New Belgium Pumpkick

20160830:
The beer initially had a nutmeg taste - or whatever it is that typically goes into pumpkin/fall beers. Unfortunately, the taste which followed wasn't as good. 10:14PM CT

[20160916 Quick Edit]

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New Belgium Pumpkick

Relevant Links:
Pumpkick Spiced Seasonal Ale (New Belgium Website)
Pumpkick | New Belgium Brewing (BeerAdvocate.com)
New Belgium Pumpkick (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Pumpkick
Spiced Seasonal Ale

What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer? Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale. Pumpkick is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but it's the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that send your taste buds sailing.

Available in August-October 2016.

TASTING NOTES
VISUAL Amber with a light sheen to heavy haze, off-white foam and lacing.
AROMA Big pumpkin pie spice up front: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and clove. Cranberry and other red fruits back it up with lighter notes of pumpkin, floral, and sweet-bread like malty notes.
FLAVOR Pumpkin pie sweetness with a very light sourness that finishes with an ever-so-slight bitterness.
MOUTHFEEL Cloying and coating with spices. The finish is dry.
BODY Medium body.

BEER FACTS
ABV 6.0%
IBU 18
YEAST Ale yeast
HOPS Nugget
MALTS Pale, Munich, Caramel
FRUITS/SPICES Pumpkin juice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Cranberries, Lemongrass

Sierra Nevada Tumbler

20160830:
This beer had a malty, sugary smell.

Some hours later I gave this beer a sip and it was just okay - nothing special. I thought about pouring the remaining half out. 10:47PM CT

[20160915]

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Sierra Nevada Tumbler

Relevant Links:
Tumbler (Sierra Nevada Website)
Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

TUMBLER®

Roasted, rich, and perfect for an autumn afternoon.

Tumbler is our take on the classic brown ale – full of roasted malt flavor but delicate on the palate and perfect for crisp fall days. Layered with notes of chocolate and toasted bread and a hint of smoke, Tumbler is the ultimate autumn beer, so grab a seat and watch as the leaves come tumbling down.

OVERVIEW
ALCOHOL CONTENT 5.5% by volume
BEGINNING GRAVITY 13.6° plato
ENDING GRAVITY 3.5° plato
BITTERNESS UNITS 37

INGREDIENTS
YEAST Ale yeast
BITTERING HOPS Challenger
FINISHING HOPS Challenger, Yakima Golding
MALTS Two-row Pale, Caramel, Chocolate, Smoked

FOOD PAIRING
CUISINE Baked Ham, Roast Pork, Smoked Salmon
CHEESE Gouda

New Belgium Citradelic

20160826:
The beer smelled like orange juice, it was a wonderful smell. It was hoppy, but not bitter like the IPA, Surly Furious, I had the other day. Actually, the beer's smell reminded me of some sort of fruit juice containing mango (e.g., Tropicana mango).

However, unlike the nose, the beer tasted slightly lighter than the average IPA. I tasted the tropical flavors towards the end. It's possible the Brussels* sprouts I had eaten had altered my perception of taste. 11:25PM CT

*I was surprised to learn today (20160915) that it's "Brussels sprouts" and not "brussel sprouts." One article cites using a lower case 'b' is appropriate, due to the vegetable being so common and now removed from its association with the city of Brussels.

[20160915 Quick Edit]

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New Belgium Citradelic

Relevant Links:
Citradelic Tangerine IPA beer (New Belgium Website)
Citradelic | New Belgium Brewing (BeerAdvocate.com)
New Belgium Citradelic (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Citradelic
Tangerine IPA

Tune in and hop out with New Belgium Citradelic. Set adrift on a kaleidoscopic wave of hoppiness brought to you by a mystical marriage of Citra hops and tangerine peel, which elevates each sip onto a plane of pure tropical, fruity pleasure.

Citradelic’s namesake hop and fruit combine to jam with visions of additional hops like citrusy Mandarina Bavaria, tropical Azzaca, and fruity Galaxy for a colorful explosion that’s grounded by just a touch of malty sweetness. Bored by the status quo? Expand your palate with a pour of Citradelic. Launching January 2016.

TASTING NOTES
VISUAL Bright golden orange in color with a light sheen.
AROMA A blend of citrus (orange fruit/candy), tropical fruit (pineapple), and pine hop up front. Lighter are the herbal and caramel notes.
FLAVOR Starts mildly sweet and transitions to a well-balanced bitterness.
MOUTHFEEL Smooth start, lightly dry and a clean finish.
BODY Medium body.

