Review: Great Divide 18th Anniversary Wood Aged DIPA

Brewery:  Great Divide Brewery

Locale:  Denver, CO

Craft Circa: 1994

Style:  American Double / Imperial IPA

ABV:  10%

Notables:  This is a limited but seasonal anniversary brew, brewed once a year released in late spring, early summer. 

Label:  It’s nice and definitive, however I think I like the 17^th anniversary label a little better.  The label gives it that bourbon distillery look that indicates some sort of aging, either in barrels, or in this case, wood chips.  The only thing that could enhance this appearance is to put it in a decorative cardboard like case for presentation.  Maybe this is the eco-friendly route.  In that case… kudos for saving a tree. 

Overall:   Great Divide’s 18^th Anniversary brew was opened, consumed, and it ironically was the anniversary of my marriage. We’re still new at this, only going on 4 years… although at times, it feels like it’s been 18 years!!! 

Bwoahahaha!   How Are Ya?!?!  

 It’s nice to know there is a reasonably priced, reasonably attainable anniversary beer to get your hands on each year.  If the 18^th Anniversary ale is any indication of the subsequent beers to follow, it’s definitely something to look forward to each year, and find yourself a bottle when released. 

Solid all around.  The pour is a dark amber, the head lays thick, and the lacing is quite impressive.  Taking a whiff of it, the caramel runs the show, but the oak hints are a noticeable sidekick.  Maybe not as flamboyant as Daffy Duck, but more like a Scottie Pippen of sorts… either way, it compliments it nicely.

The flavor is that of sturdy dark malt, along with a conspicuous but not overwhelming oak hint.  One of the unique characteristics of this brew is that the heavy presence of malt not only acts as the backbone or support for the brew, but it also hits you up front which is rare for a DIPA.  The malt and the oak are up front, and then the grapefruit and dash of pine come in fashionably late, joining in on the fun.

The majority of IPA drinkers, including myself may expect a bit more bitterness, especially in a DIPA.  There is not a lot of bitterness here, but it doesn’t steer you away by any means, it works nicely.  The overall balance of the concoction is pretty exciting.  Between the oak, the wood chips, the malt, and let’s not forget the double dosage of hops, this artisan undoubtedly answers the call. 

This beer popped my Great Divide Anniversary Brew cherry, and it was gripping.  Look forward to next year’s batch, and here’s to another 18 years!

Acquisition:  22 ouncer - $11

Windfall: Per wiki, The Great Divide, another term for the Continental Divide of the Americas, is the continental divide that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain into the Atlantic Ocean.  There are various other hydrological divides in the Americas; however the Great Divide is by far the most prominent of these because it tends to follow a line of high peaks along the Rocky Mountains. 

These plates are constantly drifting, at about 7cm a year,  Heightening the Rockies, and lowering the Appalachian Mountains each way with its continental drift.  More importantly, that means the Great Divide Brewery will be in the Chicagoland area in about 23 million years; give or take a couple hundred years. 

~gY

Review: Mikkeller Invasion IPA

Brewery:  Mikkeller

Locale:  Copenhagen, Denmark

Craft Circa: 2006

Style:  American IPA

ABV:  7%

Notables:  Per wiki, Mikkeller is a so called “phantom” or “gypsy” microbrewery.  The company brews at a variety of host facilities in several different countries.  The “legendary” Mikkeller founder Mikkel Borg Bjergsø, has travelled around the world thus far brewing more than 200 different beers at other breweries.   Hell of a gig.   This brew appears to be produced at Drake’s Brewing in California based on a couple release articles I came across.  B&B has another one on hand “RisGoop”; which is a rice beer in collaboration with 3 Floyds.  We’re excited to give that one a whirl, and look out for a possible review down the road a piece. 

Label:  Clean and crisp like the brew within. 

Overall:   Like I mentioned, this is a collaboration IPA, but to be frank, I’m not sure how these collaboration beers work.  Do these guys show up with grain bags in hand ready to steep, merely using their equipment, and then off into the sunset the gypsy roams?  Or is there actual collaboration with master brewers, deriving the perfect chemistry driven formula based on all the experience they’ve absorbed over the course of their lives churning out the next ‘Heisenberg’ blue ice of artisans? 

