The Kick Box - On Hip!

picked up the best of 2016 from saranac.

first up is the pale ale, very close in taste to an IPA

its called the clementine pale ale.

the label says (as i was thinking i could down these pretty quickly and not even notice) its the perfect beer for your next session.

only the slightest hint of any citrus and a very slight bitterness that a citrus peel would do to the back of your tongue.

it actually reminds me of a really good IPA that was watered down, not in a bad way...i mean its refreshing as fuck but at the cost of some chilling back and enjoying the taste.
C+ in the winter B- in the summer.

 

up next is hoppy hour hero moe.saic ipa

actually i think it is the clementine pale ale without the citrus

just a very slight more bitter hoppy taste. if i didnt have them back to back i might have not even noticed.

i dont know this one might be more sessionable or i am more thirsty because its gone already...

 

next up is the reason i bought the variety pack.
holy shit i didnt take a sip yet and it is about 18 inches from my nose but it smells like fresh roast coffee beans. i will be very disappointed if this isn't a great beer.
Cold brew coffee lager.
tag says "not just another coffee beer. an amber lager with a cold brew coffee twist."
ahhh i am disappointed. it tastes too much like a mug of actual coffee. it is still good but this is only the second time i have had a coffee beer that was closer to the bitter side of the coffee spectrum than to the sweet side.
i dont remember the other one because it was when i first started trying craft beers and didnt know any breweries but that one tasted like a pint of folgers. this one isnt that bad, i mean i dont like regular coffee and i like this but it is on the lower side of coffee beers i have had because its close to that regular coffee taste. it does have a slight chocolate malt taste that saves it from me saying i would rather have a mug of coffee with a shot of vodka.
no need for me to grade this one, you can grade it yourself...what would you give a mug of coffee with a half of a hershey bar to sweeten it instead of sugar? maybe a quarter bar depending on the size you get.

 

Terrapin moo hoo.. its meh probably because im drunk before I got it. .

 

Got the IPA can variety pack from Sam Adams. Seems to be their version of sculpin .

Next up is rebel rouser double IPA.

Drinking it while eating walnuts. I think that's adding to the bitterness.
Slight floral and a bit of fruity/citrus notes.
Washed away all the walnuts and it's not as bitter. The fruit taste takes over.

This is why I stopped doing big reviews. I have to keep on tasting it to get the right words that I want to say about it. But then by the time I know how I want to describe it my beer is gone and I did more thinking than enjoying.

Some beers aren't so bad but the complex ones have way to many variables.

 

debating the walk to get some beers.. I can drive there but I think I want the fresh air and exercise.. not very far anyway. Ill decide in 4mins.. ;p

 

Had this tonight. Nice, refreshing IPA of the "tropical" variety. Wasn't too sweet or anything.

 

Drinking Sur Amarillio from To Øl out of Denmark.

This is a sour pale ale showcasing the use of Amarillo hops and is 7.5% ABV

Pours a cloudy, opaque golden honey color with an initial one-finger head.

Lots of barnyard funk upon the initial whiff with a spicy hop aroma. I am getting notes of citrus (peach, apricot, orange zest), as well as some grassy, herbal notes, along with some faint, dank, resinous pine notes. The yeast also provides a somewhat musty aroma reminiscent of a Belgian wild ale (think Orval).

Flavor is mildly sour. The sourness is cut by a spicy, dry hop presence. I am getting some tart green apple flavors, with some grassy, herbal undertones, as well as some citrusy lemon zest from the Amarillo hops in the finish.

Mouthfeel is light-medium with a moderate carbonation and a dry, spicy finish.

Overall rating: B+

 

mmk mate.. ive some terrapin moo hoo and some rogue hazelnut .. good af ...

 

Drinking Kiwi Rising from Jack's Abby, a world class IPL.

I wrote a review, but since this forum apparently uses an outdated format from the early 2000s, I lost whatever I wrote and am not going to re-write it since I am already semi-drunk.

All I will say is that this is beer is fucking awesome. One of my all-time favorite beers which is released only once per year for a limited time.

A++++

 

Damned If I Can Fathom How That Happened........



