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]

Barebottle Brew Co. 'Unicorn Dust' New England IPA. 6.7% abv. 30 IBU. Hazy pale yellow. Finger of white soapy Head. Excellent retention, superb lace. Nose of grapefruit, lemon rind, bright herbal spice, mild vanilla. Spicy complex mosaic hop bouquet blooms greatly as temp rises.

Front taste of juicy grapefruit, cloves, fresh ground allspice. Aftertaste is all mosaic, with abundant bright herbal-floral hops mingling with bittersweet citrus. Dry finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, round, resiny, carby.

This is a wonderful IPA, one that more than delivers on the promise of a myriad of colorful flavors. The big mosaic hop bill is a perfect compliment to the hazy, unfiltered wort that makes a New England IPA. Citrus notes pop, layered in a juicy grapefruit-lemon foundation, with ample spice throughout. This is the best N.E. IPA I’ve had yet. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"It's said that Unicorns had special powers to make water drinkable -- and we absolutely agree, Unicorn Dust is unconscionably smooth. Brewed with rainbow Mosaic hops giving notes of peach, blueberry, tangerine, and papaya."
[source: barebottle.com]

"Magically smooth ale with an explosion of rainbow mosaic hops aroma."
[source: bottle]

Toppling Goliath 'Dorothy's New World' Lager. 5.5% abv. Pale yellow in color, Hazy with plenty of sediment. Thin, white, bubbly head that dissipates quickly, right in front of your eyes. Zero head in about a minute. Poor retention, no lace.

Nose of grain, semi-sweet bread. Front taste is grain, vegetal, slight butter on the back end. Aftertaste is grassy, canned veggies. Thin body. Mouthfeel is cool, round, a little sticky on the tongue.

This is a mediocre beer, one that could perhaps serve as a "bridge beer," a beer that helps ween a Bud Light drinker into the craft beer world. It's aroma is barley, some veggie notes, slightly sweet malt, all of which are hallmarks of macro beers. The head is gone in the blink of an eye. I had to take my photos quickly as the head dropped as if it were in a contest.

If you're used to Bud Light, Coors Light, and the like, and want to explore craft beer, I suppose you could to worse than this simple lager. The brewery is proud of how "simple" it is, but one should strive to be both simple and still outstanding. If you are a seasoned craft beer enthusiast, you could enjoy this around a barbecue, maybe even marinade your beef skewers in this. Otherwise, I'd look elsewhere. Pass on this one.

From the brewery:

"Named after our father's grandmother, Dorothy's is our 'Classic Beauty." She is easy going, mild in body, and clean in taste. Each sip charms the senses with distinct flavor and refreshing simplicity. Just like Grandma Dorothy, our unfiltered flagship beer is forever dear to our hearts."
[source: can]

Head dissipated right before my eyes.

Head was completely gone after about a minute. Disappointing, even for a simple lager.

Evil Twin Brewing 'The Only Thing I Know is That I Know Nothing' New England IPA. 6.5% abv. 68 IBU. Pale yellow color, like egg yolk. Dense hazy. Finger of white soapy head. Moderate retention, superb lacing. Nose of light fruit pastry, juicy grapefruit, floral and citrus hops. 

Front taste is bright citrus rind, notes of pepper and cloves, wide spice expression on the back end. Spice builds as the temp rises to room. Aftertaste is abundant bitter fruity hops, grapefruit pulp, white bread. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, foamy, clingy.

This is an excellent beer, a more aggressive version of a New England IPA. It's a cloudy, pungent, bitter fruity beer that blasts you with hops and tall spice throughout. The notes of pepper, cloves, and citrus rind build as the beer warms, resulting in an almost over-the-cliff flavor profile, giving you much more of what you sampled at first sip. Aroma follows suit, growing in intensity with time.


The relatively new category of N.E. IPA is growing exponentially in popularity, and I admit that I have not had many as of this writing. I'm still developing a palate for them, as well as sours, seemingly their second-cousins. However, I'm quickly learning to love them, and this is one of the first to truly grab my attention and make me remember it. Well recommended, particularly if you love bitter hop bite in your brew.

(No brewing description found)

New Holland Brewing 'Dragon's Milk' Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout. 11% abv. 51 IBU. Black in color, with a finger of mocha bubbly head. Excellent retention and lace. Head drops to half-inch fairly quickly but remains there, lending to the velvety lacing.

