I’ve said it too many times to remember, but the Imperial IPA is my favorite style of beer. So when I got the Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA in the mail I was really excited to add it to my review queue as soon as possible. After that, though, I didn’t really think twice about it. This is because so many IPAs come and go and I generally know (roughly) what they will taste like. Some are certainly better than others, but the general idea is about the same. It’s the subtle differences that usually make an IPA stand out among the rest, but WOW! The Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA is easily the most unique IPA to ever hit my mouth. I had read and heard stories about how simcoe hops are notorious for being extremely piny and dank. But I’d also heard that they can impart a heavy cat urine aroma to a beer. Well that information was spot on, and not just because I was looking for it. It’s very obvious the second you drop your nose down in to the top of the glass. And as much as I’d like to say it wasn’t my cup of tea, it was surprisingly good. In fact, I’d buy this one on a regular basis if I could — mainly because it truly is the most unique IPA I’ve ever tasted.

This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod:Barzin

Brewery: Weyerbacher
Beer: Double Simcoe IPA
Style: Imperial IPA
Location: Easton, Pennsylvania
ABV: 9%
Rating: 90/100

Porters are slowly becoming one of my favorite styles of beer. Not only are they in the stout family, but they have a smokiness that I love as well. The Ølfabrikken Porter from Roskilde, Denmark is a prime example of what I love about porters. Though it’s actually classified a Baltic Porter. These beers started out much like the imperial stouts in that they were brewed to ship across the Baltic Sea. They were also very strong by beer standards at that time. Needless to say, they are on the weaker side of the extreme by today’s standards. But what I really love about them the most is the unique flavors they provide. Most of these porters contain aromas like smoke, caramel, and even licorice. Then, you start to get bits of chocolate and coffee like you would normally get from an imperial stout. The most enjoyable element of these beers to me, though, is how drinkable they are. Bigger stouts can become too cumbersome once you start hitting about 10% ABV or more. The Ølfabrikken Porter clocks in right at 7.5% which is a lot more manageable for me these days. By the way, did I mention RateBeer and BeerAdvocate both name this the best porter in the world? It’s damn good – that’s for sure.

This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Godspeed You Black Emperor!

Brewery: Ølfabrikken
Beer: Porter
Style: Imperial Stout
Location: Roskilde, Denmark
ABV: 7.5%
Rating: 94/100

I firmly believe that intuition is a very strong thing, and I knew I would love Hair of the Dog’s beers way before I ever had my first sip. Until this video I had only had the Ruth, which is their pale ale. It didn’t blow my mind but it gave me completely different insight in to what HOTD beers would bring to the table. In searching through their lineup, Adam stood out as one I wanted to drink next and get on the show ASAFP. And what a winner it is. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s complex, and it’s friggin’ macho as hell. I’m surprised there’s not engine oil in this beer because it has just about everything else a manly man could want: tobacco, chocolate, coffee, smoke, and dark fruits. But what makes it truly magical is how all of these flavors and aromas come together in the most amazing way. The balance between sweet and bitter or chocolate and tobacco are magical. There’s no other way to put it. If I had this beer at my disposal in Kansas City I think I’d be spending a good chunk of change to stock my collection. Adam is easily one of the best beers I’ve had in 2010. Get a trade going now or float a few extra Washingtons to purchase one off of eBay. Either way you won’t be sorry…

This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Earth

Brewery: Hair of the Dog
Beer: Adam
Style: Imperial Stout
Location: Portland, Oregon
ABV: 10%
Rating: 99/100

On paper, Avery Brewing Company has crafted one hell of a beer – an imperial stout aged in Gosling’s Bermuda rum barrels. Of course when I saw the beer hit my area I didn’t even think twice to grab one. Then I realized how much it cost: $8.59 for a 12 ounce bottle. OUCH! Well…I’ve never had any restraint when it comes to craft beer, so why start now. Here you have a very nice stout that does things just a touch different. Most folks today purchase old oak, wine, or bourbon barrels to age their beer in, but rum barrels is not something a lot of breweries are doing. So you have to give Avery credit for thinking outside the box here. Black Tot is part of their barrel-aged series and is number three in the lineup. Not to mention the fact that only 315 cases were produced. The appearance is rather traditional looking, the aromas are very nice which consist of (you guessed it) rum, dark roasted malts, and a touch of alcohol. On the palate, there is about the same experience. My head didn’t explode like I had hoped, but I’m happy with this beer nonetheless. The rum added a nice bit of sweetness without going over the top. My only advice here would be to buy two if you have the pocketbook to do so. I think this will be much nicer this time next year.

