Mendocino Imperial IPA (bottle) - 3.7

Mendocino Imperial IPA
Mendocino Brewing Company
Hopland, CA
ABV: 8%

Jon:
Fairly opaque, reddish hue, thick head. Smells like a million bucks: bitter orange, honey, molasses, grains, fig. It's less sweet on the tongue than the nose, as the sage/herb flavors are more dominant. Serious alcohol heat, it just can't be hidden. Wonderfully complex. A little overwhelming.

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 9/10 2/5 8/10 2/5 5/5 8/10

Mark:
Light caramel color. Lots of carbonation with a creamy, buttery yellow head. GREAT aroma after pouring. First sip: zing! Citrus and piney hops come right through. Very little malt flavor (just how I like it). There's an odd mouthfeel and aftertaste; sort of a pollen feel with a slightly sweet taste of honey.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 8/10 2/5 6/10 2/5 5/5 7/10

Jere:
Packs a punch, but for the price I'd expect nothing less. After a few more sips it isn't quite as potent but it still has some spirit.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 8/10 2/5 7/10 2/5 5/5 7/10

World Wide Stout (bottle) - 3.8

World Wide Stout
Imperial Stout
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, DE
ABV: 18%

Like the rest of America, we watched the premiere of "Brew Masters" on Sunday. Then, like the rest of America, we got a serious hankerin' for some Dogfish Head. (Watching an entire television program about a beer without having said beer on hand for sampling is NOT advised.) So when Mallory came home with two bottles of World Wide Stout today, we lasted a solid 6 hours before cracking them open. Beer on TV is super awesome, but get ready for Dogfish to be even pricier and harder to find in the months to come.

Mallory & Jon:
Black as night; light doesn't have a chance of getting through this beer. Little carbonation and head, as expected. Big alcohol on the nose, with a nice initial mix of chocolate, coffee, and a fairly hefty fig/prune/port aroma reminiscent of barley wine. Hang on to that chocolate/coffee goodness at the start, because once you get going on this it starts to behave more like a barley wine and less like a stout. Not that that's all bad, but we like our stouts to be smoky and roasty, and that just isn't the avenue that this stout happens to be going down. More flavors open up as it starts to warm up; some hints of spice and oily espresso can be found in the finish. The finish doesn't scream "stout," but then again, the nose doesn't even whisper it. Extra points for making a bad-ass Discovery show; minus points for inflated price and bad categorization. New genre suggestion: Stoutly Wine.

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 7/10 4/5 8/10 2/5 5/5 7/10

400 Pound Monkey (bottle) - 3.4

400 Pound Monkey
India Pale Ale
Left Hand Brewing Company
Longmont, CO
ABV: 7%

Jon:
Really fizzy, sudsy head. Slightly sweet, spiced nose; malty brown sugar notes. The flavor is subdued. I thought that this was some really heavy-handed stuff at the Keystone Beer Fest, but it's not nearly as complex in the bottle. Very acidic mouthfeel, which I don't mind. Awesome bottle art!

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 2/5 4/5 8/10

Mark:
Creamy, clumpy head with little lacing. Toasty English malt with a strange bitter coppery metallic aftertaste.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 6/10 2/5 6/10 3/5 4/5 6/10

Jere:
I don't really care for the taste of alcohol in my beer, and this one is pretty strong in that department. On the bright side, that's the sort of problem that goes away once you get to the second pint!

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 2/5 4/5 6/10

Hop Czar (bottle) - 3.4

Hop Czar
Imperial India Pale Ale
Bridgeport Brewing Company
Portland, OR
ABV: 7.5%

Jon:
Reddish and coppery. Smells... soapy? Not sure what to think about that. First sip... Holy hell that's bitter. Tastes kind of soapy too. Not distinguishing a ton of flavors, just mucho bitter. I'm on the fence, but this amount of hops is worth it for $7 per 6-pack.

3.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 5/10 3/5 6/10 4/5 4/5 6/10

Mark:
Slightly floral, bitter aroma. Bitter, bitter, bitter! Not a lot of flavor beyond the hop. I do detect a slight coffee overtone. Bitter floral finish.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 5/10 4/5 7/10 4/5 4/5 7/10

Jere:
Perhaps the color/appearance factor is influencing my judgement, but I do like this particular brew. It also could be my thirst factor enhancing my enjoyment level. Not detecting quite the same bitterness as my bandmates... perhaps a touch of hazelnut.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 4/5 4/5 7/10

The Tap Hunter Approacheth

TapHunter.com now has a Denver/Boulder channel up and running, and Jon has been spending some time over there. Check out his posts:

• Keystone Bluegrass and Beer recap
• Jon's Denver Beer Fest picks to keep you occupied until GABF

Beer on the brain!

