The Beer Of the Week for the week of 8/29/2011 is:

Bridgeport’s Highland Ambush

Straight outta Oregon comes a new angle on the venerable Scottish Ale. This Wee Heavy starts with a fizzy blast across the palate followed by strong flavors of toasted malt and hints of vanilla.
The ale spends the first part of its life in bourbon barrels and features a well-blended collection of natural flavors that give a quality representation of the style. The only question was the hops and where did they go? Overall a solid selection for a post toil Saturday evening starter.

3.2/5.0

The Beer Of the Week for the week of 7/21/2011 is:

Port Brewing Company’s MONGO IPA

A recent phone conversation with my brewing buddy Joe led to him telling me about all the wild and wonderful west coast beers he was rolling around in.  In that conversation he mentioned a fantastic IPA his fiance and he were digging these days–MONGO.  A light bulb went off–”HEY, I HAVE ONE OF THOSE!”  Yet another remnant of our trip to Spokane back in May(Thank you $90 luggage-overweight fee), this weeks beer of the week is a spicy not-so-little IPA–MONGO(No relation to the giant softy ridding on the cow in Blazing Saddles)!

Mongo pours a nice, crisp, and clear golden wheat color with milkshake thick, foamy, white head.  The aroma is piney, sappy, sweet–awesomely earthy and hoppy.  The taste is lightly malty up front, followed by a slow moving tsunami of piney hops, that finishes fantastically bitey, bitter, and dry.  Start to finish a nicely balanced beer.  Its medium to light bodied with light carbonation.  Im really liking this beer right now.  Its a hop-heads IPA–definitely on the bitter side compared to a lot of the big s IPAs these days.  An excellent summer sipper.

4.2/5.0

Purchased at Rosauers in Spokane, WA

The Beer Of the Week for the week of 7/7/2011 is:

Southern Tier’s Iniquity Imperial Black Ale

This weeks BOW takes us back to those Yanks we hate to love–Southern Tier Brewing Company.  If you haven’t caught on to Southern Tier, you are missing out!  These boys from “the big city” state know brewing…and they know the sweet spot lies in three beautiful words–Eye Pea Aye!

The iniquity imperial black ale pours a deep, dark reddish/black that can only be seen when the smallest traces of light that aren’t absorbed squeeze through.  On top of that swamp-water-esque color sits a tan colored foamy head.  The aroma is malty dominant–lots of dark fruit, and dark roasted chocolate malts.  There are hints of vanilla, and some earthy hoppy undertones.  The flavor is is dark coffee and pitted fruit sweet up front. That balances and then finishes a dry but fruity sweet.  There is light carbonation and a medium syrupy body.  This is a yummy beer.  Im really into the dark IPAs lately and this is an excellent example albeit on the malty side of an IPA.

4.0/5.0

Purchased at Green’s Beverage on Ponce de Leon in Decatur, GA

The Beer Of the Week for the week of 6/9/2011:

Avery Brewing Co.’s  The Maharaja

Move over LeBron.  Bringing its talents all the way to Wakefield Street via Spokane from Boulder, Colorado–The Maharaja, a real king.  Oh…and this one has game without being a jerk.  This weeks BOW is an Imperial IPA and another of our scores from our trip out west, and ohh is it mighty…yummy.

From their site:  ”Maharaja is derived from the sanskrit words mahat, – “great” and rajan – “king”. Much like its namesake, this imperial IPA is regal, intense and mighty. With hops and malts as his servants, he rules both with a heavy hand.”

The Maharaja pours a crystal clear amber; the color of granny’s sweet tea.  It has a couple fingers of nice creamy off-white head.  For an imperial IPA, a usually hop forward beer, this beer’s aroma is quite sweet like sticky caramel, but well balanced against the hoppy aroma of citrusy pink grapefruit .  The flavor is well balanced–fruity sweetness up front  that fades into a perfectly balanced caramel/citrus mash-up and finishes an IPA floral/citrus bitter.  It has light carbonation and smooth silky body.  This is a one of a kinda, fantastic summer beer.  WE’RE NOT WORTHY!