This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Say Hi To Your Mom

Brewery: Avery
Beer: Black Tot
Style: Imperial Stout
Location: Boulder, Colorado
ABV: 10.08%
Rating: 87/100

I’ve witnessed at least ten people write or say “I can’t get Pliny the Elder in my neck of the woods; so what tastes similar but is much easier to get?” My response to that has always been Lagunitas Hop Stoopid. Now… I’ll admit upfront that Hop Stoopid is not quite as transcendent as Pliny the Elder, but they do share a lot of the same characteristics. Both are very light in color, both are very clear in appearance, both are right at 8% ABV, and both pack an amazing amount of flavor into a seemingly light and refreshing beer. It probably doesn’t hurt either that Lagunitas and Russian River are neighbors (geographically). Maybe there is something in the water there – who knows? Having said that, though, I will tell you that the Lagunitas Hop Stoopid is the best value in beer. This 22 ounce bottle usually sells for around $3.59, which is insane considering how great it tastes. There are loads of west coast hops in this bottle (though you should know it’s made from a hop extract). The bitterness is at just the right level, too. But what makes this a true winner in my book is how insanely drinkable it is. Trust me! Take a $20 bill into your local liquor store and buy a few of these. You’ll soon see that you spent your money about as wisely as you can. That counts for A LOT in this economy. Thank you Lagunitas!

This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Joanna Newsom

Brewery: Lagunitas
Beer: Hop Stoopid
Style: Imperial IPA
Location: Petaluma, California
ABV: 8%
Rating: 94/100

WOW! 50 episodes! See them all listed out here. Clearly this is a small milestone for me. When I sat out to do this site my goal was to do as many videos as I could, but I had no idea I’d produce this many so quickly. I have a full-time job, twin daughters, and own a home – so I have plenty of things on my plate at the moment. But at night, when all is quiet, I come downstairs and put on my Hopry hat and share my beer collection with you guys. Sometimes I don’t go to bed until 2:00 am (knowing I have to be to work at 8:00 am the next morning). I have loved every moment of it so far, though, and I am dead set on pumping out another fifty by the end of this year. What really makes this all worthwhile is the fact that word is spreading quickly about The Hopry and more and more people are showing up to the website every day. I know I say this all the time, but thank you all 100 times over. It is truly awesome for me to have a you all along sharing the ride. So for the 50th session of The Hopry I have chosen a beer by my absolute favorite brewery: Russian River’s Supplication. You may have noticed that this video is produced by Vimeo. This is for a reason, and I will share more with you on that later. Anyway, I am looking forward to another great big celebration beer for the 100th session as well (no idea yet what it will be). So enjoy this video and thank you again for continuing to come back. CHEERS!

The video I referred to in this session is here.
This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Lake

Brewery: Russian River
Beer: Supplication
Style: Sour Ale
Location: Santa Rosa, California
ABV: 7%
Rating: 96/100

I love hazelnuts. If they aren’t the best tasting nuts out there, then they’re at least the best smelling when roasted in the oven. The perfume they put off is so comforting to me and reminds me of fall. So when I finally decided to pick up a bottle of Rogue’s Hazelnut Nectar, I felt pretty confident that I would enjoy this beer. And as I had hoped, the first thing that comes out of the glass upon pouring it is the beautifully warm hazelnut aroma. The color is nice as well; though I had thought it might be a bit more…well…brown. That aside, this is a very easy drinking brown ale. It has a nice bitterness that never takes over the rest of the beer and the sweetness is about the same way. Ultimately there is nothing out of this world here except that it just seems to do about everything well on a subtle level. I certainly wouldn’t drink this beer all the time, but I am absolutely putting it on my Thanksgiving beer list next year. OH! And by the way; I was at the licka sto yesterday and noticed that Rogue is starting to put their XS series beers in small 7 ounce bottles. This is effing genius if you ask me. Can you imagine being able to get all your 10% ABV and above beers in more manageable sizes? I for one am pumped.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Jonas Reinhardt

Brewery: Rogue
Beer: Hazelnut Nectar
Style: Brown Ale
Location: Newport, Oregon
ABV: 6.2%
Rating: 90/100