Nose of toasted oak, bourbon, vanilla, toffee. Front taste of bourbon, caramel, light molasses, raisins, warm wood expression throughout. Aftertaste of dark fruit, bittersweet dark chocolate, bourbon, vanilla sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, boozy, thick, clingy, carby, creamy.

This is an extraordinary beer, a BBA with bright spots of fruits and chocolate, warm wood notes, all on a foundation of bourbon and vanilla. All the basic elements of a BBA are here, yet the flavor profile is complex and the body and mouthfeel are more than expected. I could confidently pick this beer out of a short lineup of BBA stouts, which is always a sure sign of craftsmanship. It's not merely good or great, it's memorable.  Wonderful brew. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Rich, toasty, and creamy with heavy notes of vanilla and just enough familiar warmth from oak barrels. Reminds us that all of life's events - big or small - are worth celebrating."

[source: bottle]

New Belgium Brewing 'Snapshot' Wheat Beer. 5% abv. 13 IBU. Hazy, pale straw color. Pencil thin white bubbly head. Low retention, some lace. Nose of light malt, mild citrus, wheat notes emerge as the temp rises to room. Front taste of tangy citrus peel, slight grapefruit. Aftertaste of mild wheat bread, grapefruit, sweet herbal. Thin body. Mouthfeel is cool, watery, a touch clingy.

This is a good mild wheat beer, a crisp, refreshing outdoorsy brew best served over the running Tecumseh engine of your lawnmower. You could easily drink six of these. Next to other similar sessionable beers, this one is easy drinking while still having a pleasant taste. It will likely prove too mild to most craft beer drinkers, but it still has its place and is better than many in its category. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Snap! You just captured an unfiltered wheat beer full of refreshment and a flash of tart at the finish. Smile-inducing aromas of citrus hops jump from the nose, accompanied by the sweetness of coriander and grains of paradise. Brewed with wheat and pale malt, Snapshot beer pours a hazy, lemon-yellow with bright-white lacing. But the real enticement is the snap of tart. New Belgium’s affinity for sour beers led to the in-process blending of lactobacillus to pucker up Snapshot’s base. An extra step to acidify and beautify and get this beer ready for its close up."

[source: newbelgium.com]

Evil Twin Brewing 'Christmas Eve at a New York City Hotel Room' Imperial Stout. 10% abv. Black in color. Pencil thin tan head. Moderate retention, excellent lace. Nose of dark chocolate. Aroma is bittersweet dark fruit as the temp lowers. Front taste of bitter dark chocolate, plum, sweet black coffee. Aftertaste of dark fruit, raisins, bitter fruity hop sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, clingy, astringent, dry finish.

This is an outstanding beer. Its dark flavor profile of chocolate, dried fruit, and coffee is rich and complex, with a malt backbone that is supported by bitter fruity hops. Another wonderful beer from this imaginative boutique brewery. Highly recommended.

NOTE: Special thanks to Anthony Olivera of the Craft Beer Drinkers of the 559 club for providing the lead photo. Cheers!

From the brewery:

"We have all good intentions to disturb, disorder and enlighten you with unforgettable beer after beer. Because we are so much in love with good taste, all the beers from Evil Twin are prepared in 10 of the best breweries around the world. Exclusively hand picked to please you with delicate, funky, extreme and by all means rare flavors. Maybe not the easiest way, but certainly the most fun!!! One More Thing. A clever man once said: 'Stay thirsty... stay foolish.' That sounds like our vision, just with a tad less attitude."

[source: eviltwin.dk]

I enjoyed Xmas NY Hotel Room on tap at one of my favorite bottle shops, Beer To The People.

Me and my beer buddy Steve enjoyed Xmas NY Hotel Room Imperial Stout on tap at Beer To The People. 

New World 'Gobernador' Toro. 6.5x55. Nice box build. Medium-dark wrap with razor straight lines, smooth surface, a couple of pronounced veins. Cut and lit well. Easy-medium draw before and after flame. First third tastes of pepper, cocoa powder, dark roasted coffee beans on the exhale. Second half has notes of dark wood, earthy spice, ground espresso. Near the band, the taste becomes roasty, black coffee, dark leaf. Even burn throughout. Ash holds two inches easily and is marbled well with medium and dark grays striped across.

This is an excellent cigar. Its construction is excellent. Its perfectly cured wrap is filled with a complex blend that imparts a myriad of flavors across the stick. Strong pepper-spice gives way to a slightly more mellow earthy, woodsy taste. Wonderful. Another AJ Fernandez triumph. Highly recommended.