BEER FACTS
ABV 6.0
IBU 50
YEAST Ale yeast
CALORIES 170
HOPS Nugget, Crystal, Centennial, Azzaca, Cascade, Citra, Chinook, Galaxy, Mandarina Bavaria, Simcoe
MALTS Pale, Caramel 120
FRUITS/SPICES Tangerine infused orange peel

Surly Furious

20160825:
The beer had a lovely IPA and/or grassy smell. It had an orange color. It definite had a hoppy taste.

The beer was not that harsh. IPA lovers would enjoy it.

It had a crisp, sharp taste with every sip. It tasted grassy. 7:32PM CT

The surly furious was actually quite bitter. As such, it is best suited for frequent IPA drinkers.

For the end of the beer, I found I wasn't a fan because it had too much flavor, but I could see why an IPA lover would absolutely enjoy it. 7:47PM CT

[20160915 Quick Edit]

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Surly Furious

Relevant Links:
Furious (Surly Website)
Furious | Surly Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
Surly Furious (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Furious

HYBRID OF AMERICAN IPA AND BRITISH ESB STYLES.
YEAR ROUND CANS AND KEGS

An amber-colored ale with citrusy hoppy aromas and flavors, balanced out by a chewy caramel malt backbone (sweetness), with a refreshing bitter finish.

MALT 2-row, Golden Promise, Aromatic, Medium Crystal, Roasted Barley
HOPS Warrior, Ahtanum, Cascade, Simcoe, Amarillo
YEAST English Ale
OG 15º Plato
COLOR 27 ºSRM

Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

20160825:
This beer was a bit warm (purchased and left in the open air for between 30 minutes and an hour). There was a slight bitterness.

The beer might have tasted better if it were colder, because then it'd have been less bitter. Otherwise, the beer reminded me most of a Natty Boh. However, as it stands, I'd certainly rather have a cold Natty Boh than this partially cold can of Goose Island 312.

[20160915 Quick Edit]

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Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale

Relevant Links:
312 Urban Wheat Ale (Goose Island Website)
312 Urban Wheat | Goose Island Beer Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

312 Urban Wheat Ale

BREWER'S NOTES
Inspired by the city of Chicago and densely populated with flavor, 312’s spicy aroma of Cascade hops is followed by a crisp, fruity ale flavor delivered in a smooth, creamy body that's immensely refreshing.

RECIPE INFORMATION
Style: Urban Wheat
ABV: 4.2%
IBU: 18
Color: Hazy Straw
Hops: Cascade, First Gold, Mt. Hood
Malts: 2 Row, Torrified Wheat

AVAILABILITY
Year Round
Bottles: 6 & 12pks, 22oz
Cans: 12pks
Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl

AWARDS
World Beer Cup Awards:
2008: Silver – English-Style Summer Ale
Great American Beer Festival:
2010: Gold Medal – English-Style Summer Ale
2008: Bronze Medal – English-Style Summer Ale
2007: Gold Medal– English-Style Summer Ale
2006: Gold Medal – English-Style Summer Ale

New Holland Incorrigible Reserve

20160824:
The beer had a red color. It had a deep, fruity, sour smell. It tasted bitter and there was a strong taste of alcohol. I detected some sour notes but I was distracted.*

After several sips, the drink settled into being a nice sour beer. It was tasty. 8:36PM PT

"I love this sour taste. I can't stop drinking it. And done." 8:54PM PT

*Transcribed as is. I can't recall if I was distracted by the bitterness/alcohol taste or by conversation.

[20160912 Quick Edit]

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New Holland Incorrigible Reserve

Relevant Links:
Incorrigible (New Holland Website)
Incorrigible Reserve | New Holland Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
New Holland Incorrigible Reserve (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information: (for Incorrigible)

Incorrigible
White Sour Ale

Incorrigible celebrates the beauty of mischief. Wild yeasts and bacteria run free in our sour-aging cellar, the House of Funk, creating vibrant sour and acidic character in this delicate, yet complex wheat beer. The refreshingly tart session beer will tease your palate with a subtle, layered nuance.

Beer Style: White Sour Ale
Degrees Plato: 11.5
Alcohol by Volume: 4.5%
IBUs: 2.8
Grains: 50/50 Wheat to Pale
Hops: Williamette (added to mash), no hops in boil
Yeast: WLP029 (Kolsch)
First Brewed: 2013
Pairings: charcuterie, duck, bright salads and fruit

Firestone Walker Velvet Mocha Merlin

20160815:
This beer tasted mellow, a surprise considering it's been sitting around since Winter 2014.* It had a nice coffee flavor. It was a bit watery, like a stout, but it also had some carbonation.