Today’s session (or redux) is more of a “set the record straight” video than a review. Not long ago, I reviewed the Tröegs Nugget Nectar (seen here) that I had got in a recent trade. Well…unfortunately, after doing a bit of research on the bottle I had (which didn’t call out a bottled on date), I determined that the beer was at least a year old. And we all know what happens to hops when they are old, exposed to light, and un-refrigerated – right kids? So I thought it would only be fair to reach out to my viewing public to see if someone could hook me up with a new bottle so that I could accurately score the beer. Well here is that video, and I’m happy to announce that Nugget Nectar is much better when it’s fresh (go figure) and was much better the second time around. Thank you, Mike, for getting this to me quickly enough to set the record straight.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Sufjan Stevens

Brewery: Tröegs
Beer: Nugget Nectar
Style: Imperial Amber
Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
ABV: 7.5%
Rating: 92/100

Whoppers and tobacco – tobacco and Whoppers – in it together…how…why? Who cares? The Oskar Blues Ten Fidy is dee-frickin’-licious! That’s because there’s something very manly going on in this beer, and it starts from the minute you pour it straight from the can. The aromas immediately start wafting out of the glass and into the room and fill it with chocolate, coffee, Whoppers, and tobacco. Then at about the same time, the most perfect looking head you’ve ever seen begins to slowly mushroom cloud over the top of the beer. You just know it’s going to be a good 12 ounces ahead of you. Then the first sip hits you and you’re met with a nice punch of heat and bittersweet chocolate. However, it’s the vanilla, dark cave, and smoky tobacco aftertaste that really shines and proves just how good Ten Fidy truly is. I’m not going to lie, I was very sad to see the end of this beer, but it is going on the to-do list to get more. Maybe next time I’ll have a cigar with it and take it to the next level.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Ben Kweller

Brewery: Oskar Blues
Beer: Ten Fidy
Style: Imperial Stout
Location: Santa Rosa, California
ABV: 9.5%
Rating: 96/100

It should be painfully obvious by now that I’m a hophead. The Imperial IPA is without question my favorite style of beer, and California is unquestionably ahead of the pack when it comes to producing them. When it comes to Belgian-style IPAs, however, my palate doesn’t always know how to translate the flavors. There’s something about the Belgian yeast combined with loads of hops that confuses me. The Coronado Brewing Hoppy Daze IPA is a perfect example. I’ve never experienced an IPA that had so much banana presence on the nose – and that can only be coming from the Belgian yeast that’s in the beer. But there are loads of hops, which make me very happy. All-in-all this is a really good beer. As I understand it, there are some folks out there that actually prefer this style. If that’s the case, you will probably be all over this like white on rice. I still stand behind the fact that the yeast and hop combo is puzzling to me and that it doesn’t come close to the love that pours out of most west coast IPAs. But hey that’s just a preference. Perhaps I can try the Hoppy Daze really fresh one day to see if the higher presence of hops would outweigh the yeast a bit more.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: John Frusciante

Brewery: Coronado Brewing
Beer: Hoppy Daze
Style: Imperial IPA
Location: Coronado, California
ABV: 9%
Rating: 88/100

I take a great deal of pride in Boulevard Brewing Company. I’ve been drinking their beers for at least 15 years now; and well before I became a beer snob. But something especially great has been going on at the brewery in the last few years – thanks to the vision of Steven Pauwels they’ve started brewing some insanely good (worldly) beers that speak more to the craft beer lover as opposed to the everyday pale ale drinker. I’ve had my favorites along the way, but now it is their Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale that makes me the happiest. The beer pours a warm summery yellow haze with an enormous amount of tight soapy white head. And the smell! That’s probably the best aspect of this beer. There are loads of over-ripened bananas (like those black bananas used to make banana bread), beautiful esters that remind you of lemongrass and sunshine, and even a faint smell of band-aid (in a good way). For a saison, I can tell you this is the most complex I’ve ever smelled or tasted — even more so than the illustrious Orval (which is not technically a saison, but it should be). Yes the Boulevard Saison Brett is magical, but this one is a touch more successful in my book. And if you’re someone who thinks Allagash is the only American brewery making insanely good Belgian-style beers, you need to start paying attention to Boulevard. They are owning right now.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Vetiver

Brewery: Boulevard
Beer: Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
Style: Saison
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
ABV: 8%
Rating: 97/100