Cheers Glen.

 

Whats everyone drinking with thier ham and or turkey?

I got a pumpkin and malty IPA from jj bitting. A local brew pub here.

 

Oh yeah. Imma get fucked up.

 

Whelp, folks, I am gettin' drunk on the above brew.

Lagunitas Sucks is released only once per year to much acclaim.

It's a double IPA that comes in at 8% ABV.

It pours a translucent copper/gold color with an initial two-finger head.

Very dank and resinous nose on this one. Lots of pine and dank, pithy citrus, along with some floral notes. I am getting notes of orange, tangerine and pineapple, along with some sweet caramel malts coupled with some breadiness.

Flavor is of pithy citrus and dank pine. I am getting lots of orange and grapefruit zest coupled with dank pine and some herbal undertones. There is also a fairly pronounced caramel malt sweetness with a nice bready, biscuit-like finish.

Mouthfeel is medium with a medium carbonation.

Overall rating: A

 

I am now drinking Death by Coconut from Oskar Blues Brewery.

This is an Irish porter which comes in at 6.5% ABV

This one pours a dark brown / opaque black with an initial two-finger tan head.

Aroma is of toasted coconut, dark roasted malts and milk chocolate.

Flavor is of toasted coconut, sweet caramel/roasted malts and semi-sweet chocolate.

Mouthfeel is light/medium, smooth, and with a mild carbonation.

LOVE this stuff!!!

Overall rating: A

 

Drinking the 4th release of Luponic DIstortion.

 

I am now drinking a beer I have been wanting to try for months, and I finally acquired a growler of it today.

This is Southern Tier's Cold Press Coffee Imperial Pumking, a draft-only release from Southern Tier that was just introduced this year.



Pours a dark copper-orange color with a fast-fading two-finger head.

8.6% ABV

Aroma is of coffee, pumpkin, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon and pie crust. I am getting lots of earthy aromas as well from the spices combined with the sweet caramel malts.

Upon the initial taste, the coffee really stands out, and the pumpkin and spice really shines through in the finish, along with a really nice bready malt backbone which really gives it a genuine pie crust flavor.

Mouthfeel is medium, slightly sticky, and with a fairly low level of carbonation.

I definitely like this much better than the original. If only I had gotten the 64 oz. growler instead of the 32 oz.

Overall rating: A

 

This is Sur Galaxy from To Øl out of Denmark.

This is a sour mashed black IPA showcasing the use of Galaxy hops and dark roasted malts.

7% ABV

Pours an opaque black with a one-finger tannish head which sticks around for a bit before fading to leave a fine foam layer on the surface of the beer with some decent lacing.

Aroma is really nice and quite unique. I am getting some dank and piney hops, some lemony citrus, black currants, cherries, a faint coffee, and some sweet roasted malts.

Flavor is nicely sour upfront, with some subtle cherry and currant undertones, and that upfront sourness combines nicely with the lemony citrus and pine hop bitterness. I am getting not only lemon, but also some grapefruit, as well as some dark-roasted malts, which impart a roasty, slightly coffee-like flavor. Overall lots of nice earthy flavors to this beer.

Mouthfeel is light-medium with a moderate carbonation and a lingering, slightly sweet malt finish.

Overall rating: A

 

This is Red Tape from Jack's Abby, an amber lager / dunkel. Jack's Abby is renowned for their world-class lagers, which are truly amazing.

Pours a dark reddish-brown/amber color with a two-finger head.

Aroma is of caramel malts, biscuit, and grassy, herbal hops.

Flavor is of sweet, caramel malts with a nice bready backbone coupled with an earthy, herbal hop presence.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and exceptionally smooth.

Really an awesome beer for the style.

Overall rating: A-

 

This is Evergreen IPA from Peak Organic.

7% ABV

Pours a hazy golden color with a fast-fading head.

Aroma is of spruce, juniper berries, grapefruit, pine and some floral hops.

Flavor is of dry, crisp citrus (grapefruit), resinous pine, juniper, and some sweet, caramel malts.

Mouthfeel is light-medium and with a vibrant carbonation.

Overall rating: A-