Sly Fox - Incubus

A Tripel in the Abbot style, famed for its powers of seduction. Brewed with German Pils malt and invert sugar. Golden in color, dry and spicy.

I first reviewed this brew with a few friends back in 2009.

This review was done the summer of 2011 after I purchased a mixed case of Sly Fox's 22oz beers (Incubus, Ichor, Saison VOS and Raspberry Reserve)

The ABV is 10.3 and the IBU rating is 39
Style - Tripel
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip or Goblet
Delivery 750ml bottle.

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

The Pour - Pours a straw color with a white head.  Good lacing.
Aroma - Fruity, hoppy and bready.
Taste - Hoppy, some spices and fruits.  Has a slight metallic after taste.
Mouth Feel - High carbonation, medium body.  Fizzy.
Drinkable - An average triple in my opinion. But still a good beer to have once in a while.  I personally prefer the Sly Fox quad (Ichor). 

This beer pairs with white meat and strong cheeses.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B-.
BeerAdvocate Rating = B+
Ratebeer Rating = 93

Firestone - Double Jack

Double Jack IPA is Firestone-Walkers first ever Imperial IPA. It features a big malty middle to cloak the high alcohol and mouth puckering hop bitterness. Huge tangerine, grapefruit and juicy fruit aroma blossom over the herbal blue basil and malt earthiness of this aggressive beer.  

The ABV is 9.5 and the IBU rating is ??

Style - Double IPA

Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet, Chalice or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery - 22oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a amber color with a white head. Great lacing.
Aroma - Hoppy, flowery, citrus fruit and a hint of banana.
Taste -  Sweet, hoppy, malty, fruity with a small bitter after taste.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, full body and smooth. 
Drinkable - Very good, refreshing, no harsh bitter after taste (just a hint).  Watch out for the alcohol.  I purchased a case of the 22oz.  Will age several for a number of years.

This beer pairs well with cheese and meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =100

Dogfish Head - Midas Touch

This recipe is the actual oldest-known fermented beverage in the world! It is an ancient Turkish recipe using the original ingredients from the 2700 year old drinking vessels discovered in the tomb of King Midas. Somewhere between wine & mead; this smooth, sweet, yet dry ale will please the Chardonnay or beer drinker alike.

The ABV is 9.0 and the IBU rating is 12
Style - Spiced Ale
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Stein
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a straw color with a white head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, hoppy and grassy.
Taste -  Fruity-citrus and and spices. 
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body, crisp.Finishes with a warm burn from the alcohol.
Drinkable - A different brew indeed. DFH has been resurrecting many ancient beer recipes, this was the first one.

This beer pairs well with white meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating =93

Dogfish Head - 90 Minute

Esquire Magazine calls the 90 Minute I.I.PA., "perhaps the best I.P.A. in America." An Imperial I.P.A. brewed to be savored from a snifter. A big beer with a great malt backbone that stands up to the extreme hopping rate. This beer is an excellent candidate for use with Randall The Enamel Animal! 90 ibu

The ABV is 9.0 and the IBU rating is 90
Style - Imperial IPA
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Snifter, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a straw color with a big off-white head. Excellent lacing.
Aroma - Hoppy with fruity citrus-like hints.
Taste -  Sweet, malty, hoppy, some spices and citrus. 
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and big body.
Drinkable - Another great brew from DFH.  Nice warm burn from the alcohol. The hop taste is not overpowering at all.  Easy drinking but watch out for the alcohol.

This beer pairs well with cheese and meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =100

Avery - Brabant (2009)

No. 1, Brabant, is a luscious dark ale fermented with two strains of wild yeast (Brettanomyces) then aged for 8 months in Red Zinfandel barrels from Norman Vineyards in Paso Robles, CA. Enjoy sifting through the vast layers of complexity in this mysterious ale. 694 cases produced.

Bottled February 10th, 2009

Had this at the Memphis Taproom.

The ABV is 8.65 and the IBU rating is 25
Style - Barrel-Aged Wild Ale
Glass to use- Flute, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, oaky tannins, sour dark fruit - cherries.
Taste -  Malty, nice tart taste taste, some spices. 
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body, dry finish.
Drinkable - This bottle had aged for two years and it shows in a good way.  Seek it out though it may be very hard to find since the last batch was in 2009.

