Hoppy Brewing Total Eclipse

This is another brew from Hoppy Brewing that we recently obtained. Total Eclipse, a black ale. Black ales tend to be lighter and hoppier than porters or stouts, even though they are about the same color. Let's see how this is.

This pours black as my heart with a copious khaki head that dissipates quickly and leaves lovely lacing on the glass. There isn't a lot in the nose of this... it has some faint roasted notes, and perhaps a touch of coffee. The first sip is more coffee and roasted, toasted notes, followed by water -- seriously, it gets kind of bland in the middle -- and finishing with chocolate notes. At the very end, there is some bitterness from the hops, but not a lot.

It's a solid example of the style, but it's not exemplary. It would be a great go-to, and I'll pick up more whenever I find it on clearance (usually around $2 a bottle), but I don't know that I'd go out of my way to pay full price ($7ish) for it.

3.8/5 caps

-Jennie

Well, shit. How do I follow up a perfect description? Beautiful lacing, yes. Faint roasted, yes. Coffee and roasted tones, bland in middle, yes.

What I get out of this: Coffee, roasted, and toasted notes for about 2 seconds, then it fades into obscurity. There was some faint bitterness and come coffee notes toward the back.

Not terrible in the least bit. Not what I was expecting though, as most black ales I've had in the past had more hop tones to them. At 5.8%, it's a good evening sipping brew.

3.75/5 caps

-Nathan

Full Pint Chinookie

Full Pint just started distributing in Ohio. We've had their beers before, often when our friend Jason bootlegged a case back from a business trip to Pennsylvania. This is a new brew, though, and a welcome addition to the Ohio scene. Clearly brewed exclusively with Chinook hops. Let the innuendo begin.

This pours a light orange color with some chill haze, and an off-white head. I'm fine with the head quickly dissipating, as we've had "exploding" beers from Full Pint before. Thankfully this one did not do that.  I pick up some citrus and earthy tones in the nose, and almost some sweetgrass. The flavor is wonderful... some orange and grapefruit fading into sweetness and mildly earthy tones and then back into grapefruit on the finish. It's good... it's really good. Even with my diminished senses. Damn allergies.

I'm not sure what else I can say about this... I'll leave the innuendo to Nathan. Although I like the graphic on the label... kinda looks like Nathan looking at me and begging. Or, more appropriately, leering. Welcome to Ohio, Full Pint. I, for one, am looking forward to more of your great beers.

4.5/5 caps

-Jennie

Two hops in a hot tub. HA! Whoa, wait.... There's innuendo in this name?

So Jennie mentioned exploding beers. Our previous 2 experiences with Full Pint were completely different. The first one, our friend Jason brought over a mixed case, all were enjoyable. The second experience, Jason picked me up what was supposed to be a mixed case (clearly marked on the side). Inside of the case was nothing but the White Lightning. Bummer number one. Shortly after the first four, the bottles started exploding upon opening (didn't matter if they were chilled or not). Bummer number two. Full Pint reimbursed $20 as a way of saying sorry. Okay. Clean slate with them.

So, very recently, Full Pint is available here.

The aroma is interesting. There's tropical fruit, citrus, slight earthy, and almost an apple sort of smell. The taste is pretty damn good. Grapefruit fading to sweet, to earthy, to grapefruit, then finishing a mix of earth and grapefruit. This roller coaster ride of hops is pretty damn good. The mouthfeel is smooth, with a bit of stickiness on the very back.

Renewed faith in Full Pint, check. Better labels this time around (previously, all the labels looked exactly the same with a pint glass in the background and the brew name in the foreground), check. Available in Ohio now, check.

4.45/5 caps

-Nathan-

Oskar Blues Deviant Dale's

Dark, diabolical looking 16 oz can. Oskar Blues is known for being a pioneer company for putting craft beer in can form. A lot of others have jumped on board for this (including Flying Dog and Samuel Adams).  Deviant Dale's is their IPA selection. We've previously had 2 Oskar Blues (one reviewed, one not), and thus far, we're enjoying them.

This pours a golden amber color with a tone of off white head. The head sticks around some, but not an obscene amount. The aroma is... oh sweet fucking mercy. This smells like a perfect mixture of hops, happiness and bliss. OH sweet citrus grapefruit and pine nose. Why must you torment me. Then there's the first sip. Copious amounts of hops. Grapefruit, citrus and pine. Oh sweet nectar of Dionysus, the hops. This is good. There's not a huge malt flavor in here, and there's some slight orange peel tone in there as well. The finish is sweet and sticky, but still amazing.

I'm going to need a few minutes alone with this.

5/5 caps

-Nathan-

Well, while Nathan is polishing himself off in the bathroom, let's dig into this. It's sweeter than most IPA's, but I enjoy that (see Hopslam). I don't have a lot to add to Nathan's assessment... this is fantastic. I wish that Mother Nature didn't hate me, as she has impaired my sinuses by letting pollen do kegstands in my head. Yay allergies. So my senses of taste and smell this evening are a little less refined than usual. The pininess of this, though, kind of cuts through the murk in my head.

