Maui Brewing cocoNut Porter

Ok so i picked this up at the Red Carpet, it comes in a 4 pack for about 10.99. We at hopzombie believe you get what you pay for. (with some exceptions of course.)

This was very tasty, solid medium body,(expected) but at first whiff i noticed hints of coco, coffee and roasted malts, and a little bit of coconut, nothing overwhelming but always a nice addition to a porter besides the malts. At first i didn't notice the coconut until i had about 2 or 3 swigs, then i really came through and blended in with the rest of the flavors.

Coming from a guy who's not a coconut fan and associates anything coconut with mounds bars, i give this high marks. wish it came in a 6 pack for the price, it was very easy to drink and not heavy at all. I look forward to hearing what my associate has to say.

4.6 out of 5

Mission Brewery: Mission IPA

This was a solid IPA. The smell is very fruity and sweet when you crack it open. The mouthful is about the same but with a bit of a biscuit taste because of the malts, which i like. This almost reminds me a of a double because of the solid malty body. I could see this being a regular buy for me.

4.3 out of 5

New Belgium Brewing inc: Ranger IPA

You can't really beat the price at $2.99 for a bomber and it comes in a 6 pack.

This is a nice IPA to sit down on a warm summer day while grilling. It's very light and crisp, but that's about it. When you crack it open you can really smell the grass and pine hops with some citrus mixed in, unfortunately it smells better than the actual mouthful that has more of a light bitter dryness with little malt body to it at all.

This was enjoyable, but i can think of other IPA's i would get for a buck or two more that would be much better.

2.9 out of 5

Port Brewing 3rd Anniversary Ale

It's been a while since I had a Double IPA, and the smell from this when I cracked it open was a great reminder of why I love these brews. After I poured my first glass, I could smell the hops/fruitiness/caramel from over a foot away while I was taking the picture. A great sign!

Mixed in with those hops tastes like a loaf of bread mixed with maybe an orange peel, and a nice kick of alcohol. This one will warm you up real fast.

I don't know if it really separates itself from other great Double Ipa's, but it is a great one no doubt.

4.5 out of 5. Delicious

The Lost Abbey: Serpents Stout

This is an amazing stout. Rich coffee and chocolate malts dominate this with a hint of some kind of fruit and a little smokiness as well.
It's pretty bitter, which i like, but i would love to age one and see if it mellows out and brings out more of the other flavors.

This is a wonderful desert beer, so eat light or wait a while after dinner because it will fill you up.
i recommend getting this.

4.6 out of 5

Great Divide - Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout

Imperial stouts are like Thanksgiving dinners. You know that when you are done you'll be full & tired. This one is no different.

Oak mixed with chocolates and coffees are the first thing that hits your nose. When you finally stop enjoying the smell and take a sip, you really get what you're expecting. A blast of chocolate & roasted malts quickly followed by the oak and coffee. Aftertaste is that of hops & coffee. A combo that no man should be without.

While I've had better ones than this, it's a really good beer and I'd recommend it in a heartbeat to anyone. It is a little light for my tastes for an Imp Stout, but tasty indeed.

4 out of 5

North coast brewing co. Old Rasputin XII

Alexander: This was pretty darn good. Pretty much Old Rasputin with hints of oak and a mellow bourbon taste and smell. Not much more to say. If you like the original, you like this. Now for the price, i'm not sure i would go out of my way and buy more right away.

4.4 out of 5

Deschutes Black Butte XXI

Alexander: So i picked this up at Bevmo the other week, label says best served after 10/7/10
I couldn't wait, so i got 2 of em. opened one and put the other back.

What can i say, it's an Imperial/Strong porter that has a tons of great things going on. Roasted coffee beans, chocolate, bourbon, hops, everything we love here at hopzombie. If you see it pick it up, you won't be disappointed.



The only other Imperial porter that was this good was at Barleys in Columbus with Chad on st. patrick's day that i can remember.

4.6 out of 5

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