rarity, you may not find it unless you happen to be in the right shop at the right time.

Dogfish Head Beer to Drink Music To (4/10)

I'm a big fan of several Dogfish Head beers.  I love Ta Henket, Chateau Jiahu, Raison D'Etre, and Palo Santo Marron.  When I saw that Dogfish Head was doing a Belgian Tripel, I rushed out and grabbed a six-pack having never tried it.  I figured with Dogfish Head behind one of my favorite styles, it had to be good.

According to the label, Beer to Drink Music To is brewed with sweet orange peel, green cardamom, peppercorns, and vanilla.

The beer pours a hazy amber color.  It's a little darker than some of the true Belgian tripels, but I didn't hold that against it.  The head is thin and dissipates very fast.  The photo at the left is about three seconds after the pour and there's not much head left.

The aroma seems to mix vanilla and clove, which came across as medicinal the first few times I smelled it - which was definitely not appealing.

The flavor starts malty, mild, and somewhat dry.  After this initial somewhat non-descript hit, the beer turns bitter, with a mild burn.  The spices and orange peel seem to muddle together into something that seems a little pleasant at first, then begins to seem artificial, medicinal, or chemical-like.  More than anything, it's just bitter, as though it's trying to be a tripel for the IPA set.  It gets a little less bitter and more pleasant as it warms, but it's never the equal of tripels like Victory Golden Monkey, La Fin Du Monde, Tripel Karmeliet, and the like.

As much as it pains me to say this about a Dogfish Head beer, I really don't like it. I want to.  It's got the right pedigree and it's a favorite style, but this interpretation of it just turns me off.  Sadly, the best thing I can say about it is that the bottles will be valuable to me in my home brewing efforts and I'll probably get more of those than I did the beer.  Dogfish Head's bottles are nice and thick glass, and the labels remove without too much effort, to they're a good homebrew bottle.

I seem to be in the minority here.  Beer Advocate gives Beer to Drink Music To an 87 or "very good" rating.  Rate Beer gave it an 84 overall.  I'm giving it a 4 out of 10, which on my scale means I'd probably rather drink one of the macro brews.  I hate to be that harsh to a brewery I really like but this beer just does not do it for me.  Your mileage, of course, may vary.

I found the beer about a month ago at Giant Eagle in Hilliard.  It's taken me over a month to finish the six pack, and it doesn't seem to get better with age.

River Rat Hazelnut Brown Ale (8/10)

River Rat Brewery of Columbia, South Carolina, produces this Hazelnut Brown Ale.

Their web site describes the beer as "A traditional mild brown ale brewed with English malts, hops, and fresh Hazelnuts.  Malty and nutty with a mild hop presence makes this Brown Ale approachable for novice beer drinkers, but can satisfy those who like a malty dark ale."

While I bristle a bit at the "novice beer drinkers" label, that description certainly had my attention. (Just because I don't particularly like hop-forward styles doesn't make me a novice drinker any more than not eating hyper-atomic-hot buffalo wings makes someone a novice wing eater.)

Before I continue, it's important to note that as far as I know, this beer is not currently available in Columbus, Ohio.  It appears on this web site as a service to Columbus residents who find themselves in South Carolina or another place where it's available, and perhaps as an enticement to River Rat to consider expansion into Ohio.

The beer's aroma is a slightly nutty roasted malt bouquet.  It's very reminiscent of any English made brown ale you've ever tried, which is to say it does seem "approachable" by all craft beer fans.

The beer pours a nice medium brown with a head that disappears almost as quickly as it appears.  By the time I'd set the bottle down, the head was like you see in the picture - which is to say, gone.

