Triptych Dank Meme

Brewed By: Triptych Brewing in Savoy, Illinois  

Purchased: 64oz growler from the brewery; filled on Saturday, July 29th, 2017 

Style/ABV: New England APA, 5.0%

Reported IBUs: 45

Dank Meme ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Triptych are that brewery from Savoy, Illinois that no one is talking about because they are a brewery from Savoy, Illinois. It's the butthole armpit of Illinois, albeit with slightly less racism than what you'd get if you went a few clicks south. This is one of many Kickstarter breweries, but clearly one of the better executed efforts.

Dank Meme is the kid brother Pale Ale to Really Dank Meme, the brewery's amped up New England IPA. It has been and is available in cans, and I've seen distro as far North as Chicago.

In terms of appearance, this dials in juicy orange juice with very little room for interpretation. The beer kicks up solid head, and the carbonation hangs around leaving ample webs of lacing. This is very much a hazy affair, and much like prison OJ, even my brightest desk lamp is unable to penetrate.

The aroma is dialed back compared to the Really Dank Meme, and drops more of that water crest malt base. I get tons of peach and guava, pretty legit mango, some shades of red papaya, sweet pineapple, banana waffers, and light grass/hemp. It's like a Tony Magoo apparatus and channels those West Coast weed field vibes...but with more water than the West Coast has seen in the past 10 years. 

This is dialed in shit, cutting across your tongue like a juicy/wet blade of grass. Up front is a splash of hemp and peach and guava, with pineapple and green banana following. The back end bitters up with some papaya and lingering mango notes. It's so wet and drinkable the juice label is apropos. Mouthfeel is is medium-light, with good palate depth and complexity. This is not overly light or basic, and that is often the trap these New England Pale Ales fall into. This unfolds in three waves with those hemp/peach/guava notes first, followed by that green banana, and finishing with mango/papaya. It's also balanced and has nice bitterness. 

Rating: Strong Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

Real talk, Triptych is brewing one of the best New England Pale Ale and New England IPA in Illinois. These guys are killing it. If you needed an excuse to visit the central part of the state, this is it. ISO. ISO more. MOARR. Triptych send me cans. 

Random Thought: What the foam did you just firkin say about beer, you little macro drinker? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Cicerone certification online program, and I’ve been involved in numerous bottle shares of rare beers, and I have over 300 Untappy check-ins. I am trained in home brewing and I’m the top shopper in my entire home brew supply store. You are nothing to me but just another line mule. I will passive-aggressively complain about you to my wife with precision the likes of which has never been seen before on this Earth, mark my angry forum post. You think you can get away with saying that macro swill to me over the Internet? Think again, /r/craftbeer poster. As we speak I am contacting my secret network of homebrewers across the USA and your yeast strain is being traced right now so you better prepare for the knowledge storm, pale lager drinker. The storm that wipes out the pathetic little thing you call your “beer knowledge”. Your cellar is drain poured, hipster-hater. I can be anywhere, anytime, and I can brew beer in over seven hundred ways, and that’s just with my natural body yeast. Not only am I extensively trained in beer blogging, but I have access to the entire arsenal of Garret Olive’s bees and I will use it to its full extent to make delicious bee-barelywine-ales with all the presidents, you plebian macro drinking scum. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little “clever” comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have held your craft beer a little higher. But you couldn’t, you didn’t, and now you’re paying the price, you Yinlin-chugging, Heady-Topper-drinking-from-the-can-er-er. I will downvote all your terrible beerporn posts in /r/craftbeer, and you will ruin your BCBS keg by giving it a handjob. You’re not even a level one Cicerone, bro.

Karben4 Fantasy Factory

Brewed By: Karben4 Brewing in Madison, Wisconsin  

Purchased: 12oz bottle from a 6-pack bought at Pueblo Food and Liquors in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 2016 

Style/ABV: American India Pale Ale, 6.3%

Reported IBUs: ?

Sold. 

The best beers are the ones you stumble upon with little or no expectations. I was on a drunken pilgrimage in Milwaukee to celebrate my friend's upcoming foray into holy matrimony when our bachelor party discovered this hilariously labeled beer. Of course we bought it. 

Karben4 brewing is a brewery based out of Madison that was "founded by Appleton, WI natives." The brewery is run by brewmaster, Ryan Koga,and business entrepreneurs Alex Evans and Zak Koga. But more importantly, there is a cat riding a unicorn that is breathing fire on the label of Fantasy Factory. 