Either way… it’s a delicious brew and I’d have another if I so haphazardly came across one.  The pour was partly cloudy, almost opaque, amber yellow.    The head retained its stature for a bit, and appeared like a beer many IPA fans would agree on by mere looks alone.  The smell is a courteous one in that it invites you into its humble abode that is scented with a punch of big citrus, blended with some sort of mango, or other tropic born outgrowth. 

The beer has a taste that you can tell was acute, and focused on delivering the goods.  This brew was quite clean and quite crisp from start to finish.  This journey begins on a grassy noted trail in a sense, but still refreshing.  I think a pine tree sprouted up on this road less traveled as well, but any piney finish was a delicate one.  It’s a wonderful beer.  I’ll refrain from describing this as an almost perfect IPA because of the longevity of Mikkeller brews, and the scarcity of it (from what I’ve read).  The hops were a bit milder, but still provided a jab or two of kick in there, maybe even a Glass Joe uppercut snuck in there.  Great balance. 

I enjoyed savoring this beer, and you almost have to take your time and savor it to enjoy all it has to offer, because there’s a good chance it may not be back around again.  This applies to not only the Invasion IPA but with many other Mikkeller brews.  Mikkeller’s business model appears to be constantly focused on the next brew in the hopper, the next brewery they can join forces and collaborate with.  The experience as a beer drinker feels a lot like a hot one night stand where you never exchanged digits.  It was a great time, but there’s a remote chance that your paths will cross again.  This model works for them, but I wish there was some more appreciation from Mikkeller for their brews, and a reoccurrence every once and a while… a “second date” if you will.   

I guess that’s the beauty and mystique of a phantom menace such as Mikkeller.  It’s a great beer, so find yourself a bottle, and if you see one on the shelf, grab it before it poofs in a dark black cloud smoke before your very eyes. 

Acquisition:  Bomber - $10

~gY

Review: Uinta Hop Notch IPA

Brewery:  Uinta Brewing Company

Locale:  Salt Lake City, UT

Craft Circa:  1993

Style:  India Pale Ale

ABV:  7.3%

IBUs:  82

Label:  Sets you back in time, displaying how Utahns MUST of handled those mutant-sized hops.  It’s a play on “top notch” with a hoppy twist… setting a new trend for beer vocabulary, “this IPA is hop notch.”  This per the Uinta Brewing website.  Like it. 

Overall:   “Earth, Wind, and Beer.”  Nice pour, fairly standard for an IPA pour, there’s nothing theatrical about it, unless a standard IPA pour is a beautiful masterpiece of theatrical proportions.  Ok, the pour was amazing.  The smell was very impactful; the looks were a ball of joy as well.   I was craving a floral citrus IPA mid-day, and this served up exactly what I was hoping for.  Hop Notch is a satisfying and quenching IPA.  There are lots of citrus hops coming right at you but at the same time it balances nicely with bitters, mixing well with pine and a sweet malt background.   It teeters like a pound of bricks and a pound of feathers on a seesaw.  Nice equilibrium. 

What impresses most with the brew is that it comes off quite fresh, and refreshing.  It comes in at over 7% ABV, and I would never have guessed that it was above 6 points.  It has decent ROI, and could be a slightly dangerous brew.  It also comes in at 82 IBUs but none of the bittering units are abrasive or intrusive.  They’re like a Ravens fan at a Steelers game.  They’ll get noticed, but they won’t get roughed up too much.   As this brew settles on the palate, more bitterness kicks in, justifying the high IBU count, but it’s still enjoyable.  It’s a highly recommended brew.

The bottle indicates that the beer is best served in glass, which I do for the most part anyways, but just like wine, beers have their own unique characteristics and complexities that arise when poured nicely.   Not that we, or myself especially attempt to incorporate food pairings into any segment until I book a brew pairing class 101, but I will say this was phenomenal with Chinese takeout.  They complimented each other nicely.

