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]

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]

Clown Shoes 'Chocolate Sombrero' Mexican-Style Chocolate Stout. 9% abv. 6 IBU. Black in color with a finger+ of thick creamy tan head. Excellent retention and superb lacing. Nose of roasted malt, cocoa powder, vanilla, bright spice, earthy. Front taste of chiles swimming in chocolate, strong vanilla, spicy bite on the back. Aftertaste of chiles, bittersweet dark chocolate, cinnamon notes. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, carby.

This is a unique and wonderful beer that challenges my notions on what a chocolate stout should taste like. I compare all chocolate beers to my three favorites: Young's Double Chocolate, Samuel Smith Organic Chocolate Stout, and House of Pendragon Coco Crusader. This odd beer from Clown Shoes both joins them and stands apart, with its prominent chile spice profile, its stark bittersweet chocolate taste, and its ample use of vanilla. I love this beer. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Roasted dark malts plus extra chocolate malts plus ancho chile plus cinnamon plus vanilla extract plus a chocolate loving, beer drinking, Clown Shoes wearing, multi-limbed, gorgeous and glorious Mexican wrestler on the label. That’s the recipe for a Chocolate Sombrero!"

[source: clownshoesbeer.com]

Clown Shoes Beer 'Muffin Top' Belgian Tripel IPA. 10.5% abv. Hazy honey color. Thin white head that falls to a collar. Moderate retention and lacing. Nose of light malt and bitter hops. Front taste of light fruit, citrus peel, herbal hops. Aftertaste is an immediate hop bite, grapefruit, herbal bitter. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, stingy from the hops, effervescent.

This is an excellent IPA that goes big with the bitter hop flavor, stopping inches from going over the cliff. The light fruit-candy taste goes well with the bold flavor profile. It's not as complex as I'd like from such a big beer, but it is well crafted and worthy of your time. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"Hoppy Belgian-Style Tripel – ABV 10% Muffin Top combines the attributes of a Belgian Tripel with a huge burst of American hops. Intense flavors from the Belgian yeast, reminiscent of candied fruits, mix with the hop bitterness and sweet orange peel to create a unique take on a Belgian-Style ale."

[source: clownshoesbeer.com]