Breakfast Stout

Brewer: Founders Brewing Co.

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV: 8.3%
IBU: 60
Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle poured into an English pub glass

A pinky finger of persistent, light brown head on top of a dark, dark brown, totally opaque slug of thick liquid. Decent lacing. Has the aroma of fresh brewed coffee, or maybe just the freshly roasted beans. Dark malts come through behind the coffee.

Tastes like black coffee. The slight hoppy bitterness and the tanin/astringent character of the coffee play together well, offering just the right amount of bite back in such a big beer. The dark malt flavors linger at the back of the throat. It has a nice, heavy body, but is super smooth. Correspondingly light in carbonation.

Fantastic beer. One to look forward to every year.

My score: 5/5

Beer Advocate: A

Rate Beer: 100/100

Pintley: 4.4/5

Old Stock Ale

Brewer: North Coast Brewing Co.
Style: Old Ale
ABV: 11.7%
IBU: 36
Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle poured into an oversize snifter

A deep copper or mahogany color, with short, off-white head. This beer is alive. The head fades pretty quick to a thin film, but is being constantly replinished in a curious donut shape in the center of the glass. Someting to do with the shape of the glass?

A nice fruit aroma, mostly apricot and raisin with maybe a touch of citrus. Some sweet caramely malt notes behind.

Taste is very rich and complex, with that malty sweetnes paramount. Some bitterness, but definitely playing second fiddle to the malt. Actually hop flavor is low to none. Alcohol is noticeable, but not overly so. The carbonation is moderate, but the beer is so smooth and full bodied that it's barely noticeable.

A good sipping beer, but a little overly sweet for my taste. A little more bitterness or hop character may have provided more balance. This is the 2011 vintage and has lots of potential to improve with age.

My score: 3/5
Beer Advocate: A-
Rate Beer: 99/100
Pintley: 4/5


"Donut" head