Russian River - Damnation (2010)

Inspired pretty much by Duvel and other strong golden ales of Belgium. It is medium-bodied, has a fruity/banana bouquet, and a dry, spicy finish.

In the great beer producing country of Belgium, some brewers have made it a tradition to give their beers an unusual name. Sometimes the name is curious, now and then it is diabolical and other times it is just plain silly. Damnation is our brewmaster’s interpretation of a Belgian style Strong Golden Ale. It has extraordinary aromas of banana and pear with mouth filling flavors of sweet malt and earthy hops. The lingering finish is dry and slightly bitter but very, very smooth.

The ABV is 7.75 and the IBU rating is ??
Style -Belgium Strong Pale Ale
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 375ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a cloudy straw color with a white head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Biscuit, floral. and light fruit
Taste -  Fruity, spice. You can tell that Belgium yeast was used.
Mouth Feel - Medium body and carbonation.  Crisp, dry and smooth.
Drinkable - A lot like the Temptation without the oaked sourness.  No strong bitter after taste.  Worth a try, find a bottle and give it a go.  A very well balanced brew, no "in your face" aroma or taste.  I will have this again.

This beer pair well with cheese and white meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =98
Ratebeer Rating =92

Maine Beer Co - Peeper Ale

An American-style ale brewed one barrel at a time. The malt bill is built on American two-row malt and accented by crystal 10, Vienna, and white wheat malts. Magnum hops give the beer a nice clean bittering and Amarillo, Cascade, and Centennial hop varieties provide a pleasant floral and citrusy hop flavor. A healthy dose of additional Amarillo and Centennial are dry hopped to give this beer an inviting hop aroma. The beer is fermented with a neutral yeast strain and allowed to dry out so it finishes crisp and clean.

Our original hoppy American ale.  Dry, clean, well-balanced with a generous dose of American hops.

Vitals:

O.G. – 1.047

Malt – American 2-Row, CaraPils, Vienna, Red Wheat

Hops – US Magnum, Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial

The ABV is 5.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - American Pale Ale
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Stein
Delivery 500ml Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a straw color with a big white head head.  Great lacing.
Aroma - Hint of citrus fruit, biscuit and grassy. 
Taste - Not a lot, very mellow, a bit of citrus with a grassy note.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body. Very crisp.
Drinkable - Very refreshing, enjoyed this brew muchísimo.  Not much of a strong bitter after taste, which is good IMHO. 

This beer pairs very with cheese and salads.  Can be enjoy with Asian or Indian cuisine.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A
BeerAdvocate Rating =92
Ratebeer Rating =97

Russian River - Temptation (2010)

Is it beer, or is it wine? "Aged in French oak wine barrels for twelve months with distinct characteristics of fruit and subtle oak" sounds more like a description of wine than beer. But, of course, Temptation is indeed beer. Actually, Temptation is a Blonde Ale Fermented with a special strain of yeast, then aged in French oak chardonnay barrels. Flavors of wine and oak absorb into the brew throughout twelve months of aging. During this aging process, a secondary fermentation occurs using a yeast strain disliked by most brewers and winemakers called Brettanomyces. The "Bret" gives Temptation intriguing characteristics and a pleasant sourness. Temptation is re-fermented in the bottle to create its carbonation--a process commonly used to make fine champagne and sparkling wine. Spent yeast forms a thin layer of sediment to remain in the bottle.

This is an update from a previous post.  Click here to view my review on a fresh bottle.

The ABV is 7.25 and the IBU rating is ??
Style -Sour Ale
Glass to use- Flute, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 375ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a clear straw color with a small white head. Great retention and lacing.
Aroma - Sour, sweet and some tartness, followed by lite hints of oak.
Taste -  Most prevalent is the sourness followed by the wine, oak, some fruit and a touch of spice.
Mouth Feel - Medium body and carbonation.  A bit on the fizzy side.
Drinkable - I'm not a big sour beer fan, but this is a good brew.  It aged very well!

This beer pair well with cheese, I had a sharp cheddar during this session.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =99
Ratebeer Rating =100

Foundation Stone - Lymestone Brewery

Review by Gareth Ralphs (A Duper's Brew Review contributor)

From the micro-brewery of Lymestone Brewery, Stone, Staffordshire (founded 2008 by Ian Bradford, formerly head brewer at the award winning Titanic Brewery in nearby Stoke-on-Trent) their first beer out and now staple 'Foundation Stone' brew is a glorious golden pale ale crafted from the finest pale and crystal malts. Faint biscuit and chewy, juicy citrus fruits burst onto the palate then spicy Boadicea and Pilot hops pepper the taste buds leaving a pleasing long and dry bitter finish.

