Dogfish Head - Raison D'Etre (2011)

A deep mahogany, Belgian-style brown ale brewed with beet sugar, raisins and Belgian-style yeast.
We began brewing this one at our pub in 1996 (we began packaging and selling it sometime in 1998) as the answer to the question, "What beer should I enjoy with a wood-grilled steak?" Raison D'Etre fits the bill. It's as tasty and complex as a fine red wine.

In the Quick Sip Clip video below, Sam talks about Raison D'Etre inside the new cellars for our 600-bbl fermentation tanks. The cellars were designed specifically to allow sterile yeast management. The system also allows us to automatically dose the yeast into the fermentation tanks. At Dogfish, we use multiple strains of yeast for our different beers, so we are acutely aware of all that can go wrong when you don't love and protect the yeast.

The original release date was March of 1998.

The ABV is 8.0 and the IBU rating is 25. 

Style - Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Glass to use - Snifter, Tulip or Goblet
Delivery 12 oz bottle.

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

The Pour - Pours a cloudy dark amber in color and a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Malty, raisins, spice, brown sugar and hops.
Taste - Malty, sweet, leather (peat), dark fruit and hoppy.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - A fresh D'Etre taste much better. This one did not age well. I'll stick to fresh RD'E.  I would describe this bottle as a fresh RD'E with a bit of peat.  (A strong ale mixed with a wee heavy).

This beer pairs well with steak, duck, game, wine-reduction sauces, blue cheese, goat cheese, ham, mussels.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.

BeerAdvocate Rating 83

Ratebeer Rating = 96

North Coast - Old Stock Ale (2009)

As a continuation of North Coast Brewing Co.’s commitment to quality, our Old Stock Ale is crafted in the tradition of our critically acclaimed Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale and Old Rasputin Imperial Stout. It’s brewed with classic floor-malted Maris Otter Pale Malt and Fuggles Hops imported from England, so it’s a beer to be served proudly. Like a fine wine, North Coast’s Old Stock Ale is intended to be laid down. With an original gravity of over 1100 and a generous hopping rate, Old Stock Ale is well-designed to round-out and mellow with age. North Coast Brewing Co. Old Stock Ale is a vintage dated ale. We produce a small quantity each year and it remains available from release date until our stock is depleted.

pre-2006 ABV: 11.4%.
2006 vintages: 11.6% & 13.25%.
2007 vintage: 11.7%.
2008 vintage: 12.5%.
2009 vintage: 11.5%.
2010 vintage: 11.7%.
2011 vintage: 11.9%

See my review for the 2010 vintage and the Old Stock Cellar Reserve 2009.

The ABV is 11.5 and the IBU rating is 36
Style - Old Ale
Glass to use- Snifter or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a cloudy brown color with a nice tan head.  Some lacing.
Aroma - Dark fruits, malts, caramel and toffee tones.
Taste - Malty, caramel, some dark fruits (plum), some molasses, a complex brew fer sure.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body. Slightly fizzy.  Warm after taste from the alcohol. 
Drinkable - My first 3 year old vintage of this brew.  It's starting to mature.  I have a case of the 2010 and 2011 in the cellar which I will age for several years. 

Goes great with cheeses and darker fruit.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A
BeerAdvocate Rating = 91
Ratebeer Rating = 99

Russian River - Salvation

This Belgian style Strong Dark Ale has a tawny brown color and aromas of banana and spice that dominate the initial bouquet of the beer. Lean malt flavors blend perfectly with fruit driven characteristics created by the classic Belgian yeast which fermented this ale. The alcohol content is deceptively smooth just like its sister beer Damnation. Brewed just once a year for a release in January.

Batch 010 - Bottle Date 2/15/2011

The ABV is 9.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Belgium Strong Dark Ale
Glass to use- Snifter, Goblet, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 375ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a big tan head that settles.  Some lacing.
Aroma - Lite, dark fruits, some malts and hops, Belgium yeast - bready.
Taste - Sweet, dark chocolate and dark fruits. A hint of spice.
Mouth Feel - High carbonation and medium body, smooth.
Drinkable - Pretty mellow, alcohol is well hidden.  A nice balanced brew.  Not my favorite strong dark ale but will have it again, and again.........

This beer pair well with strong cheese and beef.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B
BeerAdvocate Rating =91
Ratebeer Rating = 99