Lagunitas Brewing 'The Waldos' Special Ale. 11.9% abv. 100+ IBU. Dark yellow color. Hazy. Finger of soapy white head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of pine, tropical fruit, cantaloupe. 

Front taste of abundant fruity hops, light fruit candy, honeydew melon, berry pastry, sweet start with dry finish. Aftertaste of ample bitter fruity hops, pineapple, banana peel, distant cloves. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, astringent, thick, clingy.

This is an extraordinary beer, a TIPA that delivers a truckload of hops in a fruity bitter bundle, held together with light stone fruits, melons, tall pine, and a ribbon of sweet light malt underneath it all. The abv shines throughout, yet there is a balance in the flavor profile that keeps the booze in check, grouping it well with the other tastes. Outstanding. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"In 1971, the Waldos met one afternoon at 4:20 in the front courtyard of their school near the statue of Louis Pasteur. They set out in a '66 Impala armed with a "treasure map" on a journey to find a secret garden near Point Reyes. They met there at the same time every day and continued their quest. They never found the secret garden....But they keep lookin'. The dankest and hoppiest beer ever brewed at Lagunitas was made with help of the Waldos for all treasure hunters."
[source: lagunitas.com]

Lost Abbey 'My Black Parade' Bourbon Barrel Aged Strong Ale. 12.5% abv. Solid black color with thin beige creamy head. Moderate retention, nice lace. Nose of dried dark fruit, molasses, red wine berries, bourbon on the end. Aromas of vanilla and sweet chili emerge as the temp rises.

Front taste of dark chocolate, sweet chilies, vanilla, wood notes in the sustain. A merged sweet taste of chocolate and chili comes through as the temp adjusts. Aftertaste is chili peppers, red wine, whiskey ribbon, spiced cocoa, with a dry astringent finish. Full body. Mouthfeel is hot, creamy, boozy, sticky.

This is a superb BBA whose twist of flavor is clear and welcome. The complex flavor profile dances with abundant chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, and the ever present chili taste which is sweet and spicy but never hot. Any heat from this big beer comes from its 12% abv. and the bourbon expression from start to finish, supported by a foundation of wood notes throughout. A wonderful original and audacious beer. I urge you to seek out this gem, especially if you enjoy BBAs and experimental brews.,Strongly recommended,

From the brewery:

"In anticipation of Dia De Los Muertos and inspired by the profound flavors of Mexican Chocolate, The Lost Abbey will be releasing it’s newest and very limited celebratory creation; My Black Parade. Continuing The Lost Abbey’s trend in being inspired by worldly religious-based stories, My Black Parade tells the story of unrequited love being remembered each year on Dia De Los Muertos. A crowd of believers, that grows with each procession, making a yearly pilgrimage to an unmarked grave, waiting for true love to show up. 

"A blended Bourbon barrel-aged Strong Ale with cocoa nibs, vanilla bean and spices, My Black Parade will be limited to only 60 cases with all inventory sold online through The Lost Abbey Website. Pouring darker than a moonless night, My Black Parade begins with a deep bouquet of rich chocolate and layered hints of cinnamon and oak. Huge flavors of cocoa on the palate with notes of vanilla, bourbon, and tobacco, finishing with crisp bite from the smoked chili’s and cardamom."

[source: lostabbey.com]

Greene King 'Olde Suffolk' English Ale. 6% abv. Dark brown, red hues when held to light. Finger of foamy small-bead beige head. Good retention and lacing. Nose of caramel, sweet dark fruit. Front taste is heavy malt, toffee, toasted oak, sweet spice on the back end. Aftertaste of bittersweet stone fruit, notes of wood and spice, slightly toasty sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, carby, with a sweet finish.

This is an excellent beer, one that is decedent, malty, and rich. The aroma suggests think ribbons of caramel and fruit tones, and the taste surely delivers, offering some spice and oak underneath. My only nitpick is that I would have liked more of the oak aging to come through. I realize this is a blend, but I still kept looking for more wood in the flavor profile. A minor criticism for an otherwise worldly beer.

I first had Olde Suffolk many years ago, before barrel aging became big in America, and although it is thin compared to other barrel beers today, it still holds up. And although it is a blend and not entirely barrel aged, it has that full body and creamy mouthfeel I've come to expect from a good wood-aged brew. A classic. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A blend of classic ales, one aged in oak for two years. Brew in limited quantities. This vintage ale is dark and intense, almost ruby in colour with an appetising spicy, fruitcake aroma. This full-bodies ale combines flavours of oak, caramel and burnt toffee that will march across the palate. This award winning beer is both satisfying and rewarding and can also be the ideal accompaniment to mature English cheese."

[source: bottle]

Lagunitas Brewing 'The Hairy Eyeball' Ale. 9.1% abv. 56 IBU. Toffee brown color. Finger of tan head that falls to a sustaining collar. Good retention, moderate lace. Nose of roasted dark malt, earthy hops. Front taste of sweet malt, brown sugar, earthy bitter hops. Aftertaste is bitter, toasty, alcoholic. Medium body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, slightly sticky, foamy from the lingering carb.

This is an excellent beer, an American strong ale that delivers a high malt taste, some rich sweet notes, and a boozy bite that is hidden at first. Get this on tap when you can, and have a couple of bombers in the fridge the rest of the time. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A roasty, toasty, malty, hangover-halting beer. Especially formulated for when you wake up feelin’ like you need to shave your eyeballs to see the new day."
[source: lagunitas.com]

"Laying there, staring up at the ceiling, head pounding, last night was a dim recollection. How did he get home? Was he alone? Looking to the left and right, the answer was yes, maybe. His head was full of 'rag water, bitters, and blue ruin! His teeth felt like he'd been chewing aluminum and his breath smelled like a burning tractor tire. There was wrenching knot somewhere between his liver and East St. Louis and he couldn't be sure whether or not he'd wet himself. A yellow sine wave rang in his ears so loud it made his teeth ache and he wassurethat if he touched his skin anywhere it would induce a rhythmic retching jag. Even in the face of all that, he found himself smiling at the realization that today represented thresh breath of a new year- an undiscovered country - and also that there was still one warm, half-full, flat, redolent Hairy Eyeball on the nightstand. yes - there is a God."
[source: bottle]