Le Freak

"Extreme ale converging San Diego-style imperial pale ale and Belgian-style trippel." That's according to the label.

Green Flash brewing, San Diego
22oz bottle, 9.2%abv

I don't know how "EXTREME!!1!!eleven!" this is, but it's pretty tasty. I also don't know what a "San Diego-style imperial pale ale" is... Regardless, it does have some of the great funkiness I expect from a Belgian beer, but it's subtle. That makes sense, since the beer isn't actually from Yurp.

Aroma is malty, very slightly hoppy, with a bit of Belgian funk.

Flavor is very IPA like, and is moderately light for a beer of this strength. Very nice malt flavor with some subtle and surprising roastiness.

Finish is borderline harsh, with strong bitterness from the first sip all the way through the lingering bitter finish a minute after the swallow.

A yummeh beer, although I'm really not sure how extreme or Belgian it is. It is tasty, regardless of what they call it.

Leafer Madness

Imperial Pale Ale
Beer Valley Brewing, Ontario, Oregon
22oz bottle, 9%abv

I think I've had this before, but haven't blogphiloratored about it.

It's a very nice IPA, and while they claim the "I" in this stands for "Imperial" and not "India" -- it does really seem like an IPA. That said, it is a bit strong for the style, making the Imperial moniker appropriate.

Aroma is hoppy, but not hugely so, I'd actually like a bit more aroma to prepare for the coming hop flavor.

Flavor and finish are where the hops come through -- flavor is quite hoppy, and there's a strongly bitter hop finish. Enough malt in there to keep it honest, but as strong as this is, it's surprising how light and dry it is.

Overall, a nice strong IPA from yet another Oregon brewery.

One step closer

To my subie being back on the road!

Deschutes Brewing Hop In The Dark

Cascadian Dark Ale
22oz bottle, 6.5%abv

"Cascadian Dark Ale" is a new style developed here in the Northwest. It's basically IPA with some dark roasted malt added to give it the black color and some flavor.

There's a very IPA-esque hop nose with a hint of toastiness.

Flavor is light and crisp, with little malt sweetness, but a moderate roasted flavor. Not overpowering.

Mouthfeel is correspondingly light with a firm bitter finish.

Overall a good beer. I like the style, but I think I might like it better if the base IPA that it started from was a more malty one to begin with. A bit more malt character could be nice, without moving into brown ale or porter range. I guess I'll have to just try making that myself...

I've reviewed another CDA here -- the "O'Dark 30" from Oakshire -- but this Deschutes offering is a bit better.

Betty Berger Big Band

At the hotel lounge. We got a couple free drinks with our room, and it's just about our current maximum walking distance, so what the hell.

Post race beer

Of course the salad is accompanied by a Ninkasi Total Dominnation IPA -- 'cause I totally dominated. I wish...

Post race meal

Yummeh chicken salad. I don't think I've ever been this excited about a salad...

Half Marathon

Tracie and I just finished our first half marathon -- the Dirty Half in Bend.

It was tons of fun, and now we're chilling at the hotel bar next to the river. A great day -- not looking forward to going back to normal life in the valley tomorrow.

World Cup

Rogue's got the spirit...

Warriors!

We just signed up for this craziness.

Should be a hoot.

Stone Brewing Ruination IPA

7.7%abv, 12oz bottle

How times change. The first time I had Ruination a few years ago I thought it was a ridiculously over-the-top IPA. I remember thinking it was crazily bitter, and barely drinkable. Now, there are so many stupidly-hopped beers on the market, this one seems almost normal.

Almost.

It's still strongly bitter, but it's actually a really nice beer. It's got a delightful citrus aroma that smells strongly of oranges, a great crisp, light mouthfeel, and enough balancing malt to keep it from being stupid.

A very enjoyable super-hoppy IPA, that has become nearly mainstream as the rest of the world starts to catch up with Stone's advanced efforts. Keep it up Stone.

Corne du diable (Horn Of The Devil)

American-style IPA
Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel, Quebec, Canada
6.5%abv, 11.5oz bottle

This is a Canadian interpretation of the American style of the English beer - India Pale Ale. That's a lot of countries, and I think something got lost somewhere along the journey.

It's not that it's a bad beer, it just doesn't seem like an IPA, and especially not an American IPA. It's got a hugely malty nose with massive caramel and toffee aromas, and not much in the way of hop aroma. I smells more like a Belgian Brown ale than an IPA.

The flavor is a bit more IPA-esque, with some hop notes and a more subtle maltiness.

The mouthfeel and finish are crisp and dry with a solid bitterness.

A good beer, just don't buy it expecting an IPA like it says on the label.

Mikkeller Green Gold

American Style India Pale Ale
11.2oz bottle, 7.0%abv
Brewed by Mikkeller @ De Prouf Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfte, Belgium

I don't think I've had a Mikkeller beer I didn't like, and he does a great job leaving behind his normal Belgian styles and making an American IPA. Green Gold is a very nice IPA, with a solid hop nose, a hop-forward flavor, and an assertively bitter finish.

Although hops dominate, malt is still notably, and pleasantly, present.

A very tasty American style beer from our neighbors across the pond in Yurp. Highly recommended.