The beer pours into a hazy orange body, with lots of sediment just kicking around in the body of the beer. The head retention is on point, and there is plenty of carb. This is a murky beer with lots of crap floating around. Homebrew levels of crap...it's not even juicy. But I love that dank, raw execution. If they ever filter this beer I'll be sad.1

The aroma is on point with how the beer tastes, and hits deep resinous hops. This drifts into weed-land, with hints of bong smoke, and then drops a layer of Mosaic hops with tropical fruits and pineapple. I'm also thinking this is hopped with Nelson Sauvin, as it has a pretty grape-y aroma, with some white grapes and gooseberry. 

Karben4 Fantasy Factory

Malts are what you notice first, followed by the dank weed-like blast of hemp oil, bong smoke, grapes (instantly transporting me to my nostalgic first experience with Nelson Sauvin), and some tropical fruit. This has a pretty rich malt base that is reminiscent of a nice dry, yeasty/bready biscuit. It's kind of like drinking a biscuit blended with pineapple in your stoner brother's bedroom. If that sounds unappealing it ISN'T. This is delicious stuff...

If not for the resinous hop assault, this would be pretty juicy. It is juicy, but it also drifts into resin and bitterness. This is medium-bodied, and feels its weight at 6.3%. This is pretty much a new age West Coast American IPA through and through, with lots of resinous hop bite and biscuit malt up front, a shit load of tropical fruit and grape in the mids, and a bitter and drying finish that leaves lingering smashed pineapple and guava. There's some grapefruit and citrus in here as well.

Rating: Strong Above-Average (4.5/5.0 Untappd)

This is pretty good, as in if this was in my distribution area I would buy it regularly. This could rival Zombie Dust or War Bird or Gone Away as a daily drinker.

Random Thought: Master Musicians of Bukkake's album, Totem One, is a serious beast of an album.

Moody Tongue Steeped Emperor's Lemon Saison

Brewed By: Moody Tongue Brewing Company in Chicago, IL  

Purchased: 12oz bottle from a 4-pack bought at Bottles & Cans in Chicago, IL; 2015

Style/ABV: American Saison/Fruit Beer, 6.3%

Reported IBUs: ?

It's been a while...ask me about my grad school problems. About the Moody Tongue Brewing Company: 

Moody Tongue Brewing Company is a brewery based out of Pilsen, Chicago. The brewery was founded in 2013 by Jared Rouben, who is a graduate of Washington University, the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and the Siebel Diploma course in Chicago, where he is now a faculty member. After completing culinary school, Jared worked as a cook at the Michelin Star Martini House in Napa and as Expeditor at the three Michelin Star Thomas Keller’s Per Se in New York City. Rouben also brewed at the Rock Bottom and Goose Island Clybourn. After working in the culinary and brewing world, Rouben intends to bring a culinary point of view to beer. For more info, check out the brewery's FACEBOOK page or their website.  

The Moody Tongue Steeped Emperor's Lemon Saison is a Saison...brewed with lemon. The beer pours into a dark, honey-orange/bronze body, kicking up several fingers of fluffy head. There's good carb, and nice lacing.

Moody Tongue Steeped Emperor's Lemon Saison 

I'm sure a lot of reviews are going hard on this for the overwhelming lemon aroma. This beer is outside the usual wheelhouse. But the aromas are legit. I'm getting a lot of lemongrass, lemon zest, Meyer lemons, some natural lemons sugars, and a light biscuit malt base.

This tastes amazing, if you are looking for lemons. I'm getting everything I was picking up in the aroma: lemon zest, Meyer lemons, lemon sugars and lemon meringue pie, lemongrass, and tons of that light biscuit malt base. The beer is refreshing, drinkable, and lemony. BUT, absent from the experience is that Saison base. I'm just not getting any of the citrus, funk, clove, pepper, or character that I would expect from a Saison. 

So, while I think this falls short of the Saison label in some regards, it definitely rises above your average fruit beer. This is easily one of the better lemon-infused beers I have had, and it drinks light and clean at 6.3%. The beer is carbed well, has good depth and duration, and actually drops a complex lemon portfolio that goes beyond your basic lemon juice addition. This is better than any janky Radler or Shandy or half-assed fruit beer you are liable to find on shelves these days. This doesn't have a ton of residual or artificial sugars, so it already elevates the game to Golden State levels unlike other "OG" breweries that turn out some pretty saccharine-heavy sugar bombs. This beer won't give you a cavity is what I'm trying to say. Also, aside from missing the Saison base, this beer tastes like it was masterfully brewed. Anyway...my final thought is I'm getting some ginger and lemongrass notes with this, so this would be my go-to sushi beer moving forward.  

Rating: Above-Average (3.5/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Decent Above-Average on this. This is a forgettable Saison but a memorable lemon beer. There are no lemon parties here. Just perfectly nuanced lemon goodness with a hint of ginger and meringue pie sweetness. This is one of the better attempts at a lemon beer, and I would buy a 4-pack of this sooner than I would buy some Stiegel Radler or LeinenMillerKegels Summer Shandy. 

