This evening I began with Scotty Karate Scotch Ale by Dark Horse Brewing in Marshall, MI http://www.darkhorsebrewery.com/content.asp?PageName=OurBrew. It is a "strong" scotch ale checking in at 9.75% ABV. It pours dark brown with an off white head that does not persists. Aroma is slightly smoky with nice sweet caramel notes, also some roasty notes no noticeable hop aroma. Taste is very much like the aroma with the addition of some dark fruit flavors and the alcohol does come through as well. This is a light bodied beer with some sweetness in the mouth. This is a very enjoyable be overall, I give this beer an "A".
Second beer was Hop Crisis IIPA by 21st Amendment in San Francisco, CA http://21st-amendment.com/beer/hop-crisis. Though I am sure it was actually brewed and canned in MN at Cold Spring Brewing, since they are the contract brewery for 21st Amendment. Because of that the beer is available in MN, thus how I was able to purchase it. The beer pours straw gold with a good white head with hints of yellow. Aroma is of hops, specifically the northwest variety type citrus and piney. Also there is a slight grainy malt backbone to the beer. Flavor is the hops grapefruit the most but also some pineiness as well. The malt is deep in the background with the alcohol being more noticeable than the grainy sweet malt. Mouthfeel is a bit light for the style and dry, thus leading me to think that they use white sugar to reach the ABV of 9.7%. There is a noticeable hop snap at the end of the beer and the grapefruit flavors last to the end of the beer. The beer uses 6 different hops and is aged on oak as well, so I am sure that adds to the dryness of the beer. A nice beer receiving a grade of "B", a nice IIPA but there are better ones out there. Think of Hop Slam, Double Crooked Tree and Abrasive Ale to name a few.
QC Beerguy
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