Emptying the beer into my trusty sifter it looked like a cup of coffee with a deep brown/mahogany body and ruby undertones. The head was a light beige color that fizzed up nicely, but then faded rather quickly.

The bottle reads, “Every batch diabolically brewed to decimate ordinary-average-run-of-the-mill tasting beer.” I’d say this is true for the aroma as well. One whiff of this beer and I was met with a plethora of interesting notes. Deep rich fruits, plums, dates, figs, grapes, raisins, peppery, sweet, dark caramel, roasted grains, molasses, light chocolate, high alcohol (more so as it warms), toasted bread, woody, tannins, oak, floral hops, spicy, piney, and a slight hint of butterscotch (maybe that is toffee).

From what I can gather the brew is different from year to year according to Founders who states, “You never know what you’re gonna get, but you can be sure it’ll be damn tasty.” This 2010 vintage comes in at 100 IBUs and 12% ABV so you know your taste buds are in for a real treat. At least they better be at $6.00 a bottle.

Despite its daunting name, it is actually pretty smooth. The tastes I picked out were varied as I found myself selecting flavors that are common in other styles. Hopefully this breakdown might help summarize my thoughts.

• Belgian Dubble/Tripel = sugary, peppery, deep fruits, raisins, (slight bubblegum note).
• Brown Ale = nice toasted, caramel malts, some nuttiness.
• Old Ale/Barleywine = high alcohol, sweet stickiness, and amped up hop character.
• IPA = spicy, floral, pungent, citrusy, piney, fruity (picked out some peach mid way through), dank hops in a big way. Bitterness is noticeable throughout.
• Porter = roasted grains that lend a coffee/chocolate finish.
• Oak Aged = tannins, wood caramels, drying effect on palate.

It had a medium body and semi-chewy mouthfeel. While being a big beer the ingredients blend well together. The aftertaste leans more towards the darker malt side, but that is only after you’ve enjoyed a hoppy, boozy, (oaky?) finish. I feel one could probably call this a number of things Imperial Brown Ale, Black IPA, American Strong Ale, or Barleywine.  A rather interesting beer that I found needs no classification…simply enjoy it as a unique non-conforming beer it was brewed to be.

ABV: 12.0%

Grade: A

It pours a rich, golden honey color with a fluffy, dense, billowy head. Aroma is of sharp citrus and floral hops, with a hint of lemon. A very potent, present and pleasing smell. Very inviting.

The taste is just phenomenal! I’ve enjoyed 5 of these ever since the 6 pack arrived, and waited on the sixth to give it a review that does it justice. I’ve been impressed by Odell so far, and St. Lupulin is no exception. This is a remarkable beer. Full of hops, yet tamed with the perfect amount of caramel malt sweetness. This beer is not only flavorful, it’s very drinkable. I enjoy every sip. This beer tastes very similar to English style IPA’s that I’ve enjoyed. The beer coats my mouth with a lingering bitterness that lasts a while, but makes you want more. Overall it has a very clean flavor profile, start to finish, no off flavors, and exceptional taste. A beer I could grab at anytime if only it were available in IL. It’s actually a seasonal release so unfortunately nobody can enjoy it all the time.

Odell does it again with a great beer. If you ever have the chance to enjoy this, make sure you do, as I can’t imagine you would regret it. In the comparison to similar beers of this style, I would put St. Lupulin near the top. Although technically it’s an Extra Pale Ale, not an IPA, but with an ABV of 6.5% it finds itself right in the middle for me. A great balance of malt and hops, with enough body and ABV to only need one or two. But I must admit, if I had another one, I’d probably open right now. It leaves some very intricate lacing down the glass also. Thanks Odell. Great beer.

Grade: A

ABV: 6.5%

Deadlift pours a smooth, rich amber with an average off-white head. Nothing out of the normal so far but then you smell it. Piney, hoppy, citrus is what struck me. I knew I was going to love this. First the mouthfeel–thick and rich, smooth and rich! Rich, rich, rich almost oily in the best possible sense. Then I took a sip. The hops and malt take over. This is a wonderful balance of “confident” malt and “robust” hops but not so dominate that you miss the New Zealand berry influence. I love hops but throughout my session I was impressed by the muscle of the malt which provided a slight sweetness and a touch of caramel. My taste buds loved it. Hope you can find Widner Brothers where you are.

ABV 8.6%

Grade: A

It starts off as a hazy yellow-pale brew with a substantial eggshell white head when placed on your coaster. From there you’re taken on a wonderful ride through a fruity citrus filled beer that demands respect. Using Nugget to bitter, Simcoe and Cascade to finish, then dry hopped with Amarillo and Chinook (I hope I got that right) Tim provides you with a nice range of hop aromas and flavors to explore. The malts are light, bready and give a slight hint of caramel. There is a citrus blast that comes as you waft aromas with hints of grapefruit, orange, pineapple, and tangerine. Complimenting that is a nice floral component along with a pungent piney quality that makes me think I’m standing in a NW pine forest.