So keep brewing this, Moody Tongue.

Random Thought: Moody Tongue sounds like a brand of acid. 

Stillwater Artisanal Night Vision - Sensory Series 3 - Tennis

Brewed By: Stillwater Artisanal at Dog Brewing Co. in Westminster, MD  

Purchased: 750ml bottle bought at Bottles & Cans in Chicago, IL; 2015

Style/ABV: Belgian Pale Ale/American Wild Ale, 6.9%

Reported IBUs: ?

About Stillwater Artisanal Ales: 

Stillwater Artisanal Ales are a Gypsy Brewery based out of Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 2009-ish, the beer is brewed by Brian Strumke. You can find more info at the brewery's blog or their website. 

The Tennis is part of Stillwater Artisanal's sensory series. The Stillwater Sensory Series is a collaboration between Stillwater Artisinal and singular music artists. This release is in collaboration with the artist Tennis, and is inspired by the song Night Vision. Tennis is Denver couple Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley. 

Stillwater Artisanal Night Vision - Sensory Series 3 - Tennis

This pours into a radiant orange body, kicking up white foam and carb for days. The beer is slightly hazy, and the creeping chimney of carb in the bottle is appropriate for a Brett beer. You have to admire these Stillwater projects. 

Giant peach and pineapple jump out front on the aroma, with white pepper and strawberries, white wine notes that include gooseberry and sweet melon/sweet grass/sweet lemon, and there is impressive Brett funk coming off the aroma. The Brett is earthy and sweet. This smells juicy and amazing. 

The taste doesn't quite match the aroma, and the malt body is a bit thicker than you might expect, and the Brett hasn't quite dried this out. But, there actually is a good amount of dryness here, with wonderful Brett funk, lots of peaches and pineapple, and good hop bitterness showing up to drop some orange and lemon and rind and dry things out.

This is a medium-light bodied beer, with plenty of carbonation to move things along and a nice drying Brett character to clean things up. At 6.9%, this is fairly drinkable with just mild alcohol showing up between the cracks. This is vinous and wine-like, which is a good thing. The funk levels in here are acceptable as well. Overall, a really solid if not slightly underwhelming Stillwater release. 

Rating: Above-Average (3.5/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Light Above-Average on this. Not Stillwater's best, but still a really solid beer. Having said that, if you can find a bottle, pick it up. You can't beat the price to beer ratio here. 

Random Thought: I'm so happy that Stillwater is all over Chicago.

Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin IPA

Brewed By: Ballast Point Brewing Company in San Diego, California 
Purchased: 12oz bottle from a 6-pack bought at Whole Foods in Chicago, IL; 2015

Style/ABV: American IPA, 7.0%

Reported IBUs: 70

Sculpin IPA is a top-shelf IPA, but how does the Grapefruit version stack up? About Ballast Point Brewing: 

Like a lot of craft breweries, Ballast Point began as a home brewing outfit. Founder Jack White (not the Jack White) began home brewing, only to realize that sourcing ingredients was easier said than done. So Jack opened up Home Brew Mart, a home brew shop, in 1992. From there, Jack met Yuseff, and the two began brewing in the back of the home brew shop. In 1996 the brewery was born. Because Yuseff loves fishing, the brewery names all their beers after fish. You can read more about the brewery and its history here. 

The Grapefruit Sculpin takes the Sculpin IPA base, and throws grapefruit juice into the mix. Obviously. And this beer really looks the part, with a clear/transparent grapefruit-orange body, and two fingers of off-white head; this is well-carbed and has great lacing. It looks like beer, suck it caesaronis.

Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin IPA

The aroma here is dominated by the grapefruit juice, with grapefruit juice popping off the aroma and crushing the base beer. It's not a bad thing, and when the base beer does get through, you are hit with lemon/orange/pine hops, and a light malt base of light cracker and light grain. The grapefruit juice-hop combo works.

This is good...albeit sweet and juicy. The grapefruit juice is overt, and blasts away the hops in terms of balance. The hops that do come through in the taste impart lots of lemon, some grapefruit/orange, and some bitter orange rind on the back end. The super light cracker/grain malts serve the beer well, but I can't help but feel like the juice takes something away from this.

Throwing juice into your beer is, evidently, a risky move. This is nicely done for the most part, with a medium body, good palate depth, good duration, and low complexity. You don't get any alcohol...it isn't too bitter...it's actually pretty refreshing. The grapefruit juice dominates things for better or worse, because the base beer is really up...

