...from yesterday: Burns Family Artisan Ales -- Ship Theories Bourbon barrel aged old ale ABV: 15.3%; pouring temperature: 53.2 °F; bottling info: 2025 Source: brewery 4.15/5 rDev 0% look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4 Clear, deep amber pour and body; excellent slow-rising carbonation; thin yet lasting white head, frothy and somewhat patchy appearance. Big malt and fruit combination on the nose; caramel; pear and apricot; earthy spiciness. Huge taste; sweet caramel tones offset with a passionate whiskey underpinning; fine phenol bitterness adding depth. Heavy, sticky mouthfeel; nice boozy warmth permeates everything. This is another fine beer from a, sadly, former brewery in Denver. This powerful barrel aged old ale has some punch yet keeps things pretty balanced with nothing extremely overpowering. ------------------------------------------------------ ...it was with great pleasure but more great regret that I was able to pack a small backpack full of Burns Family beers last year during their final weekend of business...I truly do miss this brewery...
Burns Family Artisan Ales -- Auld Lang Syne Brandy barrel aged imperial barleywine ABV: 16.1%; pouring temperature: 53.3 °F; bottling info: Vintage - 2020 - Ages Gracefully 25+ Years - Source: brewery purchase 4.35/5 rDev +5.1% look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25 Dark amber pour, appears a deep mahogany red in the glass, clear; dense, slow-rising carbonation; thin yet lasting head, khaki hued with a fairly dense and creamy texture. Powerful nose infused with rich, toasted caramel notes; nearly hidden pome fruit esters. A divine taste; rich, malty caramel with suggestions of dried figs; earthy spiciness, cardamon with a trace of cinnamon; an earthy booziness. Heavy mounthfeel, thick and viscous; sublime alcohol warmth permeates everything. Great googly moogly, but this imperial barleywine is fine. The label states this will age gracefully for 25+ years, but 1) I can't wait that long to try this single bottle, and 2) I likely won't be around to drink it at age 94. Yes, this thing is tasty at around six years of age. I consider it a shame that the brewery shut its doors last year, so the likelihood of getting a second bottle of this is slim, but I would jump at the opportunity to get my greedy little beer mitts on another bottle.
Forgot to cross-post this Revision Disco Ninja NE-IPA from last night. Taste is too frooty/sweet, but it has a decent dank aroma. I’ve noticed that Revision brews often smell better than they taste.
Outlaw Light from Tivoli Brewing (Colorado) I didn't quite catch on that this was a Light Lager and I thought it was kind of boring and certainly not hoppy. Then I looked it up and all was revealed. It's not that bad, just on the sweet side and corn tasting. Sudsy and prickly on the tongue. Seems like a well-made "product" if you're in the mood for the lighter side. It's just too cereal tasting with that scratch of astringency in the finish. I'm going to use it to cut the Triple IPA after a while. From the 19.2 oz can and the "best by" date has already passed so it must be pretty mature.
Drinking my second Fight Milk by Reno’s 10 Torr Brewing and Distilling on this fine afternoon. I’ve never before had a beer from these guys, as I was put off by all the different seltzers they make. I expected this to be an interesting but unusual blonde stout, but instead it tastes like a sweet Maibock. For science purposes () I opened up this second can and poured it 8 degrees warmer than the first. I’m now getting an unappealing smokiness. I think I’ll go back to avoiding 10 Torr brews.
The description on the side of the can reads like it's from some early 00's homebrewer who opened a place. Back when tiny breweries would say that their beer "tastes like an ale, but with more malt" and whatnot. Wild guess, they're probably not leaning on their technical experience.
I feel like most of the "Force" beers in the Voodoo Ranger line owe J. Wakefield a debt of gratitude for their flavor profile. It's like they keep making Haterade using an IPA base instead of a kettle sour.
GD has a new "Tropical Titan" I'm a little curious about, too. It isn't a hazy, either. Feels like a lot of the bright but still juicy tasting IPAs came and went. Well, minus Voodoo Ranger and whatever they're using to flavor it. I'm hoping that Tropical Titan hits those same notes that Green Flash Soul Style and Deschutes Fresh Squeezed did so well.
