Kona Brewing’s Fire Rock Pale Ale Brewed By: Kona Brewing Company Brewed In: Kona, HI via Portsmouth, NH ABV: Bottle claims 6.0% — Website claims 5.9% Type: Pale Ale Awards 2009 Bronze Medal: American Pale Ale category, U.S. Open Beer Championships, Georgia 2008 Honorable Mention: American Style Pale Ale category, United States Beer Tasting Championships [...]

Brooklyn Dark Matter Brewed By: Brooklyn Brewery Brewed In: Brooklyn, NY ABV: 7.5% Type: American Brown Ale What They Say: I got this in a growler and, in fact, I’m not sure if it was bottled at all. I don’t see anything on their website proper, but they have a lengthy blog post with a [...]

Chocolate Oak-Aged Yeti Brewed By: Great Divide Brewing Brewed In: Denver, CO Type: Imperial Stout aged on Oak Chips with Cocoa Nibs and Spice Added ABV: 9.5% What they say: “Welcome to the newest incarnation of our revered imperial stout. We toned down the hops a bit to allow cocoa nibs to contribute some pleasing [...]

I really need to figure out a way to get Saranac to ship Those Beer Snobs an early release sampler. I mean, I’m within the state so it doesn’t break any laws and it would behoove them to get me one early so I can suggest people buy it while it’s still for sale. This [...]

This is the first year I’ve managed to finally get my thoughts on Sam’s winter pack down on, um, paper. It took quite some time this year but, due to the way Sam packages their winter samplers, it’ll be a relative quick process going forward as four of these six beers are likely to appear [...]

Brown’s Brewing Company’s E.S.B. Brewed By: Brown’s Brewing Company (nee Troy Pub & Brewery) Brewed In: Troy, NY ABV: 5.0% Type: E.S.B. What They Say: We craft our ESB – or Extra Special Bitter – to be a deliciously sturdy ale that’s dead-on true to its English heritage. Full-bodied, with a classic toasty malt palate [...]

John John Dead Guy Brewed By: Rogue Ales Brewed In: Newport, OR Type: Ale matured in whiskey barrels ABV: ~6.4% What they say: “In a collaboration of crafts, Rogue Brewmaster John Maier and Rogue Spirits Master Distiller John Couchot have joined forces to create a distinct, innovative series of brews called John John Ales. The [...]

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager Brewed By: Rogue Brewed In: Newport, OR Type: Black Lager ABV: ~6% Brewed With: Malts: Melanoidin, Carafe Special II, Black, Chocolate, and Rouge Micro Barley Farm first-growth Risk malts; Hops: Rogue Micro Hopyard first-growth Independent and Revolution hops. What they say: “Available nationwide on 1-1-2010, Dirtoir Black Lager [...]

Sah’tea Brewed By: Dogfish Head Brewed In: Rehoboth Beach, DE Type: Antique Ale ABV: 9% What they say: “A modern update on a 9th century Finnish proto-beer. Brewed with rye, we caramelize the wort with white hot river rocks, then ferment it with a German Weizen yeast. In addition to juniper berries foraged directly from [...]

Name: Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale Brewed By: Michelob Brewed In: St. Louis, MO Type: Winter Ale ABV: 6% What they say: “During even the coldest of weather, warm up to the smooth, robust taste of our Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale. Full of rich aromas that you find in the winter months, hints of vanilla and [...]