The flavor of the beer is exceedingly well balanced between malt and hops.  You wouldn't call this a particularly malt-forward or hop-forward beer.  There is a strong roasted grain presence which brings to mind excellent brown ales from England.  The hazelnut flavor is present if you look for it, but doesn't dominate or overwhelm the beer's other flavors.  All things considered, this is an extremely well-done brown ale.  It's not trying to be an "Imperial" or "American" or hoppy ale, nor is it sweet and cloying.  It's a very easy-drinking beer.  If you could find this on Columbus shelves, I can imagine picking up a six-pack every so often to have around.

This being said, Beer Advocate reviewers have only provided three reviews for the beer as of this writing.  One gives it a 1.85 out of 5.  The others are approximately 3.5 and 4.5 out of 5.  I'm giving it an 8 out of 10 because I think it's a great example of the brown ale style and is competently brewed.

If you want to try this one for yourself, check BeerMenus.com or River Rat's web site to see where it may be found.

Stone Bourbon Barrel Aged Arrogant Bastard (8/10)

Stone Brewing Company's Arrogant Bastard Ale is one of the two hoppy beers I occasionally seek out and drink.  Being a fan of barrel-aged beers, it seemed natural to grab a bottle of Stone's Bourbon Barrel Aged Arrogant Bastard... so I did.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Arrogant Bastard pours a bright mahogany with a thick beige head that lasts a while and leaves behind sheet like lacing.

The aroma is a mix of caramel, bourbon, and hops in pretty much equal parts.  The Bourbon might be just a bit more dominant.

The flavor starts with a strong bourbon hit, followed by hops bitterness, which I expect for Arrogant Bastard. I get a little caramel and vanilla in the aftertaste, and it finishes bitter. The bitterness lingers.

As bitter beers go, this is definitely one of my favorites.  The mix of caramel, bourbon, vanilla, and hops is well done.  I'm giving it an 8 out of 10.  Beer Advocate rates it an 87 or "very good" while Rate Beer gives it a 97.  We all seem to agree that it's pretty good.

This was a limited release beer.  If you haven't found a bottle already, you may have trouble locating one.  Their Beer Finder web application says there are zero locations nearby.

Hoppin' Frog BORIS the Crusher Reserve (8/10)

A few years ago, I took part in The Winking Lizard's World Beer Tour.  Although I'd learned to avoid beers with certain words in the title (American, Imperial, Pale Ale) because they tended to be hop-forward and unpleasant to me, I gave Hoppin' Frog's BORIS the Crusher a chance.  This Imperial Russian Stout turned out to be a favorite.

When I recently saw that Hoppin' Frog had relased BORIS the Crusher Reserve, I was intrigued.  I picked up a bottle at Savor Pint and brought it home.

This version of BORIS, according to the label, is "brewed with even better dark grain - the finest imported dark grain" to make it even better.

The beer pours a thick, black motor-oil-like color with a thin brown head that doesn't last long and leaves behind no lacing.

The aroma is chocolatey, malty, and sweet.

The flavor starts malty and dry, but then turns sweet, bitter, and warming.  For my taste, it's a bit more bitter than I care for but still quite drinkable.  The mouthfeel is creamy and silky, similar to a melted milkshake.

It's a good stout. I'm giving it an 8 out of 10.  Beer Advocate has no official number yet, but the reviews there as of this writing work out to around an 8 out of 10 also.  Rate Beer gives it a 98 overall.

Cigar City Brewing Jai Alai IPA (5/10)

This week concludes our three-beer tour of the Miami area with Cigar City Brewing's Jai Alai India Pale Ale (IPA).  Cigar City Brewing of Tampa produces this beer.

It pours slightly hazy amber color with thick white head that lasts a while.

As would be expected for an IPA, the aroma is hoppy, loaded with pine and grapefruit.

The flavor, also as expected for an IPA, is predominantly hops and grapefruit.

Not being an IPA fan, the beer gets a mere 5 out of 10 from me.  I don't know that I've ever rated an IPA higher than that. That doesn't mean it's a bad IPA.  In fact Rate Beer gives it a 99 out of 100 overall and Beer Advocate gives it a 100 out of 100 or "outstanding" rating.  If you like IPAs, then you'll definitely want to check this one out when you're in Florida.  If, like me, you don't care for the style... well... this one isn't going to change your mind about it.  It's a typical American IPA as far as I'm concerned.

