Wild Thing

Wild Thing
HaandBryggeriet
Norway
7.00% ABV
Style: American Wild Ale

C: Slightly Cloudy
H: Amber
N: Smokey/Cranberry "Burning Cranberry Bush" (per EvilTwin)

EvilTwin: Poured into my Dogfish snifter glass I saw a pretty brown red color with a light fluffy head on top. I went in for the first whiff and was sort of awestruck by the aroma. Straight up twigs and berries and smoke. Somewhat like sticking my head into a burning cranberry bush. The flavor was musty, smoky, and had hints of cranberries. Flavor also reminded me of soil or dirt. There was a slight sour/tartness to it ,but by that point it almost seemed irrelevant and I couldn't get pasted the smokiness of it. It was just a little too strange.
Score: 2.95

The Ferm: Well this is a fitting way to end the week. As things will be getting quite Wild in Tampa in just a few hours, and EvilTwin will be along for the ride. Big thanks again to EvilTwin for sharing this beer, and joining me for a great week of reviews. Maybe at some point and time I can gain some more income from the blog to sign him on for a full 5 beer reviews again. (I think this Examiner-Ft. Lauderdale thing is getting to his head)
TO THE BEER - There is something here I like, but I can't get past the smoke, DAMN YOU SMOKE! Actually after allowing the beer to warm up just a tad I am able to pick out the cranberry tartness that is on the back-end. This was just what I was looking for!
Did you know that Cranberry Juice helps keep your body clean and clear of Kidney Stones?! I wonder why people don't brew more with cranberry. You could get drunk and help your body not produce kidney stones all at the same time! Ohh well.
The beer overall was interesting probably not something I would pick up again as the smoke was a bit over-powering. Never the less, a solid beer and something just a bit different.
Score: 2.98

Overall: 2.965

Ichtegem's Grand Cru

Ichtegem's Grand Cru
Brouwerij Strubbe
Belgium
6.50% ABV
Style: Flanders Red

C: Cloudy
H: Red-ish in color
N: Sweet Vinegar with Hints of Cherry

EvilTwin: I have to thank The Ferm for introducing me to sours. It turns out they are the perfect compliment to my stout/porter fixation. After about two stouts/porters I'm ready for a change and since sours seem to be almost the exact opposite of stouts/porters it works out perfectly.

This one had a light brown hue to it. Slight tints of red with dotty, oily lacing. The aroma has hints of vinegar, cherries, and a sour funkness. The taste was slightly sweet with the sour/tartness that most sours have. It wasn't too sour, and not too light either. Just right for me.
Score 3.8

The Ferm: All about the sours....last year that was my motto. This year I plan on living by that motto and getting my hands on as many new sours that I have never tried before. Big thanks to The Cerveza Chica for bringing this bottle back from Chicago for me.
The nose on this is insane...lots of sweet bitterness and hints of funk, and the flavor does not let you down. While this is not an "over the top" sour beer, it is extremely well balanced and made. I would label this as an entry level sour, and a very good one at that.
Score: 4.12

Overall: 3.96

Short's Uber Goober Oatmeal Stout

Uber Goober Oatmeal Stout
Short's Brewing Company
Elk Rapids, MI
6.5% ABV
Style: Oatmeal Stout

C: Clear-ish
H: Almost Black
N: PEANNNUTS! OHH YEAHHHHH!

EvilTwin: I've been on a peanut butter kick as of late, so finding this beer was a real treat.
This was another extra I received in my most recent trade from Michigan. If this beer is any indication of what the Michigan beer scene is up to these then I want more.

The aroma was full of salty peanuts and roasted malts.The color was black and syrupy. No head, no lacing, somewhat low carbonation. The taste was pretty much peanuts all around, just as the aroma suggested. I enjoyed everything about this beer. My only regret was not opening this beer next to the Short's PB&J. Well there's always next time.
Score 4.4

The Ferm: Big thanks to EvilTwin for sharing this beer with me. This is one of those beers I have been looking for, and dying to try. Was it worth it? Yes! The beer is jammed packed with Peanuts and Roasted Malt all over the flavor. JUST WOW! Quite like what I expected heaven to be like (minus the hops!).