4.5/5.0

Purchased at Rosauers somewhere in Spokane, Wa

The Beer Of the Week for the week of 6/2/2011 is:

Ninkasi Brewing Company’s Spring Reign

On a recent trip to Spokane, WA( that’s Sp-OH-CAN for the non-natives) to see my little brother graduate from high school, Ms. HG and I took a trip to the local Rosauers in search of some new-to-us west coast beer.  $50 later we walked out with a basket full of beer we’d never tried and a covetous desire to live in the Pacific Northwest for a while–a least until we’ve tried all their beers.  In honor of Bug, the graduate, and his aspirations at the University of Oregon, this weeks BOW comes from non other then Eugene Oregon–the home of the Fighting Ducks and some of the ugliest football uniforms on the face of the planet.

From the bottle:  ”Spring forward with this refreshing seasonal ale.  Notes of toasted malt up front, finished with a bright and refreshing Northwest hop aroma, it’s a session beer that anyone can enjoy!”

Spring Reign pours a golden blonde with foamy white head.  The aroma is slightly floral with a refreshingly subtle malt underlay.  The taste is maltly, slightly sweet and floral–not overly sweet like an imperial beer, but simple and refreshing.  It also has a nice, clean bitter finish.  The body is light, and the carbonation is low.  This is an ultra refreshing summer beer–good flavor, nothing overpowering, and easy to drink on a hot summer day (not that they know what that is in Eugene, OR).

Purchased at Rosauers in Spokane, WA.

3.7/5.0

The Beer of the Week for the week of5/23/2011 is:

Red Hook’s Long Hammer IPA

From the Red Hook Website – “The distinctive India Pale Ale style was developed by British brewers in the 1700s in order to create a sturdy beer that could survive long sea journeys to far-flung colonies where troops eagerly awaited the arrival of this sublime liquid refreshment. Long Hammer takes the traditional IPA brewing process one step further by dry hopping, or adding hops at the end of the brewing process with Cascade hops to give a wonderful hop aroma but not the overpowering hop taste. Long Hammer IPA is the beer you find yourself reaching for again and again, no matter what the occasion.”

That was a whole lot of keystrokes just to let us know that the Long Hammer IPA is dry hopped like every other IPA on the craft scene.  Sarcasm aside, I think RH deserves credit on moving away from the 100+ IBU categories while keeping the ABV at a stout 6.5%. The craftsmanship required to bring about this balance of refined boldness, high gravity, and smooth bite make the Long Hammer stand out (Albeit in a reserved way) among a crowd of alpha-acid dripping zombies.

On the technical tasting side the beer is nothing to write home about.  Almost everything about it, from the thin bubbly head to the bronze and copper color point to an IPA of average quality. The effect on the palate is brief and hardly memorable along with a curious aroma that must wear glasses and spend all of its time in the library on Saturday nights. It’s not a bad beer, worth the sub $10 price tag for a six pack but, I just can’t place it in the current landscape of craft brews. More than a pale, less than a DFH 60, still better than a warm Colt .45 by a long shot.

2.8/5.0

Purchased at Publix Canton, GA

The Beer Of the Week for the week of 05/05/2011 is:

Left Hand Brewing’s Oxymoron

An Inda Pale Lager?  What the hell!? Right?  Its….ummm……OXYMORONIC!  If the artwork or the fact that this is a Terrapin/ Left Hand collaboration didn’t intrigue you then collision of Lager and IPA should.

From thier site: “Oxymoron is the third in a series of one-time releases between our two breweries. A combination of contradictions embodied in liquid form, Oxymoron is an American-style IPA brewed with three German malts, six German hop varities, and a lager yeast strain. Obnoxious yet reserved, elevated yet modest, it’s the embodiment of blending two brewing philosophies together in order to achieve singularity. Consider it an expression of cruel kindness.”

Oxymoron pours  a burnt orange color with slightly off-white head that laces and leaves.  The aroma is fruity and sweet(“…maybe strawberries?,” Mrs. HG says) with the slightest hint of floral hops.  The aroma is definitely more like a lager then and IPA.  The taste is malty and honey sweet, with a nice bitter finish, and a fresh fruit sweet sandwiched in between.  It is complex and nicely balanced.  It has a whispy body with light carbonation.   This is a pretty good summer beer.  It has tons of flavor and character but nothing is overpowering.

3.6/5.0

Purchased at Twenty-Nine Package on Lawrenceville Hwy in Lilburn, GA

On a personal note…I would like to raise a glass and toast the men and women of our armed forces, especially those SEALS the world is talking about these days.  Thank you for all you’ve done and do!

The Beer Of the Week for the week of 4/27/2011 is:

Dogfish Head’s Namaste

“The spirit in me respects the spirit in you.”