As far as I know, Cigar City isn't shipping its beer into Ohio yet, so you'll need to take a road trip south to try it.

Funky Buddha Floridian Hefeweizen (7/10)

On the same trip in January that brought you last week's Shark Bait mango wheat ale comes this week's beer, Funky Buddha Brewery's Floridian Hefeweizen.

Floridian won the brewery a Gold Medal in 2015's Best Florida Beer Championships.  The brewery says "our unfiltered and refreshing German-style wheat beer is full on flavor yet light on the palate.  Authentic hefeweizen yeast creates the compelling aromas of bananas, citrus, and cloves, while the all wheat and malt body perfectly captures the brilliance of a golden Florida sunset."

Floridian pours a hazy gold with a thin white head that doesn't last long.

The aroma is indeed malty and citrusy, though I didn't pick out the usual hefeweizen clove and banana in it.

The flavor is a mix of malt and citrus at the start, followed by clove and hops, with a mildly bitter and citrus finish.  I'm not a huge fan of wheat beers, but all things considered, this is a decent one.

In all, I give it a 7 out of 10.  Beer Advocate liked it a bit better than I did, giving it an 86 or "very good" rating.  Rate Beer liked it slightly more, giving it an 89 overall.

Unfortunately, I don't think Funky Buddha's shipping beer to Ohio yet, so you'll need to head south if you want to sample this one.

Miami Brewing Co. Shark Bait (8/10)

While passing through the Miami airport in January, I stopped to sample a few local beers.  One of them was Miami Brewing Company's Shark Bait.

Shark Bait is a mango wheat ale.  It pours a hazy yellow gold as you see in the picture to the left, with a finger-thick white head that lasts a while and leaves behind spotty lacing.

The aroma is a mix of mango, malt, and possibly noble hops.

The flavor starts slightly sweet, then the mango swells up and adds tartness.  Hops follows that.  The finish is a mix of mild mango and hops bitterness. It's a very easy to drink beer, as you can see from the amount that had already vanished by the time I took the photo.

I am not a big wheat beer fan in general, but I liked this one. Drinking it made me feel not like I was sitting in an airport restaurant, but like I was on the beach in Miami listening to steel drums and watching the tide come in.  That's not a difficult image to take in January.  In the end, I rated the beer an 8 out of 10 for its overall experience.

Surprisingly, Rate Beer gives Shark Bait only a 55 overall.  Beer Advocate didn't have a score when I checked in March 2016, but the few reviews that were posted were in the (approximate, adjusted) 6-7 out of 10 range.  I think they're being a bit hard on it, myself.  While it may not be the equal of some of the world's most-celebrated beers (like Westvleteren XII or Pliny the Elder) it's a competent beer that is easy to drink and is more palatable than the macros.

Sadly, the last time I checked this beer isn't available here in Ohio.  You'll have to make a trip south to pick some up.

Seventh Son Abbadon Belgian Quad (8/10)

As of this writing, the Upper Arlington location of The Daily Growler has Seventh Son's Abbadon Belgian Quad.

According to the marketing literature "Abbadon is the angel of the abyss. He controls a plague of locusts that resemble horses with crowned human faces, women's hair, lion's teeth, wings, and scorpions' tails that torment anyone who does not have the seal of God on their foreheads.  A rich, malt-forward, monastically-inspired beer featuring flavors of dried fruit, bitter orange, white pepper, and an elegant port wine sweetness."

As you can see in the photo, Abbadon pours a dark brown color with reddish hues.

The aroma is malty with a strong dark fruit element.

The flavor starts with a solid balance of malt and hops, without too much of either. After this, sweetness and dark fruit, sweet malt, a touch of cloves, and a peppery warming element make their appearance.