I had not prepared myself for my most recent mind-bottling beer experience, but I had a last minute opportunity to share a growler of Russian River’s Pliny the Younger with a few beer geeks (I’ll call them my new BFFs). When I got the call, I knew immediately there was no way in hell I’d pass up this moment. There were four of us who worked our way through its insane amount of hops and beautiful mouthfeel. I was amazed by every sip and it was everything I had hoped it would be. So I’m sure the first question is: What does it taste like, Mark?!?! Well, it’s actually a very easy question to answer: it literally tastes like Pliny the Elder on steroids. It might even be safe to assume that the hops to malt ratio is very close (if not exactly the same) as the Elder, but beefed up to make a bigger version. While Pliny the Elder is only a modest 8% ABV, the Pliny the Younger boasts a monstrous 11% ABV. And because I know this was just recently let loose to the public, it was also much fresher than any bottle of Pliny the Elder I’ve ever had. So an insanely fresh giant version of Pliny the Elder that was crazy fresh pretty much sums it up. In other words, it was pure heaven!

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Gentleman Jesse and His Men

Brewery: Russian River
Beer: Pliny the Younger
Style: Triple IPA
Location: Santa Rosa, California
ABV: 11%
Rating: 100/100

It’s been a long time coming to have my good friend Tim on camera at The Hopry. So I pulled out the stops this night and went directly for a beer I’ve wanted to try for a very long time. This AMAZING bourbon barrel anniversary edition of the North Coast Old Rasputin is one of the best I’ve had this year. I think Tim and I both agree, too, that this is one of the most subtle imperial stouts out there, even though it brings in a whopping 11.2% ABV. There is tons of vanilla coming out of the barrel aging (think Southern Tier Creme Brulee), and the alcohol burn typically associated with this type of beer is virtually non-existent. But I think what makes this beer the most magical is how very well-balanced it is all around. Not one component outshines the other. Upon every sip, you almost seem to sink deeper into the couch while just marveling over how they could make such a big beer go down this easily. Well…the good news is that I have seen plenty of these on the shelves around town, so I think I may have to add another one or two to the collection to let them hang out for a little while. Though I will tell you right now, these bottles do not need age to be greatly appreciated by just about anyone. And that my friends is the sign of a 98 point beer for me.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Ariel Pink and the Haunted Graffiti

Brewery: North Coast
Beer: Old Rasputin XII Anniversary
Style: Imperial Stout
Location: Fort Bragg, California
ABV: 11.2%
Rating: 98/100

As I quickly approach the 50th session of The Hopry, I wanted to take a step back for a minute to reflect on how much fun I’ve had getting here. The hits on the site are growing quite rapidly. In fact, January’s hits were more than triple the amount of December. This tells me that you guys are enjoying what I’m doing and that maybe I’m doing okay. I won’t lie, that makes me feel very good. It’s good to know that coming home from work, spending a very short amount of time with my daughters before they go to sleep, and then drilling out hours of work a night for the site is paying off. So it’s time to start thinking about taking it to the next level. Please take a few minutes to click the “click here” icon to the right of the page and take my short and fun survey. Your feedback will be used to make the site better and more enjoyable for all of us. Again, thank you…thank you…thank you for get involved in what I’m doing.

Mark Starr
The Hopry
“FRIDGE THE HOPS!”

Having originally done some research on this beer I determined through various sources that Tröegs Nugget Nectar was an IPA. However, one only needs to read the label on the bottle to see that it’s actually classified an Imperial Amber by the brewery. Well who I am I to argue with the guys who actually brew the beer? Regardless of the style, I had pretty high hopes for what it would taste like. It has been on my to-do list for quite some time and has been put in the same class as some of the other greats like Bell’s Hopslam and Russian River’s Pliny the Elder. Needless to say, my expectations were set pretty high. What happened in the video is nothing but bad luck. Unfortunately, it was later determined (after shooting the video) that the bottle I had received was over a year old. As I’ve said at least a hundred times, hops need to be refrigerated or they will die a very quick and sad death. My only assumption at this point is that this is what happened to my bottle of Nugget Nectar. When I initially opened the bottle there was a little bit to work with, but magically it all disappeared within a minute or two. So now, I am on a mission to get another bottle of this beer to review on the show so I can accurately give my impression of the beer. Hopefully then I can set the record straight for those who clearly think I’m an untalented ass clown for giving this beer an 80/100.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Sufjan Stevens