Rating: Above-Average (3.5/5.0 Untappd)

I'll toss this a Decent Above-Average. I might go grab a 6-pack of the regular beer just to do a side-by-side comparison, but a part of me feels like the regular version is better? I don't know. This isn't bad, I just feel like adding juice to a beer is something that is going to be hit or miss, and in this case it works but it doesn't necessarily make the regular beer better. And maybe it wasn't supposed to.

Random Thought: I wish I had more time to review beer...I think I need to start doing some short format reviews.

Stone Ruination 2.0

Brewed By: Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, California

Purchased: 22oz bottle bought at Whole Foods in Chicago, IL; 2015 (Enjoy By 07/05/2015)

Style/ABV: American Imperial IPA, 8.5% 
Reported IBUs: 100+

Earlier this year, Stone announced that they were killing off their Ruination IPA. No one in California blinked, and Tony Magoo smoked a bowl. But Stone's Ruination is back. Version two point oh. About Stone:

Stone Brewing are one of the more prominent breweries in the American craft brewing scene. They were founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California, and moved to Escondido, California where they recently expanded their operations. Stone was founded by Steve Wagner and Greg Koch. Koch has a reputation among the craft beer community for voicing his opinion, not putting up with shit, and standing behind his beer. Also...farking woot and fizzy yellow beer is for bitches. 

The Ruination 2.0 is brewed with Centennial, Simcoe, Citra, and Azacca hops. And the rest is pretty much Stone.txt. 

Stone Ruination 2.0

This has clear golden-orange tones, with dotted carbonation and a sea foam white head that is hanging around like your loser kids and leaving webs of lacing that would impress Peter Parker and Peter North. Kudos to Stone for putting on the Enjoy By date, but I feel like this is going to a very different beer in July. I would not want to be popping this on July 5th.

Stone's Ruination/RuinTen/Enjoy By series all have a similar vibe with dank hops on top of aggressive, sugary caramel malts. The Ruination 2.0 smells like a departure with a thinner, cracker malt base, and lots of tropical fruit hops. I'm getting mango, pine, honeydew/melon, peaches, passion fruit, some resin, pine, pine sap, and some sweet hemp. The nose is fairly subdued, and leans towards the hops.

The taste matches the nose, which a nice departure from the insanely sweet hops and insanely sweet malt/caramel base that Stone was delivering in their Ruination/RuinTen/Enjoy By. This beer wears its 100+ IBUs, with an intense hop note that cuts right through the beer that is raw as hell. I don't even know what it is...I've never tasted it before in a beer. I'm guessing it is from the Azacca hop? I'm getting a ton of melon, pine, shades of peach/mango, some resin...and that sharp hop note. It's kind of earthy, and kind of pithy....if I had to reach for a description, I would compare it to tobacco, grass, lawnmower trimmings, or unsmoked weed in a bag.

This is really solid, and a welcomed departure from the sugar bombs that Stone has been cranking out for the past few years. This reminds me of Stone's IPA, which has held up well over these years. This is medium-bodied, and doesn't feel too bitter or too boozy. Palate depth is good, with long duration that cuts into nice dryness. This never gets too woodsy/woody/dry, but you definitely feel the punch of the pine and the 100+ IBUs. This is moderately complex. The thin malt profile is welcomed, with lots of melon and sweet fruit up front that gives way to bitter pine and resin and hemp, with nice drying on the back. Also, this is affordable. Nice. 

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'll toss this a Light Above-Average. I would buy this again, and I think Stone nailed this beer. This is a big, hoppy, hop-forward Double IPA. The malts don't get in the way of this experience, and this isn't sweet. I would pair this with strong, spicy foods. 

Random Thought: DAE DARK LORD DAY?!?! I'm so happy I will be embracing my warm bed, the forecast calls for rain and cold. 

Stillwater Artisanal Rio De Sauvin

Brewed By: Stillwater Artisanal at Dog Brewing Co. in Westminster, MD  

Purchased: 22oz bomber bought at Bottles & Cans in Chicago, IL; 2015

Style/ABV: Saison/Farmhouse Ale/Fruit Beer, 7.7%

Reported IBUs: ?

How about dem Sauvin hops. And how about a Farmhouse Ale brewed with mango juice and passion fruit juice. MMMM. 

About Stillwater Artisanal Ales: 

Stillwater Artisanal Ales are a Gypsy Brewery based out of Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 2009-ish, the beer is brewed by Brian Strumke. You can find more info at the brewery's blog or their website. 

This beer was inspired by Against the Grain's Rico Sauvin, and the bottle reads:

Stillwater Artisanal Rio De Sauvin

"The boys at against the grain made a beer based on a fictional 'sexy man' and uhh, his sheep friend.. so sticking with the theme and the fact that we have been spending some time in Brazil lately, we decided to amp up the sexy and host a tropical orgy of fruit flavors, hops, malt and yeast..umm, yeah."