This beer is a quality brew, nothing dramatic, nothing over the top, just a good old fashioned citrus IPA that hits the spot like a Weiner Circle char dog at 4 in the morning.

Acquisition:  6 pack - $10

Windfall:  Uinta Brewing is named after an east-west mountain range located in northeastern Utah, the Uinta Mountains. Many of Uinta's beer names are inspired by Utah's diverse landscapes or have historical significance.

Look out for other Uinta brews, they’ll be sure to follow suit:

* Cutthroat Pale Ale - Utah's state fish.

* King's Peak Porter - Utah's highest peak

* Golden Spike Hefeweizen - The spike used to commemorate the completion of the transcontinental railroad in Utah.

* Dubhe - The Utah Centennial star.

~gY

Review: Oskar Blues Brewery's Deviant Dale's IPA

Brewery:  Oskar Blues Brewery

Locale:  Expanded to Longmont, CO

Craft Circa: 1999

Style:  American IPA

ABV:  8%

IBUs:  85

Notables:  2011 GABF Silver Medal Winner American India Pale Ale Category

Label:  The label is defiant and brushes off the idea you are about to sip something mysterious and satanic.  It is the color of the devils, THE DEVILS!  The can proclaims “Let’s sling a little mud, girl - - Sippin’ on a tall boy” which are lyrics from a Widespread Panic song “Tall Boy.”  Nice association. 

Overall:  When I get together with buddies back home, at least one of them brings some Dale’s Pale Ale with them to throw into the mix.  It’s Oskar’s flagship beer, and a nice staple to have for just about any occasion.  It’s not a personal choice of mine, but I have no problems with the beer, and it’s quite good by can standards.  With that said, I’m always looking for a bit more bite when it comes to ales, and I was excited to come across this at the local grocer, and give it a chance in the pitching rotation.   I was hoping maybe this can was indicating Dale was in fact being deviant, smuggled across some illegal suped hops from a foreign land, went to his laboratory and built a concoction that would blow Oskar pale ale lovers out of the water like a mad scientist.

The brew pours very nicely, looking like a cumulus cloud floating above ale.  The aroma is nice, but nothing jumps out at you.  The beer in fact came off more caramel than anything else; we’ll go with chewy caramel to an extent.  Any floral notes that try to sound off are shhh’d like a jackass at a movie theater.  The brew pours nicely, has nice head, and comes off shining copper like a penny.  I would probably bucket this as a fall seasonal IPA as it has amber characteristics along with the strong malt presence.  It comes off silky smooth, with mellow sugars killing any bitterness that may be hiding within the can. 

Those are quality features in a beer, but I look for a little more bite with an IPA.  It’s a decent beer but was hoping for more. There are too many can aspects bringing this beer down, including aluminum or metallic hints in the flavor.  This year actually marks Oskar’s 10 year CANniversary.  What’s with the can though on all their products?  According to their website, they thought the idea of their big luscious pale in a can was hilarious, and continued with it.  They claim their cans are modern, and lined with a water-based coating so beer and metal never touch, with no exchange of metallic flavor.  Shows you how much I know.  All that aluminum hint I was picking up must have been psychological. 

Either way, overall I give this beer a resounding m’eh.  Despite the higher ABV, the ale does come off surprisingly lighter, and lacks the mouth feel you get from typical IPAs.  A tad pricey for a 4 pack of tall boys as well.  There are plenty more IPAs out there with a  hop malt balance I seek at a much better price. 

Acquisition:  4 pack of tall boys - $14

Windfall:  I was really hoping to like this beer because during my mini research session, the more I was reading about the brewery the more I liked it.  They have a persona and attitude about them that intrigues me.  I would even categorize this brewery as having a cult following.  They definitely have their hardcore patrons, as I know a couple of them.   More importantly however, they also dig giving back to the community they live and work in. 

We all know that 2012 has been a rough year for Colorado, including wildfires among other things.  Oskar Blues Brewery has and continues to do their part in giving back to the community that helped them get to where they are today.  This includes a tap take over even in the Chicago area at a couple fine establishments including one of my personal favorites Fountainhead with proceeds going to wildfire victims. 