And the spirit in Dogfish Head’s Namaste respects the spirit in your summer.

This Belgian-style white pours golden wheat straw color with two good fingers of bright white head.  It is quite refreshing to smell: notes of green raisins,  cloves, fresh cut grass, and summer.  There are subtle citrus notes and some residual Belgian yeast.  The taste is clean and refreshing.  Hints of oranges and wheat are followed by Belgian yeast and finished off by a slightly orange peel bitter finish.  There is little sign of hops, and/or anything resembling dark malt, but it is excellently crisp and thirst quenching– A great summer beer.  Its light and wispy in body with light carbonation.  Brewed with lemon-grass, coriander, and orange, this is the perfect beer for those squelching hot Atlanta summer nights and would fit well in any festive summer celebration.

3.7/5.0

Purchased at Tower Package on Buford Hwy in Doraville

The Beer Of the Week for the week of 4/21/2011 is:

Samuel Adams’ Imperial Stout

Imperial Stout. The two words bring a sense of power and nobility to beer, inspiring mans need for pleasure. Wild in their flavor, and strong in character they are worthy of a spot in any beer drinkers fridge.

Sam Adams has recreated the original recipe made for the Russian Imperial Court of Catherine II. Most people associate Russia with cold war politics, gulags, and the KGB. What you might not know is that while our nation was fighting for its independence in the late 17th against English oppression, the brewers in England were supplying the Imperial Stout I speak of to the empire of mother Russia. What’s this mean? Not a damn thing. Except that you can credit the throne of Catherine the II with the purchase of a most excellent style of beer.

Sam’s version has a clean aroma of coffee and tastes of aged barrels scorched in the cold nights of the 18th century. The taste has hints of new wood as compared to the elder scotches I have consumed making me skeptical of this beer as a true replica of the old days. I love a good Boston lager but this stout tastes a little fresh to have come from so long ago. The mouth feel is clean with a hint of carbonation that makes the sweetness of this beer fall right in line with a tall Starbucks latte… at almost 10% ABV you get what you pay for. All things considered you could do a lot worse at the top shelf of your local Kroger beer cooler.

2.5/5

Purchased at Kroger, Exit 14 – Interstate 575

The Beer Of the Week for the week of 04/07/2011 is:

Brewdog’s Hardcore IPA

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!  How do I know?  My legs are covered in poison ivy, and my insatiable lust for IPAs overcomes me on the beer aisle.  Anyone who reads my BOWs knows of my weakness already, and many of you know its roots lie in DFH 90 Min IPA.  Until know DFH reigned supreme as my go to brewery and favorite purveyor of everything beer.  Im not saying thats changed, yet, but if there ever was a challenger for numero uno, it would be Brewdog and their Hardcore IPA.

From their site:

“This little bottle has a grandiloquent story to tell.

2,204 malted Maris Otter grains gave all they had to offer the world to provide the robustly delicate toffee malt canvas for the ensuing epic.

6 Hop Cones willingly sacrificed themselves in fiery cauldron that is our brew kettle to ensure your mouth is left feeling punished and puckering for more.

9,900,000,000 yeast cells frantically fermented their little hearts out as the sugars were magically turned into alcohol in the dark depths of our fermentation tanks.

This explicit ale has more hops and bitterness that any other beer brewed in the UK. This is an extreme beer rollercoaster for freaks, gypsies and international chess superstars.”

The Hardcore IPA pours an hazy, orange-ish color with a nice foamy, tan head thats decently thick and leaves good lacing.  The aroma is hop-dominant citrusy, fruity with undertones of dark fruit and a caramely, malty sweetness.  The taste, like all of the best Imperial IPAs, is surprisingly balanced.  After wafting the Hardcore IPA one might expect to be blown away by bitter, but upfront this beer is quite toffee, pitted-fruit sweet.  There are definitely notes of aromatic citrusy hops, but its not until the finish as the beer slides off the back of your tongue that your are introduced to that all too familiar, yet eagerly welcomed slap in the face bitter.  Its an amazing, lingering, “welcome to spring,” fresh bitter that leaves you wanting more.  There is a smooth and silky mouthfeel, and moderate to light carbonation.  BE WARNED…you will fall in love with this beer.  Its in contention for my new favorite beer.  Thank you Brewdog!!

5.0/5.0

Purchased at Tower Package on Buford Hwy in Doraville.