Comparing the Firestone Walker beers we had against each other (Wookey Jack, Velvet Merkin - 2014, and this one), Josh and I concluded this one was the best of the three. As an observation, it also had lowest ABV. 11:07PM PT

*Part of the 2014 Winter Bundle consisting of Double Barrel Ale, Union Jack IPA, Wookey Jack, and (Limited Edition) Velvet Mocha Merlin.

[20160904 Quick Edit]

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Firestone Walker Velvet Mocha Merlin

Relevant Links:
Firestone Walker Beer Archive
Velvet Mocha Merlin | Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
Firestone Walker Velvet Mocha Merlin (RateBeer.com)

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Website Infromation:

Velvet Mocha Merlin

Our beloved Velvet Merlin aged with cocoa nibs and Intelligentsia Espresso Beans.

All of the smooth textures and roasty dark chocolate goodness of our seasonal Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout with the added infusion of Intelligentsia Coffee House aromas and cocoa dusted chocolate truffle flavors.

This brew makes debut in our 2014 Winter Bundle pack - the only way to find this elusive collaboration.

Brew Notes:
Style: Coffee Infused Oatmeal Stout
ABV: 5.5
IBU: 27
Color: 65 SRM (Espresso Black)
Fermentation: Stainless steel
Malts: Maris Otter, 2-Row Pale, Roast Barley, English Dark Caramel, Medium Caramel, Carafa Malt, Oats
Hops: 100% US Grown Fuggle Hops
Availability: Draft and 22oz in 2014 Holiday Winter Bundle & Firestone Walker Brewing locations only

Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin

20160814:
After the Wookey Jack, my friends and I shared this Velvet Merkin. Unfortunately, as it would happen from time to time, I forgot to take notes. It's particularly unfortunate in this situation because I bought this bottle (at the same time as) to compare with the Velvet Mocha Merlin (and Velvet Merlin). With that being said, it technically doesn't matter anyways because I've kept both bottles for over a year beyond their intended consumption date.

Even without notes, I recall the beer had a strong alcoholic taste. And, if I were to guess, the beer's sheer strength distracted me from taking notes and I was likely unable to discern its former flavors.

(2014 Vintage; released September 2014)
[20160904]

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Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin

Relevant Links:
Velvet Merkin (Firestone Walker Website)
Velvet Merkin | Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Velvet Merkin
Bourbon Barrel-aged Oatmeal Stout

Next vintage coming Mid-September, 2016

Velvet Merkin is the beer that almost wasn’t…Indeed, this vintage oatmeal stout’s comical (or is it scandalous?) name went off the grid for several years, but now it’s back due to popular demand. Velvet Merkin is aged for a full year in retired spirits barrels from Heaven Hill, Woodford Reserve and others, yet manages to offer mind-­boggling balance and restraint. You will wig out when you taste Velvet Merkin’s rich milk chocolate, bourbon and espresso flavors, preceded by aromas of vanilla, coconut, toasted oak and mocha.

Beer Information:
ABV: 8.5
IBU: 33
COLOR: 80SRM
FERMENTATION: British Ale (House)
MALTS: Maris Otter, 2-Row Pale, Roast Barley, English Dark Caramel, Medium Caramel, Carafa Malt, Oats (15%)
HOPS: 100% US Grown Fuggle Hops
Availability: 22oz and very limited draft

Awards:
2011 Gold Medal, Great American Beer Festival
2010 Gold Medal, Great American Beer Festival

Firestone Walker Wookey Jack

20160814:
First, I should note that this beer is at least a year old. It, along with a handful of other bottles of beer, was purchased prior to my reduced consumption of beer.

In any case, this beer had a carbonated mouthfeel and a bitter taste. In addition, there were some coffee notes and/or some rye notes hanging out in the background. 11:01PM PT

[20160903 Quick Edit]

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Firestone Walker Wookey Jack

Relevant Links:
Wookey Jack (Firestone Walker Website)
Wookey Jack | Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (BeerAdvocate.com)
Firestone Walker Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Wookey Jack
Black Rye IPA

A riff on the familiar Black IPA style, Wookey Jack is gnarly on the outside yet refined on the inside. Malted Rye and a dash of Cara Rye impart a spicy grain quality to the palate, while double dry-­‐hopping with Citra and Amarillo hops brings a citrusy dimension to the aroma profile. The brewing team also claims to have incorporated a bit of “Wookey Dust” into the recipe. The beer is black in color, but if you close your eyes and taste it, you’ll say it’s a true IPA. Wookey Jack is unfined and unfiltered to retain its woolly natural texture and character.