This beer pairs well with white meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =98

Pretty Things - Baby Tree

Baby tree is a "quadruple" brewed with a single strain of Belgian yeast. While a commonly used style name on the internet, "quadruple" isn’t in fact a style name at all but a brand of beer produced by La Trappe in the Netherlands. Its found a common usage as a cover-all for the darkest and strongest beers produced by Trappist monks, mainly because they haven’t named them themselves. Two Belgian brewers use the term "Abt", Flemish for "Abbot". Historically the best beer made in an abbey (by the Cistercians/Trappists at least) was referred to in Latin simply as "prima melior". This has also become a brand name in recent years. Our "quadruple" benefits from the addition of 40lbs of dried California plums in the kettle - hopefully contributing to the overall dark-fruit character of the beer. It’s a dark, 8.6% beer..."Baby Tree" is Pretty Things’ first seasonal beer.

Had this a the Memphis Taproom.


The ABV is 8.65 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Quadruple
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet or Chalice
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a tan head. Great lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, malty, toffee and caramel.
Taste -  Malty, some spice and dark fruits like raisins and plums. 
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body, smooth.
Drinkable - A very nice brew.  A pleasant surprise.

This beer pairs well with cheese and meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =95

La Trappe - Isid'or

This beer is indeed brewed to commemorate the 125 anniversary of the brewery. And is named after brother Isidorus, the first brewer of brewery "de Koningshoeven"..

The ABV is 7.5 and the IBU rating is ??

Style - Belgium Pale Ale

Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery - 330ml Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a amber color with a big tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, malty, toffee and caramel. 
Taste -  Sweet, bubble gum, candy-like.
Mouth Feel - High carbonation, medium body, fizzy.
Drinkable - Nice.  A little different than the normal La Trappe doubel or tripel.  

This beer may pair well with cheese and white meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =94

De Dolle - Stille Nacht

Stille Nacht (Silent Night) is a prestige beer from De Dolle Brouwers, brewed for Christmas. It has the highest density of any Belgian beer (27°Pl). It has been boiling for many hours, brewed with pale malt with white candy sugar in the kettle. The Nugget hops gives an extra bitterness to balance the extreme sweetness due to the density. The taste triangle is completed with some acidity of the fermentation. It is a very interesting beer to age. We have samples of every bottling we have done so far and aging hasn't decreased the quality of this beer. Keep some samples at 10°C and mark the year on the cap with an alcohol marker. Cheers!!

The ABV is 12.0 and the IBU rating is ??

Style -Belgium Strong Ale

Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery - 330ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours an amber color with a big white head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Fruity - banana - citrus, cotton candy
Taste - Fruity, vanilla, apples.  Bit of a harsh metallic aftertaste.
Mouth Feel - High carbonation.  Medium body.  Fuzzy
Drinkable -A nice sipper, the alcohol is hidden well with a slight warm burn at the end. 

This beer may pair well with white meat.

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

Ommegang - BPA

This fine pale ale has citrus and tropical fruit aromatic shared with a well-balanced – yet abundant – hop character. It uses Duvel Belgian yeast, five malts, two hops, and plenty of patience. Finishing touches include dry-hopping with Cascade hops and warm-cellaring.

The ABV is 6.2 and the IBU rating is ??

Style - Belgium Pale Ale

Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery - 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a amber color with a big white head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Citrus fruits and a bit hoppy.
Taste -  Some Malts and spices, some hops.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, medium body, dry finish.
Drinkable - Refreshing on a hot day, very crisp.  I will stick with real Belgium ales for this style.  Try one of the other Ommegang brews, they are much better.

This beer may pair well with cheese and white meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =97

Sly Fox - Ichor

An Abbot style Quadruple brewed with German pils and roast malts and Belgian candy sugar, hopped with German tradition hops. Luscious and seductive, Ichor is brewed for both the body and the soul. This beer will improve with careful aging but is ready to drink now.

I purchased the 22oz bottle of the Ichor and Incubus at the Broad Axe Tavern June of 2009 and shared it with some friends a few days later.

This review was done the summer of 2011 after I purchased a mixed case of Sly Fox's 22oz beers (Incubus, Ichor, Saison VOS and Raspberry Reserve)

The ABV is 10.0 and the IBU rating is 20
Style - Quadruple
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip or Goblet
Delivery 750ml bottle.

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

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a tan head.  Good lacing.
Aroma - Malty, dark fruits, molasses and toffee.
Taste - Malty, fruits - plum, raisin and dark cherry.  Hint of spice and chocolate.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, big body.
Drinkable - A good quadruple indeed that stands up to the Belgium quads.  Purchase a few bottles, drink one now and age the other.