As a fan of Belgian style beers, I was impressed with Seventh Son's work here.  It's nicely balanced, has typical Belgian flavors to it, and is neither cloying or too dry.  It's a really nice beer.

Beer Advocate has only a single review at present, which gives the beer a 4.25 out of 5.  Rate Beer has three reviews, which average out to around 78 out of 100.  I'm giving it an 8 out of 10, because it's a well-executed quadrupel.

Ommegang Game of Thrones Iron Throne Blonde Ale (6/10)

Being a sci-fi geek in addition to a beer geek, it should probably be blasphemous to say this, but I don't watch Game of Thrones.  There were too many characters to keep track of and the story just didn't grip me.  To take the blasphemy a step further, although I love several Ommegang beers, I've found them all to be overly hoppy, unlike my favorite Ommegang brews.  My favorite of them so far is the Valar Morghulis Dubbel Ale.

That said, I'm always willing to give Ommegang a chance.  I picked up a bottle of Game of Thrones Iron Throne Blonde Ale on a recent beer shopping trip for $8.99.  I don't recall where it was, but these beers get such a wide distribution that you shouldn't have trouble finding them.  I typically see them in Giant Eagle and other local retailers.

Iron Throne pours a hazy blonde color with enormous white head that has the consistency of whipped cream  The glass in the photo at the left was poured fairly slowly and carefully, yet generated the head you see in the image... which lasted a while.

The aroma is a mix of hops, cloves, and has a bit of a grassy farm feel to it. Some citrus comes through as well.

The flavor starts with hops and cloves (probably from the wheat). The hops recede a bit after that and allows the underlying spice and lemon peel notes to rise up a bit. The finish is pure hops bitterness. While Ommegang describes this as a “gently hopped” beer, I’d say it’s only gently-hopped if you compare it to an IPA or American Pale Ale. 

New Belgium's Ben &Jerry's Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale (6/10)

New Belgium partnered with Ben and Jerry's to create this special release brown ale.  Proceeds from the beer benefit the climate-change organization POW (Protect Our Winters).

New Belgium's web site describes the beer by saying that it "scoops the lip-smacking fun of dessert from a bowl right into your pint glass.  Brewed with specialty ingredients and a healthy sweet tooth, this beer's chocolaty, salted-caramel, vanilla goodness is worth savoring to the last drop."  Now for my take on it.

The beer pours a dark brown, almost a porter-like or stout-like black, with a thick beige or tan head. Held up to a bright light source, the color's more a mahogany brown.

The aroma does bring to mind a pan of slightly burnt brownies, dark roasted malt, and maybe just a hint of coffee.  The aroma does seem to die down dramatically with the presence of the head, which lasts for a minute or so before retreating into the glass, leaving behind spotty bits of lacing that remind me of ink blots or the Batman logo.  (No really, on my glass it did.)

The flavor, to be perfectly honest, reminds me of a classic porter.  I get the bitterness and tannins I would associate with stouts and porters.  I get a hint of the salt mentioned in the name, and maybe some touch of burnt sugar.  Brownies and salted caramel?  No, I don't taste it.  Don't smell it either. There's a kind of earthy flavor to it also, which again reminds me more of a porter.

Maybe I had a bad bottle, I don't know. One review on Beer Advocate said it tasted like a brownie, loaded with fudge and chocolate.  I don't get that at all in mine.  Another said the taste is a blend of caramel and chocolate.  Again, not there in mine.  In fact, if you'd handed me a glass of this and called it "so and so's Porter" I wouldn't have questioned you.

Beer Advocate gives this an 81 or "good" rating.  Rate Beer gives it a 61 overall.  I think I'm going to side with Rate Beer on this one.  New Belgium makes some great beer.  Ben & Jerry's makes some great ice cream.  But this beer ... not a fan.  I'm glad I only bought one bottle to try.  I think any others would sit in the refrigerator forever.  I give it a 6 out of 10.  Better than the macro brews, but there are others I like better, including others from New Belgium.