Brewery: Tröegs
Beer: Nugget Nectar
Style: Imperial Amber
Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
ABV: 7.5%
Rating: 80/100

It has been a very sad week at the Starr house. Our little buddy Yoshi (amazing kitty) suddenly passed away. And without going in to too much detail I will just say that he will be sadly missed. With that said, this session of The Hopry is dedicated to him. Recently, I was able to get a hold of a bottle of Hop Henge Experimental IPA by Deschutes Brewery out of Bend, Oregon. I had enjoyed it so much last year when a friend of mine brought one back from Denver that I vowed to get another one to put it on the show. My overall “witty” impression of Hop Henge is that it’s much like Shrek (or onions) – it has layers. As I started the beer I was pulling out very fragrant citric flavors like orange peel. Then I began to get a lot of the dank sweet hops. As I worked my way through the rest I began to pull out other flavors like honeysuckle and fresh flowers. But each new sip brought a slightly new experience. It was every bit as enjoyable as I remembered last year when I rated it an A on Beer Advocate. Now, if I could only bring myself to break into the Abyss bottle I bought not long ago. Ehhh…I think I’ll be hanging on to that one for a little while longer.

R.I.P. Yoshi (1996 – 2010)

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Box Elders

Brewery: Deschutes
Beer: Hop Henge Experimental IPA
Style: Imperial IPA
Location: Bend, Oregon
ABV: 8.75%
Rating: 96/100

It should be common knowledge by now that the mighty little craft brewery from Milton, Deleware called Dogfish Head brews some of the most experimental beers on the market. It should also be common knowledge by now that many of these beers are very extreme in their alcohol levels. Raison D’extra is a prime example of both. It’s considered to be an American Strong Ale, and I’m not going to argue with that one bit. While not necessarily experimental with flavors (brown sugar and raisins), Raison D’extra does reach a heightened level of intrigue based solely on the viscosity and size of the beer. That’s because this version (which is the bigger brother of the Raison D’être), is like drinking a rum or style of wine like Sauternes. I have to say, though, that I’m just not fully on board with this beer. I like it quite well in terms of its taste, but it tends to move a little too far away from “normal” beer territory for me to feel a full connection to it. Not to mention that it actually took me two sittings to drink this small 12 ounce bottle. You really do taste the “boat loads of raisins” and brown sugar that make up a good portion of the recipe. However, I will definitely make sure I have a friend over the next time I venture down the extreme avenue of Dogfish Head. 120-Minute IPA…you’re next. Who wants to stop by and split it with me?

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Dan Auerbach

Brewery: Dogfish Head
Beer: Raison D’extra
Style: American Strong Ale
Location: Milton, Delaware
ABV: 18.5%
Rating: 86/100

I’m not even going to lie, when I received a direct compliment from the De Struise Brewery on my review of their Pannepot, my head got a little enlarged. It’s a compliment to hear from the brewery that you’re reviewing. They liked the way I described and reviewed their Pannepot, which is a beautifully complex Belgian-style strong ale. Well, I hate to say it, but they’ve gone and done it again with this insanely deep and complex Belgian Royal Stout called Black Albert. How that’s exactly different from an Imperial Stout I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t care. What I do know is that this HUGE monster (sitting in at 13% ABV) is really one amazing beer. It drinks more like a 9% – 10% stout. Perhaps it’s that I found this thing on a whim, or perhaps it’s just that it’s so damn easy to drink at this high of an ABV that it just makes you scratch your head. Either way, this is very deserving of a high score. With as much flavor as you get out of this beer, it just seems to balance everything very well. But, you know what? At the end of the day it is 13% and you can feel it by the time you’ve drained this small bottle of stout goodness. This Belgian brewery really does things well. And this is no exception.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Jóhann Jóhannsson

Brewery: De Struise
Beer: Black Albert
Style: Belgian Royal Stout / Imperial Stout
Location: Oostvleteren, Belgium
ABV: 13%
Rating: 95/100