This fresh and lively beer does not stop at the nose. With regards to taste it is pleasantly hoppy all the way through, but does so in a non-aggressive manner (even though it might be aggressively hopped). It is somewhat pungent allowing for a slight resinous/oily aftertaste. This only served to remind me of the citrus hop blast I first smelled yet allowed the bready pale malt backbone to come out. Basically, it had a fruity bitter blast up front, a smooth sweet middle, and a lightly piney resinous finish.

Overall, it is one of the better APAs I’ve had in my lifetime and I appreciate that it stays within the style’s range. One could consider it an IPA, but only due to its freshness that accentuates the hoppiness. I forgot to look up the ABV, but my guess: somewhere between 4.6-5.8%.

ABV: 4.6-5.8%

Grade: A

American Dream IPA

This annual release is brewed around the summertime (if I remember past years correctly). The first time I tried this beer a couple years ago I became a fan.

The appearance is basically similar to the Pale Ale in just about every way. It might have been a little bit darker, but not by much. The aroma was similar as well with a huge volley of citrus grapefruit and orange notes that were vivid. It also carried the similar bready malt profile, but with a bit more sweetness in the nose. I could make out a slight alcohol presence as it came in at 6.8%.

I remember Tim telling me that the hops used were similar, with the exceptions of Cascade and Chinook, but I failed to ask what the additions where and how much. Either way, it had a cleaner, drier finish than the Pale. By that I mean not as resinous/oily. At first there was a light toasty malt teaser that then gave way to an amped up fruity citrus bitterness the rest of the way. I could tell the bitterness was increased, but it lacked the piney, pungent aspects of the pale. The abv was minor, but it helped to distinguish the two beers. The floral/citrus bitter aftertaste was spicier and backed by a slight alcohol warmth. Not a bad IPA.

ABV: 6.8%

Grade: B

Tom: Sometimes a little road trip can add adventure to a boring week. Such was the case last weekend when I decided to drive up to Lake Geneva, WI. While there I had to pick up some local brew I had been craving. Moon Man was just that brew. Named after a brewer’s cat, this beer is a wonderful creation of what a Pale Ale should be. A bright golden-straw colored clear beer that boasts a fluffy white head. The bottle says that it contains a “bright bold blend of 5 hops that flirt obligingly with a smooth malty backside.” I could not agree more. The aroma was very citrus-like with nice grapefruit and orange notes, a slight floral honey highlight, and a lightly pungent pine hop quality. My guesses on hops used are: Cascade, Columbus, Centennial, Amarillo, and Nugget or Simcoe? It was refreshingly crisp and had a nice punch to it that was not overwhelming at all. The taste was one of a kind. A light pale malt body that had a light resinous hop character throughout. It excited my senses while retaining an APA approach. It is not heavy or too hoppy, but just right. A definite crowd pleaser for any occasion that will appeal to both hop lovers and smooth lighter ale folk alike. Grade: A

Taylor: Thanks to Tom, I was able to get my hands on one single bottle of this incredible brew. It is my new favorite Pale Ale. Seriously. It is aromatic, crystal clear, brilliantly carbonated, über hopped, consistent, and drinkable like a Pale Ale should be. It is so refreshing. It finishes crisp and bittersweet, but not in any way overpowering. Such a sessionable beer. I echo everything Matt and Tom have to say about the beer … right on. I plan on getting more of this next time I am in Wisconsin. Looking forward to that big time. Grade: A+

Noel: This beer is a must try because it accomplishes exactly what it claims: it doesn’t try too hard. Part of the label reads, “In Wisconsin you do not have to be extreme to be real. Just be.” Moon Man is not extreme, but it definitely is real…real good. Seriously refreshing, crisp and flavorful, sessionable through and through; this is a definite winner for New Glarus. I’ll admit, I almost wanted to give it a lower grade because everyone has raved about it so much…you know, bring things back to reality a bit. But if I’m being purely objective and honest, this is one of the best pale ales I’ve had. And it has appeal for both beer newbies and beer enthusiasts. Kind of makes me want to move to Wisconsin… Grade: A

ABV: 5.0%

Final Grade: A

Founders claims this beer has “Pungent aromatics up front paired with a malt balanced backbone and a smooth bitter finish” and it lives up to everything it claims. I loved every last sip.

ABV: 9.4%

Grade: A

This Irish Ale poured a rich red-brown into my mug (a favorite for malty ales). It was deep but clear, with a foamy, big-bubbled tan head that launched a wonderful aroma into my nose. As a self-proclaimed Midwestern tribute to the classic Irish Red Ale, this Boulevard concoction is brewed with Pale, Carapils, Caramunich, Caravienne Aromatic and Chocolate malts. The hop profile includes Magnum and Saaz. What a wonderful nose! Malts dominate, and I could really pick out the caramely, chocolatey malt notes. Yet the hops prevented the sweetness from getting too far ahead, and contributed a subtle herbal spiciness that I thought really complemented.

I love the Great Lakes Eliot Ness, which of course is a Lager and not an ale, but the two beers are much closer than one might think. Similar malt profile, with the Ness being just a bit bigger in ABV and IBU. While Lagers and Ales are brewed differently, the two beers are still very similar. And I like that.