Unless indicated otherwise on the code date, our beer is best if enjoyed within 120 days of its bottling date.

Beer Information
ABV: 8.3%
IBU: 80
COLOR: 45SRM
FERMENTATION: 100% Stainless Steel
MALTS: Pale Malt, Malted Rye, Dash of Cara-Rye, Midnight Wheat from Briess, De-Bittered Black Malt (Weyermann - Germany/Patagonia malting - Chile), Dash of Wookey dust
HOPS: German Magnum (bittering), Citra & Amarillo (flavor/aroma and double dry-hopped)

Availability
12 oz bottle, 22 oz bottle, draft

Awards
2013 Gold Medal, Great American Beer Festival (American-style Black Ale)
2012 Gold Medal, Great American Beer Festival (American-Style Black Ale)
2012 Top 25 Beers, Draft Magazine
2013 Gold Medal, Great American Beer Festival

Dogfish Head Namaste

20160814:*
This beer had a banana, coriander sort of smell. It had a cloudy, yellow appearance. It had a strong carbonation.

After tasting some of my friends' drinks, I returned to the Namaste and the carbonation was still strong. I found it had a wheat taste. Furthermore, unlike the smell, the beer lacked a banana taste. 5:55PM PT

*It's likely I've had this beer before, but I'm unable to hunt down any old notes on it.

[20160903 Quick Edit]

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Dogfish Head Namaste

Relevant Links:
Namaste (Dogfish Head Website)
Namaste | Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (BeerAdvocate.com)
Dogfish Head Namaste White (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Namaste
Our Belgian-style white ale bursting with good karma

ABV: 4.8
IBU: 20
RELEASE: Year Round
ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE: 2009
STYLE: White Ale

A witbier bursting with good karma. Made with dried organic orange slices, fresh-cut lemongrass and a bit of coriander, this Belgian-style white beer is a great thirst quencher.

Namaste was originally brewed at our pub in Rehoboth Beach with our Italian friend Leo from Birra del Borgo. It was a tribute to our friends at 3 Fonteinen brewery in Belgium, who had devastating production loss (1/3 of their annual production) in 2009. You can read more about the original brewing of this beer here on Sam's blog.

ENJOY
GLASSWARE Shaped Pint
CHEESE PAIRING Goat
FOOD PAIRING Roasted turkey, Caesar salad, pasta with cream sauce

EXPERIENCE
COLOR Golden straw
AROMA Citrus & cloves with subtle coriander notes
FLAVOR Balance of citrus & sweet malt notes with slightly spicy finish
MOUTHFEEL Quenching and zesty

Avery Raspberry Sour

20160802:
This sour was sour. It tasted like cranberry juice. Actually, maybe it tastes like raspberries, but I don't know what raspberry juice tastes like.

It's sour like a Warheads (a brand of sour candy). 1:31AM PT

[20160827 Quick Edit]

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Avery Raspberry Sour

Relevant Links:
Raspberry Sour (Avery Website)
Raspberry Sour | Avery Brewing Company (BeerAdvocate.com)
Avery Raspberry Sour (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Raspberry Sour

BOTANICALS & BARRELS
BARREL-AGED SOUR
6.5% ABV

Luscious ripe red raspberries are elegantly intertwined with a bountiful amount of lactic acidity and delicate barrel nuances to cultivate this stunning sour ale.

Availability
22 oz Bottle
5.16 gal keg

Descriptors: Oak, Tart Red Raspberry, Lactic Acidity
Malt Varieties: Aromatic, C-45, Sinimar, Dark Candy Sugar, Special B, 2-Row
Yeast Varieties: Westmalle Belgian Ale
Hop Varieties: Bravo
Dry Hop Varieties: N/A

Samuel Adams Nitro Coffee Stout

20160801:
The beer has a strong coffee smell with a creamy taste.

The initial taste was better than the final sips which were more bitter. The final sips also tasted less like coffee and the mouthfeel was more watery.

Josh liked it though; he liked it more than the Belching Beaver Here Comes Mango from yesterday. 10:28PM PT

[20160921 Quick Edit]

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Samuel Adams Nitro Coffee Stout

Relevant Links:
Nitro Coffee Stout (Samuel Adams Website)
Samuel Adams Nitro Coffee Stout | Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) (BeerAdvocate.com)
Samuel Adams Nitro Coffee Stout (RateBeer.com)