I've seen this on sale at local Giant Eagle stores, as well as a number of other craft beer outlets.  If it's still on the market, you shouldn't have any trouble finding it - if you really want to.

New Belgium Long Table Farmhouse Ale (7/10)

I'm a fan of New Belgium Brewing since first trying their beer at the brewery in Fort Collins.  I was very happy when they entered Ohio, then sad that they didn't bring in my favorite beers.  Their Cascara Quad and Abbey ales were my favorite.  Since then both have made it to Ohio.

Long Table is New Belgium's farmhouse ale. 

It pours a hazy gold with a thick, whipped cream like white head that lasts an unusually long time.

The aroma is loaded with citrus and wheat malt, and what seems to be noble hops.

The flavor starts mildly hoppy, citrusy, and lightly malty. The hops bitterness is slightly dominant.

Beer Advocate rates the beer 85 or "very good".  Rate Beer gives it a 68 overall, which equates to my rating of 7 out of 10.  I like the beer but don't love it. I much prefer their Trippel, Abbey, or Cascara Quad.

The beer is 6.2% alcohol by volume and is rated at 20 IBUs.

It can be found at many central Ohio retailers.  I've seen it at Giant Eagle and others.

Long Trail Brewing Culmination Imperial Chocolate Porter (6/10)

Before finding Culmination on a local store shelf, I had only heard of Long Trail Brewing Co. of Vermont.  I looked up Culmination on Beer Advocate and saw that it got a 90 ("outstanding") rating there and a 96 from Rate Beer, so I bought it.

Culmination pours a dark black color with finger-thick tan head that doesn't last long, owing to the 9.3% alcohol content.

The aroma is strongly chocolatey, with a hint of coffee behind it.

The flavor starts surprisingly bitter and hoppy for a chocolate beer.  It's so bitter, in fact, that it took my by surprise.  I couldn't taste anything but hops and blackened malt for the first sip.  Chocolate only showed up in the aftertaste.  On subsequent sips, I found that the roasted grain and hops continued to dominate the flavor.  It lives up to that "Imperial" moniker.  The typical porter falls somewhere in the IBU range of 18 to 50.  At 54, this beer's hopped well beyond the typical porter.

The official Long Trail web page for Culmination says that "a malty sweetness is balanced with bitterness and a slight dryness from the alcoholic strength.  Look for notes of coffee, liquorice, mild chocolate and more subtle hints of fruit and spice."  As I continued to drink it, I did manage to get hints of chocolate and coffee, with instantaneous hints of that "malty sweetness".  There's a fair amount of burn to it as well.

Ultimately, I'm really disappointed with this one.  The label (which mentions cacao nibs) and the aroma (very chocolatey) gave me the expectation of a smooth, chocolatey, slightly-sweet beer.  The reality is that it's mostly dry, bitter, and barely chocolatey at all.  I'm giving it a 6 out of 10, which rates it above the macro brews, but only barely.

But that's just me, I guess.  Beer Advocate and Rate Beer loved it.  Then again, they often disagree with me on the more hoppy brews.  I don't care for them, but the reviewers there do.  Your mileage may vary depending on your taste.

I purchased this from Weiland's Gourmet Market.  It may also be available at The Hills Market (either location) according to Long Trail's web site.

Kulmbacher Eisbock (8/10)

The German Eisbock style was reportedly invented by accident when a brewer left a barrel of bock beer outside overnight.  When poured from this frozen barrel, much of the water had crystallized, effectively concentrating the flavor and alcohol content of the resulting beer.  Today, we're still making and drinking it.

Kulmbacher Eisbock pours a very dark brown, almost black color with a finger-thick beige head that doesn't last long - thanks to the generous alcohol content.

The aroma is sweet and malty, with some earthy, herbal like notes from the noble hops.

