Mraz Brewing 'Creature of the Night' American Stout. 7% abv. Brewed in collaboration with Night Monster Brewing. Black in color with thin mocha head that sustains a thick ring and surface. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of roasted dark malt. Ground coffee emerges as the temp rises.

Front taste is dark malt, cocoa powder, burnt sugar. Aftertaste is black coffee, a a roasted, almost smoky expression, vanilla notes, earthy hop presence on the back end. Dry finish. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is cool, round, bright, creamy.

This is a solid stout, full of roasty flavor, supported by coffee and a slightly sweet malt backbone. The body is bold yet balanced, quite drinkable and refreshing for a big beer. An excellent example of category. Well recommended.


From the brewery:

"Creature of the Night is a darkly dreamt beast of a beer constructed with our friends at Night Monster Brewing Company. The depth of character is a well kept secret in the dark appearance of this beer. Toasted malt, caramel, and hints of coffee are pronounced on the nose. The body is balanced with warming tones of alcohol and vanilla that fade into a crisp clean finish. We hope that you find the endearing embrace of this creature to be oh so fulfilling."

[source: mrazbrewingcompany.com]

Lassen Ale Works 'Belgian Style XXX' Tripel Ale. 10% abv. 35 IBU. Copper color with finger of white foamy head that gradually recedes to a sustaining collar and scattered surface. Good retention and lace. Nose of cloves, grapefruit pith, allspice. Aromas of malt and tangelo emerge as the temp rises to room.

Front taste is cloves, citrus rind, juniper, supported by a foundation of amber malt. Aftertaste is evergreen, bright herbal hops, botanical spice, white pepper, fresh ground coriander, with a dry finish. Full body. Mouthfeel is cool-warm, round, carby, clingy on the back end.

This is an outstanding beer, a big, complex tripel made in the style of the ancient Abbey beers. An exemplar of its category, the flavor profile is pure Christmas, a winter warmer that's predominantly bright spice with subtle herbal and citrus notes throughout, all maintained by a balanced malt expression. A well-crafted, bold, old-world-style beer, refreshing in a world of wacky craft beers often too eager to push the envelope. Perfect for this time of year. Sure to keep you warm on a cold night. Grab a bottle or two, if you can find it. Highly recommended.

I had the privilege of meeting Michael Blaschak, Head Brewer of Lassen Ale Works, during a weekend camping retreat. He shared several Lassen bombers with the group, all of which were excellent. He offered to give me a bomber to review later at home. I chose this Belgian-style tripel, so that I might later be able to fully savor such a big, bold brew. Michael's a great guy. I plan on sampling all of his beers at the historic Pioneer Saloon the next time I'm in Northern California. Cheers!


From the brewery:

"Dark straw colored, wonderfully malty, complex, and rich Belgian Tripel. Belgian strong ale yeast contributes subtle notes of clove and citrus. Malt and alcohol sweetness is balanced by subtle hop bitterness and mild spicy noble hop finish."

[source: lassenaleworks.com]

This bottle was filled the day before I received it. Doesn't get much fresher than that.

Me and Michael Blaschak, Head Brewer of Lassen Ale Works in Susanville, CA. We met at a weekend camping retreat. Good guy with great brew!

Founders Brewing 'KBS' Bourbon Barrel-Aged Chocolate Coffee Stout. 12.3% abv. Black color, dense, with thin mocha head that fast falls to a sustaining collar and scattered surface. Moderate retention, decent lacing. Nose of bourbon, charred oak, dark chocolate, vanilla. The bourbon aroma steps forward as the temp rises.

Front taste is bittersweet chocolate, black coffee, plum, with vanilla and wood notes on the back end. Aftertaste is tall bourbon, bitter cocoa, raisins, molasses, with a dry finish. Full body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, round, creamy, sticky, viscous, astringent, boozy.