The roasted peanuts bring me back to my childhood, and eating peanuts at the old Tampa Stadium watching the Buccaneers play..well lose with my father. GREAT MEMORIES! When a beer takes you back to a special place in your life, that is how you know this is a very special beer! I will be hunting more of this down!
Score: 4.321

Overall: 4.3605

Short's Brew The Liberator IPA

The Liberator
Short’s Brewing Company
Elk Rapids, MI
7.40% ABV
Style: Imperial IPA

C: Clear
H: Golden Amber
N: HELLO HOPS! Super Citrus w/ Hints of Grass & Sweet Sugary Honey

EvilTwin: I love IPA's and DIPA's, but they aren't neccesaraly my go to beers, those have, as of late, have been Imperial Stouts and Porters. So when I come across a good one, such as this, it's almost like rediscovering a good album or song on your ipod you haven't heard in while.

This one had a nice hoppy aroma to it, which is always what intrigues me first about an IPA or DIPA. The aroma also had a good amount of malt, honey, fresh cut grass and lemon zest to it. The color was somewhat brownish, hazy and murky with a slim head on it. The taste and flavors were much like the aroma. The flavors hung on the palate for quite a while and turned from bitter to sweet. Great to taste a good DIPA again.
Score: 4.23

The Ferm: Well if you have followed the blog since day one you are probably thinking...wait I have seen this beer before. Yep, March 24th 2010, this beer was reviewed for the first time with The Cerveza Chica. I figured I would revisit this beer without looking at my previous notes, then compare. I know my appreciation for Stouts has grown a lot but what about a Double IPA.

This beer smells soo good I accidentally snorted it up my nose when getting a good wiff of the scent. The beer is extremely balanced Double IPA....tons of hops and a solid malt backing. This really is a damn good DIPA, lots on piney citrus, followed with a mouth puckering flavor. Lots of sweet candy notes on the back-end of the taste. Overall a damn good DIPA, that I think is one of the best that I have had so far!
Score: 4.521 (my old score was a 3.21!)

Overall: 4.3755

Short's Cup A Joe Coffee Creme Stout

Cup A Joe Coffee Creme Stout
Short's Brewing Company
Bellaire, Michigan
8.00% ABV
Style: Imperial Stout

C: Can't tell how clear it is because it is BLACKKKK
H: Very Dark Black
N:Espresso forward, hints of sweet creme, and sugary roasted malt

Evil Twin: I'm not a coffee drinker by any means, but coffee flavor in a beer is something that I just can't resist. When I wake up in the morning I need a jolt to boost me out of my slumber, but I would always much rather grab an energy drink over a cup of coffee. I suppose I just like cold drinks over hot ones, but that's another topic of discussion all together.
I was lucky enough to land two bottles of Shorts Cup O' Joe, plus others, in my most recent trade (Mad respect to Erik Koppin for hooking me up with all those Short bottles, you rock my friend)

Poured into my Delirium snifter glass I noticed that the texture was pretty thick. Syrupy and oily with a thin brown head. The aroma had hints of roasted coffee bean, espresso and vanilla, a delicious combo I could fall for every time. The flavor however was something totally out of left field. Black Olive.... That's right, black olives came through in the flavor. I didn't catch it at first, probably because I don't eat olives ever, but once The Ferm mentioned it I totally tasted it. It was quite bizarre to say the least. It had the coffee and lactose flavors as well, but black olives really took center stage on this one. I might be inclined to get more of this, but I wouldn't go out of my way to be truthful. It was a great tasting experience, but olives are meant for salads and pizza, not in my beer.
Score 3.5

The Ferm: Call me crazy, yes I know most of you do already, but I get pepperoncini all up in the nose. Now I can pull the espresso out, and maybe it is just the bitterness of the coffee, but I get pepperoncini. Regardless, I was excited about this beer as I have only been able to try several of the Short's Beers. Thanks to EvilTwin for sharing this with me.
OK, the taste of the beer is straight black olive. I love black olives, but damn....not in beer. There is a strong salty mid-palate flavor that is throwing the whole flavor profile off. That mixed with a strong espresso back-end, brought me back to the day of eating black olives from the can. Nothing like putting the pitted black olives on your fingers so you have olive fingers, and then eating them off! (Hey don't judge me....I know you did it too!). Overall this is an interested black olive beer!
Score: 2.11

Overall: 2.805