-Brian (Stillwater Artisanal)

Rio De Sauvin is part of the remix series, and not only features dat base Sauvin IPA, but tosses in mango and passion fruit juice. This pours into a hazy, sexy orange body. In brighter light this takes on lemon hues...hue. There's good head retention, good carb, dat bottle. Dat glass. Dat beer appearance experience. 

This smells fantastic....like a fruity farmhouse ale/saison. I'm getting a ton of clove, white sugar, wheat funk, and lots of juicy mango and passion fruit. This has clean lines and potent fruit, and smells exactly how I want a fruited Saison to smell like. There is some subtle lemon rind action going on in here too.

This is baller. The fusion of the fruit juice with the base beer could not have been done better. This drops Juicy Fruit on a solid Saison base with lemon, mild wheat, mild clove, and tons of passion fruit and mango. 

This is light-bodied, refreshing, and way too drinkable. At 7.7% I'm not getting any alcohol, and palate depth and complexity are both spot on. This is just juicy and delicious, I really have nothing to complain about. If they threw some wild yeast into this beer, it would elevate into that Divine category. As it sits now, it's just an Above-Average fruited saison. Which isn't a bad thing.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Decent Above-Average on this. This is another solid entry from Stillwater. Would buy again.

Random Thought: This really needs that barrel/sour treatment.

Stone Enjoy By 4.20.15 IPA

Brewed By: Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, California

Purchased: 12oz bottle from a 6-pack bought at Bottles & Cans in Chicago, IL; 2015 (Enjoy By 4/20/2015)

Style/ABV: American Imperial IPA, 9.4% 
Reported IBUs: ?

It's hard to believe it has been a whole year since I drank Stone's Enjoy by 4/20/14 IPA. About Stone:

Stone Brewing are one of the more prominent breweries in the American craft brewing scene. They were founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California, and moved to Escondido, California where they recently expanded their operations. Stone was founded by Steve Wagner and Greg Koch. Koch has a reputation among the craft beer community for voicing his opinion, not putting up with shit, and standing behind his beer. Also...farking woot and fizzy yellow beer is for bitches. 

4/20 BLAZE IT LIKE TONY MAGOO

The 2015 4/20 Enjoy By is a dark orange or deep gold color, depending on the light you have. This one looks clear/filtered in the glass, but my hunch is this is conditioned and Stone just knows how to get clear looking beer. There's lacing and a white head and all that crap as well.

You are here for the dank aroma and the hops and this delivers. This drops dank/phat hops that veer into hemp, pink peppercorns, bubblegum, intense resin, pine, and some nice citrus. This has that thick, Ruinition malt base, with caramel and sugars galore. And this drops some peach ring candies, ala my favorite Revolution beer of 2014, the Unsessionable IPA. 

This is dank but not a lot has changed since last year. This is still a blissfully straightforward West Coast Imperial IPA. This blasts your palate with massive amounts of sugar, resinous hop oils, guava, orange, candy citrus, grass, kumquats, and hemp.

This is still super drinkable at 9.4%, with a well-carbed medium-body and good depth and complexity. This doesn't do anything far out of the Stone wheelhouse, but you appreciate that it exists. This leans towards the sweet, dank hops, and Stone pretty much delivers.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm still stickign with my Strong Above-Average. If you see the Enjoy By beers, pick them up. Especially around 4/20. 

Random Thought: MMM IPAs.

Pipeworks The Money (CA$H 4 Golden Ale aged in Elijah Craig 12 year old Bourbon Barrels)

Brewed By: Pipeworks Brewing in Chicago, IL  

Purchased: 22oz bottle (Batch #473/474) bought at West Lakeview Liquors in Chicago, IL; 2015 (bottled 08.??.2014)

Style/ABV: Belgian Golden Strong Ale, 13.0%
Reported IBUs: ?

It's not Pipeworks Thursday™ but who gives a shit. Way back when I reviewed that CA$H Money, and the Elijah Craig 12 Year is delicious. So how about "Our "Ca$h 4 Golden Ale" aged in Elijah Craig 12 year old Bourbon Barrels." Oh yes please. About Pipeworks:

Pipeworks has humble roots. The brewery was founded in Chicago in 2011 by Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis. The duo were both homebrewers that met while while working at West Lakeview Liquors. In 2011, they began to raise money for their brewery using the online Internet site, Kickstarter. Olson and Lewis were both educated at De Struise Brewery in Oostvleteren, Belgium. With that knowledge, and the money from their kickstarter, Olson and Lewis created a unique brewery that is smaller in size, and intended to brew smaller batches of beer. The company's motto is "small batches, big beers." And indeed, since the brewery has been around, they've been releasing a lot of one-offs and small batch releases. The goal is to release a new beer every week. You can read more about the brewery at their website HERE.