Cask; Regular

The ABV is 4.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - English Pale Ale
Glass to use - Pint Glass, Becker, Nonic or Tumble
Delivery 500ml Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

Notes - A magical experience and a true example of the historical context and brewing techniques associated with this small market town that extends back in time for almost a 1000 years. With tasty stuff like this it is very tempting to quickly move on from the first couple of pints – but at this premium strength you should be careful you don’t start rocking too much.

This beer pairs with Indian cuisine, pepper cheese or blue cheese and fish.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+
BeerAdvocate Rating =na
Ratebeer Rating =87

Sly Fox - Christmas Ale 2011

A malty, full-bodied red ale made with traditional mulling spices: Ginger, Clove, All Spice, Cinnamon & Nutmeg. If this one doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit, you truly are a Scrooge. Released each year on Thanksgiving Eve.

The ABV is 6.5 and the IBU rating is 16
Style - Winter Warmer
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Becker or Tumbler
Delivery 750ml bottle.

Can be cellared for about one year, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - The cork flew off the bottle and foamed out on the table for over a minute (I guess its not flat!) Pours a ruby color with a big tan head.  Some lacing.
Aroma - Cherries, molasses, brown sugar, spicy (ginger, cloves, cinnamon).
Taste - Identical to the nose - sweet, spices like clove and ginger.
Mouth Feel - High carbonation, medium body. A bit fizzy.
Drinkable - Despite the exploding cork, this is one of the best Xmas brews I have had from Sly Fox.

This beer pairs with white meat and desserts.

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

Butty Bach - Wye Valley Brewery

Review by Gareth Ralphs (A Duper's Brew Review contributor)

A UK CAMRA winner in 2009 'Butty Bach' ('little friend' in Welsh) is a fine, full-bodied premium ale.  Founded by ex-Guinness brewer, Peter Amor, the Wye Valley Brewery celebrated 25-years brewing in 2010 using only the finest raw materials from Herefordshire - in this case Maris Otter and Crystal malts, flaked barley, malted wheat and locally grown Fuggles, Goldings and Bramling Cross hops.

Cask; Regular and available bottle conditioned.

Awards:
2009: World Beer Awards - Highly commended in the Best Bitter category
2009: West Midlands CAMRA -  Bronze in the Bottled Beer category at the West Midlands CAMRA Beer of the Year competition

The ABV is 4.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - English Pale Ale
Glass to use - Pint Glass, Becker, Nonic or Tumble
Delivery 500ml Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - The Butty Bach pours to an inviting, burnished gold colour.
Aroma - The aroma is rich, fruity and malty, with the complexity of the hops coming through. 
Taste - It is sweat to taste, with a smooth, full bodied make-up that has made it a consistent friend to many a local and discerning beer drinker in the area.
Other Notes - Sampled on a November trip to Herefordshire (English county on the Welsh border). 

This beer pairs with Indian cuisine, pepper cheese or blue cheese and fish.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-
BeerAdvocate Rating =81
Ratebeer Rating =31

Firestone - Double DBA (2012)

DDBA is our flagship beer brewed at double strength.  It is amazingly similar in many respects to our barrel fermented DBA and possesses everything we love about that beer times two.  English caramel malts lend rich toffee character that pairs well with assertive medium toast American oak barrels.

Specs:

• Reserve Series no. 001
• Production
  3500 Cases
• Bottled date
  6/15/12
• Fermentation
  Selectively fermented in the Firestone Union.
• Malts
  Premium Two-Row, Maris Otter Pale, Munich, Crystal, Chocolate
• Hops
  Bittering—Magnum; Late Kettle—Styrian Golding, East Kent Golding; Dry Hops—East Kent Golding

The ABV is 12.0 and the IBU rating is 29
Style - Barrel-Aged Barleywine
Glass to use- Snifter, Pint, Mug, Stein, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 22oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours cloudy dark amber with a tan head.  Good lacing.
Aroma - Malty, sweet, vanilla from the barrel aging. 
Taste - Bourbon, sweet, caramel, toffee, vanilla bean, hints of oak tannins and malty.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, full body. Smooth finish.
Drinkable - This is a must find brew.  One of my favorite barrel-aged brews.  Very well balanced. Nice warm felling from the alcohol.  It gets better as it warms up to room temperature.  Okay a little confusion of the style of beer, it's called a Double DBA - Barrel-Aged Imperial Special Bitter, but on their website they call the style a barleywine.  Surprising since they have a Barleywine, Sucaba (Abacus).  Heck it taste like a barrel-aged barleywine so that's what I put in the description above. 

This beer pairs very with nutty cheeses such as; Asiago, Colby and Parmesan.

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

The Bruery - 3 French Hens

Three French Hens is the third in the 12 Days/Years of Christmas Series. The Bruery again drew some inspiration from the name and decided that at least a portion of this beer had to be aged in French oak barrels. What they came out with is a bold and spicy Belgian Dark Strong Ale. This beer is designed to take the journey through time until 12 Drummers Drumming, but is a delightful holiday treat right off the shelf.

Release: Winter 2010/2011 (This beer has been retired)

75% Belgian-Style Dark Ale,25% Ale Aged in French Oak Barrels

The ABV is 10.0 and the IBU rating is 22.5
Style -Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color, and a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Sweet and spicy, strong hint of apples. 
Taste -  Malty, sweet and malty. Some molasses, spices like clove maybe some nutmeg.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - Very unusually, I like the blend of Belgian and oak aging.  Very well balanced.  Just a bit too sweet for me. 

This beer pair well with strong cheese and beef. Try it with BBQ.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+
BeerAdvocate Rating =86
Ratebeer Rating =96

Dogfish Head - Miles Davis, Bitches Brew (2012)

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the original release of Bitches Brew, Miles Davis' 1970 paradigm-shifting landmark fusion breakthrough, we've created our own Bitches Brew -- a bold, dark beer that's a fusion of three threads of imperial stout and one thread of honey beer with gesho root. It's a gustatory analog to Miles' masterpiece.

Featuring the album's iconic artwork, created by the late Mati Klarwein, on its label, Dogfish Head's Bitches Brew was unveiled at SAVOR, An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, on June 5, 2010, at the National Building Museum, Washington DC.
Haven't experienced the Bitches Brew album? Two 40th anniversary editions of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew -- a Legacy Edition and a deluxe Collector's Edition -- are available.
According to Dogfish founder and president Sam Calagione, the ale is "the ultimate partner for chili or spicy curry chicken" and best enjoyed "sipped cool, not cold, from a snifter or red wine glass while listening to the Bitches Brew album."

Sam was drawn to the alchemical spirits in Bitches Brew right out of college, acquiring a copy of the album "within months of the first time I brewed a batch of homebrew in my apartment in New York City. I listened to it when I was writing my Dogfish business plan. I wanted Dogfish Head to be a maniacally inventive and creative brewery, analog beer for the digital age. You could say that my dream was to have Dogfish Head, in some small way, stand for the same thing in the beer world that Bitches Brew stands for in the jazz world. You can imagine how excited we are to be doing this project 17 years after I wrote that business plan."

"There's a spirit of innovation, of creativity and individuality, that's at the core of Miles' music," said Adam Block, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Legacy Recordings. "Sam and Dogfish Head approach their art from the same place and consequently the marriage is an easy and cool one."

Original Release Date: 06/2010

This release: 09/2012


The ABV is 9.0 and the IBU rating is 38
Style - Imperial Stout
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours black in color and a dark brown head.  Great lacing.
Aroma - Strong roasted malts, some cocoa. 
Taste - Roasted dark coffee, bitter dark chocolate are up front with spices hidden in the back.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, full body. Smooth finish.
Drinkable - Finally I found a bottle!  Actually DFH just released a new batch in September 2012. I was a bit disappointed because of the hype.  To me it taste like a normal stout, nothing special.  That being said, I enjoyed the brew and will have it again.

This beer pairs very with cheese, try it with a bowl of chili or curry chicken.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-
BeerAdvocate Rating =92
Ratebeer Rating =99

River Horse - Hipp-O-Lantern Imperial Pumpkin

A festive Ale brewed with pumpkin and molasses.  A variety of hand-crushed, whole spices set up an impressive aroma and well balanced taste.  8.5 abv, Available August - October

The ABV is 8.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Glass to use- Pint Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours an amber color with a big tan head.  Some lacing.
Aroma - Spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon. Also a bit of pumpkin.
Taste - Malty, sweet, pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon some grains almost bready.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - Nice brew, it compares well with the other imperial pumpkins on the market.  Not quite as good as Weyerbacher or DFH but well worth a try.  I will purchase this again.  I did not notice the molasses that the brewer used.  Did not notice the alcohol though it's at 8%. 

This beer pair well with chicken or turkey and sharp cheese.  Try it with pumpkin pie.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-
BeerAdvocate Rating =90
Ratebeer Rating =85

Weyerbacher - Whiskey Barrel Aged

“Whiskey Barrel Aged” is a big, dark, malty Brown Ale aged in whiskey barrels. It comes in at 9.0% ABV and 27 IBU. We used a blend of six different malts to give this one notes of sweet dried fruits. The beer was then aged in whiskey barrels to impart big flavors of vanilla, oak, and whiskey. As with all of our Brewers’ Select Series, there is only a limited run of 12 oz bottles available exclusively in the Weyerbacher Visitors Center and the rest of the beer is kegged and sent into the market for select bars and restaurants. Whiskey Barrel Aged is a once-and-done beer like the rest of them. A Lesson in Labels and Names We sometimes forget, as brewers, that there are lots of questions our loyal imbibers may have with regard to why some things are the way they are on a given label. To those that have done this for a long time, it’s just business… get the labels approved so everyone can get the beer! But as a reasonably new person in the brewing industry, I often wonder what else goes into it. I’ve overheard hours of debate about the new labels as we transition the core brands and the rest of the seasonals. I’ve heard some of the roadblocks and the debates about the challenges to overcome. This beer presented me with an opportunity to understand a bit more about the seemingly crazy label process and this post gave me an opportunity to pull back the curtain for you… just a bit. The phonetic letter for “W” in the NATO alphabet is Whiskey. This should be no surprise…. nor should it be a surprise to see that it would be difficult to name a beer after another form of alcohol. It is also no secret that getting a label approved with the feds can be a bit tricky if you have to convey a point and stick within a theme which, in theory, runs against the guidelines for label approval. We thought it would be difficult to figure out how to make a beer called “Whiskey” but we were delighted to receive prompt approval for the name “Whiskey Barrel Aged”. What we really didn’t count on was how hard it is to explain this quirk of labels to the public. So, herein, we will attempt to set the record straight on what “Whiskey Barrel Aged Ale Aged in Whiskey Barrels” really means and why it is worded like that. The federal government’s label rules state that your labels must meet many criteria. With this label we had a significant challenge to overcome: Use the word “Whiskey” in the actual name of the beer yet still clearly indicate that it is a BEER and not if fact a WHISKEY. There is a requirement to specifically indicate what the product actually is; words like “Ale” and “Lager” and “Stout” are all accepted names for forms of beer. Well, Whiskey clearly isn’t. This is where the “fanciful name” and “statement of process” come in. A “fanciful name” can be nearly anything so we decided to describe what the beer is AS its name. We then indicate what it is (ALE) and then follow that up with a “statement of process”. As you look at the label, it says: Whiskey Barrel Aged ALE AGED IN WHISKEY BARRELS Why does it look like we had a lesson in redundancy from the Department of Redundancy Department? Because the “fanciful name” is “Whiskey Barrel Aged”, a description of what our beer is, however the requirement to further indicate it is in fact a BEER and further describe how the beer differs from others follows explaining how we made the beer as the “statement of process”. Here’s where it gets tricky: The word “Ale” in this case, can NOT be a part of the “fanciful name”… hence why the name seems to be a an abruptly ended sentence without a subject. Confused yet? Me, too. SO, ON THAT NOTE: We bring to you the 23rd installment in our brewers’ Select Series: Whiskey (barrel aged).


The ABV is 9.0 and the IBU rating is 27
Style - American Brown 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 brown color with a tan head.  Minimal lacing.
Aroma - Up front you get a bit of bourbon mixed with malt notes and vanilla and coconut. 
Taste - Malty, sweet, oak tannins, bourbon and vanilla.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - Not as much "in your face" bourbon like some of the whiskey barrel aged stouts that are on the market today.  I would classify this as a "starter" brew for someone who would like to try a whiskey barrel aged beer.  This is a hard beer to find since it is only available at the brewery in Easton, PA.  Lucky for me it's only 90 minutes away.  (Don't tell anyone I got this one in a bottle store in Philly).

This beer pairs very with cheese and chocolate.  Can be enjoy with grilled meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+
BeerAdvocate Rating =88
Ratebeer Rating =97

Maine Beer Co - Mean Old Tom

Our American-style stout aged on organic vanilla beans.  Intense notes of coffee and dark chocolate lead way to subtle notes of natural vanilla.  Flaked oats generate a silky mouth-feel.

Malt – American 2-Row, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, Midnight Wheat, Caramel 40L, Flaked Oats
Hops – US Magnum, Centennial
O.G. – 1.067

The ABV is 6.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Stout
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Stein
Delivery 500ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a very dark brown with a tan head.  Some lacing.
Aroma - Heavy on the roasted  malts, slight spice scent I'm thinking coco NOT vanilla. 
Taste - Roasted malts just like the nose, dark coffee, .
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - It's been awhile since I've had an American Stout.  This one is true to the style. I did not notice any vanilla hints in the nose or taste.  Sad, I was looking forward to see what vanilla adds to the style.

This beer pairs very with cheese and desserts.  Can be enjoy with most meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B
BeerAdvocate Rating =86
Ratebeer Rating =98

Dogfish Head - WorldWideStout (2006)

Dark, rich, roasty and complex, World Wide Stout has more in common with a fine port than a can of cheap, mass-marketed beer. Brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley. Have one with (or as!) dessert tonight.

2001 - (18%) displays the unaltered words "Vim and Vigor" on the label and with gold cap.

2002 - (23%) "Vim and Vigor" is crossed out with gold cap.

2003 - (18.8%). No "Vim and Vigor" present, gold cap.

2004 - (20%) Bright yellow cap, no date stamp.

2005 - Bright yellow cap, date stamp

2006 - Dark green cap, date stamp

2007 - Yellowish-green cap, date stamp

2008 - Yellowish-green cap, date stamp

2009 - (18%) Yellowish-green cap, date stamp
2010 - (18%) Yellowish-green cap, date stamp
 

World Wide Stout is one of the world’s strongest dark beers. It is brewed using six different yeast strains over seven months and then aged for half a year. World Wide Stout  is released in early winter with very limited availability.

This post is for the Nov 2006 vintage.  Look in this blog for the 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2009 vintage.

The ABV is 20.0 and the IBU rating is 70
Style - Imperial Stout
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Dark brown almost black in color and a no head.  Clear coat lacing.
Aroma - Slightly peaty nose up front but no noticeable after it warms up.  Molasses, plum and raisins and chocolate. 
Taste - Coffee, bitter chocolate, boozy, dark fruits, some vanilla and a slight peat taste.
Mouth Feel - No to very little carbonation, full body. Smooth finish.
Drinkable - This WWS bottle did not age as well as others I have had. It was still a great brew.  Got much better as it warmed up, which is typical. 

This beer pairs very with cheese and desserts.  But enjoy it as an after dinner drink if you can find an old bottle.

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

Dogfish Head - 120 Minute IPA (2007)

Too extreme to be called beer? Brewed to a colossal 45°P, boiled for a full 2 hours while being continually hopped with high alpha American hops, dry-hopped every day in a fermenter for a month, and aged for a month on whole leaf hops, 120 Minute IPA is by far the strongest IPA ever brewed. And at 18% ABV and 120 IBU’s, you can see why they call this the Holy Grail for Hopheads.

This review id for the 2007 vintage.  To see other 120 Minute IPA reviews, click the dates 2008, 2003 

The ABV is 18.0 (20.0) and the IBU rating is 120
Style - Imperial IPA
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a cloudy copper color with a tan head that vanishes. Good lacing.
Aroma - Boozy, dark fruit like plum, dates and cherry. Also some orange and caramel. Complex sweetness.
Taste -  Wow! Very sweet, dark fruits same as the nose. 
Mouth Feel - Low carbonation, syrupy.  Full bodied and a some alcohol burn.
Drinkable - Another well aged 120 minute brew. It is a sugar bomb though.  Very similar to the 2008  I had earlier this year.(Check the review, click on the link above)

This beer pairs well with bread and cheese.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =87
Ratebeer Rating = 99

Koningshoeven - Dubbel (2010)

Beer Brewery de Koningshoeven, the only Trappist brewery in The Netherlands!  Koningshoeven is also know as La Trappe in the states.  Worldwide, only seven Trappist beers remain. Six of these come from Belgium, one comes from The Netherlands, and that is La Trappe. The beer can only be called a ‘Trappist beer’ if it is brewed at a Trappist monastery under the supervision and responsibility of the monks. 

The dubbel is an authentic Trappist beer with a deep red-brown colour. Through the use of a.o. caramel malt, it has a soft aromatic, caramel-like character. A little bit sweet in taste with a fresh aftertaste.

The ABV is 7.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Dubbel
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet, Chalice, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 330ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pour dark brown color with a small tan head that dissipates. some lacing.
Aroma - Not much up front, as it warms a nice sweet nose appears, some spices (coriander), brown sugar.
Taste - Mostly sweet, a mixture of molasses and brown sugar.
Mouth Feel -  Medium carbonation, medium body. 
Drinkable - Aged much better than the tripel, could have aged another year or two.  No over the top fizz that's typical for a Belgium brew.  Does have a traditional yeasty Belgium backbone. 

This beer pairs well with Mediterranean food, cheese and meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =88
Ratebeer Rating = 94

Koningshoeven - Tripel (2010)

Beer Brewery de Koningshoeven, the only Trappist brewery in The Netherlands!  Koningshoeven is also know as La Trappe in the states.  Worldwide, only seven Trappist beers remain. Six of these come from Belgium, one comes from The Netherlands, and that is La Trappe. The beer can only be called a ‘Trappist beer’ if it is brewed at a Trappist monastery under the supervision and responsibility of the monks. 

The tripel is a special and powerful Trappist. Including the use of coriander owes it its spicy character. Golden in color with a fruity, bittersweet taste

This is from the same case I reviewed back in 2010, click here for the link.

The ABV is 8.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Tripel
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet, Chalice, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 330ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pour dark orange color with a small tan head that dissipates. Good lacing.
Aroma - Fruits, sweet, some spices as it warms up (coriander), caramel and brown sugar.
Taste - Not as prevalent and the nose, orange is dominate characteristic, sweet, a mixture of caramel and brown sugar.
Mouth Feel -  Medium carbonation, medium body. smooth and a bit sticky. 
Drinkable - Much sweeter than a usually Belgium tripel. I like how it aged, though I think I opened it at the right time.  This bottle has just a hint of a peaty aroma from the aging.  No over the top fizz that's typical for a Belgium brew.  Does have a traditional yeasty Belgium backbone. 

This beer pairs well with Mediterranean food, cheese and meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =87
Ratebeer Rating = 95

Uerige - Doppelsticke (2011)

Since 2005, UERIGE has been brewing a special extra strong beer for the US market. DoppelSticke has an astonishing 8.5% abv and yet there’s no mistaking its taste: Dat is dat leckere Dröppke, as they say (that is the delicious droplet).

After the ‘gigantic herbal aroma of hops’ (Michael Jackson) that surprises the palate at the first tasting, aromatic sensations follow midway: caramelized sugar, malt and herbs, rich nuances of dark chocolate and rum, rounded off with a smooth and shimmering finish.

Apart from being sold in the USA, this rarity can only be obtained at our STICKUM bar – that is, if we have it in store. This beer also has a guaranteed minimum storage period of four weeks, but true aficionados take this to be a mere suggestion – they swear by storing their DoppelSticke in the cellar for another whole year. But then...!

The ABV is 8.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - DoppelSticke
Glass to use- Pilsener Glass, Mug or Stein
Delivery 330ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a cloudy dark brown with a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Molasses, a touch of brown sugar, some peat.
Taste -  Caramel, toffee, some dark fruits as it warms up, hints of chocolate.
Mouth Feel - Medium body and carbonation, very smooth.
Drinkable - I should have opened this as soon as I purchased the bottle.  The reported hoppy taste is non-existent. I will need to try a fresh bottle. The alcohol is very well hidden.  The peat or leather aroma is from aging, but it is not that strong.  Still a nice brew.

This beer pairs well with pungent cheese and grilled meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.
BeerAdvocate Rating =92
Ratebeer Rating = 98

Weißenoher - Bonator (2011)

Liquid does not break fasting - fasting rule was in the days of the Benedictine monks in Weissenohe.

We have for you, in this tradition, our strong brewed Bonator as dark Doppelbock, physical and spiritual refreshment in the "dignitaries" time.

Here's a little anecdote to smile: As the Benedictine monks feasted in the more austere Lent Bock brewed beers, it aroused the envy of other religious communities, who complained about the Pope in Rome, that the Benedictine Bock beers with their non-fasting, but feasting. The Benedictines sent upon a complaint by a barrel of Bock beer to Rome by the pope himself free, and decide to leave. Because it's your beer and durability at the time in the Middle Ages weeks and months of traveling from Bavaria to Rome knew you did not do so without ulterior motives. Because the beer was spoiled sent as expected, so unpalatable sour in Rome. Whereupon the Pope after a careful cost did the saying: "Those who drink such a beer Ghastly, is a true penitent." This repented the Benedictine love to continue and fasted with (fresh) bock beer.

Of course, we drank the beer, not only because of alcohol. Beer contains many minerals, vitamins, and sugar in open-minded so easily usable form. The monks did as they were well versed in health and medical contexts that beer prevents deficiency symptoms. Thus was the first beer a fast food supplements (as we would now call it) in the diet of mankind.

The ABV is 8.2 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Doppel Bock
Glass to use- Pilsener Glass, Mug or Stein
Delivery 500ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a cloudy dark amber with a tan head. Good lacing. Chucks of yeast settle on the bottle of the glass.
Aroma - Malts, molasses and a touch of brown sugar, a bit yeasty.
Taste -  Malty, wheat bread, dark fruits start to come through as the brew warms up.
Mouth Feel - Medium body and carbonation, very smooth.
Drinkable - A very nice traditional German Doppel Bock. I should have opened this 6 months ago but it is still good.  I will need to try a fresh bottle. 

This beer pairs well with goulash, Schäuferle, roast, savory snacks and rich game dishes.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.
BeerAdvocate Rating =87
Ratebeer Rating = 90

Brooklyn Brewery - Monster Ale (2010)

Brooklyn Monster Ale is a classic barley wine, a style of ale originally brewed by the butlers to the English and American aristocracy. It is brewed from three mashes of heirloom British malt and spiced with aromatic American Willamette, Cascade and Fuggle hops. After four months of aging, it has a magnificent burnished copper color, an aroma redolent of sherry, citrusy hops and fruit, a soft, warming, complex palate, a spiritous finish, and a strength of 10.3%. It is vivacious when young, but will age gracefully for many years, becoming more complex over time.


The ABV is 10.8 and the IBU rating is 47
Style - Barley Wine
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Snifter or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a dark amber color with a head tan head appears. Good lacing.
Aroma - Up front are plums, figs a bit of orange, and other dark fruit and malts.
Taste -  Malts, caramel, not really tasting any fruits.  Slightly hoppy after taste.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and full body. Very smooth.
Drinkable - One of the best Monster Ales I have had, given that they had not been aged.  The alcohol is in your face, which is not a bad thing. I like the nose, very complete but I am slightly disappointed with the overall taste.  But I will get over it, try one for yourself.  I have several other vintages in the cellar including; 4-pack 2011, 2009 and a 2007.

This beer pairs well with cheese and desserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.
BeerAdvocate Rating =84
Ratebeer Rating =95

Weyerbacher - Imperial Pumpkin Ale (2012)

Brewed with Pumpkin and Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cardamom and Cloves). This 8.0% ABV pumpkin ale is heartier, spicier, and more caramelly and pumpkiny than its faint brethren! Perfect finisher on a cool autumn night, or match it up with a slice of pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream. If you don't agree this is the mother of all pumpkin ales, then you just don't like mothers! 

The ABV is 8.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Pumpkin Ale
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a clear dark amber with very little head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Spices like clove, nutmeg and cinnamon fill the room.
Taste -  Malty, spicy (same as the noise) and sweet.
Mouth Feel - Medium body and carbonation which is a surprise given that there was no head (very little). Very smooth.
Drinkable - The spicy taste is pushed towards the back, the spicy aroma is much more prevalent.  This year's batch came out aggressively early this year (mid July).  I suppose to beat everyone else to the punch.  I will have a vertical tasting with last year's batch and maybe with a DFH pumpkin if I saved one from last year.  I have too admit it's a bit early for a fall beer but it did taste very good on a hot summer day.  (I like the new label)

This beer pairs well with cheese and Thanksgiving dinner.

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