Yeah, this is pretty fantastic. I wish we had picked up more than one, but at least this one is a 16-ounce can. Mmmm tall boy. Mmmm great idea there, Oskar. The more I drink from them, the more I fall in love with them.

4.9/5 caps

-Jennie

Bell's Best Brown Ale

So, we covered Flying Dog in our last post... this one must be for Jennie, as Bell's is her favorite brewery. Best Brown Ale is one of their flagship beers, as well, so let's see why.

This pours a clear deep amber color, almost garnet, with a light khaki-colored head that sticks around. In the nose I pick up some bready tones and some noble hops. Then you taste it, and wow... my mouth is happy. There are some lovely roasted tones that come through immediately, and that fades into sweetness and then into bitterness from the very mild hops. It has a little coffee flavor to it, but it's not overwhelming. It's a really solid brew, and exemplary of the style. It's perfectly carbonated, and it has a velvety mouthfeel.

This is a great go-to brew, one to keep in the refrigerator. I'm not a huge fan of brown ales, as I find many to just not pique my interest enough. But this... this is really good.

4.3/5 caps

-Jennie

It would help to review this beer if I had it in front of me. Instead, like a dumb ass, I left it on the living room table. Let's find a happy solution to this.

I decided, after contemplating whether to holler at Jennie, or get it myself. I decided to not disturb her during her Scramble addiction session, so I decided to get said brew.

This is a brown ale. Best brown, though? We'll decide here shortly.

Deep amber pour, light khaki head. Definite bread tones in the aroma, I also pick up some faint caramel tones. The taste is roasty. Like a light roasted coffee. It dissipates to sweetness, as Jennie said, but I don't get so much bitterness on the back. To me it's a combination of roast and bitter tones. Smooth mouthfeel, the carbonation isn't prevalent, some slight stickiness at the very end.

Good brown, yes. Best brown, eh, still out for judgement. I'm not sure if the name Best Brown was because this was Larry Bell's best batch of brown, so they stuck with the recipe, or if it's a marketing thing to make people purchase it. Just sheer speculation on both, I have no facts to back up either and I can't find anything on the history of this particular brew after Google searching. Regardless, as not a brown ale fan, you should purchase it.

4.3/5 caps

-Nathan-

Flying Dog Doggie Style

This is one of two beers that turned me into a craft drinker (the other being Elevator's "Dark Horse"). So let's return to my roots, so to speak, and review this life-changing brew.

I think I've made it painfully obvious that Flying Dog is my favorite brewery. This is one of their flagship beers, and for damn good reason.

The pour is a gorgeous light amber with some khaki head that doesn't stick around. The aroma is light. Slight biscuit with a hint of citrus. The taste, though, whoa. When I want the most perfectly balanced beer, I'll turn to this. This is a smooth drinking, perfectly carbonated brew. The front is light, the middle is when the malt comes out, almost slight caramel and biscuit tones, toward the back is where the hops hit. The Northern Brewer and Cascade hops add a perfect little citrus leading into a piney taste toward the back. The hops are there, but it's not overwhelming to where it would turn off non-hop heads.  The mouthfeel is smooth, very little stickiness. Overall, an amazing brew.

I've had people who mostly drink the mass produced lagers enjoy this beer. The sophomoric chuckling over the name doesn't hurt either. And if you've delved into the Gonzo world, you'll know the artwork by Ralph Steadman is proudly displayed on the bottle.

4.75/5 caps

-Nathan-

Ha, I see what you did there, Nathan... "for damn good reason." Ralph Steadman has an upcoming movie titled For No Good Reason. Nathan is, of course, a huge Steadman fan. With all good reason.

To the brew. I pick up some caramel and biscuit notes in the nose. I also get a lot of orange in the initial sip. And yes, it's fanfuckingtastic. This is a great gateway beer for those just getting into the craft scene or looking to expand their beer horizons.

Yes, this is a beer I would want during a zombie apocalypse. I'm typing my review during ads of the newest "Walking Dead" episode. Fantastic brew to accompany a fantastic show. This is a brew I could drink at any time.

4.8/5 caps

-Jennie

Sierra Nevada Celebration

Sierra Nevada Celebration. The 100th review of ours (yes, this is only our 99th post, but 1 was a welcome, and 1 was a recipe. We reviewed 4 different things on the North Market Fiery Foods fest review). What a name for such an event.

Looking around, this is a 6.8% ABV IPA. This was first brewed in 1981, and uses Centennial, Cascade and Chinook hops. Sierra Nevada was founded in 1979 and decided to do a different take on the Winter Seasonal brew with their Celebration. Their website has all kinds of interesting info for beer geeks, like Jennie and I (such as the difference between Wet Hop and Fresh Hop ales). But, unfortunately, I'll save the lectures and such for another time and place, and focus, as much as I can at 12:15 am, on this brew.

So, after an eventful day of gathering car parts, making hot sauces and artwork, and finding out some potentially phenomenal news about the show (with a meeting postponed until Sunday),  we decided to review Sierra Nevada's Celebration to celebrate all things good in life right now. Dionysus is smiling upon us, it seems.

This pours a.... color.... the smell is... good.... it has a taste that's good.... and is ... good....