Two of my recent reviews were also Founders beers, with one being a surprisingly solid experimental wood-aged red, while the other turned out to be one of the worst beers I’ve had in years. Comparing notes with other beer enthusiasts, it would appear that Founders is one of those breweries that is bold and fearless to a fault, so daring that it affects their batting average. They’re hit-and-miss, particularly with their novelty offering. However, I went into today’s review unafraid, as it’s not only one of their classics, but one of THE classics of modern craft beer, a benchmark of its category.

Simply put, this is an extraordinary, big, rich, full beer, a true BBA stout, with a boozy aroma and flavor profile supported by chocolate and coffee, wrapped with a mouthfeel you can sink your teeth into. This is a sipping beer. A dessert beer. It’s meant to be a an occasional decadent treat with a complex taste, and it delivers on its promise.

Consistently ranked as one of the best beers in the world, this beer now has battalions of competitors who have met or exceeded its high standard. That being said, even in this day of bourbon-barrel aging mania, in a time when every brewery is experimenting with a barrel program, and mostly succeeding, KBS is still a knockout and a standout, still one of the best, with quality and craftsmanship evident in every sip and sniff. I’m sure you’ve had this famous brew before, but regardless, I highly encourage you to seek it out and let it warm you inside-out during a cold winter. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"What we’ve got here is an imperial stout brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year to make sure wonderful bourbon undertones come through in the finish. Makes your taste buds squeal with delight."

[source: foundersbrewing.com]

Founders Brewing 'Mango Magnifico Con Calor' 2016. 10% abv. Honey-orange color. Hazy and dense with sediment. Thin off-white head that quickly falls to a sustaining collar. Moderate retention, little lacing. Nose of vanilla, mango rind, bitter greens, fruit pastry. As the temp rose, the aroma quickly became unpleasant, with a dominant scent of salty, buttery crackers, apricot jam, and Parmesan cheese.

Front taste is mango, butter, honey, black pepper, with apricot on the back end. Aftertaste is where the jalapeño finally emerges, with roasty chili pepper tones over a jammy, herbal expression. Ends on a sweet, if not vapory finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, round, tingly from the delayed spice, increasing heat.

This is a bizarre, disappointing, nearly offensive beer, a failed attempt at combining unlikely flavors to create something special. The promised mango and jalapeño tastes are delivered in spades, but that is not necessarily a good thing, at least not within this recipe. The combination here results in an odd, off-flavor, confused beer that starts with an aroma of Parmesan cheese mixed with a jar of apricot preserves and the rotted skin of a mango. Think of a stinky foot, smothered with spoiled jam. The spice notes from the jalapeño seem to only accentuate that odd smell and taste.

I haven't had a beer this bad in years. I ended up pouring the last third of it out. I got a headache from the sugar syrup in the beer. An overall unpleasant experience. Part of me wants to try this beer again, just in case I had an infected or turned bottle. That occasionally happens with every brewery. However, the experience was so bad that I don't think I could pick up another bottle of this. 

If you like fruit beers or hot pepper beers, there are many far better choices out there. Even if there weren’t, I’d still avoid buying this failed experiment again. Pass on this one.



From the brewery:

"Mango Magnifico is a high-gravity fruit beer brewed with mango and a touch of habaneros to add just the right amount of heat. The delicate flavors imparted by the sweet richness of the mango are punctuated perfectly by the subtle heat of the habaneros, proving that fruit beers do not have to be one-note. Each 750mL bottle of this 10% ABV ale is both sophisticated and refreshing, making it the perfect beer to share… or to keep all to yourself. Mango Magnifico is part of a long lineage of Founders’ fruit beers, including Rubaeus, Cerise, Blushing Monk and Big Lushious."

[source: foundersbrewing.com]

Clown Shoes 'Space Cake' Double IPA. 9% abv. Amber color with two fingers of bubbly, ivory head. Superb retention, excellent lacing. Nose of bright, spicy hops, sweet bread, stone fruit. Malt aroma and further spice expression come through as the temp rises to room.

Front taste is caramel, bright citrus peel, herbal hops, with sweet malt and tangy orange zest on the back end. Aftertaste is bitter fruity hops, tangerine, botanical resin, with a dry finish. A taste of marmalade comes to mind down the glass. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is cool, round, tangy, thick, slightly sticky.