The flavor is a malt-lover's dream, and probably a hop head's nightmare.  Lots of sweet, intense malty goodness and minimal bitterness.  I get hints of caramel, raisin, and a definite warming note.

RateBeer gives it a 98 out of 100.  Beer Advocate gives it a 94 or "outstanding" rating.  I can't argue with them.  It's a great beer.  I give it an 8 out of 10.

I had this particular bottle at The Winking Lizard, but I've seen the beer on the shelves at several local stores, including The Anderson's General Store on Sawmill and, I believe, Kenny Road Market.

Ommegang 2015 Belgian Independence Day Dry-Hopped Tripel Ale (6/10)

Each year, Brewery Ommegang produces a beer honoring Belgian Independence Day.  The style of beer differs each year and (so far) isn't repeated.  For July 21, 2015, Ommegang decided to dry-hop a Belgian Tripel with Mandarina Bavaria hops.

2015 Belgian Independence Day pours a slightly hazy gold color with thick beige head that doesn't last long.

As we would expect for a dry-hopped beer, the aroma is hoppy and mildly fruity.

The flavor is a bit bitter for a Tripel, so much so that it takes away from the other great flavors of the Tripel.  I would imagine that fans of pale ales and IPAs would find this beer more pleasant than other Belgian Tripels because of the added hops bitterness.

RateBeer gives 2015 Independence Day Dry-Hopped Tripel a 97 overall.  Beer Advocate gives it a 91 or "outstanding" rating.

DuClaw's Sweet Baby Jesus Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter (6/10)

DuClaw Brewing Co. of Baltimore, Maryland, makes Sweet Baby Jesus.  This is a peanut butter flavored porter, described on the label as "A classic, full-bodied robust porter with a smooth,  dry finish and just enough hops to balance aromas and flavors of roasted malt, chocolate, and peanut butter."  The bottle pictured here is the third time I've had the beer.  Once was at a beer event.  The second time at a restaurant where it was the only craft beer choice that wasn't an IPA.  So I think I have a pretty fair and accurate picture of Sweet Baby Jesus across time, draft vs. bottle and place.

The beer pours a pitch black color with thin medium brown head that doesn't last long or leave behind any lacing.

The aroma is a mix of peanut butter and roasted grain, with hints of coffee and chocolate.  It smells as much like a dessert as anything.  It puts me in mind of a Snickers pie or some kind of mocha peanut butter dessert.  A+ to DuClaw on the aroma.  They nailed that!

The flavor starts very malty, with no hint of hops, chocolate, coffee, or peanut butter.  In that instant, it's almost like DuClaw pulled the rug out from under you because nothing from the aroma appears in the initial taste.  After that surprise wears off, roasted malt, a hint of chocolate, a touch of peanut butter, and a well-balanced hops bitterness swells up.  There's a kind of sourness that I get in most porters that is more subdued here, perhaps hiding behind that swirl of powerful flavors.  The finish is bitter, kind of a mix of coffee and hops, and lingers quite a while.

Bear in mind as you read this that I fell out of love with porters a while ago.  They were probably favorite beer at one point.  I brewed a few before once day realizing I just didn't like them much anymore.  Even today, it's a style that I "don't mind" but can't say that I love.

Given that warning, it's probably no surprise that my rating for this beer is a 6 out of 10.  The aroma's a clear 10 out of 10.  If I ever brewed something that smelled that great, I'd be proud.  While I love the aroma, the base beer is primarily a porter.  A good porter, to be sure.  I like it, and I want to love it, but I just don't.  I don't think it's the beer's fault, or DuClaw's.  I think it's just not the beer for me.

That said, Beer Advocate rates Sweet Baby Jesus a 70 to an 85.  Honestly, I think I'd easily rate this a 7 or 8 out of 10 if I wasn't burnt out on porters.  Rate Beer gives it a 93 overall, which seems pretty high to me.  It's a good beer, but I'm not quite sure it warrants a 93 out of 100.