Pipeworks The Money

This pours into a golden/honey-colored body, kicking up a finger of restrained, white head. This looks like a Belgian Ale that has been through the bourbon ringer. It is slightly hazy but still really well-carbed. Even Snoop was like dayummm. BJCP - bongs, jello, cash, paninis. 

Let's not pretend Allagash and the Bruery haven't done this already, but this mashes pineapples and white saffron and wheat-apples and grapes (you know, that Strong Ale base) with oak, vanilla, a pound of white sugar, bourbon spice, cinnamon, and some light barrel. It has that Belgian nose, and smells like any Tripel or what-have-you crammed into a barrel. 

Oh dayum, son. This is straight up fantastic, bringing tons of bourbon flavor to the fold with big vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon/brown sugar, and then tons of apples, saffron, grapes, tannic and grainy gooseberries, overripe bananas, juicy stone fruits, and appreciable pineapple. This lays on some nice bitterness, and while this is super sweet it feels mature. This is going to be an inherently sweet beer, as are White Oak and any other similar offering. 

This is sneaky like a Golden Strong/Tripel, and you don't taste any of the 13%. The only suggestion of alcohol comes from the saccharine assault and bourbon character. This is full-bodied, big, boozy, and has good duration for the style. Palate depth is good, complexity is middle-of-the-road (but pretty good for this style). This beer is my jam. This style is my jam. You get an explosion of tropical fruits, saffron, apples, and grapes up front; that rolls into more pineapple, apple, saffron, bourbon, some spice; the back end drops a little alcohol, oak, barrel, and finishes nicely for something as big and sweet as this. I like this a lot. 

Rating: Above-Average (4.5/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Strong Above-Average on this beer. I'm so proud of Pipeworks, growing up to be on the same level as breweries like Allagash or The Bruery. Okay, I'm not not 100% serious. That would be the overstatement of the year if I was. Shoving any beer into an Elijah Craig 12 Year barrel is like using Citra hops or a drone strike. It's cheating. Anyway, this is good stuff and my only regret is it doesn't have the production of something like a White Oak. I wouldn't go food crazy with this beer...sip on it, enjoy.

Random Thought: I really wish I knew anything about bourbon and/or whiskey but I don't. I also don't have the money or cache to hunt down elusive bourbon whales. Thus, my thoughts on bourbon are shit just like this blog. If you are reading this, have all my apologies. 

Stone Delicious IPA

Brewed By: Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, California

Purchased: 12oz bottle from a Stone variety pack bought at Jewel-Osco in Chicago, IL; 2015 (Enjoy By 4/22/2015)

Style/ABV: American IPA, 7.7% 
Reported IBUs: 80

How about them Gluten-free IPAs. About Stone:

Stone Brewing are one of the more prominent breweries in the American craft brewing scene. They were founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California, and moved to Escondido, California where they recently expanded their operations. Stone was founded by Steve Wagner and Greg Koch. Koch has a reputation among the craft beer community for voicing his opinion, not putting up with shit, and standing behind his beer. Also...farking woot and fizzy yellow beer is for bitches. 

The Delicious IPA is your typical Stone IPA offering...except it is gluten-free and brewed with the lemony and spicy Lemondrop and El Dorado hop varietals. 

Stone Delicious IPA

This is a juicy yellow-orange, slightly hazy, hop-fueled affair. The head is thick and authoritative, like your grade school lunch lady. This laces better than shoes and Spider-Man's web shooters on dates with Mary Jane. It looks like many Stone beers.

This has a nice aroma, with white pepper, tropical fruit, and pineapple. There's a cracker note on the aroma, and then you get hit with some nice tobacco/hemp/weed. This has appreciable dankness and would pair well with your hasheesh. 4/22 blaze it.

Stone hasn't deviated much from their IPA with this beer, but that's not a bad thing. Stone's IPA is still a classic beer, and their Ruination IPA is up there. This feels very much in the same format, with over-the-top malts providing a sweet caramel contrast to giant American hops. You get resinous lemons, some cut grass, pithy tropical fruits, huge guava and hemp on the back end, and tons of dank as fuck resin. There's a peach note in this beer, and the fruits just keep on coming. It's fruity, juicy, and the bitterness is dank.