-Jon

Lagunitas Maximus (bottle) - 3.5

Maximus IPA
Double India Pale Ale
Lagunitas Brewing Company
Petaluma, CA
ABV: 7.5%

Jon:
I'm pretty sure that this qualifies as an "extreme" IPA at +70 IBUs, but honestly, this is not nearly as face-meltingly hoppy as I expected it to be. There's a fair amount of caramel and molasses sweetness going on here; maybe that's what's starting to balance this out. This would be a really great intro for a new hophead into the world of extreme IPAs who doesn't want their face to melt off just yet.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 5/5 7/10

Mark:
Nice creamy head, clean amber color. Lots of bitterness nicely balanced by an understated caramel malt. Nicely crisp with a slightly mineral finish.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 4/5 7/10 2/5 4/5 7/10

Jere:
I probably shouldn't have sampled the Republic Organic Tequila first, as it has colored my palette somewhat. Still working on my first pint, which would seem to indicate the high potency of this "Double" IPA. Hopefully I can get through this one.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 2/5 4/5 7/10

Ranger IPA (bottle) - 3.9

Ranger IPA
India Pale Ale
New Belgium Brewing Company
Fort Collins, CO
ABV: 6.5%

Jon:
Light-colored and fizzy, foamy head. I love the flavor: herby, fairly bitter, with a pleasantly lingering bitterness and just a hint of sweetness. This is the kind of IPA that bridges the gap between easy-drinking and heavy-duty; it's complex and full-flavored, but not overwhelming.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 9/10 3/5 4/5 8/10

Mark:
I love this IPA! It really seems to be a departure from the malty/toasty characteristic of many New Belgium beers. Very balanced, citrusy, floral nose, with a slightly bitter finish.

4.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 8/10 4/5 9/10 3/5 4/5 8/10

Jere:
Not having had the benefit of trying this on tap (like Mark and Jon got to on its first weekend out), I think it's still right in New Belgium's wheelhouse. Quite hoppy, with an average bitter aftertaste; I do like how it goes down. Will have to try the draft version someday soon.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 7/10 3/5 3/5 7/10

Lucky U IPA (bottle) - 3.2

Lucky U IPA
India Pale Ale
Breckenridge Brewery
Denver, CO
ABV: 6.2%

Jon:
This is a nice, easy-drinking IPA. Very subtle nose, with just a hint of citrus and tea leaf. There is a bit of sourness here - not enough to be detrimental - but it still doesn't seem to fit with the other flavors. If this were cheaper it might replace Long Hammer as my pick for best value IPA.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 4/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 7/10

Mark:
Slightly sweet to start with a bitter, sour finish. Almost non-existent head and very little aroma. I liked the second one better than the first.

2.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 5/10 2/5 6/10 3/5 3/5 6/10

Jere:
It's very average to me, but in a good way. After finishing over half, I barely feel like I've had any at all. Perhaps I'll feel differently after another.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 3/5 7/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Carrabassett Pale (bottle) - 3.2

Carrabassett Pale Ale
American-Style Pale Ale
Casco Bay Brewing
Portland, Maine
ABV: 4.2%

Jon:
From Beer of the Month Club. Not too hoppy at all, even for an American-style pale. Very refreshing, with a crisp bite, but the flavor profile leans more toward sweet molasses rather than the brighter flavors you would usually find in an American pale. Very nice for summer.

3.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 4/5 6/10 3/5 2/5 6/10

Mark:
Nice, refreshing summer pale. Not a whole lot else to say.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 4/5 6/10 3/5 3/5 6/10

Jere:
Reminds me of some kind of amber, which is a bit of a slam against its hoppiness... It's not terribly offensive though, but it's a good thing I'm only having a third of a pint.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 4/5 6/10 3/5 3/5 6/10

Wild Goose IPA (bottle) - 3.2

Wild Goose IPA
India Pale Ale
Wild Goose Brewery
Frederick, MD
ABV: 5.9%

Jon:
From Beer of the Month Club. Copper and foamy. Doesn't smell much like an IPA, the nose is very mellow and kind of sweet. But there's some huge bitterness on first sip, not too describable, just the absence of sweet. The more I drink, the sweeter it gets. Long aftertaste, otherwise quite crisp and refreshing.