So keep a look out for local tap take overs in your area, or if you care to partner with Oskar on a cause, feel free to check out their donation and partnership page for more information.  It’s a win-win.  Good beer, good cause.

~gY

Review: Limited Release of Pipeworks Brewing Something Hoppy This Way Comes IPA

Brewery:  Pipeworks Brewing Company

Locale:  Chicago, IL

Craft Circa:  2012

Style:  American Double / Imperial IPA

ABV:  10%

Notables: Very limited yield with this one; Sorachi Ace hops are very hard to come by according to Pipeworks.  B&B obtained batch #32.

Label:  Solid.  Shout out to a local artist yet again, and yet another winner.  The bottle art is by Jason Burke (Ink and Lead Designs).  We are thinking it’s a play on “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” a Ray Bradbury novel with a beautiful portrayal of a hopped up version of the carnival leader, Mr. Dark.   Oh, and the handwritten batch indicator as well.  Phenomenal Label.

Overall:   Very unique aroma smacks you in the nasal sensory once you pop the top.  Whatever hops those are, thinking the Sorachi Ace Hops -- since we were unfamiliar with this until promoted so wisely and effectively by Pipeworks on Facebook -- introduces itself nicely.  It’s an inimitable whiff of pleasantry, intoxicating, and builds excitement. 

It’s hoppy for sure. What an entertaining, complex beer to decode.  It is crisp, has a nice imperial dose of malts, and the flavor zig zags down LSD on a crotch rocket.  This is unlike any IPA we’ve had.  The hops “hop” on your tongue and present itself nicely with its full bodied flavor.  However, what gives this beer its charisma are the lemon & lime hints, the dill pickle undertones, and the bubblegum illusions of flavor?  Yes… you read correct, I’m going with bubblegum… it’s a hop carnival indeed.    

It was a short notice for a release, as many artisan brews are now these days.  B&B learned of its release and headed down to the local grocer to obtain a bottle about 20 minutes after the announcement.  B&B discovered Printers Row Wine Shop which is a nice hidden gem with a great selection in the south loop area.  Almost hate to mention it as I’m not one to share, but the service was top notch, and like I said, wonderful selection.  Upon purchasing, it was mentioned that this was bottled about 40 minutes prior to being shelved.  Bottled, distributed, consumed, and savored in a matter of 3 hours.  It’s euphoric.  That's a free market and capitalism for you.

It’s very smooth for a double, with a vast array of swirling flavors.  There is a lingering bitter presence after each sip that is rather enjoyable.  A hop carnival indeed; a spooky brew, and influenced perhaps by wizardry as well.  But this isn't "butterbeer" served at "The Three Broomsticks" or "The Hog's Head" in Hogsmeade…

Acquisition:  Two 22 ounces - $22

Windfall:  Fitting this brew made its way upon us seemingly in tribute to the works of Ray Bradbury, whom died in June of this year.  Suitable since this beer was so unique, outer space in a sense, similar to Bradbury works.  There’s an interesting, and timely piece on the significance of Ray Bradbury in pop culture here.  

In addition, John Williams took the dialogue from the famous scene in William Shakespeare's Macbeth in which the witches are around the cauldron and wrote lyrics for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."  One of the witches says: "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes."

~GY Collaboration

Review: Ska Brewing Modus Hoperandi

Brewery:  Ska Brewing

Locale:  Durango, CO

Craft Circa:  1995

Style:  American IPA

ABV:  6.8%

IBUs:  65

Notables:  Website indicates this is also available in bottle, but I have only seen Ska in can form.

Label:  I love it.  Love the play on modus operandi, love Pinstripe the villain, and the story behind their Legion of Ska.   



Ska Brewing website.

Overall:   I thought I was pretty certain a while back that I had this brew at a bar, late in the evening, and wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, disregarding it quickly.  Now looking back after trying it with a clean palate, I am figuring I must have been hammered.  I was going into this with low expectations and this beer simply put me in my place. 