The taste of this Boulevard Irish Ale is outstanding. Drinkable, refreshing, nicely malted, not too heavily alcoholic, and well balanced. What a great beer this is. It would hold a consistent place in my fridge if only it were available in Illinois.

ABV: 5.8%

Grade: A

All that was alleviated when I was offered a sample of this collaborative brew as it cleared my sinuses, awakened my palate, and melted away my driving woes. On Half Acre’s blog they mentioned that the goal for this brew was to make it with “fewer raw materials” but do so in a big way. I think their aim was to keep it as simple as possible, yet create a power packed IPA.

I must say, that goal was achieved! First things first, the label art is ridiculous. The picture captures Spartan-looking men being weaned on the teats of a giant female wolf. A little awkward at first given the imagery, I did appreciate the detail and creativity that went into the artwork.

Pouring the initial glass from my growler brought forth a huge bouquet of hops and a golden liquid. It almost looked like Mead or a Pilsner as the color was slightly hazy gold/straw in nature. The head was fluffy and white producing a nice lacing down the glass.

I was really intrigued by the aroma. It was definitely a hop blast with tangy fruity-citrus overtones. I’d say it was almost a combination of two aromas from 3 Floyd’s Dreadnaught and Half Acre’s Daisy Cutter. There were hints of peach, lemon, grapefruit, orange, and pineapple along with an herbal mint quality that gave it some spiciness. It was grassy and very fresh. The malt profile was simple, light, and bready like a Pils. I could pick out a faint alcoholic smell from the 7.8% ABV, but it was very minor.

The flavor and drinkability of this IPA was great. It was simple, yet brilliantly crafted. There seemed to be only one malt used allowing me to focus on the hops, which while on the lighter spectrum of pungent, still come out strong. I’d say it had the classic Daisy Cutter appeal with 3 Floyds hopping handy work. Most of the hop profile hit my nose in a big way right before the sip. The opening flavor was a fruity/herbal bitterness-minty (had a mouthwash tingle). If you let it sit for a while the ABV does come out. Shewolf reminded me of Goose Island’s IPA in its approach. The minty quality might be from a piney hop used which gave an interesting dynamic to the fruity hop flavors. The light pale malts roll over the middle providing brief sweetness that eases into a bitter finish which is also herbal (minty), tingles the throat, and was drier than most IPAs I’ve had. The aftertaste has a definite hoppy quality that is somewhat resinous, but allows the minor bready malts to shine.

I really enjoyed this IPA in all its uniqueness. It was different than most out there and hope they offer it again in the near future. If you have a chance to make it out to Half Acre pick up a bomber or growler…you won’t be disappointed.

ABV: 7.8%

Grade: A

America loves beer, and there’s no question that there will be some craft brews/brands that hit mainstream success. Frankly, I am perfectly happy that the most popular one as of today is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. This is a classic English Pale Ale that is made with integrity and purpose. It pours a brilliant, crisp, clear light copper color, with a great foamy white-ish head. Cascade hops, used in finishing, are easily detectable on the nose every single time. The ale is balanced with Two-row Pale and Caramel malts … but not 50/50 balanced. This is still a hoppy Pale Ale.

Sierra Nevada makes excellent beer, and their flagship is no exception. The hop profile – Perle, Magnum, and Cascade – satisfies with a wonderful spiciness all the way through, and the malt makes for an initial sweetness in the sip that tastes great. At 5.6% ABV, this Pale Ale is easily sessionable. Enjoyable on hot and humid afternoons, great with all kinds of foods and at all kinds of gatherings.

It’s hard to find negative things to say about this beer. Sure, hopheads will say it’s not hoppy enough, but hey … it’s simply a Pale Ale. 37 IBUs ain’t shabby for a drinkable, quenching craft brew. I know I’m not the only one who enjoys this recipe.

ABV: 5.6%

Grade: A

Pre-pour, I again admire the beer label design from Mona Caron. Labels are classical and vintage, with an old-world illustration feel that I think looks excellent on the brown bottle.

I poured this beer to celebrate the discovery that my wife and I are giving birth to a son in the fall. Nothing like a cold ale to help me reflect on the miracle of life and celebrate the many blessings I have been given. 90 Shilling poured a brownish copper into my pint glass, with some really cool cascading that surprised me … reminded me of the cascading effect of Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron actually. It left a nice two-finger head, and boasted a great biscuity nose with races of citrus hops, equally measured. I knew I was in for a treat.

The beer tasted great. At 5.3% ABV, it’s a first-rate thirst quencher bursting with integrity. The sweet biscuity malts are easily identifiable, as are the bitter citrus hops that I detected in the nose. Hops used are Northern Brewer and Cascade. Malts are Crystal, Pale and Chocolate (thanks to Lynsey from Odell).

I feel this beer merits an A grade because it is not only tasty, but it accomplishes what it claims to attempt: the toning down (and Americanization) of a Scottish Ale. It is super drinkable and highly flavorful. Those two traits are the foundation of a good beer, I think. My hat’s off to Odell for yet another great ale. If Odell distributed in Illinois, I would have a hard time not keeping a constant stock of the 90 Shilling on hand. It is an excellent beer for any occasion, worth every shilling.

ABV: 5.3%

Grade: A