Heavy Seas - The Big DIPA

Big DIPA - Uncharted Waters

When Heavy Seas decided to resurrect their Big DIPA, they knew that they needed to make it bigger and better. They’ve brought the beer back with the same 10.5%ABV as before, the same massive amounts of hops as before, but this time, they’ve aged it on oak spirals. Oak spirals suspended in solution allow more surface area to come into contact with the beer increasing the oak presence without increasing exposure time. This results in a smoother oak flavor and further compliments the extraordinary hop characteristics. Cheers!

The ABV is 10.5 and the IBU rating is 75.5
Style - Oaked Double IPA
Glass to use - Snifter, Gobbet or Chalice (Oh sin I had it in a Pint glass)
Delivery - 22oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours an amber color with a white head. Little lacing.
Aroma - Hoppy and grassy, spices and a hint of oak.
Taste - A floral hoppiness,some maltiness and a hint of oak.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and full body.
Drinkable - I like it, a Double IPA with just a hint of oaking.  The alcohol is slightly hidden but you can tell it has a kick.  For all of the hops you get out of the nose and taste there is no harsh bitter after taste.  Which is why I like so much. 

This beer pair well with sharp and pungent cheese, grilled meats (BBQ).

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-
BeerAdvocate Rating = 84
Ratebeer Rating = 95

Dogfish Head - 61 Minute

Sixty-One, our first new core beer since 2007, was born at the crossroads of serendipity, experimentation and brotherhood.

Whenever Dogfish Head President Sam Calagione and his neighborhood friends gather for drinks, they give each other a big ol' man-hug and order a round of 60 Minute IPA. A few years ago, Sam also ordered a glass of his favorite red wine and poured a little into each pint of 60 Minute. They all dug the combination of fruity complexity and pungent hoppiness, and the blend became a beloved tradition.

Sixty-One captures that tradition in a bottle and marries two Dogfish Head innovations: beer/wine hybrids -- which Dogfish has focused on for well over a decade with beers like Midas Touch and Raison D'être -- and continually-hopped IPAs.

The name Sixty-One is a reminder that this beer is Dogfish Head’s best-selling 60 Minute IPA plus one new ingredient: syrah grape must from California. The label, painted by Sam, is a twist on a typical watercolor. Rather than using water, Sam mixed the green pigment with beer and the red pigment with wine. And because Sixty-One pairs so well with chocolate, he painted the browns on the label with melted chocolate.

Sixty-One debuted in March 2013.

The ABV is 6.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - American IPA
Glass to use - Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Stein
Delivery - 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a clear red color with a white head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Hoppy, sweet and grassy.
Taste - Lightly sweet, hoppy, a tad sour from the grapes (in a good way)
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation body.  Crisp and dry.
Drinkable - A very nice alternative to the very popular 60 Minute IPA.  Another good session brew.  I first had this on draft outside on a beautiful sunny spring day watchin' the Phillies at a bar in Montgomery County, PA. 

This beer pair well with pepper cheese. We had it with spicy chicken wings.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+
BeerAdvocate Rating = 83
Ratebeer Rating = 66

Widmer Brothers - Barrel Aged Brrrbon '12

Seasonal Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Barrel Aged Brrrbon ’12 is the third installment in Widmer Brothers Brewing’s Alchemy Project, a vintage dated beer series that repeats year after year and features handcrafted beers to be enjoyed now or cellared and aged for up to several years.

Hidden in the beautiful dark amber color are aromas of vanilla and caramel that compliment perfectly the presence of bourbon. Soft oak flavors transition into a sweet yet slightly dry finish.

Following the initial brewing process of Brrr, the beer was given a fresh charge of hops during secondary fermentation and then put into Kentucky Bourbon barrels and aged for four months. After barrel aging, the beer was allowed a tertiary fermentation for final conditioning before release.

The ABV is 9.5 and the IBU rating is 40
Style - Barrel Aged Winter Warmer
Glass to use - Pint Glass, Becker, Nonic, Tumbler or Snifter
Delivery - 22oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a reddish amber color with a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, vanilla, oak and bourbon.
Taste - Mostly same as the nose, malty, the vanilla and bourbon flavors are most prominent, hint of caramel. 
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, medium body and smooth.
Drinkable - My first barrel aged winter warmer, I was not disappointed. I'm really diggin' this brew as it warms up.  My first impression was to grade this a B+ but I have upgraded my rating to a A-.   Has a nice warm after taste that's a bit on the bitter side. (Which is a positive thing).  I will look for this brew next year.

This beer pair well with cheese, desserts and white meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-
BeerAdvocate Rating = 82
Ratebeer Rating = 92