Bells Christmas Ale

Bell’s Christmas Ale will be a Scotch Ale, “brewed with 100% Michigan barley and a blend of Pacific Northwest and Michigan hops.”

Beernews.org: (Kalamazoo, MI) - It appears as though Bell’s may be coming out with a new beer and returning with an old favorite later this year. With good news comes bad, however, as STL Hops reported last month that Java Stout and Sparking Ale will be retired.

Chad: Nothing special about it. A scotch ale.
3.0 out of 5

Revisted 12/09 - I like this beer a lot, I think we were just expecting a Christmas/spicy ale. I'd give it a 3.7 today. Also, Bells Java Stout is back!

Alexander: Nice malts and a small hint of spice that i guess makes this a Christmas ale.
More of a scotch ale like the label states, but lacks the smokiness of other scotch ales.
2.9 out of 5

Great Divide Hercules Double IPA

Chad- Right away I can tell that this is going to be similar to Hopslam. The smell is strong citrus/grapefruit mixed with a bit of pine. The taste is glorious, first getting mugged by an assault of hops, then a slight nutty/buttery-ness washes it down.

I'd like to do a side by side comparison to Hopslam. The weakest part of this beer is that there's only 4 of them, for a hefty price tag of ~ $15 4.4 out of 5

Alexander - Very strong citrus & pine scent. First taste is a blast of pine hop that follows with sweet malt. I really like this, get it if you can. 4.5 out of 5

Green Flash Barley Wine

Another Great brew from the SoCal area, this time i got my hands on Green flashes Barley wine.
Rich malty, caramel smell with a hint of hops. First taste has a big hop flavor that is blended well with the rich malts and the caramel to the finish, seemed to have a bit of grapefruit at the end. I hope all barley wines taste this good. I would like to age one a year and see what happens.

I will be getting more of this when i can.

4.4 out of 5

Bells - Oberon

Chad- Bells summer brew is back again, and as tasty as ever. I taste wheat and orange peel, and little hops. I've never been huge on this brew, but it goes down well on a hot day. I'd compare it to a Blue Moon, but better. It's a very refreshing beer to say the least. 3.5 out of 5

Alexander - Fruity yeast strain that seems common with spring/summer ales. On par or better with Blue Moon. 3.4 out of 5

Stone - Russian Imperial Stout

Chad - Yet another winner from Stone, one of the best brewers in the land. I love the smell of Imperial Stouts, and this one doesn't let me down. That nice chocolatey/malty/licorice puts a big smile on my face. This one has a big chocolate blast when it hits the tongue, followed by coffee and some bitter hops. Fantabulous. 4.2 out of 5

Alexander- A rich chocolate malt smell & taste with a coffee bean undertone. The ending seems to have an oatmeal/coffee flavor.
4.3 out of 5

HeBrew - Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.

**Update**
Had this at Bob's Bar on tap and it was outstanding. If I recall, it was only $3.75 a pint. What a steal, Great price! Bob's Bar is located right off of Morse Rd & High St. I highly recommend it. - Yeti

Double IPA w/Rye - Nice malt blast and hoppy bitter kick. I'm really starting to like these rye ipa's. This one hides the 10% alcohol very well.

good brew dedicated to Lenny Bruce

4 out of 5. God bless not buying shitty beers.

Bear Republic- Hop Rod Rye

Nice big hop smell mixed with citrus. Can really taste the rye in this one, along with some floral flavor and citrus. Very hoppy, creamy brew with a good bite at the end. A nice combination of malts and hops with the rye mixed in. Very good.

4 out of 5

Boss Cox Double Dark IPA (Barrel House Brewing)

Spicy smell with some hop in there as well. The flavor has a lot of malt, and overpowers the hops a good bit. Probably too malty as it tastes a bit like syrup mixed with hops. Not overly impressed by this one, a bit disappointed.

3.3 out of 5

Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA

Smells grassy with a hint of pine. Has a nice head as well as floaties.

The taste is pretty hoppy and leaves a nice bitter taste on the tongue. It does however, seem to be missing something. It seems a bit thin, not chewy enough for my taste. Though to be honest, it wasn't very cold when I drank it, which probably screwed everything up.

Still though, a nice beer that any IPA fan would enjoy.

3.8 out of 5

Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine- Limited Early 2008 Release

Caramel malt mixed with a little hop and raisin. I even taste a little banana and cherry at the end, and some pepper. God there's a lot going on in this one.. A smooth drink, nice carbonization, and it hides the high alcohol content of 11.26% very well. I am going to get one of these to age, definitely worth it. Stone can do no wrong in my book.

4.3 out of 5

Sierra Nevada Harvest Hop Ale

**Update**
3-8-08

I bought this again, and after having it for a 2nd time I up my review to 3.9 out of 5. The fresh hops do make a difference in taste and smell, but I still wish it was a bit thicker.

A slight taste of pine hoppiness to this one with a malt finish. A bit thin, too much malt flavor, a little bitter ending.

Nothing spectacular, but not a bad beer by any means. Not worth the price I paid for it though. It cost more than the Ruination I also bought..

3.5 out of 5

pics to be added when i find my cable to my cell.

Green flash brewing co. Imperial IPA

Another So. Cal IPA

First pour smells of lots of hops and citrus.
Has a strong bitter hop and citrus blast with a mild dry pine hop that has a pretty mellow ending. This is a great IPA. I"ll try to get this as much as i can while i'm out here.
4.4 out of 5

Lagunitas Maximus IPA

Another ale in my search for for So. Cal's finest I.P.A.'s

This has a pretty strong citrus/hops smell when pored.
A mix of lots of hops, citrus and pine taste with a lingering bitterness at the end.
Over all this is very good IPA. I don't know if we'll be able to find it back east but if so, i recommend picking it up.
4.1 out of 5

Marin Brewing Co. I.P.A.

This is a pretty smooth tasting IPA. Mellow hop flavor with a slight grapefruit undertone.
If someone would ask what kind of IPA they should start with, i would say this is i one of them. Not the big Hop Impact that i was expecting.
3.4 our of 5

Rogue Imperial I.P.A.

I found this at Bevmo in Valencia CA.

This comes in a neat ceramic bottle.

First mouthful gives all good characteristics of an IPA. nice bitter hop all the way through with a citric pine tang at the end. The malts they use make every sip taste full and rich. A very hoppy malty beer.
4.2 out of 5