It took me until I was about 35 years old to become a fan of Scotch. It always tasted like mud water to me as a young man. But then one day I became fascinated with peat-smoked Scotch. I read a lot about they Islay styles, but was never adventurous enough to try it. Then again, I’ve always been willing to expand my palate, so that’s what I did. I bought a bottle of the most intense Scotch out there: Laphroaig. I’m not even going to lie; it was one of the most offensive things I ever tasted in my life. But I was bound and determined to make myself like it – because hell…I’d just bought a whole bottle. Needless to say I love it today and am happy to see that they are using some of the same types of barrels to make the beers I love just as much. Harviestoun’s Ola Dubh 16 is one of those beers. It was on last years Top 25 Beers of the Year in Draft Magazine. Of course I greatly value their opinion so I quickly set out to get a bottle. Having sat on this one for nearly ten months, I have to say it was well worth the wait. This lovely beer is only subtly perfumed by the Highland Park barrels for which it was housed. Though the claim is that this beer is an “old ale,” I have to admit that it fooled me into thinking it was a stout. It’s dark and inky with a lot of the same characteristics of a stout. But really at the end of the day, this is just a great beer to share with a friend in a couple snifters. It’ll make you feel like you should be sitting in your grandpa’s old winged-back chair reading poetry and smoking a cigar.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man

Brewery: Harviestoun
Beer: Ola Dubh (Special Reserve 16)
Style: Old Ale (Barrel-aged)
Location: Alva, Scotland
ABV: 8%
Rating: 94/100

The Saison is slowly becoming one of my favorite lighter styles of beer. One of the reasons is because they are easy drinking, but another is that they have a slightly heightened amount of flavor and booze. There’s really no other way to say it – and the Saison Dupont is no exception. It’s pretty much text book. I will say the only drawback to this beer is the green bottle because unfortunately it adds a small amount of skunkiness to the smell of the beer. And I’m pretty sure these are fresh as they just arrived in our stores…which come to think of it…doesn’t really mean anything. What I will say is that there is zero “skunk” on the palate. When this beer hit my tongue I was more than pleasantly surprised. It has that classic Saison taste. Light, ester-y, citrusy, and well-balanced. Now, it’s not as great as the Boulevard Saison Brett by any means, but… Certainly check this one out if you haven’t. If you are a fan of Saisons then I’m sure you’ve had this one multiple times. I’m also pretty sure you can find this one in a lot of stores across the country.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: BEAK>

Brewery: Brasserie Dupont
Beer: Saison Dupont
Style: Farmhouse Ale / Saison
Location: Tourpes-Leuze, Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Rating: 91/100

One style that I have not spent as much time on as I’d like is the German Doppelbock. People who know me well know that I really favor American craft beer at the moment. I just think we have a lot to offer in this country and we are doing things that others are simply not willing to do. Having said that, I know there is a lot to be said about beers from other countries like Belgium and Germany — I have had more Belgian than German, though. This particular beer, the Celebrator by Ayinger, comes from Germany. Though I’ll admit that most of my knowledge is in the Hefeweizen category I am also quite fond of a good Doppelbock. Our very own Boulevard Brewing Company here in Kansas City just recently released a very nice one aged on cedar chips called Seeyoulator. But the Ayinger is typically heralded as the best in this style, so that’s why I have decided to make it my first Doppelbock on the show. Digging in to the first smell and taste was nice to say the least. The Celebrator is a very well-balanced beer with a subtle amount of bitterness, aroma, and great flavor. This is definitely a darker beer you could enjoy in the winter months without going too big on bitterness or ABV. Look for more of these in the future as I’m excited to see how some of the other greats stand up to this one. Leave me a comment below of which ones are your favorite and I’ll be sure to search for them next time I’m out and about at the stores.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Wayne “The Train” Hancock

Brewery: Ayinger
Beer: Celebrator
Style: Doppelbock
Location: Aying, Germany
ABV: 6.7%
Rating: 93/100

There has certainly been a trend around The Hopry lately – and that is the fact that I’ve been drinking a lot of great canned craft beers. For the most part, they have all been IPAs…until now. On this night we moved to Abt/Quadrupel territory. I have to admit that the first time I heard someone was selling a Belgian-style Quadrupel in a can I just had to search for some to get on the show ASAP. As such, I was able to get a four-pack of the Monk’s Blood from 21st Amendment out of San Francisco. I was very surprised, too, with the amazingly nice packaging. It comes in a square cardboard box with the beer’s information on all sides (seen here and borrowed from here). Since this beer came to me via Minnesota, I figured I would have my good friend Martin back over to share it with me (he’s originally from the area). What we had was a very nice beer that met the expectations of the can, which says “Belgian-style dark ale brewed with cinnamon, vanilla, oak chips and dried figs.” They were pretty spot on with the description because that’s exactly what it tasted like…oh and some with dark cherries.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: The Avett Brothers