This is an excellent beer, a DIPA whose Mosaic hops' spice notes punch up the flavor of its malty backbone while accentuating the herbal and bready expression throughout. Its tall bitter hop bill that is balanced well with its malt base and fruit pastry profile. Think of a holiday fruitcake soaked in Grand Marnier. If that imagined taste appeals to you, this beer is sure to please. It surely pleases me. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Why are Miracle Mike and his dog, Bionic, being chased by many evil laser beam shooting cupackes and two giant layer cake mother ships?  Because we’re straight up lunatic fools?  Well, maybe, but with a few brain cells remaining we managed to craft Space Cake double IPA, utilizing citrusy Mosaic hops and an immaculate West Coast style malt backbone.  Dude… chill out.  Enjoy some Space Cake."

[source: clownshoesbeer.com]

Founders Brewing 'Dankwood' Imperial Red IPA 2018. Aged in Bourbon Barrels. 12.2% abv. 65 IBU. Deep ruby color with two fingers of thick, frothy, off-white head. Outstanding retention and superb lacing that sticks to the glass all the way down. Nose of maple syrup, oak, bourbon, bright floral hops. The bourbon aroma stands tall at the temp rises.

Front taste is fruit pastry, vanilla, bourbon, roasted malt. Aftertaste is strong bourbon, herbal and citrus hops, wood and botanical notes sustain on the back end. Full body. Mouthfeel is hot, sticky, clingy, astringent, boozy, woodsy.

This is an excellent beer, a big, boozy, barrel brew that attempts to balance the hop forward profile of an IPA and the amber malty backbone of a red ale with a nearly piercing oak and whiskey expression. It is one of the most complex flavor profiles I've tasted in a long time. Take note that this is a unique taste that will surely put off fans of those individual categories, but will sure to please connoisseurs of experimental beers that grab you firmly by the tongue. This beer is unafraid to combine the towering strengths of three completely different beers in one glass. If you welcome huge, complex taste, this is for you. Strongly recommended.


From the brewery:

"What do you get when a big, bold imperial red IPA meets an oak bourbon barrel? A palate stunner that’ll send your senses spinning or, as we like to call it, Dankwood. Rich caramel notes emerge from the depths of the IPA, highlighting strong malt character while the bourbon barrel-aging develops the complexity. A dank, sticky and slightly sweet sipper, Dankwood is the perfect alchemy of wood and hops... Dankwood is the third release of 2018 in the Barrel-Aged Series, preceded by KBS and Backwoods Bastard, our newest year-round beer."

[source: foundersbrewing.com]

New Belgium 'Oakspire' Bourbon Barrel Ale. 9% abv. 20 IBU. Honey-orange color with a thick, white, foamy head. Excellent retention and lacing. Nose of mild bourbon, vanilla, brown sugar. Herbal notes and dank fruit emerge as the temp rises.

Front taste is bourbon, maple, charred oak, bitter walnut. Aftertaste is roasted nuts, herbal hops, leather, strong bourbon on the back end, particularly when the temp reaches room. Dry finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, boozy, tangy, carby, round.

This is an outstanding beer, one with a lot of flavor and character for such a simple ale. It is marked as a "bourbon barrel ale," but take note that this is not actually aged in former bourbon barrels. It's aged with oak spirals and charred wood that once lived within such a coveted barrel. The difference is cost - and complexity - but the lovely taste is still something to savor. The profile of bourbon and wood are clear and present, with the mild boozy tones balanced well. For a budget version BBA, this is a winner. Well recommended.


From the brewery:

"A limited-edition collaboration between New Belgium and Knob Creek, Oakspire is a unique bourbon barrel ale aged with bourbon-steeped oak spirals and char from inside the barrel. Smooth notes of toffee, vanilla and caramel wrap up with a pleasantly warm finish. Oakspire: Where innovation meets tradition."