Im back in Connecticut after our trip to Colorado. thanks to those who provided some guidance on breweries etc. not enough time to make em all work , but did really like Rock Cut in Estes Park. reviews in coming! this is actually from Strange Craft Beer Company in Denver, was walkable from our hotel, so easy to fit in. This is their Dr Strangelove Barleywine, a 12% brew that I picked up in these cool twistoff crowler "cans". onto my review: Sampling a 12 oz crowler twist off can , purchased at the brewery 4 days ago. Interesting twist off cap container, I like it, remained its seal during a flight , so kudos to the gear from Strange Craft! The beer pours a crystal clear chestnut color with very dense, fine creamy khaki colored head of about 1 cm. This foam slowly fades to a strong edging with one large island in the center of my glass. Aroma on this beer is very balanced, I get some toffee and caramel mixing with hints of raisin and then a decent hit of citrus rind hops. Not really fusol or boozy even with the higher octane. First sip reveals a medium to lighter body with smooth texture and very fine and gentle carbonation. there is just a little sticky feel on the swallow. No warming or heat on the finish as this beer is a dangerously easy drinker. Flavor is as balanced as the nose advertised. I get some toffee and hints of raisin and plums, then a drying hop bite with citrus rind dominant. Finish is sort of astringent, and Im not sure if its hops or the ABV to be honest. This is a very drinkable barleywine even with the double digit ABV. I wish I had bought two of these bottles/crowlers, as I enjoy the straightforward flavor profile on this brew. Worth a grab if in Denver! 4.22 in the BA DB
Dr. Strangelove won either a gold or silver at GABF at one point. For anyone craving an American-style barleywine, it's about as good as they get.
I’m drinking my first 10 Torr Brewing & Distilling “Oh, Honey!” Blonde Ale. Not as much honey as I would’ve expected, which also means that this brew not overly sweet. In fact, sour biscuit dominates the flavor. Not quite sure what I think yet, but it’s definitely better than 10 Torr’s “Fight Milk” which is also listed as a Blonde Ale in the BAdvocate database. Cheers!
I feel like 90% of beers brewed with honey don't have much (or sometimes any) actual honey flavor to them. I get that it can dry things out or offer some additional kick, but I've always thought there were better and cheaper ways to do either/both of those things. If a beer has honey in it, I want it to taste like it. Call me weird.
I sometimes will get some floral notes or a sweet orange note from beers with honey. But as far as adjuncts go, I believe honey would be considered one, it is a pricey choice!
I had promised to share some more mountain beer reviews with y'all from things I picked up on my Colorado trip, so here we are! Tonight Im sharing something I picked up in Estes Park Colorado. This is winter lodge 2025 vintage from Rock Cut Brewery in Estes Park. Their website says its a whisky barrel aged imperial stout, but the label is a handwritten note that says barrel aged winter ale. No ABV on the label either, bummer. onto my review: Im sampling a 2025 vintage bottle of this beer , purchased at the brewery and brought home with me to CT. Bottle is 16.9floz and standard cap with handwritten beer name on label. Im pouring into my trusty snifter. No ABV on the label or bottle, do wish this evidence was present. The beer pours a dark cola color with no light passing through, a creamy soft beige colored head foams up and fades slowly. There is some dense lattice as it recedes. the foam doesnt seem to want to totally disappear though. Aroma is more spicy and toffee based than dark chocolate or roast. Label does say winter ale, while brewery website says imperial stout..... hmmm?? I do get some light chocolate but definitely some winter spices here, cloves maybe and some nutmeg. This really seems more like a winter warmer so far to this sampler. First sip reveals a smooth texture and soft body with very fine carbonation that lightly tingles across my palate. Not sticky or coating and no warming either. What is the ABV on this one???? Flavor is similar to the nose with some toffee notes and light sweetness, maybe some cocoa powder in there. Nutmeg and cloves linger after each sip with that spicy character again sending me to winter warmer. The beer drinks very easy, with no ABV on label, Im not sure if that is dangerous or not. Regardless of my style confusions, I do enjoy this beer and would gladly drink again. Easily a brewery worth visiting if in Estes Park. 4.33 in the BA DB
