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Total Score: 60.0
Man, it’s been crazy around here lately, and sadly I haven’t had the time to accompany my sparse drinking with any writing. Tonight I finally have the chance to pour Choc’s spring seasonal, a limited addition American IPA.
It pours a clear, warm gold color with tons of carbonation bubbles and a dense, persistent beige head. The smell has a very soapy hop character to it, which is not entirely pleasing. Continue reading
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Total Score: 78.5
Choc Beer Company represents Oklahoma as the 9th state in my 50 States of Beer tour. I was pretty relieved to be able to get my hands on a few samples of their beers, since the Sooner State is relatively void of breweries. A “Sooner”, in case you’re wondering, is apparently a name given to settlors who could legally enter what is now Oklahoma before it was officially opened to settlement in 1889 by President Grover Cleveland. Other fun facts about Oklahoma? Well, the parking meter was invented in Oklahoma City, so we have them to thank for that gem. Also, the Amateur Softball Association of America was founded in Oklahoma City. Anyway, beer. Continue reading
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Total Score: 67.5
A second imperial IPA from Laughing Dog Brewery in Idaho today: the Alpha Dog.
Crystal clear bright gold topped with only about a ½ finger of soft white head that fizzles away quickly. Citric hops leap out of the glass – a delicious mash-up of pineapple and tangerine. Continue reading
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Total Score: 91.0
I’m finally back with the 8th state of my 50 States of Beer tour: Idaho! It’s the 13th week of the year and I’m only on state #8, so I’m going to try to cover a few states a week for the next few weeks. After Idaho this week, I’ll be featuring Oklahoma and Maine next week, so stay tuned.
Representing Idaho is Lauging Dog Brewery from Ponderay, ID. I had honestly not heard of Laughing Dog until I started researching Idaho breweries, but I grew to like them pretty quickly. I mean, what’s not to love about a brewery that “began with a dream for brews with more hops” and is “dog friendly”, which I assume means you can bring your pup in for a pint with you. And from the heft of the beers this placing is serving up that’s probably a good idea, as you’re going to need a seeing eye dog to safely stumble home after. Continue reading
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Total Score: 88.0
I’ve almost forgotten how to review a beer! It’s been nearly a month since my last review, which leaves me with a lot of catching up to do. We’ll try to get ourselves back on track here with one of the tougher beer states, South Dakota. Representing “The Mount Rushmore State” is Crow Peak Brewing Company from Spearfish, SD. They’ve been operating since 2007, and recently became the first South Dakota brewery to provide a retail product since 1942, with the added bonus of selling a few of their beers in cans (something I’m a huge fan of).
A violent pour from the can yields a 3+ finger head of fluffy off-white head over a crystal clear amber beer. Smell is big on the citric hops, primarily orange but also a hint of grapefruit. Chewy-sweet malts support the hops well. Taste backs down at least a level from what was a truly muscular aroma. Citric hops are again the feature, but just not quite as juicy as the smell let on. Sweet malts also seem to waver as well. Still good though, for sure. Body is medium-full with a nice sticky hop-oil character to it that coats the entire mouth.
Overall it’s a good tasting beer that comes just short of the wow-factor of a world-class IPA.
Looks: 9.5/10 Smell: 9.5/10 Taste: 8.5/10 All-Around: 8.5/10
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