This beer pairs with beef and cheeses.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating = B+
Ratebeer Rating = 89

Harvey's - Christmas Ale

This brews popularity made it difficult to restrict it to being available for only a limited period. Fortunately the high alcohol level enables us to brew enough to last most of the year. This ensures that we keep this ales enthusiasts happy all year round. A strong, dark, heavily hopped seasonal drink.

The ABV is 8.7 and the IBU rating is ??

Style -Winter Warmer

Glass to use- Pint Glass or Tumbler
Delivery - 275ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a brown color with no head. No lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, caramel and malty
Taste - Toffee, spices and a little licorice
Mouth Feel - No carbonation.  Medium body.
Drinkable -Very flat, don't know if this normal or if I had a bad batch.  I could not local the brew date, there's a chance it could have been an older bottle.  A strange brew indeed. 

This beer may pair well with desserts and white meat.

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

Victory - Moonglow Weizenbock

This dark amber wheat beer features fruity and spicy aromas galore. Significant strength underlies the pleasant citric appeal of this bock beer. Redolent with the flavors of harvest fruit, Moonglow typifies the traditional weizenbock-style so thoroughly enjoyed throughout Bavaria. Left unfiltered, its unique yeast strain gives Moonglow a radiance all its own.

The ABV is 9.0 and the IBU rating is ??

Style - Weizen Bock

Glass to use- Flute or Weizen Glass
Delivery - 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a amber color with a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Fruity - banana, spices and caramel. 
Taste -  Malty and spicy, little hoppy.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, light/medium body, very smooth.
Drinkable - Had this on a very hot day.  Very satisfying.  

This beer may pair well with desserts and grilled meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =97

Samuel Smith - Yorkshire Stingo

Bottle conditioned.  Some of the oak casks at Samuel Smith’s date back more than a century with the individual oak stave's being replaced by the Old Brewery coopers over the years. Gradually the casks soak in more & more of the character of the ale fermented in stone Yorkshire squares. Yorkshire Stingo is aged for at least a year, matured in these well-used oak casks in the brewery’s underground cellars deriving fruit, raisin, treacle toffee, Christmas pudding and slight oaky flavors, before being further naturally conditioned in bottle.

The ABV is 9.0 and the IBU rating is ??

Style - English Strong Ale

Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery - 550ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a dark amber color with a big tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Dark fruit, sweet and some oak tannins. 
Taste -  Malty, toffee, some spice, hint of vanilla, slightly hoppy.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, full body.
Drinkable - Very nice, smooth, has the typical Samuel Smith hop flavor.  I've been looking awhile for this brew.  I found it at a six pack store and purchased a few bottles.  I will store the second bottle for a few months. 

This beer may pair well with cheese and grilled meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =96

Lost Abbey - Red Barn Ale

This Farmhouse Ale traces its roots to the small rustic breweries of Southern Belgium. The word Saison comes to us from the French language and it means Season. Lightly spiced with Organic Ginger, Orange Peels, Black Pepper and Grains of Paradise, this brew promises to quench your thirst on the hottest Southern California days or wherever your travels may take you. Available in 750 ml bottles and on draft at select inspired locations.

The ABV is 6.7 and the IBU rating is ??

Style - Saison / Farmhouse Ale

Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery - 750ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a straw color with a white head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Grassy, flowery and biscuit flavors. 
Taste -  Some spice, lite hop finish.
Mouth Feel - High carbonation, low body.  Fizzy and dry.
Drinkable - A good summer ale but a bit lacking in the body and taste.

This beer may pair well with cheese and white meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =98

De Brunehaut - St. Martin Brune

The brewery's history dates directly to 1096 in Tournai. With its aroma of caramel and liquorice, this dark beer of 8% should be drunk at room temperature.

World Beer Championship 2007 – Silver

The ABV is 8.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Dubbel
Glass to use- Goblet or Chalice
Delivery 330ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a brown color with a tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Malty, caramel and some dark fruits. 
Taste - Sweet, malty, molasses and caramel. 
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonated and body.
Drinkable - I like it.  Could drink more than one. This is a good brew but does not stand above the Belgium beer crowd.