If you want to try this one for yourself, I found this bottle at the Giant Eagle Market District in Upper Arlington, but I've seen it at other Giant Eagle locations and on draft at a variety of restaurants, such as Pizza House near Morse Road.

Vliegende Paard Brouwers Prearis Quadrupel (7/10)

Long-time readers of this blog won't be surprised to know that I'm a long-time fan of Belgian beer styles. Of those, the Quadrupel is probably my favorite.  I love the malty richness, the complexity of the fruit and spice flavors, the mild hops bitterness, and amazing aromas.  When I encounter a new Quad while I'm out browsing craft beer shops, I'm always interested.

While visiting The Andersons General Store back in August 2015, I encountered a few bottles of Prearis Quadrupel.  Prearis is made by Vliegende Paard Brouwers of Oedelem, Belgium, so it's a true Belgian quad.  It won a "best craft beer" award in Belgium in 2011.

Prearis Quadrupel pours a hazy mahogany with a thick beige head that looks like a milkshake and lasts quite a while.

The aroma is malty, with an enticing mix of leather, noble hops, and dark fruit in it.

Peaeris Quad's flavor is a balance of malt, hops, a boozy warmth, and mild dark fruit flavors.  Compared to many Belgian quadrupels, it's a bit more dry and bitter.  Because I prefer my quadrupels to be slightly sweet with a balanced or subdued bitterness, I don't like this one nearly as much as many others I've had.  I'd still consider it a good quad, it's just not my favorite.  I much prefer Weyerbacher Quad, Ommegang Three Philosophers, or a number of others which are more to my taste. By comparison, Ommegang's Three Philosophers is rated at 19 IBUs (BU:GU of 0.21) versus 50 IBUs for Pearis Quadrupel (and an estimated BU:GU of about 0.52).  For that reason, I'm rating it a 7 out of 10.  When I've had it on draft, it's more like an 8, especially as it warms and the bitterness subsides a bit.

Beer Advocate rates it an 86 or "very good" while RateBeer gives it a 94 overall.

I've only seen this in bottles at The Andersons General Store near Sawmill Road.  It was on draft at The Winking Lizard on Bethel Road for a while, but I believe it's long-gone from there now.

Rogue Farms Honey Kolsch (7/10)

Rogue Ales of Oregon has been producing craft beer since the late 1980s.  Their product line has expanded over the years to include mead, cider, sodas, distilled spirits, and a very wide variety of beers.  Rogue's beers are generally known for being hop-forward and unusual.

Their Honey Kolsch is brewed with malt grown on their own farm and honey from their own hives - along with a variety of ingredients from other sources.

Honey Kolsch pours a hazy yellow with thick white head that lasts a while as a thin disc on top of the beer.

The aroma is a mix of what seems to be noble hops and honey.

Flavor is a fairly balanced mix of citrus, honey, and hops bitterness. There is a slight imbalance toward hops, expected for a Rogue Ale product.  Finish is mildly bitter and lingering.

All things considered, it's a nice Kolsch.  The addition of honey offsets to a degree the typical hop-forward nature of a Rogue brew.  I'm giving it a 7 out of 10.  Beer Advocate rates it an 84 or "good" and RateBeer gives it a 70 overall.

The Rogue web site says it's a 5% alcohol by volume beer with 26 IBUs of bitterness and a 12 Plato starting gravity (1.048 SG). This makes the beer's BU:GU ratio 26:48 or approximately 0.54.

I found this particular bottle at The Andersons General Store near Sawmill Road, and have also seen it at Kenny Road Market when in season.

Two Brothers Atom Smasher (7/10)

Two Brothers Artisan Brewing is located in Warrenville, Illinois, which is west of Chicago.  I'm a fan of their Domaine DuPage French Country Ale but hadn't had any of their other brews.

Atom Smasher is an oak-aged Oktoberfest style lager.