Brewery: 21st Amendment
Beer: Monk’s Blood (Insurrection Series)
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Location: San Francisco, California
ABV: 8.3%
Rating: 91/100

This is it guys — the holy grail of beer for me. I don’t know how else to put it except to tell you that Bell’s Hopslam is the single best beer on the market. Released only once a year, people stand in line, leave their name on waiting lists, or just outright stalk liquor stores for it. I’ve done all three…so I know. Last year I only purchased two six-packs and I’ve regretted that decision all year. So this year I opted for not just one case, but two. Call it panic, call it crazy, call it whatever you want — but I’m sitting on enough Hopslam to last me for at least three or four months (maybe longer since it’s all sitting in cold refrigeration). The second this gorgeous Imperial IPA is poured, the aromas waft up out of the glass so strongly that you know you’re in for a special treat. TONS of pineapple and mango (even luxurious papaya) just begin to wreak havoc on your nostrils and make you glad you’re alive. It’s virtually a clear golden color with the perfect amount of off-white head, its smell (again) is out of this world, but the taste is the real star here. Let’s just say this is pure perfection as I know it. And that’s all I’m going to say. Go steal some from your friends. Or go drive two states away. Or pay $10 for a bottle on eBay. Whatever you do – get on board with this beer because you’ll truly see what the hype is all about. And don’t forget… REFRIGERATE YOUR HOPS PEOPLE!!!

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Atlas Sound

Brewery: Bell’s
Beer: Hopslam
Style: Imperial IPA
Location: Comstock, Michigan
ABV: 10%
Rating: 100/100

Lagunitas, from Petaluma, California, is known mostly for their amazing (and value-driven) Imperial IPA called Hop Stoopid. Luckily, we have finally been given the okay to get Lagunitas in Kansas and Missouri — so I have not been deprived by any stretch of the imagination. The first day I saw Hop Stoopid available here in Kansas City I purchased eight bottles right on the spot. At only $3.50 for an amazing 22 ounce bomber of hop goodness, how can you go wrong? So when I saw their barley wine called Brown Shugga getting ready to hit the shelves I jumped at the opportunity to buy some of them as well. A fan of barley wines already, I figured this couldn’t be too bad of a beer knowing that the brewery knows a thing or two about hops. But what struck me about Brown Shugga the most is how light the hop presence is for such a big beer. It’s easy to pick up a small amount of hops on the nose, but it doesn’t translate over to the palate as much as it should. Barley Wines are known for having a large amount of hops, but the focus here is more on the malts and sweetness from the brown sugar that is added to the beer. All in all, I would say this is a good beer from Lagunitas. However, loads more hops to bump up the bitterness and aromas would definitely turn this one into a great beer.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Great Lake Swimmers

Brewery: Lagunitas
Beer: Brown Shugga
Style: Barley Wine
Location: Petaluma, California
ABV: 9.84%
Rating: 85/100

Ahhh…Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout – it’s such a behemoth of an Imperial Stout. At 13%, it’s enough to take the edge off any situation very quickly. Rewind a couple years ago…The BCS was my first real experience with an extreme beer. Just smelling it come out of the glass as my waiter poured it for me led me to fear what I might feel like afterwards. With its intense aroma of bourbon, I knew I was at least going to enjoy something for the ages. Two problems exist with these beers, though, and that is the fact that they are very heavy and potent. I’d even go so far as to say that these little 12 ounce bottles could be shared with one or two other people. But I can tell you based on this review that they clearly do well with a couple years of age. I’ve been sitting on a few bottles of the 2007 vintage for a while just to see what the experience would be like after having the 2008 and 2009 consecutively, and the result was phenomenal. A lot of the alcohol burn has dwindled but the flavor profile from the bourbon barrels still remains. Matched with a great amount of coffee, chocolate, toffee, and vanilla, this beer is much more approachable than it was in 2007. But granted…my palate is a lot more susceptible to these extreme beers now, so you make the call. Buy a couple and let them sit down in the basement for a couple years and see what happens.

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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Bill Callahan

Brewery: Goose Island
Beer: Bourbon County Stout
Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel-Aged)
Location: Chicago, IL
ABV: 13%
Rating: 94/100