This beer pair well with cheese and meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating =89

Bell's - Cherry Stout

This unique ale begins its life as a powerful and richly sweet stout to which Michigan tart cherries are added. The resulting black brew is complex, sweet and tart with a distinct cherry finish. It will improve with cellaring. Available September - May.

The ABV is 7.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Fruit Stout
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Stein
Delivery - 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a dark ruby/brown color with a reddish head that disappeared,  Little lacing.
Aroma - Fruity, malty some hops.
Taste - Wow, a tart cherry taste upfront rounded off by a nice maltiness.  Nice finish.
Mouth Feel - Light carbonation and medium body.  Very smooth.
Drinkable - Not sure what to expect, I been wanting to try this for some time.  This is a great mix of flavors.  You need to try this out.  Will cellar one a year or so.

This beer pairs well with cheese, chocolate and try it with a salad.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating =92

Alesmith - Grand Cru

Bottle conditioned.  AleSmith Grand Cru really needs to be tasted to be truly appreciated. Toasty, caramelly flavors, as well as flavors imparted by the Belgian yeast strain, predominate over a tapestry of subtle nuances. Winner of the blue ribbon at the 1999 California State Fair, it is a thing of beauty. It is available in 750 ml. champagne bottles. Appearance: Crystal clear (when served properly), with a toast-brown color. Flavor: Starts with the tangy flavor of our championship Belgian yeast, then fades to a medium-light flavor of vanilla, caramel and chocolate. Finishes dry and well-balanced with a slightly toasty flavor. Aroma: Vanilla and chocolate aromas predominate, along with the Belgian yeast characteristics. Mouthfeel (body/texture): Clean and crisp, medium-bodied. Warmth from the high alcohol content makes it feel like a fine wine.

The ABV is 10.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Belgium Strong Dark Ale
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a brown color with a big tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Malty, caramel and toffee. 
Taste - Sweet, tangy, malty and caramel. 
Mouth Feel - Fizzy, highly carbonated.  Full body.  Dry finish.
Drinkable - Nice, I was not sure what to expect.  I like it.  Drinkable but it will catch up with up at 10%.

This beer pair well with cheese and meats.

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

Fegley's - Hop'Solutely

Hop’Solutely is deep copper in color, brewed with Cascade, Chinook, Amarillo, Summit and Tomahawk Hops. It has a complex grapefruit hop aroma which is followed by a smooth malt flavor. Hop’Solutely comes in at a whopping 11.5% ABV with 74 IBUs.

The ABV is 11.5 and the IBU rating is 74
Style - Imperial IPA
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet, Chalice, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a copper color with a big tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Fruity like bananas and flowery from the hops.
Taste -  Sweet, some fruits and hoppy. 
Mouth Feel - Medium body and carbonation, smooth.
Drinkable - Very good, alcohol is hidden well (small slow burn at the end).  No nasty bitter after taste from the hops.

This beer pairs well with cheese and grilled meat.

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

Coopers - Vintage Ale 2008

Bottle conditioned.
Brewed with choice malts and an extended top fermentation. This naturally conditioned ale experiences interactions between the robust malt, hop and yeast characteristics, to exhibit an intriguing journey of flavor development over a period of five years when stored under cellar conditions.

The ABV is 7.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - English Strong Ale
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Seidel
Delivery - 375ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours an amber color with a tan head and good lacing.
Aroma - Malty and a lite hop scent.
Taste - Not much, little malty and some hops.
Mouth Feel - High carbonation (too much) medium body.  Fizzy drink.
Drinkable - A bit watered downed. Was expecting sometime totally different.  May need to cellar a few more years.

This beer pairs well with cheese and white meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating =88

Blue Point - Old Howling Bastard

Blue Point Brewing's "Old Howling Bastard" named after an infamous local character, this strong ale has plenty of character all its own. Made with English 2 row barley and Vienna malt. Reaching an alcohol content of 10% barleywine should be consumed in moderation. Strong malty caramel flavors balanced by lots and lots of hops. Try this in a snifter or wineglass. The trick is to never forget that after a few glasses you may become the "Old Howling Bastard".

The ABV is 10.0 and the IBU rating is 60
Style - American Barleywine
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler or Snifter
Delivery - 22oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a orange color with a tan head that disappears. Some lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, malty and fruity.
Taste - Hoppy, sweet, some maltiness and fruit.
Mouth Feel - High carbonation and full body.
Drinkable - Not bad, not my favorite ABW but will try it again next year. 

This beer pairs well with cheese and desserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =90