New Belgium Lips of Faith Biere de Mars

Another in the Lips of Faith line from New Belgium, Lips of Fatih Biere de Mars comes to us in a bright and pretty orange polka dotted bottle as is the want of the Lips of Faith series.  This tasting is courtesy of The Belly and I offer him my thanks!

The brew is touted as being brewed with spices and you can tell… light orange in color, nose is the most notable in the spice department but the body is where the spices play games with my taste buds.  At  6.2% ABV, there isn’t much kick in the alcohol department, but the spices mess with your throat and leave you a nice sweet finish.  Overall, it is a nice brew but in the end nothing really special like I was hoping for.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball Ale

On a Lagunitas kick… Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball Ale has a strange ass name but the beer isn’t all to far from normal… pours a dark, dark brown… nearly opaque. Head is solid… creamy brown. Nose is slight… malty. Taste is dark and bitter… almost like a mix between a dark lager and an IPA. Not sure what they were shooting for but this is good… and unique.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

8.7% ABV
56.7 IBU
1.090 O.G.

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale… Off the bottle:

“We brewed this especially bitter ale in dedication ot all of the world’s would-be astronauts, in rememberance of the 2005 St. Patrick’s Day Massacre on the Brewery Party Grounds and also in joyous celebration of our 20-day suspension that following January. Do the crime. Do the time. Get the bragging rights. Cheers!”

I never quite understand Lagunitas (i.e. I had to look this up)… but I like their beer, so I don’t really care that much. This little bottle packs a punch both in ABV and bitterness and I like it!

9.03% ABV
72.41 IBU
1.092 O.G.

Pours a dark amber/copper color. Small head. Nose is sweet and smells of brown sugar. Taste is bitter and dark. Malt offsetting the hops for sure. Sweet finish that doesn’t linger too long. Overall really solid.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Sierra Nevada 12th Release Harvest Ale

Sweet sweet wet hop Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale, hallowed be thine name… thy beer come, down my gullet… to rest in my warmed belly. 

This super-solid brew uses a style of hopping where they don’t dry or turn the hops into rabit food, but they actually bring it fresh from the plant and throw it in their batches of beery goodness.  This gets the most out of the hop and doesn’t allow any of the juices or flavors escape… similar to picking herbs straight out of the herb garden.  In this instance, it does the body good and brings forth an amazing brew that hits you just like it should in all the right places. 

Clean, hoppy nose leads to a refreshing dose of hoppy goodness in the body and finish… really hits throughout the drink, so you don’t have to think about where and when the hops were used, but they are just omnipresent… always with you from soup to nuts.  The nice thing about this brew, though, is that they aren’t trying too hard… at 6.7% ABV, this isn’t some huge hopped up mess like the guy at the gym who is living on ‘roids… no… this brew is ‘roid free and just heavy enough to keep it interesting, but light enough to not question the doping. 

Overall a super solid brew that balances the hops perfectly from start to finish.  Wet hopping FTW!

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Batemans Combined Harvest

What do you get when you combine malted oats, malted rye, and malted wheat??? Batemans Combined Harvest!  A fantastic brew that brings the best of each grain into the wort and lets it all mix together into a wonderful elixer that I just so happened to enjoy by an evening fire in the cul-de-sac.  The brew pours a bright yellow that is super clean and clear… maybe one of the nicest looking brews I have seen in a while as far as brilliance and clarity.  The nose is orange sweet and floral with hints of orange.  The taste is definitely unique, but summed all up by its light and clean characteristics… again, bringing in the sweetness and the floral undertones.  Finish is nice and tight with minimal complexity, but that doesn’t take anything away from what this brew is trying to be.

Overall a great brew that I would love to have again.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Stone Brewing Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

Based on the very popular Arrogant Bastard Ale comes Stone Brewing Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale… not much of a difference, you say… well… I beg to differ young padawan.  This version of the original pours a dark copper with nice sized head. The oaking is there for sure, but it is mellow and adds that mellow to this generally strong brew.  A bit of a fruity/hoppy nose, sweetness is there on the tip of the tongue but balanced with the bitter for sure.  Finish is mellow and easy… just how I like them, and it keeps you ready for more.  Available in the 6 pack, this beer should be in your fridge right now… and if not in your fridge, in your hand.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Rogue Morimoto Black Obi Soba Ale

Rogue Morimoto Black Obi Soba Ale… pours a dark cola color with a nice medium sized head.  The nose has a good malt kick to it but with the number and variety it is hard to pin one down.  Taste is smooth and dry with just a bit of the bittering on the back of the tongue but not much anywhere else.  Finish is simple and short.

Overall not a bad little brew and for the $6.25 I paid for it, I will buy it again. 

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Southern Tier Iniquity

In one word, Southern Tier Iniquity is… awesome… it has an amazing aroma on the nose.  It smells a bit like perfume but in a good, very intriguing way. Dry hops must have had something to do with this.  The body is almost an IPA but very, very different… it is very unorthadox and unique.  Really like a dark ale that has been slipped massive amounts of hops to offset the dark malts and venture into IPA land.  Just awesome.

From the site:

“The hexagram talisman has been used around the world for centuries to invoke magic and good luck. The six–point star is also the customary symbol of the brewer, representing the essential aspects of purity: water, hops, grain, malt, yeast, and of course, the brewer. Wishes of good fortune often collaborate with the brewer’s creativity to yield dramatic results. We carefully chose the name for this Imperial India Black Ale, Iniquity – a word opposing goodness. Why? This beer is contrary to what one may expect from an IPA; this is an ale as black as night. It is the antithesis of Unearthly. Some may consider it an immoral act to blacken an ale. We suggest they don’t rely on conventional standards. Allow the darkness to consume you. Cheers! 9.0% abv • Imperial Black Ale • 22 oz / 1/2 keg / 1/6 keg”

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Avery Brabant

Avery Brabant… A barrel aged beer that, as is noted on the website, defies anything we have ever tasted.  It is a dark, dark brew with a dirty tan head.  It has a slight redish tint that comes through the very outer edge of the glass. Nose is sour… almost sour apple… perfumie… fruity… strong, strong, strong and almost scares me.  The body is smooth and you can definitely tell there are wine influences… finish is slightly bitter on the back of the mouth.  It puts you in almost a surreal state of mind as you wonder what the hell you are drinking but don’t care that much as the experience itself is worth it… something to experience for sure and something I will buy again just to find out if the experience can be repeated.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Boulder Beer Company Hazed & Infused

Another one of those that I paid too much for at the liquor store in Utah… you can’t buy the higher ABV at the grocery store, but at least you can buy it somewhere.

Boulder Beer Company Hazed & Infused

This one pours a light orange/copper color with a big, creamy head.  The nose is floral, fruity, and hoppy and smells of orange marmalade.  The body has hops for sure, and tastes earthy and dusty… a bit bitter but not like normal IPA sour… kind of strange, actually.  The finish leaves your mouth watering unnaturally with a sour taste in the back corners that isn’t good… overall not impressed.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road