This is a medium-bodied, bitter, sticky-sweet, high-carbed IPA. It's in the realm of your typical West Coast offerings and can hold its own against your Lagunitas' IPA or Green Flash IPA. At 7.7%, I'm not getting a ton of alcohol in this. However, this is definitely a heavier IPA. This beer will stand up to strongly spiced foods. The palate depth is good, and this has good complexity. You get a lot of lemons and fruity notes up front; the mids roll into hops and sweetness (I'm getting some of the Yellow/Lemon Starburst that Stone claims you can taste); the back end drops appreciable spice and drying bitterness. Dank, hoppy, dry, spicy. Good.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'll toss this a Strong Above-Average. Not a bad IPA from Stone. I would buy a 6-pack of this during the warmer months to have on hand. Drink it fresh, pair it with strong, assertive foods.

Random Thought: I just finished my final paper for the Winter quarter. I feel pretty good about that.

Une Année Less Is More

Brewed By: Une Année Brewery in Chicago, Illinois  

Purchased: 500ml (1 Pint 0.9 FL OZ) bottle bought at Bottles & Cans in Chicago, IL; 2015 

Style/ABV: American Saison, 4.6%

Reported IBUs: ?

More Midwest shelf turds. About Une Année:

Une Année is a brewery based out of Chicago, Illinois located near the intersection of Grand and Ashland in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor (three blocks from the Goose Island Fulton St. production brewery). The brewery was founded in early 2012 by Jerry Nelson, who is "an Architect, Marine, Siebel Institute Graduate, and Chicago native who started homebrewing in 1995 while stationed in California." Currently, Jerry is the head brewer along with Dustin Zimmerman, who also attended the Siebel Institute, and previously brewed at Hamburger Mary’s Andersonville and worked at Nøgne Ø. The name "Une Année" means "one year" in French, and was chosen to reinforce the two main ideas behind the brewery: a focus on Belgian and French style beer, and an emphasis on seasonal beers. For more info, check out the brewery's website.

The Less Is More is an American-style Saison brewed with orange zest and juice. This pours into a hazy/cloudy yellow body, kicking up a couple of fingers of white head. The head retention is good, with lots of active carb, maybe overly so, and tons of lacing. This is radiant and bright...and it has good aromas.

Une Année Less Is More

This smells the part of an American Saison. The 4.6% thing means this is on the lighter side of the style, but it brings big aromas of lemons, orange juice, mimosas, wheat, white pepper, and MINIMAL yeast character. I wish this was more funky.

This isn't mind blowing, which is no real fault of Une Année. But at the same time, I've been spoiled with this style and this just seems kind of generic and streamlined, especially if juice was added. There's a lot of clean lines, bright hop notes, lemon, orange juice, citrus, some white pepper...and not much in terms of malts or yeast character. You pick up some wheat, and this hints at a bubble gum note from the wheat, but it never really takes things in the direction of the Belgian countryside. It also doesn't play up the orange juice character. It's not quite peppery enough, or mimosa-y enough. It just kind of is.

Despite being nonplussed by this beer, it does own it's 4.6% with a substantial but light medium-body. It's well-carbonated, easy to drink, and has good flavor. Palate depth and duration are middle-of-the-road, and complexity is low. Up front: lemons, mimosas light, good fruitiness, hops, wheat; the mids roll into wheat, with more lemons, orange juice, some mild white pepper; the back end rides out with juicy and clean lines. It's a bright and vibrant beer that I can't really fault except that it pretty much is what it is. 

Rating: Average (3.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Light Average on this. This is really solid but I wouldn't seek it out at this price in singles. Maybe if they shoved this in a 6-pack format...I just don't think the capacity is there yet, so I do hope they can continue to grow their brand. This is not a bad beer by any means, but the Saison market is flooded with fantastic beers. Having said that, I'm excited to see where they go with these Belgian beers. And their sours. 

Random Thought: I have their Wild Ale/Sour coming up, and that I am excited for.

Stillwater Classique

Brewed By: Stillwater Artisanal at Dog Brewing Co. in Westminster, MD  

Purchased: 12oz can from a 6-pack bought at Whole Foods in Chicago, IL; 2015

Style/ABV: American Farmhouse Ale/Saison, 4.5%

Reported IBUs: ?

MMM Saisons. About Stillwater Artisanal Ales: 

Stillwater Artisanal Ales are a Gypsy Brewery based out of Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 2009-ish, the beer is brewed by Brian Strumke. You can find more info at the brewery's blog or their website. 

The Classique is "A postmodern deconstruction of the American industrial lager made with naughty ingredients like corn and rice, completed with pilsner malt and lots of your favorite old-school American hops and farmhouse ale yeast.. "your Grandfather's new beer"." It also comes in a can, which is nice.

Stillwater Classique 

This pours into a radiant yellow body, kicking up two fingers of intense, white-colored head. The head retention is fantastic, and the beer leaves incredible lacing. This is well-carbonated as well. It's a good looking beer and inspires confidence and all that good shit. 

