Quick Sips...Episode 1

So one of the changes I decided to make this year was to implement a quick beer review segment that I call "Quick Sips".  This will give me the chance to write about multiple beers, quickly, in one article.  So without further adieu, this is Quick Sips....Episode 1.

First up is Sixpoint Diesel.  The name make you think this will be similar to Oskar Blues Ten Fidy, but it doesn't come close.  It's actually quite light in the mouthfeel, and dark brown in color, which I expected the beer to be pitch black and viscous.  The beer has an excellent roast to it and is quite smooth and drinkable.  It really borders on a Porter though, to me.  Nevertheless, it's quite good and I recommend trying it.

Next is Odell Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout.  To my knowledge this is a newly bottled beer from Odell.  Thanks to my buddy John for the bottle.  Massive chocolate is all over this beer.  Huge roast with a nice, but not overpowering, milky sweetness.  The beer finishes with a touch of bitter roasted chocolate which compliments the entire beer nicely.  Was hoping this would be a little creamier in mouthfeel but was on the lighter side.  Still, an enjoyable beer that I would gladly have again.

Third on the list is Terrapin Hopsecutioner.  I had this beer for the first time in South Carolina prior to my best friend's wedding.  Recently my dad grabbed me a few bottles during a trip to Florida.  This one was best by 2/2013 so it's nearing the end of it's freshness cycle.  Still, the massive pine and citrus hops were present but with more of a malt presence than I remember in September.  This is close to scorching your palate, but doesn't quite get there.  Incredibly tasty fresh....just like most IPA's.

Fourth and Fifth are a pair of beers from Kona Brewing Company, which recently started distribution in Indiana.  The Pipeline Porter has a really great massive coffee aroma and hits you immediately with coffee...but then fades into oblivion.  There just isn't much behind it.  Some decent roasted malt notes and some caramel sweetness, but the finish is lackluster.  Same can be said about the Fire Rock Pale Ale.  Lacking in hops, the malt profile is more prominent and there just isn't much to it.  A far cry from what I remember when I had it the first time in 2007 while on a guys trip to Dallas to see DMB.

Sixth is Rye Da Tiger from Three Floyds.  What an amazing beer.  Loaded with citrus and floral hops with a nice rye presence which adds spiciness and depth.  Crushes your palate with a bouquet of awesome flavor.  I need to get more of this and am happy Floyds made this their annual December release.

Last on the list, but certainly not least, is another beer from Terrapin.  Wake N Bake Coffee Oatmeal Stout, now known as W-N-B due to naming rights issues.  Thanks to a different John for this one.  Huge coffee aroma and flavor with one of the slickest mouthfeels I've had from an oatmeal stout.  Contrary to what people may think, the Oats don't add any flavor, they are primarily added to thicken the mouthfeel, and this one succeeds.  Often compared to Founders Breakfast Stout, which I disagree with the comparison.  FBS has a large chocolate component that WNB doesn't have.  Both are massive coffee beers, but WNB should be compared to other straight coffee stouts, like Bells Java.  Still, WNB is near the top of the list of coffee beers I have had.  A very nice treat....happy I have another.

So that's 7 beer stops on this Quick Sips tour.  Looking forward to doing this again soon.

Cheers!!