From the company:

"The New World is a true work of art blended with the finest tobaccos found in the four main tobacco regions of Nicaragua.  Hand selected wrapper and fillers from Esteli, Ometepe, Condega and Jalapa are showcased in a beautiful medium to full-bodied box pressed cigar.  Notes of coffee, pepper, wood, and chocolate enthrall and entertain the palate.  Embark on the Journey."

[source: ajfernandezcigars.com]

"After a 17 year career with the Plasencia family, Ismael Fernandez has come out of retirement to join his son, the very well-known AJ Fernandez. Their first collaboration together, called New World, is a nod to the discovery of tobacco by Christopher Columbus and its introduction to the rest of the world in 1492. Draped in a bold, dark Nicaraguan wrapper and jam-packed with powerful ligeros from Esteli and Condega balanced by the uniqueness of Ometepe tobacco, this rich, medium to full-bodied blend offers an elegant, refined profile. Notes of earth, espresso, and a dense array of sweet and spicy notes characterize its smooth, complex profile. As it burns, the strength and flavors intensify perfectly before an exciting finale. There’s something really special with this one, and knowing how near and dear to AJ this blend is, they planned it that way all along."

[source: cigarsinternational.com]

New Belgium 'Accumulation' White IPA. 6.2% abv. 70 IBU. Pale yellow color. Slightly hazy. Thick white bubbly head that holds steady for several minutes before receding to a nice ring. Good retention. Great lacing. Nose of floral hops, grapefruit peel. Front taste is balanced bitter, mild sweet malt, citrus rind. Aftertaste is hoppy, herbal, with a fruity hop flavor that sustains. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, slightly sticky, creamy, oily on the back end.

This is a good IPA with ample hops and citrus notes. I don't detect the 'white' (e.g. wheat), and it's not complex or spicy as the winter-xmas label would suggest, but it is nonetheless a nice bright IPA. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"This winter, IBUs start accumulating like snow in Colorado with our new Accumulation White IPA. Brewing a white IPA was not only a way to salute the white beauty falling from the sky, but a direct revolt to the longstanding tradition of brewing dark beers for winter. At least that’s what our rebellious brewer Grady Hull likes to claim as he shovels in plenty of new hop varietals and a bit of wheat for a smooth mouthfeel. Stack up a few cases of Accumulation White IPA to keep your long nights glowing blizzard white."

New Belgium 'Salted Belgian Chocolate' Stout. 9% abv. 35 IBU. Black color with a finger of creamy beige head off the tap. Great retention and excellent lace. Nose of chocolate, spice, sugar cookies. Front taste of bittersweet chocolate, roasted grain, raisins, plum. Aftertaste of dark chocolate, notes of vanilla, plum, faint licorice. Slightly alcoholic. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, sticky, small-bead carb.

The base of this brew is their popular 'Lips Of Faith.' This is a unique and excellent brew that puts its own spin on chocolate stouts. The 'salted' and 'Belgian' components are certainly there, and the chocolate is always up front. Highly recommended.

I had this beer at a New Belgium 'tap takeover' at Spokeasy Public House. I got to keep the festive glass the beer came in, and ate chocolate cake pops made with the stout. They were extraordinary!

From the brewery:

"This collaboration with Perennial Artisan Ales pairs two favorites: chocolate and beer. Dessert is best poured. And the brewers at Perennial agree. So for our next Lips of Faith release we dreamt up a beer that would bring together chocolate sweetness, Belgian yeast, deeply roasted malts and just the right shake of salt to pour a creamy stout worthy of a cherry on top."

I had this unique brew at a New Belgium tap takeover at Spokeasy Public House.
I got to keep the festive glass the beer came in!

New Belgium 'Tour de Fall' Pale Ale. 6% abv. 38 IBU. Amber in color. Clear. A solid finger of head off the pour. Good retention and great lace all the way down. Nose of faint malt and hops with notes of citrus. Front taste has a touch of caramel, grapefruit. Aftertaste is where the hops finally come out, with a malty background and a strong citrus-grapefruit sustain. Thin body. Mouthfeel is watery, low carb. 

This is a decent pale ale. Good and worth a try, but there are far better bottles to be had within this category. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"New Belgium's love for beer, bikes and benefits is best described by being at Tour de Fat. Our love for Cascade and Amarillo hops is best tasted in our Tour de Fall Pale Ale. We're cruising both across the country during our favorite time of year. Hop on!"