Archive for December, 2009

Boulder Beer Co’s Obovoid Empirical Stout

Had my dad and my friend Louis over the other night, and we did some impromptu beer tasting. To be honest, I debated whether or not to post this video, because it’s a bit long, and I was more than a bit buzzed, but decided what the hell. I’ll take my criticism like a man. [...]

Beer Reviews, Microbreweries, Stouts

Karl Strauss To The 9′s Imperial IPA

Here’s the third installment in the BeerGenius Karl Strauss series, their 20th anniversary brew called To The 9′s. You can find the first and second installments here: Fullsuit Belgian-Style Brown Big Barrel Double IPA Check out the video of Karl Strauss’ To The 9′s below. The Breakdown: Originality within style (20): An Imperial IPA that [...]

Beer Reviews, IPAs, Microbreweries, Seasonals

Karl Strauss Big Barrel Double IPA

We’ve previously reviewed Karl Strauss’ new seasonal, the Fullsuit Belgian-Style Brown Ale here. Second in the BeerGenius Karl Strauss series is their new Big Barrel Double IPA. Check it out below: The Breakdown: Originality within style (19): Done with some ridiculous hops from New Zealand, this Double IPA stands out. Very unique. Nose (17): Mango, [...]

Beer Reviews, IPAs, Microbreweries

Karl Strauss Fullsuit Belgian-Style Brown

BeerGenius is taking a quick break from our canned beer tasting (to resume soon!) to visit some awesome beers from Karl Strauss Brewing Company out of San Diego, California. I had the opportunity to do some blind tastings of their new winter seasonal (the old one was their Red Trolley, reviewed here), a new 22oz [...]

Beer Reviews, Belgians, Brown Ales, Microbreweries, Seasonals

Ska Brewing Co – True Blonde Ale

Cans are really fun. BeerGenius will be posting a few articles with examples of canned beer, and how awesome it can be – quite a departure from your beloved “Old Style.” Check out Ska Brewing’s True Blonde Ale below: The Breakdown: Originality within style (18): This is a comfortable, rich-bodied blonde ale that stands out [...]

Beer Reviews, Microbreweries, Pale Ale, Wheat

Goose Island 2009 Christmas Ale

I’m loving all of these holiday beers/winter seasonal beers from breweries around the world – they’re all drastically different, yet of the same genre. Because of this, it’s also quite difficult to rate them from a style standpoint – the craft of each brewer’s interpretation is just that – an interpretation of what a winter [...]

Amber Ales, Beer Reviews, Brown Ales, Seasonals

Flying Dog Releases Raging Bitch

This one is a wild one. Belgian-style IPA’s have been the fun lately, with the best known one being Great Divide’s Belgica. The style is a traditional, big IPA brewed with a Belgian yeast strain for a unique experience that ties the two worlds together. I’m a fan of the style for certain, but the [...]

Beer Reviews

Karl Strauss Celebrates 2009 To The Nines

So, Karl Strauss, a new favorite of mine from San Diego, has a new winter seasonal making its way across the west coast. Here’s the press release: San Diego, CA – December 9, 2009- To celebrate the memorable year that was 2009, Karl Strauss Brewing Company is releasing its first ever bottled holiday ale, To the 9’s.  This [...]

BeerGenius News, Seasonals

Sam Adams 2009 Utopias

I had the pleasure of reviewing Sam Adams 2009 Utopias. Check it out: The Breakdown: Originality within style (20): Come on – who else makes a beer like this? Not only is it COMPLETELY original, it’s marvelous. Nose (19): Can burn with a regular snifter, but is much less offensive out of the Riedel glass. [...]

Beer Reviews, Brown Ales, Homebrewing, Microbreweries, Seasonals

Blue Moon Grand Cru 2009

Yes, I did it. Some buzz today online about the fact that Blue Moon created a Grand Cru – beers typically reserved for aging, special events, etc. These beers are usually extreme examples of their namesake, as is this one. @PourMeAPint mused on Twitter today that they were most likely going for a Double Wit [...]

Beer Reviews, Belgians, Macro, Microbreweries, Wheat