Five Crown Imperial Stout
Boston Beer Co./Sam Adams
Boston, MA  USA

When I heard that one of the Longshot homebrew contest winners this year was a Russian Imperial Stout, I was intrigued.  And as with most years, there was one beer that I was interested in, and two others that sounded sort of bland and not very interesting to me.  I have heard some good things about this RIS though, so I sought out a 6 pack to give it a try.

Coming in at 8.9% ABV, this is at the lower end for the style, but high for a beer from Sam Adams, and high for something your everyday beer drinker would consume.  Pours black and thick, with almost no head.  Just what you want to see from a Russian Imperial Stout.  Nose is sweet and malty, with only a hint of alcohol. 

First sip brings a big malt taste!  Sweet chocolate is also very prevalent along with a bit of caramel and coffee.  There is the slightest of hop flavors on the back end to balance the sweet.  Mouthfeel is definitely towards the thicker side, a bit on the chewy side. 

This is a fine RIS, if Sam Adams produced something like this all year round, I would definitely pick it up every now and then.  I am glad this is in the Longshot 6 pack and hope it can lead others to seek out other similar beers that may lead them down the road to more craft beer.  I would say that the 6 pack was worth picking up only for the two bottles of Imperial Stout, and I haven't even tried the other two. 

Grand Illumination Ale
Williamsburg Alewerks
Williamsburg, VA  USA

The label calls this a hybrid of American and English style barleywines.  This winter seasonal from Alewerks comes in at 10% ABV and is available in 22oz bottles.  Alewerks does a great job with their Brewmaster's Reserve series, and though this may not be the least memorable of their current lineup,(including Cafe Royale, Bourbon Barrel Porter, and Bitter Valentine) in no way is this a beer that you should pass up.

Pouring a deep reddish color, you get a small amount of head that fades pretty quickly.  The hoppiness of the American style and the malt backbone of the English style do a good job mingling, with the hops eventually winning out after the swallow.  You get the dark fruity sweetness along with the piney hop flavors.  I'd say the hybrid description is apt in this case.  You also get a good amount of alcohol that brings a bit of warmth with it.  The alcohol presence increases as the beer sits, making for a nice complexity throughout the glass.  Mouth is medium, not too thick or sticky, about what you would expect from an American Barleywine.

Grand Illumination is worth a try.  A bomber will only run about $7, and it is a good warm up for the rest of the Brewmasters Reserve line, which continue to be a highlight of my beer drinking year. 

Gravitation
Smuttynose Brewing Co.
Portsmouth, NH  USA

This is a Belgian Quadrupel coming in at.....well, it's not listed on the bottle.  According to this link to the Smuttynose site this beer was only 6.6% when it was first brewed in 2009, and 12% in 2010.  I would wager this was much closer to the 12% end of the spectrum. 

Brewed with 200 lbs of raisin puree, and boy does it taste like it.  While this may be an odd addition to a Quadrupel, I feel that this goes along with Smutty's style of playing fast and loose with tradition as long as it makes for a delicious beer.  I applaud them for not just throwing a ton of hops in everything they make and calling it a day.

The nose is alcohol, dark fruits (hello raisins!), and also alcohol.  Pours a thick dark orange.  First sip follows the nose, with alcohol being pretty dominant and a sweet fruitiness thanks to the raisins coming up close behind.  The finish is dry with the Belgian yeast making an appearance along with more from the alcohol and the dark sweet fruits.  The swallow brings a warmth as it goes down, and the flavors linger for quite some time. 

While this may not be the best traditional example of the style, I enjoy this beer quite a bit.  It's been a long time, but I almost get flashbacks to the one bottle of Raison d'extra I enjoyed before it was discontinued.  Big, sweet, and hot....if this is an appealing list of flavors for you, check this one out!

Fif anniversary ale
Williamsburg Alewerks
Williamsburg, VA  USA

This is the fifth anniversary brew from Williamsburg Alewerks.  On tap at the brewery only for now, this Belgian Strong Ale with a 9.11% ABV is being tested out for a possible future bottle release down the line.  Though this is a big change from other Alewerks beers, they have done a fine job with their first Belgian style ale.

Dark brown with a finger of slowly receding tan head.  Nose brings Belgian yeast, along with some bananna and cinnamon.  Taste is the same, with the bananna and cinnamon being joined by flavors of clove and a bit of pepper.  There is a sweetness to it as well, which compliments the Belgian yeast nicely.  Finally, there is a bit of nuttiness that comes  in at the back end.  The mouthfeel is medium to slightly thick, and a moderate  amount of carbonation seems just right.  After the swallow, the flavors linger for several minutes, still dancing around with the same complexity as when you took your first sip. 

Another home run from Williamsburg Alewerks.  Fif is available at the brewery only, and a growler fill is very reasonably priced.  I highly recommend seeking this out if you are anywhere in the vicinity, you won't be disappointed. 

Founders Brewing Co Old Curmudgeon

Old Curmudgeon Old Ale
Founders Brewing Co.
Grand Rapids, MI  USA
12 oz bottle

An old ale style brew from Founders.  This beer is released in May this year, but since it is still April, I imagine this will be gone before May arrives.  Old Curmudgeon comes in 9.8% ABV with 50 IBUs.

The color is a darker amber, and a vigorous pour brings almost no head.  A sweet but subtle aroma from the glass.  Big caramel and toffee flavors up front thanks to the molasses added during brewing.  Followed by the big maltiness that the style is associated with.  The finish has a bit of oak along with a surprising amount of hops.  Not a ton, but a noticeable amount.  Something you don't usually get with an old ale.  Also more than I remember in previous versions of this beer.

A solid release and one that I look forward to each year.  Though this years may lean more towards an American Barleywine in flavor, still worth checking out.  A good sipper for the last cool nights before the summer heat kicks in.

21st Amendment Monk's Blood

Monk's Blood
21st Amendment Brewery
San Francisco, CA  USA
12 oz can

Monk's Blood is a Belgian strong dark ale, coming at 8.3%  ABV, brewed with Belgian Candi sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, dried figs, and aged on oak.  Part of the occasional release "Insurrection Series", this beer is a once a year release that is, unfortunately, going on an indefinite hiatus after the 2012 release. 

Pours a deep and dark crimson red.  About an inch of head forms that quickly recedes to a thin layer that sticks around for the duration.  On your first sip, the cinnamon makes its presence know right away, hitting the tongue quickly.  The sweetness comes next and quickly behind comes the dark fruit flavors from the figs and a surprisingly big amount of oak.  The oak lingers in the mouth along with a slight hoppy finish, both of which are around long after the swallow.  A slight warming is present courtesy of the alcohol. 

This is a very tasty release that puts a distinct twist on a traditional Belgian style brew thanks to the oak aging and the hops.  Great balance of the flavors, with everything mingling well.  I would definitely recommend picking up a can or two while it is around, becouse there is no telling when this may be available again.  One of my favorites from 21st Amendment! 

Coming soon (take two).....

For real this time!
Steve