This is what I want to say as I'm starting to fade after an eventful day, but at the same time, the job must be done, and done right.

This pours a beautiful amber color, with a slightly khaki head that lingers for a bit. The aroma is a collage of earthy tones, citrus and some spice. Very hop forward on the aroma with faint hints of almost biscuity malt. The first sip is what I've been craving since dropping $100 on my suspension for the car. There's pine that fades into a bitter citrus, like unsweetened grapefruit, then delving into the world of spices while leaving slightly sweet tone as the caboose of this flavor train. The mouthfeel is medium and sticky, as it should be. There are some citrus, earthy and sweetness tones that linger temporarily, fluctuating between the intensity of all three.

A fantastic brew that should be drank shortly after it comes out (thus getting the freshest fresh of the hops. Fresh fresh fre-fre-fre-fresh, I'm gonna drop some rhymes like mimes eating key limes). I need some slumber before mustering the energy to partake in the work schedule of tomorrow.

4.9/5 caps

-Nathan

Please excuse Nathan as I send him to bed. That last paragraph was inexcusable. At least he has comfy new shoes to cushion his work day tomorrow.

I pick up way less spice, way more hops. Mmmmm hops. And this is soon after killing a Hopslam. What, did you really think I'd tell you where I knew there was one six-pack of that lovely libation remaining? Ah, sorry, dear reader... I may have withheld critical information for my own personal gain. Although I did share one with Dad. Lucky bastard.

(I say "bastard" out of love, of course. And clearly I know his parentage.)

I pick up a lot more earthy tones in the brew... and knowing how Sierra Nevada loves to use Cascade hops, I'd expect no less.

This is a wonderful out-of-the-norm winter seasonal from a fantastic brewery. I think this may even absolve all crimes of Rhizing Bines. Now that, my dear Nathan, is a rhyme. Someone, please, stop me. That last one wasn't even intentional.

Wow, I must be tired, too... some ADD is kicking in. Great beer. Getcha some. We found this at the Worthington Kroger in their make-your-own selection. Seriously, it's that good.

4.9/5 caps

-Jennie

Left Hand Milk Stout

Ok. So we kinda panned the last Left Hand offering. This is their redemption, as this is a brew we know and love. Furthermore, this post is dedicated to our friend Rachel, who loves this beer. It's her go-to craft brew. And trust me, her fiance makes some fantastic beer. It's also our friend Jess's anathema, as she is a vegan. Sorry, Jess... sometimes, you gotta have a little lactose in your coffee. Come on, almonds and soy beans have feelings, too. And how can you live with soy cheese? It's not real cheese. I couldn't live without Brie. Or Vermont extra-sharp cheddar. Or Gruyere. And don't even get me started on the porter-cheddar they carry at Kroger. But I love that you've come to appreciate craft beer since we've met.

This pours black as night with very light coffee-colored head. The head is minimal to begin with and leaves like an out-of-your-league one night stand the next morning. There's a lot of coffee in the nose. A lot. Like I want to brew a fresh pot right now. There are also some rich malt tones, and, well, yumminess. Let's take a sip. Oh my, this is good. It's the perfect blend of coffee, chocolate, and fantastic stout. It tastes like coffee when I am out of cream or milk (ironic, since it's a milk stout). It has the ideal hop bite at the back end, and a great malt backbone. And it's silky and light-bodied... unlike, say, Guinness, which to me feels like it's a 690-calorie meal in a 90-calorie glass. It drinks more like a porter than a stout. This is something I could drink all night long. Why oh why oh why did we get just one????

Oh, because this was part of a mixed six-pack. And we have more beer to review. Yay beer!

4.4/5 caps

-Jennie

So, after completing a Jackson Pollock/Ralph Steadman inspired painting, I need more alcohol to keep up the inspiration. Multicolored hands, I start in on this review. And I'm not going to knock our vegan friend,and my soon to be half-sister (as I normally do face to face).

This pours a dark color. As dark as a starless night. As dark as Emo-kids claim to be. The head looks like coffee with some cream in it, it fades away though. The nose has coffee and dark chocolate that overtake the aroma of anything else. Drinking this, however, reminds me of Coca-Cola Black, if you remember that. It was Coke with coffee. Only this is much better. The only reason I compare the two, are the coffee with sweetness in a non-typical way of combining the two. You get the coffee tones with the sweetness of the malt. The lactose sugars (non-technical terms; the thing that makes it a milk stout) do not come out that heavy. There is some hop bitterness toward the back, but not like your typical hops, more like a coffee bean sort of bitterness. I catch some roasted notes in there as well, as any great stout should have. This is smoother drinking than most stouts, however. The 'silky and light-bodied' description that Jennie gave is spot on. It leaves a residue of that first cup of morning coffee in your mouth that makes you want to go to Tee Jay's and get a Barnyard Buster and a cup of coffee at 3am after a 5 hour drinking excursion.

All in all, this is a good brew, and this is the quality that should be thought of when you think Left Hand. So go give yourself a stranger, clean up, then go out and purchase some (unless you're vegan, as lactose sugars are milk sugars, ergo, milk, ergo animal, ergo... well, you get it).

4.5/5 caps

-Nathan