3.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 5/10 3/5 5/10 4/5 4/5 6/10

Mark:
This reminds of an uber-hopped amber ale. Slightly toasty and mellow with a splash of floral hops and a bittersweet, honey-mead finish.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 4/5 7/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Jere:
My first taste of mail-order beer; not too bad if I do say so myself. The aroma is a tad nondescript, but nothing that would negatively affect the overall experience.

2.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 4/10 4/5 5/10 4/5 3/5 6/10

Harp (bottle) - 2.8

Harp
Pale Lager
Guinness Brewing Company
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
ABV: 4.3%

Jon:
It's almost Saint Patty's Day, time to start drinking Irish beer brewed in Canada! That's how we roll in the States. It tastes similar to any mass-produced lager, with a little extra sweetness and considerably better balance and taste. Harp has a little place in my heart for some reason, and it's been exceedingly affordable for the past few weeks. Can't beat that.

2.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 2/5 5/10 2/5 3/5 6/10

Mark:
Good, basic beer. Reminds me of a nice Mexican lager, without the lime of course.

2.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 2/5 6/10 2/5 3/5 6/10

Jere:
I need some Guinness Stout with this, otherwise it's just a Tan without the Black. But, it'll do.

3.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 6/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 3/5 6/10

"Test Product" Pale Ale (bottle) - 3.8

"Test Product" Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
Arvada, CO
ABV: About 5%

Mark has been making his own hard cider for a while, then made a batch of that into applejack, and now he's finally ventured his way into brewing his own beer. His first batch is a pale ale using Warrior, Amarillo, and Cascade hops. Mark didn't want to rate his own brew, so his brother-in-law Chris is sitting in on this one.

Jon:
Clear, golden honey color. There's something interesting going on with the nose... I smell orange and banana but Mark says my smeller is off today. A tad sweet and a tad fizzy, otherwise a really great pale ale. I like the mix of hops, the flavor is right on.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 3/5 7/10 5/5 3/5 7/10

Chris:
Great beer, almost more enjoyable than the beer is hearing about how it's made and everything that went into it. The flavor has lots of dimension and character. Two thumbs up!

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 4/5 7/10 5/5 4/5 7.5/10

Jere:
Even though it's not specifically intended to be sweet, I appreciate that unexpected quality. Considering it's a homebrew I'm definitely impressed. Can't wait for the IPA!

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 4/5 8/10 5/5 4/5 8/10

Hazed & Infused (bottle) - 3.1

Hazed & Infused
American Pale Ale
Boulder Beer Company
Boulder, CO
ABV: 4.85%

Jon:
Looks hazy. Ha! The bitterness is sharp and lemony. Very fizzy and acidic, it's got a lot of bite. Quite refreshing.

3.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 3/5 7/10 2/5 2/5 6/10

Mark:
Very bright and sparkly for an unfiltered beer. The combination of Centennial and Crystal hops gives it a sharp lemon rind, sour herbalness.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 2/5 2/5 7/10

Jere:
Stronger than I remember, or maybe it's the glass... I'm guessing this is usually drunk out of the bottle.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 4/5 6/10 3/5 2/5 7/10

JuJu Ginger (bottle) - 3.0

JuJu Ginger
Herb/Spice Ale
Left Hand Brewing
Longmont, CO
ABV: 4%

Jon:
One of my favorite ginger beers! Slightly sour nose, pretty hefty amount of ginger on the first sip. Slightly sweet and very bubbly. This is one of the priciest beers I buy on a semi-regular basis... usually the pricey beers I lean toward have a much higher ABV.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 2/5 7/10

Mark:
Sweet and spicy gingerbread beer. I'm not really sure I like the sweetness of this. I feel an immediate urge to eat something salty.

2.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 4/10 2/5 3/10 4/5 2/5 4/10

Jere:
After trying some of Mark's latest distillery efforts, I probably should've had a palate cleanser before trying this ginger beer... Perhaps ginger would've done the trick! I could drink some more of this, which is high praise coming from me.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 3/5 7/10