It pours a bright gold that's slightly brown or amber, with a white head that doesn't last long and leaves behind a few spots of lacing.

The aroma is primarily roasted grain and bread.

The flavor starts with a very slightly hoppy balance, then turns a little sweet and malty with some roasted malt present. The finish is malty and mildly bitter.  It's a nice enough example of the Oktoberfest style but doesn't strike me as outstanding in any particular way.  Then again, I'm not that big a fan of the style.

Beer Advocate gives Atom Smasher an 83 or "good" rating.  RateBeer is tougher on it, giving the beer only 53 overall.  My rating is a 7 out of 10, somewhere in between those two ratings.  I like it well enough, but I don't love it.

Atom Smasher is sold in bottles and kegs.  I've seen other Two Brothers beers at most retailers around town, including The Andersons General Store and others.  Since this is a seasonal, you probably won't be seeing it until the fall.  I tasted this particular glass at The Daily Growler when it was on tap during Fall 2015.

Lefebvre Floreffe Tripel (8/10)

Most craft beer fans have a few favorite beer styles and several favorite beers.  For me, the Belgian style Tripel is one of my favorite styles.  I'll usually try any tripel I encounter, wondering if it is better than one of my favorites.

When the Rare Beer Club's web site offered beers from all of its various clubs, I noticed the availability of Brasserie Lefebvre's Floreffe Tripel.  Naturally, I ordered some.

Floreffe pours an amber color that's nearly brown, making it a bit dark for a traditional tripel.  It has a huge beige head comprised of bubbles of all sizes from tiny to surprisingly large.  It's also quite bright and clear, which is a little uncommon in the tripels I've seen.  The texture of the foam is a lot like whipped cream once it settles a bit.  It leaves behind wide rings of lacing on the glass.

The aroma is yeasty, bready, and mildly fruity.  I get a hint of lemony citrus, too.  Maybe a hint of minerals.  That's about all.  Others might pick out more in the aroma.

The flavor starts out balanced slightly toward hops, especially when it's colder.  After that initial burst of hops there is a burst of sweet caramel malt, honey, citrus, and a definite warming note from the 8% alcohol in it.  The finish is citrusy and mildly bitter.

Beer Advocate gives Floreffe Tripel an 85 or "very good' rating.  RateBeer gives it an 88 overall.  It's not my favorite tripel, but it's certainly better than many I've had.  With a bit of aging to tone the bitterness down a bit, it might be even better.  As is, I'm giving it an 8 out of 10.  It's a good tripel, very drinkable, but not as complex as Unibroue's La Fin Du Monde or as delicious as Tripel Karmeliet.

As far as I know, this beer isn't sold here in Ohio.  I was able to obtain it mail order via the Rare Beer Club web site.  It may still be in stock when you read this.

Pigskin Brewing Saison Du Victory (8/10)

Gahanna's Pigskin Brewing Company marries football with beer in a way that feels slightly upscale without being snooty.  Their Saison Du Victory is a Belgian farmhouse ale.

The beer pours a bright gold with amber hues, and a thick white head that dissipates slowly.

The aroma is fruity and spicy without the "funk" often found in Saisons.  This makes it seem more polished and drinkable than many of its counterparts from other breweries.

The flavor starts malty with a hint of roasted malt.  A mild swell of hops bitterness, Saison fruitiness, and spice appears after this. The finish is mildly bitter and hints at the presence of citrus peel.  Overall, a really nice and easy to drink Saison.

This beer hasn't made it to Beer Advocate as of this writing.  Rate Beer only has three ratings, which average around 67 out of 100.  Interestingly the three reviewers all state that the beer has banana, clove, and funk in the flavor.  I didn't experience that in the one I had.  I like it more than many Saisons I've had (but less than others) so I'm rating it 8 out of 10.

When it's available, you can find it at Pigskin's Gahanna taproom.  You may also find it at other craft beer venues around town as a rotating draft.