[source: newbelgium.com]

Clown Shoes 'Blaecorn Unidragon' Russian Imperial Stout. 12.5% abv. Deep black in color. Finger of foamy mocha head. Outstanding retention and excellent lacing. Nose of bourbon, raisin, plum, molasses. Anise comes through in the aroma as the temp rises.

Front taste is bittersweet chocolate, dried plums, sweet bread, allspice. Dry finish. Aftertaste is cocoa powder, black coffee, tart plum, ample fruity bitter hops. Medium body. Mouthfeel is hot, sticky, boozy, carby.

This is an extraordinary beer, a great big Russian with a complex flavor profile that balances bitter dark fruit with spice, hops, and boozy tastes. The complexity is alluring, toying with your palate. The spice blend brings to mind anise, allspice, cloves, and coriander, even though I doubt any of those spices are present. There is a distinct bourbon whisky aroma off the pour, even though no bourbon was used in the making of this beer. 

With its high abv and hefty overall construction, this be can be aged for further excellence. A wonderful big beer from a colorful, creative, brewery that seemingly can do no wrong. Strongly recommended.


From the brewery:

"Brewed with a monstrous amount of malt and combined with aggressive American hops, this beer is powerful and complex and designed to age. Smokiness is subtle but present and blends nicely with the rich, dark flavors."

[source: clownshoesbeer.com]

"What should we call our Russian Imperial Stout? Black Unicorn? Soul Dragon? Nahhh. Let's combine them and create the ultimate mythical creature: Blaecorn Unidragon! Imbued with a monstrous amount of dark malt and aggressive hops, Blaecorn Unidragon is a powerful and complex brew designed to improve with age."

[source: bottle]

Almanac Beer Co. 'Pumpkin Pie de Brettaville' Saison. 7% abv. Orange in color. Hazy. Thin white bubbly head that dissipates alarmingly fast. Poor retention, no lacing at all. Nose of tart berry, pungent peach, wine vinegar. Sour aroma steepens as the temp rises.

Front taste is sour citrus, red wine, sweet pumpkin, bright spice, cloves, vegetal on the back end with a bitter sweet finish. Aftertaste is tart stone fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, notes of caramel, squash, faint wood expression underneath. Medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, thick, juicy, clingy, yeasty, sour funk.

This is a pungent, juicy, sour beer with a myriad of spice and fruit flavors. The promised pumpkin is here, but you have to hunt for it, while the oak expression is nearly absent. The dominant flavors are tart fruit and red wine. If you were to taste this blindfolded, you'd think it was a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon with slightly rotted fruit tossed in. As harsh as that sounds, it appears to some, while turning off others. I belong to the latter group, though I admit I still haven't fully adapted my palate to sour beers. 

Regardless of the flavors, the beer was not crafted very well, likely due to the Brettanomyces yeast, which tends to be a wild card in brewing. The head retention and lacing were virtually absent, and there is no attempt to balance the flavors. 

To be clear, this is not one of those quasi-sour beers that can be enjoyed by all. It's a full-bore sour, squarely meant for those who have fully acquired a taste for sour brew. If you are a sour fan, you'll love this beer. If you are a hop head or a malt maniac, or a fruit fan, you might want to pass on this one. It's a solid beer for its category. Take that as you will. Mildly recommended.


From the brewery:

"Farm to Barrel. Farmhouse ale aged in oak barrels with roasted heirloom pumpkin and spices."

[source: bottle]

"Pumpkin Pie de Brettaville is a magical mix of barrel- aging and the rich flavors of autumn. We start with heirloom pumpkins from Bodega Bay and roast them whole to create a deep sugary caramelization. We add the pumpkins to a bright brettanomyces-fermented beer, and then age it in oak casks with a selection of our favorite pumpkin pie spices; whole vanilla beans, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Finally we blend the barrels back together to create a cohesive whole with rich layers of oak, spice and caramelized pumpkin. Pair this complex sipper alongside autumn campfires, turning leaves and one extra slice of mom’s Thanksgiving pie... Our Farm to Barrel beers focus on the eons-old tradition of aging beers in oak barrels, and our de Brettaville saisons expand upon this tradition by highlighting the magical properties of wild brettanomyces yeast. We start by brewing a bright and aromatic farmhouse ale with a blend of twelve 'brett' yeast strains. After a vigorous primary fermentation, the beer is racked into wine barrels to mature. In cask, the beer takes on the complex flavors of the oak, and the brettanomyces yeast creates an exotic melange of earthy funk and tropical fruit flavors. This wild ale is alive in the bottle and will continue to mature for years."