The aroma is big clove, Belgian yeast funk, bright hops, citrus, citrus zest, peppercorns, and big biscuit character. It smells really good...words you really never want to type in a beer review.

This is conceptually fantastic. At 4.5%, this delivers an intense range of flavors, and it even dials up the mouthfeel into something that is between light and medium bodied. I'm getting lots of biscuit, cracker, and Pilsner malts, with some suggestive minerality. The beer drops lots of hops as well, with big lemon, lemon leaves, and some citrus zest and white pepper. There is a good amount of Belgian funk from the yeast, and pink peppercorns are lurking in the mix.

This is a flying-under-the-radar brew from Stillwater. I want this to be more readily available, because I would pick this up again. At 4.5%, this is incredibly drinkable, and it keeps the body between light and medium. Palate depth is spot on, and this has good depth and duration. This also has some nice complexity. I've now had a few lighter bodied Saisons, and this is up there. Up front: refreshing lemon, yeast funk, clove; the mids roll into more hops, bright citrus/lemon, citrus zest and white pepper; the back end trails with fading hops, and drops biscuits and cracker and black pepper and minerality. The finish is dry.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Strong Above-Average on this. Fantastic stuff...sure this is a simple, straightforward approach to the Saison style. But you know what? It's marketed as a drinkable beer and it comes in cans. I would love to have this available in the Summer months, and I just want to sit down with a nice doughy pizza and chow this down. It brings some Pilsner-like notes into the world of the Saison, and I'm all for that. 

Random Thought: Stillwater can do no wrong. 

Goose Island Ten Hills

Brewed By: Goose Island Beer Company in Chicago, Illinois

Purchased: 12oz bottle from a Variety Pack left in my fridge in Chicago, IL; 2015 

Style/ABV: American Pale Ale, 6.2% 

Reported IBUs: 50

Woo shelf turds. About Goose Island:

Goose Island is a Chicago-based brewery that began as a brewpub on Clybourn, which opened on May 1988. The actual brewery opened on 1995, and is located on the Southwest side of Chicago. The second brewpub, located in Wrigleyville by the Chicago Cubs, was opened in 1999. On March 28, 2011, Goose Island sold 58% of the brewery to Anheuser-Busch. The remaining 42% of the brewery is supposed to be acquired by A-B InBev in the future, and there has been much discussion about the brewery's takeover. On November 16th, founder and CEO, John Hall, announced he would be leaving Goose Island. On January 1st, 2013, Anheuser-Busch "veteran" Andy Goeler will take over Goose Island. Additionally, around the same time as John Hall's departure, resident barrel-program leader John Laffler also announced his departure from Goose Island. There have been many changes regarding Goose Island...so we will see what the future has in store for Goose Island. 

The Ten Hills is a seasonal APA released during Decemeber through March. This beer is brewed with 2-Row, Caramel 20, Caramel 40, and Munich malts, and features Perle, Cascade, and US Saaz hops. 

Goose Island Ten Hills

This pours into your typical copper, amber-body, kicking up two fingers of amber-tinged head. Blah blah, it looks like every other Pale Ale/IPA out there. The beer is well carbed with good lacing, it's basically a basic bitch beer. 

The aroma is...shock...hops. This has a faint hit of onion and garlic on the aroma, with lots of orange, citrus, pine, and big hop wallop. The malt base is unobtrusive, and hints at whole grain bread if anything.

This isn't bad...it's actually a pretty basic follow through of the aroma. You get sweet malts, caramel sugars, and lots of oranges, hints of resin, and some lingering onion/garlic. It's pretty big for its britches, and that's not a huge shock at 6.2%. This is practically an IPA. 

Again, this is a big APA and really pushes the envelope as far as the style is concerned. I'm not having any trouble getting this down at 6.2%, and the palate depth is good with good duration. This is medium-bodied, and has lower carbonation. It's not that complex. This is pretty sweet...with honey like sweetness, lots of caramel sugars, and orange candies. You get those honey-like sugars up front (it reminds me of a toned down Hopslam), with lots of juicy hops in the mids, and some caramel sugars and lingering hops in the back. It's not bad. 

Rating: Above-Average (3.5/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Light Above-Average on this. This is a nice contender from Goozie Islands. I'd buy this again to pair with a spicy dish, and I think Goose Island has their heart in the right place when they decided to release this in the colder months of the year. The malt-heavy profile and intense sweetness makes this great for slightly colder weather. I hope Goose Island keeps this as part of their rotation. 

Random Thought: Goose Island's rotation changes are pretty frustrating, actually. They've killed some good beers.