I really enjoyed the brew.  It has a unique trait compared to other IPAs in that it doesn’t kick you off your stool like some hopped up brews can do to you; but instead, it coats the palate, and wears on you slowly like an anaconda preparing dinner.  There is less carbonation than just about any other IPA I can recall, and maybe that is why it came off so poorly mixing it with other IPAs while out and about. 

Modus operandi per wiki is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as “method of operation”, detailing someone’s habits or method of working.  In essence, one’s M.O.   Appropriate given that IPA appears to be one of Ska’s M.O.  It’s a quality brew, and the more you savor it, the more you want to take down.  Quite smooth, some pine, nice dose of citrus, it’s a great rapport. 

Have to steal this from the Ska Brewing website, because I like the analogy:  “A mix of citrus and pine that will remind you of the time you went on a vision quest with Native American cousin and woke up in a pine-grove full of grapefruit trees.”  Throw in Jim Morrison and you got yourself one hell of a dream sequence.

Hard to imagine this quality brew came from a can, and even more impressive is that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Cans are not my M.O. but glad to see Ska provided some hope for the IPAs behind aluminum walls out there. 

Acquisition:  6 pack canned - $9

~gY

Review: Avery Brewing IPA & Kaos Pizzeria

Brewery: Avery Brewing
Locale: Boulder, Colorado
Craft Circa:  1993 
Style:  India Pale Ale
ABV:  6.50%
IBU: 69
Notables: Available year-round

Restaurant: Kaos Pizzeria
Locale: Denver, Colorado (on historic South Pearl Street)
Restaurant Circa: 2009
Type: Italian
Notables: Great garden dining area and decent beer selection.  Bring your best friend…dog that is.  They can dine with humans in a designated area in the garden.  Kid friendly too ;).

Avery Brewing's IPA

Overall: B&B headed out west to Denver to review Kaos Pizzeria and some local beer.  First up, Kaos Pizzeria...great garden dining atmosphere, and outstanding Naples style pizza baked in wood fired ovens.  I had the pepperoni and Margherita (per Wikipedia named after Queen Margherita after a visit to Naples), which was chock-full of fresh flavorful ingredients and delicious crust.  I felt like I was transported to Naples.  No, I haven’t been there but I’ve had my share of Naples style pizza, as in Naples, Italy, which is considered the birthplace of that circular disc of eating pleasure.  Kaos Pizzeria is nestled on a quaint, hodge-podgy stretch of shops, restaurants and houses (and yes, Rx medical marijuana joints…intentional pun) along historic South Pearl Street located south of Downtown Denver.  No, it’s not a “cheesy” front for KAOS, the global organized crime syndicate, nemesis of CONTROL in the TV series “Get Smart” (Wikipedia).  Kaos Pizzeria didn’t miss it by that much; it was on the mark.

Instead of vino as the sidekick or “Agent 99” to my pizza, I was treated to a $2 draft of Avery’s IPA (happy hour time at Kaos ;)).  This IPA just kept on delivering a steady wave of hoppy heaven with each sip.  This beer went really well with the Neapolitan pizza.  It held up well and made me want more.  And from what I can tell, Avery Brewing isn’t run by Boulder resident “Mork” from Ork, “Na-Nu Na-Nu….awww Shazbot!” 

Kaos had a respectable beer selection and fantastic pizza.  The service was good, not stellar, but we were in no hurry and only waited a bit for the check.  The drink and food came quickly.

Mini-review: I drank this after the Avery IPA.  Normally I wouldn’t mention a second beer in the review but I thought this was worthwhile to mention.  The beer was the “St. Lupulin” American Pale Ale from the Odell Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado (north of Denver).  It had a slight hoppiness to it and was smooth with every sip.  Quite tasty! 

Odell Brewery's "St. Lupulin" APA

Acquisition:  Pizzas range from $7-$20 depending on size and toppings (two small pizzas contained in the review were $9-$10).  $2 draft beer happy hour special.