[source: almanacbeer.com]

This is the head immediate after pour. It fell alarmingly fast.

This is the head about 30 seconds after the pour.

This is the head (or lack thereof) less than two minutes after the pour.

Lagunitas Brewing '12th of Never' Ale. 5.5% abv. 45 IBU. Straw yellow color. Nearly clear. Two fingers of white, foamy head. Outstanding retention and lacing. Nose of sweet melon, pine, white bread. Notes of juniper and sweet spice rise with the temp.

Front taste is juicy citrus, cantaloupe rind, herbal spice, grain. Aftertaste is pale malt, lemon-grapefruit peel, fruity hops, bitter herbal hop bite. Dry finish. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, round, sticky, clingy, astringent.

This is an excellent beer, great for relaxing both the mind and the palate. The flavor profile is a mix of bready and bittersweet fruity notes held together by a juicy, herbal expression. It’s a tasty brew that’s not overpowering, balancing its components well. Highly drinkable, but not so much that it’s essentially colored water like so many other session beers tend to be. This is a finely crafted mild beer, a value beer, and another hit from one of my favorite breweries. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"The magical, mystical 12th of Never is a blend of Old and New School hops that play bright citrus, rich coconut, and papaya-esque flavors, all on a solid stage of English puffed wheat. Tropically hoppy. Light, yet full-bodied. Bright and citrusy. The 12th of Never Ale is everything we’ve learned about making hop-forward beer expressed in a moderate voice. Pale, cold, slightly alcoholic and bitter. It’s all we know... As the River Styx froze and the final pig took flight, when the last winged monkey departed the darkly fragrant netherlands, as wishes became horses and all the beggars rode… Under a newly-blued moon at dawn on the very 12th of Never: the second-to-last craft brewery in America pressed the green ‘start’ button on their canning line. We wanted to be the Last Small Brewer in the U.S. to can their beer and maybe, finally, by now, we are... The ‘12th of Never Ale’ is everything we’ve learned about making hop-forward beer expressed in a moderate voice. Pale, cold, slightly alcoholic, and bitter. It’s all we know."
[source: lagunitas.com]

Barebottle Brew Co. 'Muir Woods' IPA. 6.4% abv. 34 IBU. Pale yellow color. Hazy. Two fingers of white foamy head. Outstanding retention and excellent lace. Nose of fresh pine, grapefruit rind, cloves, white pepper, herbal-citrus hops. Aroma is pungent, grabbing my attention immediately, during the pour.

Front taste is grapefruit juice, orange peel, rye bread, pepper, with pine punching through on the back end. Aftertaste is grapefruit rind, abundant herbal hops, cloves, grassy, bitter citrus sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, clingy, carby, botanical resin, juicy.

This is a superb IPA with a flavor profile that's a myriad of juicy citrus, tall spice, and a complex basket of bitter herbal and citrus-fruity hops. The hop bill contains six different hop varieties, stepped into the boil at nine different times, resulting in a complex taste that ranges from bitter to spicy to candy sweet. The grain bill has five types of grain, again adding to a complex malt backbone that is less bready and more supportive of the citrus-spice flavors. This is the second beer I've had from this brewery, and they both leave me wanting more. I'm sure to visit their brewery for a flight or two. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"The Winner of our Muir Woods contest! This is like a citrus-laced pine cone, bursting with notes of pine needles and oranges. Rye malts add liberating spiciness both complex and refreshing."
[source: barebottle.com]

"Like drinking a citrus-laced pine cone. A portion of the proceeds will support Muir Woods National Park."
[source: bottle]

The bottle label includes the homebrew recipe for a 5-gallon batch. Very cool!