~Gy

Review: Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA

Brewery:  Founders Brewing Company

Locale:  Grand Rapids, MI

Craft Circa:  1997

Style:  Triple IPA

ABV:  12%

IBUs: 112 – (say what?)

Notables:  Specialty brew available in July

Picture taken at the fine establishment of Fountainhead, northside of Chicago. 
Fine place.  B&B review to come soon.

Label:  Effective.  Makes me want to sit on a kneeler and confess my sins before consumption. 

Overall:   Just when you think you start to get a handle on the entire field of artisan beers, along comes Founders with their dry-hopped, ten hop varieties triple IPA.  The complexity of this beer is quite something, and it certainly packs a punch while you try to decipher the triple IPA code.  As we noted in one of our earlier reviews, the IBUs provide a measure of the bitterness of the beer.  Coming in at 112 IBUs, in order to balance out the flavor of the beer a higher quantity of malt is needed.  A malty backbone is an understatement; however, I believe the malts did not realize it was a marathon because it just could not keep up with the bitterness.  Solid effort though.

The color is crimson, with the looks of something bold and chalked full of flavor.  All these elements make for a wonderful glow.  It also has an intimidating factor knowing it’s a double IPA on steroids.  But overall, all the factors make for delightful anticipation before imbibing.  I remember sitting out with my wife, trying to get a decent picture of the beer for B&B intentions and settling with what was posted because I was too eager to try it. 

The brew is a heavy dose of Founders, and sits like a block of led.  It’s very dense for ale, but there are a couple faint aspects from say a Founders Centennial or even a Double Trouble IPA that creeps in here and there with a touch of their citrus and fruity remarks, but overall the brew is annihilated by the outbreak of hops that are relentless.  It’s an extreme beer, for hophead thrill seekers.  A hophead application should come with each bottle or 4 pack. 

Maybe it should also come with a waiver before you dance with this devil in the pale moon light.

Acquisition:  12 oz. bottle at a Gastropub - $9 (That’s about 12.5 cents per IBU)

~gY

Review: Flying Dog Wildeman Farmhouse IPA

Brewery:  Flying Dog Brewery

Locale:  Frederick, MD (Originally Aspen, Colorado as a brewpub)

Craft Circa:  1990

Style:  Farmhouse / Saison IPA

ABV:  7.5%

IBUs:  75

Notables:  Year-round IPA

Label:  Typical Flying Dog fashion.  Their artwork is unique and vows to get noticed in a world full of craft brews itching to get noticed.  You can associate these splattered Picaso style etchings with just about every Flying Dog Brew.

Overall:   In craft beer years, Flying Dog has been around the block.  They generally produce standard quality brews that are available year around.  This brew seems to be a little more out of their element of pale ales and lagers.  Farmhouse ales are another term for a Belgian style of ale.  Per wiki, it’s a brew that is distinguished by culture and craftsmanship in the Belgian tradition.  Saison yeast - Saison (French, "season") is the name originally given to low-alcohol pale ales brewed seasonally in farmhouses in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium. Modern-day Saisons, particularly those brewed in the USA, and are generally bottle conditioned with an average range of 5 to 8% abv.

With that said, this beer has also been labeled by some as a Belgian IPA.  I disagree with that, and it cannot be true.  It’s not good enough to be associated with that class of criminals (the BIPA - - Injustice League).  The brew is way too sweet.  I would not consider this a BIPA, but rather a tart variation of it.  The wallop of citrus and sweetness overpowers any of the malt and hops.  The taste buds are ruined after the initial sip and it skews any judgment your taste buds may subsequently have. 

I like all shapes and sizes of IPAs, love to get my hand on any variation of one, but this one just does not do it for me.  This one merely grazes my palate the wrong way. 

Acquisition:  6 pack - $10

Notes:  The BIPA Injustice League established July 26, 2012.  The organization was created for the hardcore criminals with the malicious intent of taking over your palate, knocking you out with hops and flavor, with a reckoning appetite for destruction, and stealing you blind... burning through your wallet as you increasingly want more.

BIPA Injustice League Members:

Pipeworks Glaucus – Founding Member:

~gY